Alabama

Many other racers shared very welcome encouragement all along the way. Temps stayed cool (projected highs in the 40's), and I enjoyed this until I turned west and then north into the 5-10 mph winds. It didn't chill me badly, but it felt uncomfortable enough to further hinder me from getting into a groove. By miles 13–15 I'd already stopped for five sock adjustments, and my patella hurt; the bumps I've developed since Nipmuck Trail now created problems. I resigned myself to settling into third gear.

I almost considered dropping out, broken down to tears on three occasions between m16–24. The crowd thinned out by m18–20. I was cold. My knee hurt badly. I felt miserable. But I made it.

The post-race provided delicious hot beef vegetable soup.

(left) A key ring medal, nice for a change.

Into downtown, a mile to go.

After the peak on Cahaba Road I begin the steep downhill to the historic Highland Park neighborhood, where I weave around scenic Caldwell, Rhodes, and Rushton Parks. Nearing m21, BE&K Construction has built "the wall" from several tractor-trailers. Clairmont Avenue, mostly straightaway, heads consistently, relentlessly up, up, up. Finally a left turn gives one final uphill and a particularly steep downhill. A brief out-and-back on 5th Avenue, maybe a hundred yards, starts the final 5K through mostly industrial zoning. The few remaining participants straggle along. Most volunteers now show little energy as well.

Temps have peaked in the low 40's. I can't complain about the weather as I make the right turn north on 20th for maybe a half-mile dead ahead to Linn Park. My older brother Keith has come out to provide some moral support near the end. My finish time disappoints me at first, but all things considered I did fairly well today.