[chances141]

<p> </p>
<p>50 degrees.  No wind.  No humidity.  No excuses.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Gun!  Easy, easy.  Take it easy.  Steady uphill.  Let them by you – see them later maybe.  7:06, 7:08, 7:07.  HR at 160 already?   Freakin’ uphill.  Must do it to keep pace.  Pack of five just up ahead.  There’s my darling with sports drink!  “14 ahead!  Looking good, hon!”  6:58. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Two-mile straightaway.  7:01.  Large hill coming up.  Catch two.  “Morning, fellows.  How you doing?”  “Great!  You’re looking good!”  Up the hill.  7:02.  High on a bluff over the city.  Big downhill 6:35.  Ouch.   Did I do hill training?  Catch two more.  “Morning, fellows.  How you doing?”  “Fine.”  (Gruffly.)  Oh, I see.  I'm fine too, I guess.  Well, you two go on ahead then.  6:52, 6:52.  Hi, sweetie!  Thanks for the gel.  Steep downhill.  6:45.  Yes, motorcycle cop, I see the sidewalk just to my right, and I recognize I’m a hazard on the road, but if I have to run downhill even one more block on that effing concrete, my femurs are gonna be jammed into my shoulders. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ahh, shaded greenbelt through the park.  6:56, 6:52.  Pass one.  Guy on bike approaching other direction.  “You’re 8, 9 and 10 right here!”  That’s it.  I’m passing the Brothers McGruff.  See ‘ya.  6:58.  Halfway at 1:31, on pace.  Lonely now.  Straightaway through north part of town.   Who’s that a half-mile ahead?  Is that . . .  local running enthusiast and icon BB?  The one who ran this course with Dean Karnazes and has all those sub-3s to his name?  It <em><strong>is</strong></em> him.  6:45, 6:48, 6:53.  Some small hills, but about ten turns here.  Hello, m’lady!  Gimme that drink.  Take this sweat-soaked shirt.  I know -- that <em><strong>is</strong></em> BB up ahead!  6:51, 6:47.  Pass another.  (Not BB).  Another freaking hill.   Man.  7:01.  HR 168.  Uh-oh. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Starting to feel warm in the direct sun.  Around the cemetery.  6:53.  Six to go.  Check average pace – 6:54.  Need 6:52 for sub-3.  Where’s that extra gear?   Hi, honey.  No, I’m starting to hurt.  Gatorade?  Thanks.  Crap, I can’t hold onto it.  Sorry.  See you one more time.  6:53.  Hi, BB.  Thanks for the well-wishes.  Doesn’t look like your day.  Stay strong.  Steep downhill.  6:55.  Felt faster.  Into the park again.  </p>
<p> </p>
<p>HR 170.  It’s okay.  You’ve gotta let it go.  Nothing to do but keep your head up and move forward.  Physics and chemistry have hold now.  You’re chewed up.  It’s alright.  You're about to become a five-time marathoner and set a big P.R.  Hello, Kathi.  I love you.  Water please.  Thank you.  7:13.  Hi Tony!  How come you’re not racing today?  “Rob, you’re competing!  Go!”  7:26.  Pass one more. 7:38.  The miles are so long now.  Suffer through it.  Keep it a medium fade.  You’ve earned the pain.  7:39.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Finish.  My wife.  My boys.  My sister.   Hugs and tears.  Eat.  Shower.  Return to the line and cheer on other finishers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Finishing second in the masters’ category, with a time of 3:03:04, chances141!”  Receive medal and kiss.  What?  Mistake?  I got first?  And I get a <em><strong>bigger</strong></em> medal?  Receive bigger medal and second kiss. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Go home and secretly check to see if CIM is full.  Tell no one.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Insist on being called “Masters Champion” at work and home for the remainder of the week.</p>

 

[Alex]

<p>Lovely report Rob! Is it crunch time at work, or are you still recovery and can't hit normal sentence length yet? <img alt="wink.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//wink.gif"> Incredible job man...too bad about the little blip those last few miles, but it seems as though you ran smart and competed well! Congrats on a well-deserved PR Master Champion!!!</p>

 

[Boyerdavea]

<p>Go Master Champion Go!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Love the report!  Looks like your wrote it between the shower and returning to the line to cheer on other finishers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Congrats!</p>

 

[Mailbox Head]

<p>Man that's a nice pace Chances.  I thought it read like you had a small recorder with you during the race, and it was kind of a stream of consciousness account of the race.  Made it feel like I was there with you.- Master.</p>

 

[kfuller]

<p>Nice race report and congrats on the 1st place masters.</p>

 

[zrun]

<p>Great report, and running what seems like a pretty tough course and conditions with the hills & concrete (the part about the cop and your femurs cracked me up).   On a good day and/or on a flat course you are sub-3 no doubt.   What an accomplishment, PR and #1 masters!!! </p>

 

[BigBuckSnort]

<p>Way to go Roberto!  You are basically like a Jedi Knight of Marathoning now...</p>

 

[Timr1]

<p>Wow!  Huge congrats!  That's a solid marathon performance - Master.  <img alt="biggrin.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies//biggrin.gif"></p>
<p>Well done! </p>

 

[4boysmom]

<p>Nicely done!!!</p>

 

[CMJHawk86]

<p>Nice report, but seriously, was your ISP charging you for typing by the word?  <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/lol.gif" title=""></p>
<p> </p>
<p>3:03 is an awesome time. Sub-3 is totally in sight for you. And congrats on the Master's win. I have one of those to my credit, but that was only in a 5k. <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/notworthy.gif" title=""></p>

 

[loopy]

<p>Great job Chances!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Loving the stream of consciousness reporting style.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Huge congrats on the masters win and PR!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>That sub-3 will be yours soon...</p>

 

[RunAsics]

<p>Awesome performance <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">Chances</span> Master!  The report ain't bad either.  I like the reader's digest / abridged style.  One more... one more...</p>

 

[mutthound]

<p>Great report,  I guess the part where I was your inspiration to greatness was edited out of the final draft.  <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/huh.gif" title=""></p>

 

[Jill]

<p>I love this race report! Congratulations on a great race, Mr. Masters Champion!</p>