5K - Turkey Trot - (O)

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- What a day. My favorite running event in terms of tradition and I hope it lasts for years to come. Met up with Phil, Vivian, Andrew, Tony, JDP and Beckster for the 4th Annual Reed/Hudson/JDP 5K Turkey Trot.

This is the first time in a race I've gotten off to a good start. Two starting areas led to me getting to run without being stuck in a crowd. Ran into JDP and Drew in the first quarter and showed off the Team Turbo shirt. Hung around with them and couldn't believe how open the course was. First mile at 7:40 for crying out loud. Usually I'm getting 20 and 30 second dings in that first mile.

Still hung with JDP by the turn and was very surprised that my legs and all still felt strong. Picked up the pace here and there. Actually pulled ahead of JDP for much of the back stretch. I still just kept feeling great and basically just thought the end was close so I pushed the pace. I could hear some rapid footfalls behind me, so I had a hunch JDP was on my tail. Knowing he has an extraordinary kick, I had already put the odds of him blowing past me at the finish at about 4 to 1. So I thought (as any good team member should) maybe I could earn him a few seconds in the last mile while he tailed.

Hit a nice stride and just picked people off left and right despite the crowd of runners on the left side of the path. This race finishes in a different spot each year, so I tried to figure where it was going. We ended up going up the ramp and to the left of the pool complex, so I kicked it in to about 90 percent as I still couldn't see the finish. Not surprisingly, JDP blows past like I'm standing still (he must have sub-4 min speed in those legs) but pulls off his turbos as the path took a slight turn. So I pull ahead again. We take another turn, JDP again blows past at unreal speed. But again, no finish in sight. So now I'm thinking that I'll just hang with him and spare myself the ordeal of him passing me for a third time.

I say, "Lead us in, Turbo."
He says, "No. Nope. I'm done."

He'd ended up burning out his jets a bit early. So I pulled ahead, spied the finish, kicked in to 100 and ended up with a 23:40 (which for those keeping score is the same as last year, after a month off of running my best times). Considering I've had three runs and no bikes in a month, I was pleased as punch. Tony, who used this course as his first run ever four years ago and has since turned into a star CC'er and track runner, pulled a sub-20 and brushed it off just like only a 17-year-old can.

Beck ran like a hero and put in a 33. They'll be plenty more to hear from this bird in the future. All guts, all the time.

And, we got to enjoy the post race festivities at Phil's. So rad. I love this race and I'm glad I put in a good one this year. It's the greatest way to start a holiday...friends, a little exercise and boatloads of coffee and food. And a few dozen Pre quotes don't hurt neither.