After much back and forth, I decided to do the 7-mile run this morning that some other Gazelles have organized. Based on the much faster and deadlier Bomb Run on Friday mornings with Gilbert, Bernard and that crew, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to hang on this run, known variously as the “mini-bomb”, “smoke bomb”, “water bomb”, “firecracker”, etc. But it turned out all right, and it was a good introduction to the concept.
I had set my alarm and organized my things the night before, but in the back of my mind I still wasn’t sure I was going to go. I didn’t know the other runners very well and I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. Then, when I couldn’t fall asleep until after midnight, I was sure I would oversleep on this holiday or just talk myself out of getting up in the morning. Surprisingly, I didn’t oversleep, but I tried my hardest to talk myself out of going. My legs were heavy, my innards were queasy, I didn’t have enough sleep …. but after much delay and deliberation, I made it down to Barton Springs in time for our 6 a.m. start. The other runners were Jorge, Ivi, Patrick, Duane and Scott.
The pace was very leisurely as we made our way to the trail proper. We picked up Fletcher and Jeffery around the pedestrian bridge and maintained an easy pace around to the north side of the lake. At one point Patrick, Jorge and I started drifting too far out in front and someone from the back admonished us to “run as group.”
The idea of the run, as I understand it, was to run progressively faster, until the last 2 miles or so, when you are supposed to “drop the bomb.” We decided as a group to “drop it” at mile marker 4. Fletcher took the pace up, we stayed with him. By mile marker 3 it was Fletcher, Scott, Jorge, Jeffrey and myself. I felt ok, not great, I could see I was out of my league. After another half-mile I started to drop back a few strides and Scott said, “C’mon David, stay with us” as he dropped back to run with me. That was really great of him to do that. I had just met him that morning and here he was encouraging me. That’s why we love the Gazelles. It’s about the group.
Anyway, Fletcher and Jeffrey took off when we got to Mopac, and when Jorge and Scott turned it down a notch at the 2 mile marker, I was happy to trail just behind them as we cruised another half-mile, then turned home to Barton Springs.
All-in-all it was a good run. I like the concept and the group. My legs feel pretty dead after my 7-miler Saturday, my bike ride yesterday and this run, but I’m hoping they come back in time for the triathlon on Sunday.
