My status, mile 9 vs. mile 10:
This was the 50th Virginia Ten-Miler, and my 27th. Chip time 1:51:19, 11:08 pace per mile, 10th of 20 in M70-74. Did ok the first 9 miles, but then both calves kept saying they were ready to snap, so I had a hard time with slow jogging or even fast walking. Still my all-time favorite race!
John Ashburn and me at sunrise, before the race, then after, at brunch.
Lynchburg, Virginia, Sept 30th, with Karen H & Lisa A before the race, and me afterwards trying to keep up the Waffle House breakfast tradition. At a 10:12.4 pace, this was my 26th and slowest Virginia Ten-Miler, but it still got me 3rd place in my age-group.
At the top, 2022 with Allen Vaughan (who was first in our age group). Flashbacks: in 1998, Edwin, Walt, Vic, BJ, Connie (and with those flowers in hand, did both Vic and BJ get an age group place that year?); in 2006, Elspeth and Edwin; in 2009, Tim and Edwin; 2010, Edwin, Sharon, Walt (night before, and after the race); 2011, at the finish. This year, 2022, I ran faster than the year before but placed 4th instead of 2nd in the age group. Should have trained more.
My favorite race of the year:
47th Virginia Ten Miler (my 24th).
Of the 15 men in the 70-79 age group, Allen was first (he’s much faster than I am — 1:28:34 for an 8:52 pace) and I was second (way ahead of the 3rd place man.)
Weather was perfect: sunny, clear, no wind, 48°F, 9°C.
As always this race, I insisted on Waffle House breakfast.
