Did very well! Several variables come to mind: losing weight, good cool weather, maybe the good sleep last night (but only an hour the previous night).
After parking downtown at 6:15, I trudged up the hill to the Capitol Building to set out at 6:35. My outlook leaned toward apprehensive, as yesterday's forecasts called for showers today. I packed extra prosthetic socks just in case. Occasionally in the first few miles I enjoyed a very fine mist. Easy hills began early and would appear fairly often. Having not seen a sign for m2, I got an unexpected boost when I came upon m3. At about 3.5m I turned back toward downtown and descended a steep hill.
Northbound Water Street took me past the Roger Williams National Memorial; two quick right turns took me back along the other side into the older part of town, and some lovely buildings. I'd felt quite a bit of pressure on my stump. Should I try a thinner second sock? Nah—that would leave my knee area too loose. Keep moving.
No rain so far but in m7 I felt and saw a very fine drizzle. It came and went occasionally, but no rain.
The lead pack, about a dozen, caught me just into m9. The drizzle had stopped. And I'd begun to notice the slightest abrasion below my patella. After a brief jaunt through Federal Hill, I stopped to apply the Compeed preventively. Good thing I did, because in doing so I found a 3mm diameter blister-in-training. Broad Street took me through an area of local, independent stores. I jogged a fair amount. A racewalker passed me during m12, doing much better than many of these mid-pack joggers. My stump felt a little tight sometimes, but not really painful, and not worth a sock adjustment.
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At m13 I began three miles in Roger Williams Park, with the zoo, lovely lakes, and some ancient Roman style buildings, including the Temple to Music (above), with lots of mallards and a couple of swans in the lake. Back into neighborhoods and then northbound on commercial Allens Avenue. Another light drizzle moved in and out around m18. |
I found I'd made a much better 20m split than expected. River Road brought another scenic mile or so before a steep incline along Irving Avenue. Blackstone brought a long, steady incline, and another, and another—the 50 ft. increase in elevation felt like much more. The last 2.5 miles brought wonderful downhills (steep enough to cause real problems for faster runners). I passed the Roger Williams National Memorial again before entering downtown and made my second best documented kick for a cheering crowd. Then I enjoyed the excellent post-race feed: pasta with sauce, soup that warranted a second bowl, and yummy cooookiees.
Not a particularly pretty sight as I stomp to the finish, but a
decent performance
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