Win, Place, Show, Brian

The Table Rock Challenge was two Saturdays ago. It was four and half miles up to the top of Table Rock while gaining 900 feet in elevation, and then four and a half miles back down. I had driven up there a couple times beforehand but had never run the course. I figured my regular trail running regimen would mimic the climb and distance.

As always, it didn't take long for the speedsters to pass me, and for me to pass those who started too fast. It was just me and the hill. Through the neighborhood, it was challenging because it never flattened out, but it wasn't overly strenuous either. Only the last half mile on a dirt road to the turnaround point was difficult.

The race was sponsored by local firefighters. So, who do you think was waiting for me at the top? Smokey the Bear, that's who! The good news is I had my photo taken with Smokey before heading back down the hill. The bad news is the Polaroid photo is washed out. You can make out my usual running accoutrements: hat, sunglasses, and water bottle. Otherwise, it's hard to tell it's me. Smokey developed nicely, however.

Here's a view from Table Rock, taken a couple months ago:

Anyway, back to the race. When I met Smokey, I was comfortably in fifth place. Being able to figure out placement halfway through is the best part of an out-and-back race. The first two guys were uncatchable. Third and fourth were at least a minute ahead of me. And, of course, I was dilly-dallying with Smokey. After my photo, I passed Mr. Sixth Place. I was confident he couldn't pass me coming down the hill, but those things are never certain.

Like I said, the steepest part of the run to the top was the last half mile. So, I could really turn on the jets coming back down. And I was flying! Even past the end of the dirt road and back on the blacktop, I was hauling ass. I don't remember ever running that fast. When the grade leveled out a bit and the sight lines were longer, I discovered I had made up significant ground on third and fourth. And I still had three miles to go!

Third moved ahead of fourth some, while I gained steadily on fourth. I was leery of passing him with so much of the course remaining to be run. But I went for it, catching him in about another mile. I still had to move fast because 1.) I didn't want to be caught by the guy I had just passed, and 2.) third was still in reach.

Alas, I just couldn't make up any more ground. I ran hard, but finished in 1:02:26, 23 seconds behind third. (The winner ran the nine-mile course in 53:50. Insane.) The guy who I had passed with a couple miles to go finished just about a minute after me.

The top three finishers each received goodie bags. There was no award for coming in fourth. But I felt really, really good with how well I ran. I can't recall making up that kind of distance on racers ahead of me. Just passing that one guy felt good. If I had somehow passed the other one to come in third, I would have had to retire from racing because that could not have been topped.

So, I was a bridesmaid again. But between Table Rock and the Dirty Dash last Saturday (I did come in sixth there, after all), I feel great about the half marathon I'm running two weeks from Sunday. Now, I just need to squeeze in a long run. This weekend, maybe?

It'll be an interesting race not only because it's a road course, but also because it's mostly flat. Since arriving in Boise three months ago, I would guess 95 percent of my running has been up on the foothills trails. Why run on pavement when there are trails so close? And like I need to mention it, but 1:30 is the goal.