Part Four in the Tribute to Norm Series
More fun in the heat
That first year of running together demonstrated a couple of things: first, though Norm had started ahead, he wouldn't stay ahead for long, and; I was bad in the heat, but he was worse, by far.
The next year we'd both signed up for the Indy Mini, my first Indy. I'd failed to complete the Crane Mini that first year, and I needed some redemption. I was better trained, so much so that I even signed up for the Louisville Mini the week before. I planned back-to-back minis, not recommended, and I would pay for it.
Louisville had been cold and rainy, Indy the opposite. It was the first year Indy paid for professional Kenyans to run, the first year of going really big, and there were many more firsts. This was the first year Powerbars went really big, so big they were being handed out to all runners in their goody bags. Many runners, inexperience with such technology, decided to get an edge by eating it right before the race.
(An aside: never try new nutrition at the starting line. It's a clear invitation to disaster.)
We lined up, several of us, but notable was Norm, Galloway, and myself. We took off, each with different time goals in mind. Many of us had just run terrific races at Louisville, and hoped for more, but the heat soon dispelled any such dreams. It was in the lower 70's and climbing, humidity in the 60% plus range, dewpoint was high... yup, bad long distance racing weather. What had race quickly turned into a run. No matter - it just wasn't a day for good times.
It became something worse for many others. Those Powerbars were coming back up all over the course. Runner after runner was doubled over roadside heaving up the gooey masses. It was becoming miserably hot, and everyone was beginning to suffer.
Though it took forever, the event did finally end. Galloway and I met at the prearranged meeting area and waited for Norm. Time dragged by, and Norm was far behind his projection. That was no surprise, we had all been off, but it was really getting to the point we were worried. His reputation in the heat by this time was well-known, but just as we were about to panic, we could see his staggering body lurching our way. We yelled, waved, and he staggered by. We couldn't believe it. We knew he had to have seen us, but when he didn't come back, we went looking for him. We found him, leaning against a tree, incoherent. When he finally came to, he had no idea how he'd arrived at the tree. In fact, he remembered very little of the long race he'd just run, which likely as not was a mercy.
Tomorrow: 19th Century Trekkie
More fun in the heat
That first year of running together demonstrated a couple of things: first, though Norm had started ahead, he wouldn't stay ahead for long, and; I was bad in the heat, but he was worse, by far.
The next year we'd both signed up for the Indy Mini, my first Indy. I'd failed to complete the Crane Mini that first year, and I needed some redemption. I was better trained, so much so that I even signed up for the Louisville Mini the week before. I planned back-to-back minis, not recommended, and I would pay for it.
Louisville had been cold and rainy, Indy the opposite. It was the first year Indy paid for professional Kenyans to run, the first year of going really big, and there were many more firsts. This was the first year Powerbars went really big, so big they were being handed out to all runners in their goody bags. Many runners, inexperience with such technology, decided to get an edge by eating it right before the race.
(An aside: never try new nutrition at the starting line. It's a clear invitation to disaster.)
We lined up, several of us, but notable was Norm, Galloway, and myself. We took off, each with different time goals in mind. Many of us had just run terrific races at Louisville, and hoped for more, but the heat soon dispelled any such dreams. It was in the lower 70's and climbing, humidity in the 60% plus range, dewpoint was high... yup, bad long distance racing weather. What had race quickly turned into a run. No matter - it just wasn't a day for good times.
It became something worse for many others. Those Powerbars were coming back up all over the course. Runner after runner was doubled over roadside heaving up the gooey masses. It was becoming miserably hot, and everyone was beginning to suffer.
Though it took forever, the event did finally end. Galloway and I met at the prearranged meeting area and waited for Norm. Time dragged by, and Norm was far behind his projection. That was no surprise, we had all been off, but it was really getting to the point we were worried. His reputation in the heat by this time was well-known, but just as we were about to panic, we could see his staggering body lurching our way. We yelled, waved, and he staggered by. We couldn't believe it. We knew he had to have seen us, but when he didn't come back, we went looking for him. We found him, leaning against a tree, incoherent. When he finally came to, he had no idea how he'd arrived at the tree. In fact, he remembered very little of the long race he'd just run, which likely as not was a mercy.
Tomorrow: 19th Century Trekkie
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