scoolover
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2006
- Messages
- 1,386
Yesterday, I ran the Niantic and Waterford legs of the Special Olympics torch run. Call me silly but I really felt as if I was doing a good thing. There were 13 of us from Gates Correctional who decided to do it. We had to raise $30 to run it. Thankfully, my ex raised enough for both of us. Of all the runners, I was the only one from a back shift to run and the only one who was not on the clock (getting paid) as we ran it. It was one of those can't miss things to do because when I was 375 and couldn't, I really wanted to.
There was just about no organization but we did have transportation from the prison to the start which was about 2 miles away. We got there and stretched for about two minutes when the entorage approached. There was a lead police car, two state police motorcycles, three Special Olympics vheicles and a trailing state police car. Sanwiched in the middle were the runners. One of whom would be carrying the torch and pass it off occationally.
Being that there were 13 of us means that there were people of varying abilities. Before I knew what we were doing, there was a group that had decided that the pace needed to be set at about 8 minute miles. They were about a quarter mile ahead before half of us could figure out what was going on. I thought that the pace car was setting the pace but when I finally caught up, they were saying, "you guys set the pace". I was surprised and could not understand why there was no consideration for the others in the back.
Luckily, I was able to catch up and did get a turn with the torch. That little thrill lasted about a minute until it started to get heavy. Still, it was an attention getter.
Here is me in the yellow. Probably the best picture taken of me running. You can see the pace is no easy jog.
Anyway, some in the group finally circled back and others caught a ride and we finished our 4 mile strech on a nice hill at about 38 minutes. Yeah, you heard right. 9:30 pace for a group torch run. Anyway, everyone survived long enough for the group picture.
Next to me in yellow is my ex in grey who will be joining us for the half at this year's marathon weekend.
But wait there's more.
When we got to the exchange zone, there was nobody there from the next department to keep the torch going. After about a 10 minute rest, four of us continued on for another 3.5 miles. That stretch was more hilly than the first and since we were down to the elites (I say that with a grin), the pace picked up a little more in the beginning. We were around 8 minutes for a while. Thank god that one of the guys started to get blisters and had to slow. I was getting beat and it was getting hot. Part of my issue was that I had just run 11 the day before and I rarely run on consecutive days. Also, there were no gallowalks which I do on any run over 3 miles. No more complaining but I was beat. I carried the torch for the last mile and when I heard that our next exchange zone was KFC in New London (CT), I was psyched because I had $7.00 on me. As we approached I had a KFCgasm and we were finally done. I didn't have the balls to go in and get anything though. We hopped in the back of a pick-up and were brought back to work. We ran through the 10K at my PR pace and finished in 1:13 but I forgot to stop it for a while at our middle stop. Overall, it was a good day but very tiring. I went home and took a nap which is rare. Also, I booked for Pop Century for the week. I had heard that it was closed out for marathon weekend but maybe because it was for 9 nights they could do it. Who knows.
Scott
There was just about no organization but we did have transportation from the prison to the start which was about 2 miles away. We got there and stretched for about two minutes when the entorage approached. There was a lead police car, two state police motorcycles, three Special Olympics vheicles and a trailing state police car. Sanwiched in the middle were the runners. One of whom would be carrying the torch and pass it off occationally.
Being that there were 13 of us means that there were people of varying abilities. Before I knew what we were doing, there was a group that had decided that the pace needed to be set at about 8 minute miles. They were about a quarter mile ahead before half of us could figure out what was going on. I thought that the pace car was setting the pace but when I finally caught up, they were saying, "you guys set the pace". I was surprised and could not understand why there was no consideration for the others in the back.
Luckily, I was able to catch up and did get a turn with the torch. That little thrill lasted about a minute until it started to get heavy. Still, it was an attention getter.
Here is me in the yellow. Probably the best picture taken of me running. You can see the pace is no easy jog.
Anyway, some in the group finally circled back and others caught a ride and we finished our 4 mile strech on a nice hill at about 38 minutes. Yeah, you heard right. 9:30 pace for a group torch run. Anyway, everyone survived long enough for the group picture.
Next to me in yellow is my ex in grey who will be joining us for the half at this year's marathon weekend.
But wait there's more.
When we got to the exchange zone, there was nobody there from the next department to keep the torch going. After about a 10 minute rest, four of us continued on for another 3.5 miles. That stretch was more hilly than the first and since we were down to the elites (I say that with a grin), the pace picked up a little more in the beginning. We were around 8 minutes for a while. Thank god that one of the guys started to get blisters and had to slow. I was getting beat and it was getting hot. Part of my issue was that I had just run 11 the day before and I rarely run on consecutive days. Also, there were no gallowalks which I do on any run over 3 miles. No more complaining but I was beat. I carried the torch for the last mile and when I heard that our next exchange zone was KFC in New London (CT), I was psyched because I had $7.00 on me. As we approached I had a KFCgasm and we were finally done. I didn't have the balls to go in and get anything though. We hopped in the back of a pick-up and were brought back to work. We ran through the 10K at my PR pace and finished in 1:13 but I forgot to stop it for a while at our middle stop. Overall, it was a good day but very tiring. I went home and took a nap which is rare. Also, I booked for Pop Century for the week. I had heard that it was closed out for marathon weekend but maybe because it was for 9 nights they could do it. Who knows.
Scott
Great job on the pace especially following the 11 mile day!
