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> turkey vulture trot- ya win some, ya loose some
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Topic: Turkey Vulture Trot- Ya win some, ya loose some |
smpankowski
Cool Runner |
 posted Nov-23-2007 08:25 AM
   
As Turkey Trots are a wonderful tradition, our area is a little different and hosts a Turkey Vulture Trot to raise funds and awareness to injured birds of prey. Each year offers a live demonstration of the birds that have been injured, but can not be returned to the wild. This year a falcon was presented and she was kewl. Any way, this is a race...Or two races. A 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. DS and I arrived 8:15 to pick up my bib and long sleeved T shirt. We saw Rodney and his DW, Greg and Kris, John, Matt and Ron. The 5K was to start at 9:00 with the 1 mile fun run at 10:00 while the results from the first race were being tabulated. In the past there have been only about 40 people in this race. This year there was about 90 and had to recycle bibs from one race to the next. To get into the Holiday feel, I wore a ribbed Batman tank top. Long black sports pants with two pin stripes down the sides, black leather snot speckled gloves, A black stocking cap with a silver Batsignal, Asics some darn thing that DW has begun to complain about and Yak Trax as the roads were icy. Since the RDs were not prepared for the fantastic turn out, the 5K started 10 min late. John and I decided to pace each other. I can keep up with him for the first half of a race, then he kicks it up a degree. Since last October, I've been kicking my speed on the short runs up a level and hoped to PR this 5K. The start had us run up a 1/4 mile hill and I was sucking wind right away. When we got to the top, John and I were able to take longer strides. We gradually picked off other runners. We were pretty good at keeping others at bay as we ran up and down the ice covered hills. The 1/2 way point sent us x country for a bit then back onto another road. and John tried passing me. I tried passing him. The conversations between us stopped and we jockeyed back and forth. He gaining on the hills…..Me passing on the down hills. There were no flats. I had to let go of the residual fear of running full on down an ice covered hill. We were still and good distance away from the lodge and I looked at my watch. We were well into 24 min and the end was no where in sight. One of us barked that the course was long. I'm not sure who. I started to fade and John caught up. I kicked it some more and passed John and then he turned up the heat. We were yelling at each other to get it in gear. He'd fade and I'd pull and vice versa. No way was a PR possible. We'd both have already done a PW for the year. When we saw the roof of the lodge come into view, I went for the puke. Down hill I picked off one last runner with John on my heels. 5K 29:02 . Those with Garmins came up with 3.4 and 3.5 miles. I didn't care a ton. There's a satisfaction from giving it your all.
As the first race started late and it took me 1/2 an hour, I had time for a restroom brake more water and then off to the next starting line. There were about 20 of us. Most of whom were under 10. Maybe 5 in my AG with Matt being the only other runner who was in both races. With all the other runners being fresh, I had concerns. As I looked at the ages involved I had to think fast. "Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat" I said to my self. "Nothing up my sleeve......Presto!". As the race started I yelled, "There ain't no Santa!!!!". As little kids fell down crying, the competition was cut in half. I had a hard time scraping pieces of little kid out of my spikes while running. Do not start in front if you can't run fast...It's that simple. Going up the first hill, my legs felt like jelly and I was wondering if I should have only ran the one race. When we got to the peak of the hill, I could open up. Matt was crazy ahead of me and to teens were a head but in catching distance. One guy about my age passed me and I though "BS" and opened up again. I passed him and one of the kids but was wondering if the other kid, Sam, was catchable. Matt was on his way back. The kid wasn't running out of gas. Neither was I. At the turn around, the support person was snoozing and the kid went straight through. The man behind me and I yelled at Sam to turn around. With out talking with each other, we let Sam catch back up and get a lead again. I had a real conflict. This was a race and I didn't make the mistake. But it's a kid's ego at stake too. Then Sam cramped up and dropped to the side. The man behind me pulled up to the lad to help him and I tore loose. Breathing was fine, legs were fine, MUG left a wedgie but my butt was fine. When I went across the finish, there was no one near me. 5K
7/14 AG
29:02 1 Mile
2/OA
8:26 John took 1st in his AG, he's 38 and he thanked me for pushing him. I told him that he pulled me just as much. For a small race, the medals were really nice and I'm looking forward to next year.
------------------
SteveP My User Profile
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tomwhite
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 09:07 AM
......ok, I'm still laughing at the ''There ain't no Santa'' Line.........you may not have won,
but this is one of the funniest RR's I've read,,,,,,,,,,and it made my Day,,,,,, nice running
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mcsolar99
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 09:17 AM
not sure yaktraks have different length spikes, but you might consider swapping out the longer ice spikes for the shorter trampling kid spikes next time. i'm sure those kids will be just fine, and all the tougher for it... someone's gotta learn 'em.
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 09:53 AM
This was another enjoyable report from you Steve, for what sounds like a couple of fun races. It was definitely my kind of small race with lots of friends. It's neat your daughter went with you. It looks like the Yaks did their job on the icy hills as you made good time in the long 5K and the mile. Congrats on a good day and 2nd in AG in the mile.TomS ------------------
My Profile
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roy c
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 10:13 AM
There use to be a cartoon over here called wacky races, now what made me think of that.Steve a cracking report as usual. You were well placed in your AG and it was a tough race, more like ski slopes in places. Well Done and thanks for the fun report
Roy
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Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 10:15 AM
Econo would be proud, singing "Beat on the Brat" alongside you. Fun report! Spareribs
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Twocat
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 12:13 PM
LOL! The 1 mile report is a classic.
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MustangSally
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 12:39 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mcsolar99:
not sure yaktraks have different length spikes, but you might consider swapping out the longer ice spikes for the shorter trampling kid spikes next time. i'm sure those kids will be just fine, and all the tougher for it... someone's gotta learn 'em.
Saith the expert. A young feller named Walter sent this to me - I've been holding it for the Right Occasion.  [This message has been edited by MustangSally (edited Nov-23-2007).]
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evryday
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 03:57 PM
awesome report!!"At the turn around, the support person was snoozing and the kid went straight through. The man behind me and I yelled at Sam to turn around. With out talking with each other, we let Sam catch back up and get a lead again." Just when I've just about lost all confidence in you..... "Then Sam cramped up and dropped to the side. The man behind me pulled up to the lad to help him and I tore loose." ...you totally redeem yourself! ------------------
Remember rule #6 My User Profile
My running log
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evanflein
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 04:14 PM
What a riot. I'm glad you got into the holiday feel with the ribbed batman tanktop. It really couldn't have been any other way. Always a pleasure to read your race reports, Steve. Way to show those kids how things really are. (nice running on ice, too!)------------------
evanflein
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JJJessee
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 05:33 PM
Nice running Steve.
Way to kick the Christmas spirit in high gear.
I'd watch out for the Easter Bunny though.
jjj
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RunsTheBitterroot
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 06:10 PM
Steve, I got a good laugh out of this report, you should have called it the blood and guts run though I guess turkey vulture does have it covered. Good job on your races and congratulations on AG. Larry------------------
"If you see a man running up a mountain trail in Montana with a fly pole attached to his back, you are probably lost. LDD
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dshclio
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 06:49 PM
I prefer to elbow the little munchkins into a snow bank, or dog dodo. That really slows them down. I would have gotten tired with having to bully 20 of them. Great report and great race. Run well BATMAN Steve.
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ksrunr
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 06:56 PM
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La Tortuga
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-23-2007 07:00 PM
Nice that the race attracted more runners and congrats on your time. What confuses me is that you wore a hat, gloves and needed Yak Trax due to icy roads, but managed to wear a tank - you are tough!
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Canfit
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-25-2007 11:08 AM
I hope you plan on publishing these RRs in a book some day. They will keep the next generation smiling and laughing. Congrats on another fine outing, Batman!
PJ
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-27-2007 09:57 AM
2 races in one day? Wow - you really earned your pie! Great races and report. ------------------
Holly
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Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-27-2007 08:15 PM
LOL! oh dear me, oh dear.... I cannot teach you anything more, grasshopper
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