2017 Amy Thompson Run for Daylight 5K Race Report
This is a race I ran two years ago. It's a race in honor of Amy Thompson, who was shot many years ago in the head. She survived three years before passing away. Since the first race in 1989, it has raised over $1.5 million dollars to support Brain Injury research and support in Kansas City.
Two years ago I ran because I knew the honoree, and this year was the same. Every year they honor someone who has survived a traumatic brain injury. This years honoree is Zeke Crozier, who is my neighbor and retired veteran of our military. He is retired because of his brain injury. His kids go to the same school as mine.
As I posted the other day,
his story is better told here. He's a good man with a good family.
He also started a business as a form of art therapy a few years ago. He makes custom art pieces out of bottle caps. I wanted you all to see some of his examples, because it really is amazing stuff:
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Really incredible stuff he is doing and raising a lot of awareness for wounded vets.
Pre-Race
Just as
@JShare87, I decided to prep for this race yesterday by drinking about 7 beers, grilling some awesome brats, eating some ribs, and making my famous french fries. We had a last minute BBQ with some friends, so as good as my intentions were about holding back, the beautiful day and great company lead me down the path of holiday gluttony.
Consequently, this morning was a little more explosive than normal before a race. Got up and had my normal peanut butter toast and half a banana, and then the fireworks started. 4 movements later and we were out the door.
As I mentioned before, my wife was running as well, so there was some debate on if I would run with her or try and medal in this thing. It's not a huge race - maybe 800 people or so, but I knew going in that if I could post a sub 25 or 26 I had a good chance at hitting at least third. My plan yesterday was to try and medal. My plan when I woke up was to try and finish without puking. So as I walked out the door, my wife asked if I was bringing any music to listen to. I said no, as I never listen to music during a race.
As we are driving to the race, we talk about how we are going to run, and I said I'm not sure yet. Here is how the conversation went:
Me: I think I am going to try and medal.
Her: Well, I wish you would have said something. I would have brought my phone so I can listen to music!
Me: What does that have to do with me?
Her: I asked if you were bringing music!
Me: I never bring music. How the heck was I supposed to know that me bringing music or not bringing music had anything to do with you bringing music?
Her:
So now of course I'm thinking: "looks like I'm running slow today."
The Race
So we get there and see Zeke and his family, say our hellos and walk around just getting ready. About 20 minutes before the race, we walk toward the corral and I tell her I need to warm up, so I run a slow half mile or so just to get the legs and heart moving. I come back and as we walk to the corral and say:
"I'm going to the front."
Her: Well, ok. Guess I'll stay back here."
Me: OK. Good luck! (kisses her and slinks off)
The gun goes off and here we go.
Mile 1. 7:17 Pace, HR 148
I'd forgotten how hilly this course is. It starts out with a really short downhill but is pretty much uphill for the first two miles. There are a couple of spots where it levels off, but the short downhills are quickly gone with another uphill on the horizon. I wanted to start at the front because I knew this race had a lot of kids. I also wanted to see who was in front of me that looked about my age. I counted 3-4 guys that fit the bill.
Mile 2. 8:29 Pace, HR 187.
I'm starting to hurt a little bit here. I wasn't getting passed by any old guys, so I knew I was in a pretty decent spot. I just needed to hold it as best as I could here because after mile two it is pretty much downhill to the finish. I also hit 195 on the HR during this stretch, which is pretty close to max for me.
Mile 3.1. 7:59 Pace. HR 188.
I come off of mile two, and I'm gasping here. The effects of the brats and beer and peppers and onions are really showing here. But I tried the best I could to put on the gas before the gas got put on me. I start feeling pretty good coming down the hill, and for the last half mile or so I am hitting about a 7:07 pace. At the end, you turn a corner and the last .2 is uphill (of course). I notice 2 of my earlier age group targets in front of me and threw the rest I had into the finish. Ran a 6:26 up that little hill and passed them easily before the finish.
The Results
I finished in 24:36, which was good enough for 2nd in my age group. So I indeed made it to the medal category. This is about 2:00 off my PR, but for the little training I have done I am really happy with this result.
I walk down to the finish line, and my wife is starting to come up the hill. She is looking strong so I give her the 'ol cheer and she finishes up. She was at 28:38, which is a PR for her of about 2:00 or so. She finished 5th in her age group, which had a lot of entrants (she is 11 years younger than me).
Anyway, a good day for both. She was happy for my medal and really happy with her time. Now it's time to have a beer and some food and enjoy a beautiful day here in KC.
A day we would not be able to enjoy with the many sacrifices of our military. I pray for them and their families every day.
As always when you stop by: 
that's an average morning for this wizard. 
