| Author |
Topic: Boomer 4x400m relay (leg 1) |
MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
 posted Aug-18-2007 11:18 PM
   
or the race that almost wasn't....When DaveinAA pulled up lame after his mile race, I had mixed emotions. Having him anchor the relay was out of the question and I felt just sock for him, but I still wanted to run. Rochrunner had taken the afternoon off and driven an hour to AA, I was missing the premier of Disney's High School Musical 2, Tim Looney had probably canceled a 30 mile training run, all for naught? The race was saved when we pulled a ringer named Stefan out of the crowd. We headed for our lane assignments and Team Boomer drew lane 4. Lane 1 looked to hold our closest competition: 3 girls and a boyfriend, all about 17, some of which had run the 5k 20 minutes earlier. Lanes 2 and 3 had young, long legged bucks that would obviously battle each other for the win. I had been assigned the first leg, I guess based on theory that my teammates could clean up the mess I made of the first lap. If you go to the track, you see markings in every color of the rainbow around nearly the entire track. We had quite a discussion about where the first hand off would be and where the second and third would be. I realized that I might have the easiest job of all -- one hand off -- if I could find the start for the 3 turn stagger! Without looking too silly, I found the line, checked that I actually had a baton and got into what can only be described as the 4 hour marathoner's crouch. Funny, I would be done far quicker that it normally takes me to cross the starting line. The gun went off and so did I. I'm pretty sure I ran like hell. I don't have the same second by second recall that other sprinters do. I know I was sucking wind on the backstretch and was passed by the guys in lanes 2 and 3. I had three goals at that point: not get passed by lane 1, power through the impending flood of of lactic acid and not drop the baton handing it to rochrunner. By some miracle I accomplished all three, and it was with great relief that I handed the baton off to my teammate rochrunner....
[to be continued]
[This message has been edited by MarkGuy (edited Aug-19-2007).]
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DaveinAA
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 09:00 AM
Mark, I was really disappointed I couldn't run this race. But one man's injured anchor-leg runner is another man's official race photographer. You guys ran great, and I'm looking forward to joining you next year.MarkGuy, rochrunner, timlooney, and anchor-ex-machina Stefan (in orange) get their prerace instructions:
 The gun goes off and MarkGuy is off and running!  47 seconds later, give or take, MarkGuy passes the baton to rochrunner:  rochrunner and timlooney demonstrate the overhand exchange technique:  [This message has been edited by DaveinAA (edited Aug-19-2007).]
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hally
Moderator of Boomers and Beyond |
posted Aug-19-2007 11:15 AM
Thanks for the pictures, I am waiting in animated suspense for part 2!!
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rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 11:37 AM
Good start to the report, Mark. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but I put leg 2 into its own thread for now.We'll have to see if Tim posts anything, or else we'll leave everyone hanging in suspense at the 200-meter mark.  ------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner [This message has been edited by rochrunner (edited Aug-19-2007).]
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tomwhite
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 11:53 AM
..excellent RR//.........and great pics.....
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Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 04:19 PM
OK, you guys have me laughing at your hand-off stance...heehee, a little more practice is in order? Fun to read -- I am impressed by these wacky go-for-it RRs from MI!
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John2635
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 04:28 PM
Cool, looks like you guys had fun, now to read #2
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choover
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 04:37 PM
Ohhh...this is suspenseful!Nice job on the first leg, MarkyMark! You accomplished all 3 of your goals! Great photos, Dave  Onward to Part 2....
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ksrunr
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 05:14 PM
This is fun to read. How many lanes are you allowed for a handoff? Good job guys. 47 X 4 = 3:08 mile!ksrunr
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dg9
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 06:32 PM
And it was fun to watch. quote:
I'm pretty sure I ran like hell.
You really did! I don't even know if I congratulated you when you finished... great job. congratulations! btw. nice crouch. you look like you mean it. I would have dropped the baton. [This message has been edited by dg9 (edited Aug-19-2007).]
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timlooney
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 07:08 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Econo:
OK, you guys have me laughing at your hand-off stance...heehee, a little more practice is in order? Fun to read -- I am impressed by these wacky go-for-it RRs from MI!
 I didn't realize how bad we looked until I saw the pics. Good thing there was no one around to see it.
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Sans Souci
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 08:21 PM
Oh, this is great! Mark, look at that dood in blue you left in the dust! He's feeling such shame, he's given up. Where's the vid, Dave? (Econo, no doubt the exchanges are much better in realtime.) Part Deux ...
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FlyingFinn
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 09:13 PM
You guys are something else! Congratulations on accomplishing ALL 3 of your goals, Mark! Great pics and report.
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MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-19-2007 09:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Sans Souci:
Oh, this is great! Mark, look at that dood in blue you left in the dust! He's feeling such shame, he's given up.
Now I swear that if Dave hadn't clipped lane 1 out of the frame you'd see a runner behind me. At least that's how I remember it! Debbie, thanks for coming to cheer us on. Coming out to a meet like this is a great way to meet more of Tim's friends (he seemed to know almost everyone there...)
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Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-20-2007 12:35 AM
Fabulous! And the pictures are so great it makes me almost glad Dave couldn't run. You ran an awesome first leg Mark Guy! [This message has been edited by Ileneforward (edited Aug-20-2007).]
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cajohnson5
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-20-2007 04:11 AM
I've gotta move to MI.... cj
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smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-20-2007 04:59 AM
Oh I can't wait to part 2------------------
Never regret anything that made you smile, SteveP My User Profile
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bigapplepie
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-20-2007 06:52 AM
Nice job Mark, I can't wait for the next installment.
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Canfit
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-20-2007 09:59 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MarkGuy:
[B]got into what can only be described as the 4 hour marathoner's crouch.
This made me laugh ...I'm sure we could all identify with your
"crouch". Congrats on a great first leg. Success is all about not dropping the baton!
PJ
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-20-2007 12:49 PM
Mark, you sure got the team off to a good start. Dave's pictures add a lot. It was nice to have dg for a cheerleader. I'm envious of the obviously good time had by all. Now to read about the other legs.TomS ------------------
My Profile
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rosecoloredglasses
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-20-2007 01:11 PM
I loved reading about this relay...Now I am going to try to work some posting magic and get them to appear in reverse chronological order... (Good Running MarkGuy!)
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JJJessee
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-21-2007 09:37 PM
This relay thing sounds like too much fun. Thanks Mark for the intro. Nice running by the way.
jjj
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-28-2007 12:34 PM
This looks like such fun! Wish I had been there to see it in person. Great photos, too. Great race and report, Mark!------------------
Holly
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SkipAZ
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-29-2007 12:13 PM
Wow! 47 second 400m (give or take)! Just think if you had used starting blocks! Way to hold off those rookies in Lane 1! And what is this lactic acid stuff you speak of?Good race Mark!
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