Nick, Becca, Paul and I got there quite early on and found the start line. I picked up my stuff for the race while Katy walked down and met us at the start. Then Nick, Becca and Paul wandered over to see the progress on the new Twins stadium.
Time came that I needed to warm up so I went around the start line and about 12 minutes in I saw Ryan Hall and Sara Hall warming up. Sara Hall was running the women's elite race tonight. So I decided to keep it rolling and follow them for a little while. Eventually I turned back before they did and while doubling back I said great to have you two here-as just before that we all had to stop at a stop light to wait for traffic.
The race was then delayed a little bit and I ran into Ryan again. I said there he is again and went over and talked to him for a few minutes. We talked briefly about where I was from and he asked how fast I was planning on going. I said I was hoping for about 5:30-5:45 without too much training over the winter here. He asked if I was a mid-distance runner to which I said yep, 800 meter and some 4x400. I also said it was too bad that we weren't down just a little bit towards the start so he could meet my wife, Katy, who is from Lake Arrowhead. (Right next to Big Bear, CA and Mammoth Lakes, CA where he's from) Here's a map of all three. But he had already met her a couple minutes before-to which Katy says she's proud of yelling Ryan! and meeting him with their California connection. So that was great!
Then I ran the race-with my goal in my head 5:30-5:45 and finished in 5:26! My mouth was so dry which made the run pretty bad but I did alot better than I expected. I ran into a couple guys from the Gustavus Adolphus CC team and I ran a little bit behind them and gained as the race went on. I didn't get any of them but I did a bit better than I was expecting.
Here I am at the halfway point!
We then watched the other more elite races after us-watching Sara Hall and Shannon Rowbury go at it and Jon Rankin and David Torrence as well! Torrence even broke 4 minutes in the true mile-well unofficially he did- and if it stands it'll be the first time on Minnesota soil! And we got to see it!
So, after the races we went to the finish and did some lingering with the athletes.
Ryan and Sara Hall
Nick, Ryan and me!
David Torrence
Flo Track and David Torrance
More Flo Track Interviews
We talked to Ryan and Sara a little more after the race which was quite the treat. Then I chimed in to David Torrence with some media member asking him if Jon Rankin ran himself out of the race a little bit by taking a bad line. Torrence gave a great answer and I'll have to find out if the quote I spoon fed that media member uses.
Anyhow, I'm distracted by Flotrack interviews right now but I may come back and add more!
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