We had to walk a couple of blocks from the 2.8 mile finish line to the start line of the 1 mile race. It was a long tough walk. It was that old familiar feeling of the last mile of a marathon. Was this mental of physical? I think probably both. I watched some of the runners just running the mile race warming up and looked at them in envy. I remember feeling like that a few hours ago.
We had a delayed start as the hundreds of us waited in the start corral. The wait was driving me crazy but I think it did me some good.
Was it the other runners? Was it the idea we were almost finished? Was it the thought I would hit my goal? Was it the energy at the start line? Was it the AC/DC as the start gun? It might have been everything. I was ready to cut it loose.
It took me about 2/10 of a mile and I was moving. I was moving good and picking up steam with every step. The course was flat and the only problem were the turns. I finally looked up and in the distance could see a finish.
I cut it loose. I was passing runners left and right but it was not about passing runners, not about time or about pride. It was just about doing what I said. I was determined to leave it all on the course. Hold nothing back.
After 6 minutes and 39 seconds I crossed the finish line. I felt proud about the finish and knew I did what I set out to do.
I had a lot of highlights. Great race times, a lot of fun, a few top 3′s, 2nd in the masters overall but one of my biggest highlights came a few hours later. Two scoops at Leopold’s ice cream! That is how you complete a great weekend of racing!
Lesson? Yes, Ice cream is great recovery food. 
Happy running….
