Tomorrow I’ll look at the big data, from whence we can drill into the details. Times and conditions and whatnot. But for today, I’m just going to enjoy the inexplicable. Apparently I came in first for the half marathon. It wasn’t a super fast time — maybe 1:41. Slower than last week but faster than yesterday. But it was good enough for a medal with an Arabic number “1” engraved on it. So while yesterday the chant was “first is worst” today’s would probably be “First is inconceivable! And yet it is… Serendipity reigns supreme!” That’s a bit of a mouthful but the reason for the supreme tag is that according to cofounder Christopher Regan, I’m at 81 Pizza Race Photos and thus have leveled up to the 8th level of Team Pizza Racers, the Supreme Pizza level.
Woodley Park in Van Nuys is a mixed use area — there’s a water reclamation station, a military installation with many a Humvee parked along the fence line, a golf course, a Lake Balboa launching area, and a bike/walk path. There’s also a fair number of ducks, enough to warrant their own cross walk:
It was here that the Summer of Fun Half Marathon was being held, along with a 5K, 10K, and 15K. Michelle of A Better World Running mentioned that at least half the field of runners were doing the 5K. I was surprised by the turnout — it was quite a crowd, way more than I was expecting.
The course itself is a pleasant lollipop of a run, enabling half marathoners to see in their two loop stretch all the aforementioned mixed use areas. I didn’t capture the whole experience in my on-the-run photos but here are a few just because:
On my last lap back, I caught up with Dee Dee Urquhart who was one race closer to her Everest Status with The Double Agents branch of the Marathon Maniacs/Half Fanatics club.
10 – Everest
52 or more Marathons + 52 or more Half Marathons within 365 days.
OR
30 Marathons + 30 Half Marathons in 30 US states, countries, or Canadian Provinces (any combination) within 365 days.
OR
20 Marathons + 20 Half Marathons in 20-40 countries within 365 days.
The final segment of the Summer of Fun course had us going through the pedestrian tunnel to the other side of Woodley Avenue, which meant for a slight incline at the end. As is typical for me, I don’t photograph well in mid-stride but this one’s ok:
And afterwards, when I was told I placed first, I thought I should grab a shot with Co-Race Director Michelle to commemorate the event.
