2012 Pat's Run 4.2m Race Report!

I always feel like
Somebody's watching me!

Over the past year or so, I've transitioned from wanting to run EVERY race possible and instead focusing on a few very specific races.  I figure that if the elite runners wax their bikini area, I should too run only run 2 or maybe 3 key marathons hard in a year, they probably do it for a reason. Now, that doesn't mean that I haven't done some killer smaller races....but about a month before a major marathon I get pretty hyper focused on that race.

So, sometimes a race sort of gets overshadowed.  This is exactly what happened to Pat's Run.  It is a local 4.2 mile race that I've done the last three years 2010 here 2011 here, but have never actually ran it.  This year was no exception.  The goal was to walk with my wife and son, soak up some Arizona sun, and try not to pee on the racecourse like I did in 2010.

For me, the day actually started hours before and 13 miles away.  In keeping with my Eugene Marathon obsession, I decided to get my long run in before the race.  So, I drove to a  point that was 13 miles from the start and got to running.  Now, I'm not sure if it was the fact that I had to get up at 3:50am, the fact that I had a bunch of coffee before I left the house, or because of the steak dinner I had the night before....but I had ISSUES during the run.  Note to self: If you pass a McDonalds and have "that" feeling, for everything that is holy, STOP.  The feeling will not go away and you WILL end up duckwalking through an intersection to the local 7-11.

Anywhoo, once I finished pooping, closed out a pretty rough run, and got to the starting line, I found Jeff and Suzanne hanging out waiting the HOUR that it took us to get to the starting line.  I had received some txt messages from Jeff saying that he was in the last corral "right behind the dead people".  It was actually good to meet up with some runners and talk all things running.  I'm coaching Jeff towards a sub 2 half marathon in Pasadena as long as we can get his crotch muscles to cooperate so between his race and my race coming up we were like two old ladies around a quilt.

I don't care what he thinks, Jeff doesn't look a day over 80 years old - let alone dead

Pat's Run is actually the single biggest running event in Arizona.  With 28,000 runners it beats the Rock and Roll AZ Full or Half (if you treat them as separate events).  This race is BIG.  So big that it brings out serious runners and crazy people alike.

Which of these "red" people is not like the other?

It's like a creepy where's Waldo

One interesting thing that I've found about races with over 10,000 participants is that they've reached critical mass to have more than a few crazies.  Fortunately, I was able to get my picture with one.  Hopefully he either has an "escape hatch" or didn't drink as much coffee as I did before my 13 mile run.

We're both smiling.  Umm, trust me?

I'm all for doing things for your animals, but booties?  For a 4 mile WALK?  Ohhhh kayyyy

The race itself was rather uneventful.  I chatted up a work buddy of mine and power walked my ass all the way to the finish.  It was nearly 85 degrees at the finish, but the race coordination was top notch and lack of water wasn't an issue in the slightest.

Family picture!  Not sure why I am leading with my pelvis?

It looks like I'm a zombie like in "Weekend at Burnies 2"

Like I said in my previous post, Pat Tillman was a true American hero and my (slightly inflated) $45 entry fee will go to help kids who couldn't otherwise afford it goto college.  Now, where were we?  Oh right, back to non-stopped Eugene Marathon coverage!