The Bounty

It started innocently as a 5K Turkey Trot. I was going for a sub 24 minute PR (personal record). I had been trying to go sub 24 for the last four years on Thanks Giving Day, but conditions were never quite right. The first two years I had ridden the 109 mile El Tour de Tucson four days earlier. Last year I thought I would surely go sub 24. I had been doing speed work, and really working on running faster. It rained on race day, and was so muddy that it was impossible to run fast. This year I have been running lots of miles on trails, with lots and lots of hills. I am getting ready for a long race in February. I hadn't been concentrating on speed at all. I still thought I might be able to to go sub 24. Philip decided to run this year too. And so it begins. A couple days before the race I heard rumors of a bounty. On me specifically. My Dad had offered to pay Philip $20 if he beat me. Philip had run a 22 minute 5K the weekend before so I figured he would make a quick 20 bucks. Thursday morning we lined up. I put Philip up ahead of me with the faster guys. After the gun went off I couldn't see Philip. He got a pretty good lead on me. There is a loop where you can see the runners ahead of you. He was about 45 seconds ahead of me. Half a mile into the second lap I realized that the kid just a little bit ahead of me was Philip. I'd know that cowlick anywhere. When I caught up to him I realized he was hurting. I thought about running with him to help him out. Maybe let him cross the finish line first. Nah, the little fart conspired against me, and I was going to PR. I patted him on the back on the way by. That's Philip getting his feet wet.

Like mother like son.

That's me coming over the hill. That kid ran in front of until the last 100 yards. His T-shirt said 2008 State Finalist. In the finishing chute I turned around to talk to him and the front of his shirt said swimming. I thought I was beating a State Finalist Runner.