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elkid
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Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 8353
Location: hiding out in Philly
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 Posted: 10/04/04 - 10:00 Post subject: my $10K 10K WITH PICTURES!
Two years ago this race, the Rocky 10K Run, was my first 10K, my 3rd race ever. I came in dead last, by 5 minutes. They sent the police cars and ambulance after me fearing I was dead.  Last year I shaved 9:42 off that first time. I knew I could beat it by more this year, as this is My Course on West River Drive. A few weeks back I hooked up with a corporate sponsor. The deal: bust my course PR of 1:04:26 and win $10,000 for The Center for Children's Autism. Recruited TriBob, phillycat, and RexRacer to run. Recent races and training runs show all of them run faster than me, so I could chase after them for extra incentive. Last week I was very excited to race, for I figured after the Great Race I could bust that PR no problem.
Saturday morning I get a call from my baby brother that my mother is in the ER. I drive down to the shore to the hospital on little information. Stay late into the night as things get worse. My father, knowing I had money on the line, and knowing how proud my mother was that I was doing it for a kids' charity, made me go home. "Go do something to take your mind off of this for a while." Begrudgingly I agreed, not wanting to further upset him.
Sunday morning I wake up and it's freezing in my bedroom, as the windows were open all night. Stop at DD for coffee (no food, I can't eat) and drive downtown. I'm forced to park in a lot instead of on the street because 1) I'm tired, 2) I'm freezing, and 3) most of the streets are blocked off due to a festival. Find RexRacer and pick up my packet, still freezing. As I go get my bag from the car we grab TriBob, and finally we find Phillycat. We chat and wait, freezing and shivering. My MP3 battery's dead (figures) - I decide to run with phillycat for as long as I can keep up with her. The race finally starts. albeit a little late.
I know this course well, but it feels great to run with someone else. Especially my good friend and confidant phillycat. My mind and heart are not here, but my body is and it moves as it knows how to. I did get to high 5 Rocky a few times, which was cool. The first few miles fly by, and phillycat and I remark about how we're going faster than we both thought. She stays with me until about 34 minutes in and then takes a break. Now RexRacer and I keep jockeying for positions. I'm thinking I can break an hour here at mile 5, which is confirmed during the slight uphill climb that is mile 6. I book the final .2, leaving Rex in the dust. Cross the finish line really exceeding my expectations and proud that I was even as can be.
Final stats: 59:51 @ 9:39 pace, 123/162 runners (beat 24% = huge for me). Splits: the most even I've ever had - 9:36, 9:45, 9:47, 9:45, 9:50, 9:40, 1:38 (.2). Race PR by 7:14, course PR by 4:35. 
A special thanks to phillycat and Rex for pacing and pushing me so well during the race. Bonus points to them, TriBob, and the Ladies Go for taking care of me that morning, consoling me, and making sure I ate before I returned to my family that afternoon.
PICTURES! Some taken by the kids, some backlit horribly, so beware ....
phillycat - RexRacer - TriBob:
Go - Goette Deux:
phillycat:
Go - phillycat:
Go - Goette Deux:
me:
RexRacer - Goette Deux:
Group:
Final thoughts: my mom and I had some alone time last night. She's intubated and therefore unable to speak. I was holding her hand and she let mine drop, and then ran two fingers across my hand. "You want to know how my running is?" She shook her head no. "You want to know how my race went?" She nodded. "Mom, that's not important. Really." She violently shook her head. "OK, if it's so important to you." She nodded. "Mom, you haven't seen me race since June. But I'm so much faster now. I'm stronger, better, and even. All the miles I've been putting in are really paying off now. I've been working hard, and it shows. I was fast today, Mom. I was good. You would've been so proud of me." Mom nodded, and gave me a thumbs up before grabbing my hand once again.
So with this race, I went on autopilot and ran even as can be. With this race, I won a lot of money for charity. But most importantly, with this race, I made my mother proud.
Next up: Heroes to Hero 5K on Saturday.
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BamBam
Member
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Joined: 05 Sep 2002
Posts: 2974
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 10:11 Post subject:
Great Report....Great Run.....Great Charity
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Kimba90
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Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 3594
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 10:48 Post subject:
 Sniff, great report. I hope your mom gets better soon!
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pokychick
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Joined: 02 Oct 2002
Posts: 5640
Location: City of Dis
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 10:51 Post subject:
Congrats on the achieving the charity money by running a great race! 
Positve vibes to your mom.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 17304
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 10:52 Post subject:
hang on....I got something in my eye....
Great report kid, awesome race....I hope your mom is okay...
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 10:56 Post subject:
Congrat's on your PR. Hope your mom feels better
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19384
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 10:57 Post subject:
| pokychick wrote: | Congrats on the achieving the charity money by running a great race!
Positve vibes to your mom. |
 Couldn't've said it better, Poky.
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16450
Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 11:11 Post subject:
| gretriever wrote: | | pokychick wrote: | Congrats on the achieving the charity money by running a great race!
Positve vibes to your mom. |
Couldn't've said it better, Poky. |
..& kudos to those supportive riff-raffers too.
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16217
Location: unknown zone
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 12:07 Post subject:
congratulations on the charitable donation -- that's awesome -- and your 10K PR.
wishing your mom well.
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coachmarkos
my boys could swim
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 11387
Location: 1st in AFC West
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 12:27 Post subject:
 to the kid!
Another great report...and the charity thing to boot!
awesomeness.. 
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mickeyvw98
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Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 2010
Location: Upstate NY
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 12:39 Post subject:
| Kimba90 wrote: | | Sniff, great report. I hope your mom gets better soon! |
Congrats on your PR. Hope she's doing better soon!
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16189
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 12:51 Post subject:
Congrats on the PR, that's awesome! Good vibes to you and your Mom too...fingers tightly crossed for her.....
Gogirl, LOVE LOVE LOVE the new shorter do, and boy does Rex look different without the facial hair! (Not that he was bad lookin' before of course  )
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robp
Pyromaniac
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Joined: 26 Jul 2002
Posts: 16241
Location: Waiting in line at the beer store...
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 14:11 Post subject:
PR's and charity are great. I, too, hope your mom gets better in a hurry.
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Floridaboiler
POTFH
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Joined: 18 May 2002
Posts: 11322
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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Posted: 10/04/04 - 19:26 Post subject:
Great Job Laurie!
That is the way to step up and hit a homerun! Keep up the great training.
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Noley
AZhat
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Joined: 16 Aug 2003
Posts: 10494
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Posted: 10/06/04 - 02:18 Post subject:
You're On Fire these days!
Incredible run and for a good cause!
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