# 6202

That's my bib number for the HP Houston Marathon. I'm just hoping not to lose to 6,201 other runners. If I can beat just 6,201 runners, I will be pleased. I always look at my bib number as my seed place. Maybe I'll surprise the announcers like I did at the Jacksonville Gate River Run 15K, where I raced eventual Olympic Silver Medalist Meb Keflezighi at those US Championships in 2004 (gave him a good run on a stride prior to the gun):

Announcer: Meb Keflezighi has outkicked Abdi Abdirahman for the victory here at the Gate River Run in a fierce battle. Let's cheer on the rest of the top American distance runners at this year's USA 15K Championships.. every position counts! Here comes Ryan Kirkpatrick, wearing number 4 as he has placed well here before. In next is our first Masters runner, Dennis Simonaitis (would go on to run 2:18 marathon in 2004) wearing bib 40, and whoa, what's this.... some kid wearing bib # 862, from Webster, Texas, uh, Gabriel Rodriguez (as he pronouned it Rah-dri-guess). He must have had a great day out there, and that's why we run the Jacksonville Gate River Run....

What the announcer didn't realize was that I was not really having a good day, running 48:44 after going through the 5K in 15:47 and slowed down to 32:20 by 10K on a warm, humid day. I was getting stale with my training and was on the verge of needing a break and was quite fortunate to hang onto a Top 25 finish at these US Champs. Oh yeah, so back to 6202. My bib number. I will be a complete unknown, especially with my secret growth that only a select few of you may have noticed. Only time will tell...

And time is telling us all that the race is within 2 weeks. Wow. Time flies. That is exactly what I am banking on in the marathon. I want to be racing, focusing, running hard, and the next thing I want to see is Mile 15 flying by and it's only felt like 20 minutes! If that happens, I know I'm having a good day.

Well, I am now well within my taper. I capped off a 100-mile week last week with a 20-miler a tad under 2:02:00. Last night I had a 48-min run and I was so paranoid. The Running Gods were out to get me. First, I stepped into a hole in the middle of the road (where I run) within 10 minutes of running. Then, there was some debris on the pitch-dark streets that I barely made it over without falling. The whole run was a mental headgame- are my hamstrings tight, is my calf okay, why is my back tight, am I running funny? Amazing how such a big race will make us so paranoid and anxious.

Concerns: the weather. I have a gut feeling that this will be a warm marathon. A cold front is due to hit tomorrow night, but I am not sure if it will linger for long. A warm marathon will be bad for my competition, but will make an already difficult task (covering 26.2 miles as fast as possible) even more daunting. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens with the weather. I am pretty sure there is no Austin for me. It's either Houston or bust and get on with the season. Good thing I thrive in hot weather.

Alright, it is off to bed and to find a gift for my 2-year anniversary. I will take any suggestions. What do I get a wife who has everything? (Ha!). Till next time, Press On!!! people and try to stay sane giving the approaching race that lies upon the horizon...