Race Report: The American Fork Canyon Marathon
A Note from Fatty: Thanks to the American Fork Canyon Half Marathon folks for providing me with several photos, posted here.
Whether you’re racing on bike or foot, there are a few observations I would like to submit as axiomatic:
- Being wakened by an alarm (I use the “Ascending” ringtone on my phone, just in case you’re interested) at 3:30am is terrible; since it’s not the time you’re accustomed to waking, your first thought is, “There’s an emergency.”
- One of the very best things about doing a local race is that while you’re waking up at a horrible hour, you’re at least in your own bed. Preparing for a race in your own home — as opposed to in a hotel or campsite — is really nice.
- The two hours right before the race is much harder to cope with than the race itself.
Here’s another thing I’m learning: It’s a lot simpler to prepare gear for a running race than for a bike race. Instead of thinking about all the special equipment that goes on you (shoes, helmet, gloves) and the special equipment that you’re riding (mechanical suitability of the bike) and the special equipment you’re carrying to eat and drink, you just pretty much need to get dressed in what you plan to wear when you’re running.
Please, however: do not regard the above as me taking a step toward preferring the dark (i.e., running) side of racing. I’m not. I won’t. Ever. I promise. In fact, I promise a lot.
Are we good then? OK. Let’s talk about this race.
I Don’t Feel Over-Prepared
There are certain ways I’m just starting to realize The Hammer and I are almost ridiculously well-suited for each other.
One of these ways is that we both tend to go a little overboard in our pre-race preparations.
As we sat in a restaurant the evening before the race, we were both being quiet. Occupied with our own thoughts. Finally, I said, “You know, until I write a checklist for tomorrow, I’m not going to be able to think about anything else.”
“I was just working on mine in my head,” she replied.
Relieved, we rattled off what we planned to bring. I transcribed the list on my phone: Shorts, Shoes, socks, Tech-Ts, Long sleeve shirt, Gloves, Hats, Blankets, iPods, Gels, GPS, After-run clothes, Coats, Bagels, Race Bibs, cheese wheel, Hand warmers, Body glide.
No doubt, you’ve noticed that there are a lot of warmth-related clothing items in that list. That’s because both The Hammer and I have been camping in the mountains before, and therefore know that it would be closer to freezing than not-freezing once we arrived at the start line and waited around for an hour or so.
Strangely (at least to us), it seemed like we were in the minority in thinking about how nights in the mountains tend to get cold. When our bus dropped us off at Tibble Fork Reservoir, it seemed like most of the racers were standing around in their tank tops and shorts, clutching themselves and bouncing up and down, trying to stay warm.
We put on all our clothes, wrapped ourselves in our blankets, and sat down, feeling comfortable, smug, and rather too smart for this crowd.
Double-Plus-Nervous
Naturally, however, I was only comfortable on the outside. On the inside, I was a bundle of nerves. No, make that two bundles of nerves, because I was nervous for the race itself, and because I had to give a speech soon. And I didn’t have any notes to crib from.
Clearly, there was only one thing to do: go to the bathroom.
I walked over to the line of porta-potties and, just as I was getting near, one of them opened up and a person stepped out. Before the door could close, I stepped in and took care of the things that needed taking care of.
I stepped out, feeling better. At which point I realized that I had just completely cut the line for the toilet. As in, probably cut past a ten-deep line.
Sorry, ten (or so) people I line-jumped. I was honestly so preoccupied I didn’t see you. Or so I claim.
A Brief Aside About Starting Line Porta-Potties
I’m going to get to the race itself soon — honest, I am — but I want to make another observation that I believe all experienced racers (bike, run, tri or otherwise) will agree with:
No race promoter, in the history of races, has ever provided enough porta-potties at the starting line of the venue.
My theory is that, every time a race director contacts a porta-potty vendor, the race director says, “I have a [bike / running / whatever] race coming up that’s [distance X] long. How many porta-potties should I rent, and where should I put them?”
The porta-potty vendor then punches in relevant data into a computer program, which spits out a total, as well as how far apart they should be.
Unfortunately, the computer program was designed by someone who has either never been to a race, or who has been to a race, did badly, and now holds a grudge.
So, race promoters, here’s a thought: when the porta-potty vendor tells you how many potties you should have at the start line, triple it and you’ll be about right. If that means an extra $5 on my registration fee, that is just fine.
Now, back to the race. Or at least to the part just before the race.
Fast Start, Good Company, Wet Feet
A few minutes before the beginning of the race, I was handed a microphone and told to say a few words. So I — more or less — gave the speech I had thought about the night before (and published when I woke up early that morning), but scrambled. As in, I’m pretty sure all the parts were there, but the order was a little bit haphazard.
OK, a lot haphazard.
But people were still cool about it and seemed to realize that — like them — I was amped up and wanting to get started, so they applauded. I gave back the microphone and got into my place in the starting line.
We then had an on-time start, which — for a first-time promoter, doing a first-time event — is a seriously impressive accomplishment.
The Hammer and I started together, with the plan being that I would do my best to hang with her in the canyon, but that after that (and before that, if necessary) she should feel free to take off and pursue a fast time.
Weirdly, though, I was the one who pulled ahead. Gravity agrees with me, I guess.
In moments, I heard laughing and talking behind me. Girl talk sounds. It was The Hammer, chatting with Jilene and RabidRunner.
The three of them caught up easily, and — briefly — I was unnerved. I was hanging with the Power Trio of running women. I had no business being with this group.
Then Jilene and RabidRunner pulled away, and The Hammer and I ran together. The buzzer on my new Garmin 610 [Full disclosure: I bought this myself and got no special deal on it] went off, letting me know we had done the first mile. I looked at the time: 7:08. I had just run a seven-minute mile.
Whaaaaa?
“That’s downhill for you, I guess,” I thought to myself, but worried that I was setting myself up for an implosion the likes of which songs are written about.
OK, I just checked. I guess nobody writes songs about implosions. But they should.
During the second mile, The Hammer and I ran past where we got married. Unfortunately, the romanticness of this moment was overshadowed by the fact that we were tiptoeing across a flooded road at that moment. The river is running high right now.
One of The Hammer’s SuperPowers
The second mile went by. 7:28. Wow. The third mile: 7:12. Frankly, I didn’t know what to think. I had hoped for sub-8-minute miles in this very-downhill canyon, but this was wildly unexpected.
And then, as we were midway through the fourth mile, The Hammer announced, “I’ve got to pee.” (The Hammer was one of the people who didn’t get to use the porta-potty before the race started.)
This was a dilemma.
Ordinarily, it would not be a dilemma; I’d just slow to a walk as she surged ahead, and would keep walking ’til she caught me.
But on this race? I didn’t want to stop. I just didn’t know if I’d be able to recover the kind of pace that I had established (and seemed to be maintaining). So I said, “I don’t want to stop. I’m going to slow down a little when we see porta-potties; you go on as fast as you can and then catch me.”
And that’s what she did. She literally broke into a sprint as the aid station came into sight. By the time I passed the potty, she was inside with the door closed. Thirty seconds later, as I turned to look back, she was already back on the road.
One minute after that, she was back with me and we resumed our pace.
Our time for the fourth mile? 7:39. Which means The Hammer — if needed — can do a sub-8 mile including a pee break.
How many women do you know who can do that? For that matter, how many men do you know who can do that?
Go, Go, Go
We ran along together, and I began to realize I was having the best run of my life. Part of it was the elation I felt at being able to hang — during a race — with The Hammer. Part of it was the incredible realization that, even though I was going faster than I had ever run before, my lungs were not being taxed. I was taking big strides and letting gravity do the work.
Part of it was the comfort of being on a very familiar course. While I had only run in this canyon one time before, I’ve ridden it hundreds of times. It’s my favorite place to be, and I always knew exactly where I was and how much more was left of the canyon.
Part of it was seeing several groups of cyclists coming up the canyon, including a couple who called my name and gave me five as we crossed paths (and one guy who was even wearing a Fat Cyclist jersey — thanks, Jason!).
Part of it was that we could see the pace runner for the 1:35 group, and we were gaining on her.
We finished mile 5 in 7:01. Then, amazingly, mile 6 in 6:35. Mile 7 in 6:44!
Where were these times coming from? How was it possible that I was running this way?
Gravity. That’s how. Check out the elevation profile for this race, as reported by my GPS:
I had pulled ahead of The Hammer. I didn’t know by how much, but figured that in the same way she knew she should pull ahead if and when she could, the improbable converse of that equation also held true.
We broke out of the canyon with 5.5 miles to go. I knew that one of two things was bound to happen: I was either going to explode spectacularly within the next few miles, or I was going to finish a long time ahead of my best projection.
Go Some More
I ran along, no longer in a canyon but on a bike path winding its way through a golf course. My eighth mile shows I’ve run a 7:18.
I hear a voice.
“I’m just ten feet behind you, hang on a second!”
It’s The Hammer. While I thought I had left her far behind me, I have in reality gapped her by the enormous amount of ten feet.
I ease up for a second and we’re back together. I tell her the philosophy I’ve been evolving for the past mile or two. “This is the best run I’ve ever had or will ever have. I am going to absolutely turn myself inside out and get the fastest time I can today. If that means I’m sore or injured or puking my guts out the rest of the day and into tomorrow, that’s fine. But I really want to do good at this race.”
“That’s fine,” replied The Hammer. “I’m having only a so-so day, so let’s run together.”
We continued knocking out sub-8-minute miles. We run past Kenny and Heather, who are volunteering for the race, directing racers at intersections. Heather took this awesome picture of us:
Honestly, I’m just waving to Heather, although it may look like I’m warding off paparazzi. Or trying to spread my arms for maximum lift. Regardless, gotta love the cyclist tan lines on our legs, don’t you?
Anyway, at mile 11, we hit the only climb of any substance at all for the day, which gives us our only 8+-minute mile of the day — and that’s an 8:03.
Big Finish
As we hit the final mile, The Hammer says, “We’re finishing this together, right? No last-second surges?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, remembering the awesomeness of our Ironman finish. “We finish this holding hands.”
And then, with about 200 yards to go, The Hammer thunks me on the chest. I look to my left, thinking she’s directing my attention to one of my many fans. When I look back, I see that The Hammer has broken into a sprint.
Hornswoggled, I give it everything I’ve got, manage to catch her, and we do in fact cross the line together, holding hands.
1:36:56. Nine minutes faster than my stretch goal. Four minutes faster than her stretch goal. Only one minute slower than what I thought (and mistakenly reported) was her stretch goal.
I turned to her and ask, “What was that for?”
“Didn’t you see?” The Hammer replied. “There was a couple trying to pass us at the finish line. I couldn’t let that happen.”
And that, my friends, is why The Hammer is The Hammer.
Afterward
Here’s something that’s amazing: The American Fork Canyon Half-Marathon was a first-time event, put together by a rookie race director with a rookie team.
And they knocked it out of the park. And I’m not just saying that because I was involved in promoting this race. I’m saying it because it went off without a hitch. The race went beautifully and on-time, results were being posted on the fly, and they were serving french toast, fruit, and Italian ice for racers at the finish line.
People were hanging around afterward, relaxing; having fun. This wasn’t just a big success as a race, it was a big success as an event.
You watch: Next year this thing’ll fill up even faster; it’s going to become one of the premier races of the area. Not least because it raised $55,000 for local cancer survivors to use to help pay for treatment.
I have to say, it’s nice when — once in a while — everything goes just right.
PS: If you’d like to geek out over the details of our race data, you’ll find it here.
PPS: And, obviously, I’ve uploaded the race over at +3 Network, which means that by doing this race, we each earned $3.54 for World Bicycle Relief. Nice!
Comment by Jenn | 06.27.2011 | 12:21 am
Congrats to you both, great race report! Fatty, your love for The Hammer is clearly evident in your writing, and equally as beautiful. Good on ya.
Comment by Patrick #4091 | 06.27.2011 | 1:46 am
Great work guys!
Comment by a chris | 06.27.2011 | 2:00 am
Great story, good finish as usual (story and race).Those black shirts in the sun make me want to go lie down. But this race was over before it got hot, right?
Race started at 6:00am, pretty much everyone was finished by 9:00am. But I’ve never found these running shirts to be any hotter than other running shirts anyway. – FC
Comment by Miles Archer | 06.27.2011 | 6:46 am
I was at a race this weekend where there were enough portapotties. Really. Sharkfest Alcatraz swim had a couple of dozen and there was no waiting. I guess everyone else just pees in the bay during the swim.
Comment by Cookster | 06.27.2011 | 6:54 am
Good work the both of you.
I had a funny and extremely embarasing situation with a porta-potty at my first tri last month. I was in the line, I was at the front of the line. I saw a door with green on the latch, and I saw a lady with her pants around her ankles. The ground was nat quite level and the latch needed that little bit extra to close. oops.
One the pee-ing front, my ex has what we used to call a “power pee” and like The Hammer comfort stops were very short indeed.
I once opened the door to what what I assumed was a vacant outhouse, once — the occupant had neglected to lock the the door. She shrieked at such a volume when I opened the door that I very nearly no longer needed to use the bathroom anymore. – FC
Comment by nh_joe | 06.27.2011 | 6:57 am
“There was a couple trying to pass us at the finish line. I couldn’t let that happen.”
Fatty, you are a lucky man!
Comment by Limey | 06.27.2011 | 6:59 am
Brilliant, You two are the best, congratulations.
Comment by craig | 06.27.2011 | 7:15 am
Great race report and congrats on beating your stretch goals! You and the runner will be shocked and amazed when you come up to Boston next year to run the little marathon we have here. There are literally miles and miles of porta-potties.
Comment by Christina | 06.27.2011 | 7:17 am
I’d like to see you rally race promoters around the world to increase porta-potty availability! I like to get down to my “racing weight” before I get started and it’s hard to concentrate if there’s a long line.
Did I just share too much?
Congratulations! I’m tired just reading this. You guys did awesome.
Comment by Maggi | 06.27.2011 | 7:36 am
Great race report! Man, I already thought The HammerRunner was pretty darn cool, but I think that sub-8 mile WITH a potty break has moved her firmly into “Legend” status.
Congrats to both of you on your awesome times, and congrats to the organizers for pulling off such a great event on their first go! That’s pretty darn exciting, too. :)
Comment by Mark J. | 06.27.2011 | 7:39 am
Congrats Hammer and Fatty. Great pics too.
A few questions:
Exactly how much Fat Cyclist gear do you have? Just curious.
Do you mean how many Fat Cyclist clothing items have ever been created, or how many Fat Cyclist clothing items do I personally own? Either way, I’m too lazy to count.
When is the new Twin Six gear coming out (shorts, jerseys, bibs, etc.) ?
Twin Six is working on the design right now. We’ll be doing the pre-sale in July, with products being delivered in September.
And what is on the Hammer’s playlist?
Right now, I think there’s a lot of Three Days Grace, Disturbed, Evanescence, Social Distortion, Metallica, and Breaking Benjamin. – FC
Comment by rich | 06.27.2011 | 8:10 am
awesome job you two….a great write up and what sounds like a great event….(if you’re into running that is)
Comment by Robert | 06.27.2011 | 8:35 am
It is all about finding the right pre race bagel.
great job, I would love to join the fun next year.
Comment by Jenni | 06.27.2011 | 8:38 am
How was it on the knees, all that downhill running?
No joint pain (knees, hips, ankles or anything else)! but my quads and calves…hoo boy, that’s a different story. Getting up the stairs hurts. Getting down the stairs is nigh impossible. – FC
Comment by Colorado Mama | 06.27.2011 | 8:42 am
Great race, and I loved the photos. What a team y’all make.
Comment by Liz | 06.27.2011 | 9:06 am
Well done! Congratulations to both of you and to the all the other participants who raised so much money. Yea!
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.27.2011 | 9:18 am
Great Race and great report. What is truly amazing is your time, given that the picture suggests you have about a 28in ’stride’. Turnover must have looked like a Roadrunner Cartoon. I hear ‘Tip Toe, Through the Tulips…’ just looking at it!
I thought that same thing: “Do I really take such tiny steps?” But then I took a closer look and noticed that my left foot is actually in the air in that photo (notice my foot isn’t connected to its shadow). So my stride is bound to be at least 28.5″. What a relief! – FC
Comment by cece | 06.27.2011 | 10:25 am
Back from vacation in NY and was able to sign up for the +# network and World Bicycle Relief! Also shouted it out to a few friends!
Congrats on a great run! Love to live through you both vicariously! I can run a marathon and do incredible rides on the bike and I love to live the fantasies!
Cece
Comment by Kevin | 06.27.2011 | 10:47 am
Fatty and The Hammer,
Thank you for all your support! I feel so cool when I tell people I know the FC and The Runner personally. I quickly inform people of my “man crush” for Elden and how The Runner and I work at the same hospital.
Your comments on port-a-potties are dead on. The interesting thing is that when the toilet company plugged in the info and gave me a recommendation, I told them to double it and add a few more! I have never been to a race where there are enough and I am not sure what the solution is–maybe catheters!?
I hope we can double the amount of money for cancer patients next year! That’s right, the goal is $110!
Comment by Sara | 06.27.2011 | 10:53 am
Favorite word from the report: hornswoggled. Congrats on such a sweet run!
Comment by HeidiR | 06.27.2011 | 10:57 am
You and The Hammer are definitely made for each other! I, like Cece, love the vicarious races, especially running. I WANT to love running, but the truth is that I absolutely abhor it. Reading this actually makes me want to try it again…
Comment by Angie | 06.27.2011 | 11:17 am
Now that’s my kind of post! I like when you expound on biking, rides, races, training and your thought process concerning any of the above. I know I will sound mean to say this, but I don’t enjoy the fund raising posts. I know you gotta handle the business at times, but I really like the entertaining, witty blogs about biking. (I have donated to your goals, so I’m not a total curmudgeon). Anyway, loved this post! Congrats on your fast results. May the wind always be at your backs!
Glad you enjoyed it! And the fact that you donate, even though fundraising isn’t your favorite part of the blog, makes your donations extra-meaningful, as far as I’m concerned. – FC
Comment by Jim Miller | 06.27.2011 | 11:44 am
Along with Porta-Potties…..there always seems to be a shortage of TP…I got to the point back in the day where I would bring my own roll and when I was sure I was done i would leave it in the porta pottie for the next unfortunate soul
Comment by Ferd Berfle | 06.27.2011 | 12:08 pm
I never show up to a race without my cheese wheel either!
You have no idea how happy I am that someone caught that. Thank you for being that someone. – FC
Comment by Jeff | 06.27.2011 | 1:10 pm
You know, it’s entirely possible that that 10-deep line formed while you were in the port-a-potty. At least that’s the story I would go with. That way instead of shamefully admitting you accidentally cut in line, you could boast about your impeccable timing of getting into the port-a-potty just before the line formed.
I wish I would have thought of your version before writing my own. – FC
Comment by Tim Joe Comstock | 06.27.2011 | 3:05 pm
Sprinting to port-a-potties has consumed a major part of my life as a construction worker, although I doubt I ever did it with the grace of the Hammer. What a fine post, today, Fatty. Keep being you.
Comment by theguide | 06.27.2011 | 3:28 pm
Great race, both of you. The two of you really form a winning team. I had debated signing up for this race. But being someone that struggles to enjoy running, and I am trying, I didn’t. You make running sound almost fun though. I’ll plan on next year.
Just a thought about the +3 network. Does everyone know that you can earn kudos just for signing up? I see that less than half of the team has taken advantage of the free kudos. It’s simple to do, using the hand enter option.
Congratulations again on a successful morning!
Comment by Charlie | 06.27.2011 | 3:50 pm
Awesome job crushing the goals you set, both of you!
Hey, I was wondering: The Jilene you mention in your blog and Hillene Rabid mentions in her blog, are they one and the same?
Also, glad you didn’t run across any more suicidal squirrels…
Jilene is in fact RabidRunner’s Hillene. – FC
Comment by Nurse Betsy | 06.27.2011 | 3:54 pm
Whew…….glad we finally got the port-a-potty story.
Congrats on the finish.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.27.2011 | 7:01 pm
@Comment by Nurse Betsy
Whew???? As in PePe Le Phew? Or should you say Eeeeww?
@ Comment by Sara | 06.27.2011 | 10:53 am
While ‘hornswoggled is indeed a fine word. We need to have: “… axiomatic:” to show we care about more than: the john, the loo, the porcelain throne, ….(there I go fixating again).
Comment by roan | 06.27.2011 | 8:34 pm
Fatty, this was a wonderful post. I do wonder what marathon you are running to qualify for the BM ? Your Ironman, NYC Marathon performances, the recent sub-4′ marathon and now this abit a half, are smashing for your age.
Along the a porta-potty theme, I was able to yell at a porta-potty delivery truck driver that thought he would try to block me in the bike lane for the 3rd time in less than a mile, a classic navy term for a perfect double entendre, “Hey ! S**T HEAD !”. GOSH that even came out axiomatic at the time.
I am so far away from being able to qualify from the Boston Marathon (I’d need a 3:30 this year, or a 3:25 next year!) that it’s not even on my radar. The only way I will ever do that race is if I secure one of the fundraiser slots. Luckily, I’m pretty good at fundraising. – FC
Comment by KarinNH | 06.27.2011 | 9:03 pm
Great race report; it is almost–almost–enough to make me start running again!
I finally got my +3 registration to go through. Any day I don’t make the goal, I will throw money in a jar and at the end of the year write World Bicycle Relief a check for the difference. Now I just need to get my sons to join.
Comment by PDX-T | 06.27.2011 | 9:26 pm
That was an excellent race report; I’m doing a half this weekend and I hope that, while it’s not downhill, it’s as much fun as yours! I must say, looking at your entries on the +3 network is really making me want to get a GPS device. The 72 kudos I got for my 8-mile track workout looks awfully measly, and I’m going to have a tough time meeting your $1 per fatty per day goal. But I will try! : ) Thanks for the blog and for informing me of the +3 site!!
Comment by Howdy do! | 06.27.2011 | 10:51 pm
What?! You already have Garmin 610? Nice. It comes with a hart rate monitor/ strap also, right? Otherwise, great job.
I got the version without the HRM. I like it well enough that I just ordered another for The Hammer. Only thing — and this isn’t really a problem, just a preference — is that if the screen is showing more than two pieces of data (eg, time and distance), they’re too small to read at a glance when running. Luckily, changing between screens is really easy with the touchscreen, and setup is also very easy. Garmin is putting out some fantastic stuff lately. – FC
Comment by Howdy do! | 06.27.2011 | 10:52 pm
Heart . . .
Comment by MikeL | 06.28.2011 | 8:10 am
So the Hammer gave you a thump to the chest and took off. Are you sure she wasn’t trying to “half-wheel” you at the finish? That is what my wife does to me. The only problem is that we are ususally on bikes when that happens.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.28.2011 | 8:34 am
Great to see all the new pictures. Hope they were able to help that homeless guy in the blanket get something warm to eat, or a shelter to lay his head. Also “The Hammer” again shows her compassion and generosity helping the special needs runner finish. Or is that you looking ‘hornswoggled’?
That’s not a homeless guy! That’s Stanley Tucci! – FC
Comment by bikebakeandbeyond | 06.28.2011 | 11:06 am
Awesome job on the run and the write-up. I couldn’t help noticing that on the referenced Garmin Connect site, your best pace is listed as 0:39 min/mile or a max speed of 90.6 mph. Gotta love those downhills!
Briefly, I broke the sound barrier. The resultant sonic boom hurt my eardrums and embarrassed my wife, who told me I was showing off. – FC
Comment by Jennifer H. | 06.28.2011 | 11:24 am
Congratulations to you both! Wonderful write-up. The Hammer is amazing. I did my first 5K almost two months ago and now I’m up to 5.5 miles a run (few days a week)- much of my inspiration is you guys. Keep it up!
Comment by Sandra H. | 06.28.2011 | 1:26 pm
I want Hammer’s legs.
Comment by Heber Chad | 06.28.2011 | 1:53 pm
Fatty I think you should change your name to the Clydesdale Symbol and from hereforth be known as ‘The Athlete Formerly Known as Fat Cyclist’
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.28.2011 | 1:56 pm
Awesome!!! But, you knew that.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 06.28.2011 | 2:35 pm
@ Comment by Sandra H. | 06.28.2011 | 1:26 pm
I’m pretty sure if you want The Hammer’s legs you have to take the whole gruppo. As it says on many packages…”not for individual sale.”
Fatty, so sorry to hear that Stanley Tucci is now homeless, I hope you were able to help him in some way.
It’s RAINING in California again!!! Looks like a wet ride is on order for the afternoon. We promise everyone it will be HOT by Davis.
Comment by evil3 | 06.28.2011 | 5:38 pm
I don’t know if you noticed but the guy in the front left of this pic (#-44) is running on air. Also the guy in the back ground is also running on air. I don’t know what their secret is, but I believe you need to get into what they have going as that would make for some impact free running.
Comment by cece | 06.29.2011 | 7:19 am
Especially love the new pic in the blankie!
Cece
Comment by rabidrunner | 06.29.2011 | 9:19 am
I want The Hammer’s legs too.
And speaking of legs, when the “Power Trio” was running behind you, we were all admiring your legs (the bouncability of your shorts made it easy to do so.) After a few moments of admiration, the Hammer said, “I think I’ll just run back here. The view’s better.” I’d say that comparing your legs to the beauty of American Fork Canyon is somewhat of a compliment, yes?
Let’s go ahead and call it THE BEST COMPLIMENT EVER. – FC
Comment by Scott R | 06.29.2011 | 2:06 pm
Loved the post the first time, and love the new pic additions!
Definitely another ‘wish I was there’ time.
Comment by Angela | 06.30.2011 | 1:39 pm
Is the Runner now the Hammer? Did I miss something?
Love the blog!
The Runner has in fact digivolved into The Hammer, and has therefore received a nickname upgrade. It’s rare, but it happens. – FC