Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The sound of rain lashing against the window punctuated my sleep the night before the Boilermaker. We've been running this race for ten years-- a third of the race's existence-- and never had rain. In fact, we subsequently learned that it has never rained on this event. By the time we got off the bus to the start the rain had stopped. Riding over one of the women I was sitting next to commented on the wisdom of taking the bus to the start rather than riding the shuttle from the post race party to the start. I'd never considered it, but a bus full of sweaty strangers in technical clothing is pretty awful to contemplate. Another bus passenger talked about his equipment: apparently his shoes were specially designed for 15k races, a degree of specialization I never knew existed.
It was cool at the start, and cloud covered, but it felt like it was going to be steamy, and that's how it turned out. By the time we passed the first mile the road was dry, and by the time I passed the belly dancers at about the mile and a half the cloud cover had burned off. It's been hotter, but this was hot enough. I knew early on that I was just along for the journey; I ran it, but wasn't even thinking about "racing" it.The first runner down was at about 2.5 miles, but she may have merely stumbled and fallen. The air was heavy, and it wasn't encouraging to see someone on a stretcher that early on. Ten years in I guess I'd say that the part of the course I like best starts as we climb the golf course hill. There's water and a view of the Adirondack foothills when you crest that hill, then you sail down, past the llama, and get a popsicle. I had orange this year, and once again it was just about the most refreshing thing I will eat all summer. East Utica is up-and coming, though, with its international exhibitions. Once I hated the first 5k-- I was filled with anxiety, and usually went out too hard. It's flat and open out there, and for years nobody came out to watch, but nosw they are there, and it's turned into a highlight.
It was cool at the start, and cloud covered, but it felt like it was going to be steamy, and that's how it turned out. By the time we passed the first mile the road was dry, and by the time I passed the belly dancers at about the mile and a half the cloud cover had burned off. It's been hotter, but this was hot enough. I knew early on that I was just along for the journey; I ran it, but wasn't even thinking about "racing" it.The first runner down was at about 2.5 miles, but she may have merely stumbled and fallen. The air was heavy, and it wasn't encouraging to see someone on a stretcher that early on. Ten years in I guess I'd say that the part of the course I like best starts as we climb the golf course hill. There's water and a view of the Adirondack foothills when you crest that hill, then you sail down, past the llama, and get a popsicle. I had orange this year, and once again it was just about the most refreshing thing I will eat all summer. East Utica is up-and coming, though, with its international exhibitions. Once I hated the first 5k-- I was filled with anxiety, and usually went out too hard. It's flat and open out there, and for years nobody came out to watch, but nosw they are there, and it's turned into a highlight.
