Well it took me almost 43 and a half years to reach the 200 medal landmark......I guess an extra 10 days to blog it won't hurt...........
When I resumed Running in May 2017 after a 9 month sabbatical my medal tally stood at 167 and systematically for the past 2.5 years I've closed in on the 200 landmark
Going into 2019 I was of the opinion by the Fall I would be in a position to reach that point.......I felt quite strongly that such a landmark should happen here in Philadelphia,home for the past 32 years and venue for more of my medal haul than I can remember
The unexpected age group award medal in the recent "Run For The Blue" Market St 5 Miler meant I was now at #199 and the 5k at The Rocky Run would yield #200,as has been my won't the last two years prior I signed up for the "Italian Stallion Challenge" to run the 5k and 10 miles to earn the bonus medal, I not only wanted #200 to be here on "home turf" but also mean something I didn't want the "freebie bonus medal" to be #200
One drawback of a November race at 7am is the potential weather,it was particularly brisk when I arrived at Eakins Oval around 6.30am but I could be grateful for my omnipresent pre race nerves serving as a distraction to the cold
You'd think at almost 44 years of racing I'd be used to the routine by now.....and yet I still get Butterflies in my stomach the morning of a race,perhaps the magnitude of the occasion was why said Butterflies felt they had boots on,how nervous was I ?........let's just say it was a minor miracle I kept my pre race cup of Tea down upon leaving home just after 6am......
Having gotten sick in the build up to the race during the week I felt it wise to" back off the pace" a little in the 5k,if it were just the 5k I'd have "left it all out there" but knowing I was required to return 25 mins later to tackle a 10 miler it felt that "caution was the better part of valour"
Splits of 6.23-6.30-6.25- and 53 brought me home in 20.11.2 off of 6.26 mile pace,slower than I'd have liked but given my disposition I took the "Dirty Harry" approach a man's gotta know his limitations"
50th overall and 2nd of 142 in the age group, to now quote Al Pachino from "Scent Of A Woman" I'm just getting warmed up.......
Back over to Eakins Oval from the Art Museum steps to the corral I waited for the 10 mile race, as was the case last year the 7.45am start got pushed back 10 mins to accommodate some of the slower 5k runners still out on the course given how brisk it was I could've done w/out that but it was what it was
Recalling the Philly Runfest 1/2 marathon from June when I went out conservatively over the hills in East Falls b4 romping over the flat of Kelly & River Drives I took it easy for the first half of the 10 miler,7.04-7.08-7.14-7.48-6.23 {35.37} if you're curious to the disparity of miles 4 and 5 all you need to know is this mile 4 is up Drago Hill......and mile 5 is down Drago Hill.....
Reaching the turnaround between the the Conrail bridge and Falls bridge I was 54th,symbolically and physically I pushed the sleeves of my long sleeved running shirt up.....it was time to get serious....
The final 4 miles replicate my weekly tempo run...of course in a tempo run I'm at mile 4 of 8 miles today I was at mile 9 of 13 but the mindset was the same.....get it done
6.48-6.58-6.45-6.45-6.19{33.35} a negative split to come home in 69.12 off of 6.56 mile pace
42nd overall and 1st of 78 in the age group,for the "Italian Stallion Challenge" I was 21st overall but 1st of 50 in the age group......not a bad mornings work and it wasn't even 9am yet!
Having Mrs Shamrock Warrior present for the races meant everything,I recall a Philly Marathon in the early 2000s when I saw a handmade sign in the crowd that said "P Diddy doesn't run this city,my girlfriend does" and thinking how lucky that runner was to have that kind of love and support......fast forward to now I don't have to wonder what that feels like,I know firsthand what that feels like and for that I am forever in your debt........
To borrow a quote from Worlds recently" it's never me it's we" sure it's me putting in 55 mile training weeks week in,week out,it's me making sacrifices,making sure the finances are in place to run,travel,etc but I didn't do this alone,I've had some help,I always say my running is a God given talent and for that I thank him after each training run and race,The Auld Fella for giving me my start in running way back when in 72,that nite I just wanted to stay in one piece,these days I think about the next race and or the next target
To my family,friends,co workers who have supported me over the years,to my former coach who's pearls of wisdom still resonate w/ me now some 10 years later,to the friends I've made in the running community who's encouragement keeps me coming back for more I could have done it w/out you......but I'm glad I didn't have to
To the Holy Trinity of Irish Milers, Ronnie Delaney,Eamon Coghlan and Marcus O Sullivan thank you for the inspiration,I can never achieve what you guys did in your careers but it's because of you I wear my green Ireland running vest w/ pride in the hopes that in my own small way I can emulate you
So what's next now that #200 has been reached? I won't deny #300 is a target,10 medals a year for the next 10 years provided I can stay injury and illness free and motivated
2,000 miles for the year is a legit target also as I prepare for one final road race of the season at the Rothman 8k and then prepare for the indoor track season
