A Near Victory
Before I moved to Colorado (nearly four years ago), I think the longest I ran was two laps around the middle school basketball court during gym class. Moving to Boulder brought about new things like mountain scenery, obscenely liberal politics, and an opportunity to burn more calories in one hour than I would in several weeks of east coast living. And oh yeah, it brought about the chance to run in the World's largest 10 kilometer road race - errr, something like that.
This year's Bolder Boulder took place on Memorial Day in some pseudo-city on the Front Range. Almost 45,000 juiced up runners took to the streets of Boulder to run a race that would eventually be won by Berhanu Adanne who took a red-eye from his native Ethiopia and choppered in to the starting line. Actually, he probably lives here or something.
Though I've since moved to the lovely Vail Valley, I was able to chopper down (separate from Berhanu) to the also lovely foothill paradise of Boulder. (I actually drove, but I really need a chopper for stuff like this) This town was an absolute zoo (people not panda bears). I had to park three miles away from the start and then take an excruciatingly painful shuttle ride through a town that, on this day, consisted of more New Balance footwear than tie-dyed hacky sacks.
For the majority of this bus trip, I was nearly certain of missing my starting time. In which case, I would have to run in a later heat and wouldn't be credited the time between my heat and the one in which I actually began the race. If I missed that time, Berhanu and his Ethiopian buddies would totally kick my ass and I would have no way of winning the 2006 Bolder Boulder!
I begged the bus driver to let me out when we were stuck in traffic about two blocks from the start but he cited strict guidelines from the big wigs at the bus station that he couldn't let me off. After giving him my sob story about the chance of not etching my name in Bolder Boulder history, I realized Boulder was a city that priding itself in sticking to guidelines, rules, and regulations, so the decision was made not to push the issue. The bus doors finally swung open and I sprinted for the start of the largest 10 kilometer race in the World - err, something like that.
You're mine, Berhanu!
Unfortunately, getting to the starting line in time for the gun to sound was the only victory I would obtain on Memorial Day 2006. Though my attempt at capturing the title was valiant, I was edged out by a narrow margin of 22 minutes 10 seconds. Berhanu ran an impressive 29 minutes 37 seconds, so I'll leave you to do the math; just don't forget to carry the one.
Jog, run, sprint, or chopper your way over to your computer and email John Poole at poolejohn@gmail.com
This year's Bolder Boulder took place on Memorial Day in some pseudo-city on the Front Range. Almost 45,000 juiced up runners took to the streets of Boulder to run a race that would eventually be won by Berhanu Adanne who took a red-eye from his native Ethiopia and choppered in to the starting line. Actually, he probably lives here or something.
Though I've since moved to the lovely Vail Valley, I was able to chopper down (separate from Berhanu) to the also lovely foothill paradise of Boulder. (I actually drove, but I really need a chopper for stuff like this) This town was an absolute zoo (people not panda bears). I had to park three miles away from the start and then take an excruciatingly painful shuttle ride through a town that, on this day, consisted of more New Balance footwear than tie-dyed hacky sacks.
For the majority of this bus trip, I was nearly certain of missing my starting time. In which case, I would have to run in a later heat and wouldn't be credited the time between my heat and the one in which I actually began the race. If I missed that time, Berhanu and his Ethiopian buddies would totally kick my ass and I would have no way of winning the 2006 Bolder Boulder!
I begged the bus driver to let me out when we were stuck in traffic about two blocks from the start but he cited strict guidelines from the big wigs at the bus station that he couldn't let me off. After giving him my sob story about the chance of not etching my name in Bolder Boulder history, I realized Boulder was a city that priding itself in sticking to guidelines, rules, and regulations, so the decision was made not to push the issue. The bus doors finally swung open and I sprinted for the start of the largest 10 kilometer race in the World - err, something like that.
You're mine, Berhanu!
Unfortunately, getting to the starting line in time for the gun to sound was the only victory I would obtain on Memorial Day 2006. Though my attempt at capturing the title was valiant, I was edged out by a narrow margin of 22 minutes 10 seconds. Berhanu ran an impressive 29 minutes 37 seconds, so I'll leave you to do the math; just don't forget to carry the one.
Jog, run, sprint, or chopper your way over to your computer and email John Poole at poolejohn@gmail.com
posted by John Poole at 9:03 PM
2 Comments:
Dude, you were rockin' out some 5 minute K's there. I have no idea what that means, but congratulations.
What happened to your links, there, tough guy? Edit-me?
Rock out some www.blogrolling.com. Make your life that much easier, Prefontaine.
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