Boston -100 -- Sat. Jan. 9

Off in fairly good time on a cold morning, after porridge and tea; feeling traces of effects of post-nasal gunk (that's maybe why I was tired on Thu., a mild cold passing through?). Stop to pick up a coffee (again, asked for dark and got it black--so some people don't know the difference a drop of milk makes?) and arrived at Forest Park just before 9. Parked in usual spot, but outhouse not open so straight to clubhouse--sign up, change and head out to warm up. Go up the hill and round the houses for a mile, then stretch achilles; jog back to a more crowded house, so go to shorts and no jacket and then jog a wee bit more (saying hi to Steve O, among others). Moderate crowd, including Carlos, but again he's only running bandit.

Off slowly, aiming for about 7 for first mile, and going up the hill gently. Feel okay (if a bit cold!), and follow the lead pack (which is a slow one today, no real racers) at a possible striking distance. Billy R up there too, and noone really for me to pace on. GPS goes wonky for miles two and three, despite the clear sky, so I play it by ear, overhauling one or two guys who slowed down, and staying about 30 seconds behind the front cluster. No trouble from numbleg, so after three miles start to close up a bit, and at 4 miles, where Carlos has stopped and is calling out times, move up to 15 seconds behind the cluster of 4, while Billy R has moved to the lead (some other runners further ahead out of sight too). As we leave the park on to Sumner, catch one more, so the cluster is right ahead, and I'm spectating Billy's tussle with a young runner. Good stuff, and I keep closing in, finally catching them all on the long straight just before reentering the park. Billy starting to fade, I'm feeling good, so go for it and pass all three. Pace is now 5:50s, and the young guy sticks close; I try to lose him on the downhill, and we stay neck and neck until the last stretch-I push off, but can't keep it going, and he does, making 5 seconds in the last 200 yards. Come in 5th, though the records say 4th (someone took a lolly stick by mistake):

Time: 41:23 (gps 41:20)
Distance: 6.2 (gps 6.46)
Pace: 6:40s (gps 6:24s)

Comment: that was a FUN race, for all that I was staggering in the last 200 yards--I felt fresh right away after, and did a gentle mile and a half cooldown. Chatted with Billy R and the young guy who beat me too: he commented, as we walked back to the clubhouse, "I want to be like you guys when I'm old." Well, maybe he said "older," but, yeah. Billy R and me, we're those old guys. Next time, one of us will have to beat him :P

Seriously, useful training, with 2.82 miles on top of the 6.46, so I'm close to 50 miles for the week -- onward and upward.