(one view from the support crew’s perspective)

(aka, a long report for a short race)

MrBimble ran another 100-miler this weekend through waist-high snow (in June). Cool, but you think that was hard, I had to run five miles with MasterPo (wink, or was it, he had to run it with me) at the Branford Road Race on Sunday.

The weekend started on Friday morning when Dr Mel announced a typical hot and humid forecast for Father’s Day. So I sent MPN a text suggesting he hydrate properly, and he immediately responded with “I’m sitting in the lounge at Heathrow downing a Guinness, perfect.”

On race day, I arrived on the Green and was greeted by Coolaid and daughter in stroller. Immediately followed by MPN. We chatted about our aches and pains and lack of running and were greeted by another mate, MPN’s nephew Brian, who is an EMT for the Branford Fire Department. We continue on and scan the Green looking for the usual suspects and run across Erica’s mom (sans Erica), another healthcare provider. Not a good start, all wanting to know if they’re going to have to come to our rescue. Well, we didn’t find any of the usual suspects so we head to the start.

Here’s the problem. They’re all standing on the sidelines in street attire. There’s Forrest, Eraser and Mort, watching? Mr. Wonderful (ok, we expect him not to run) and IGGY without a bib? No one else in view. Ok, there’s 1900 runners, so we just don’t see the rest.

MasterPo and I, turns out, were the support team for Team Tie-Dye, which includes Steve’s only non-running heir Carleen and a handful of her friends. You all know her, she sang the national anthem two years ago at the Bluff. The gun sounds and the ladies are excited not about winning, just finishing. The good news is the pace will reflect that.

The Team heads down Montowese and MPN’s coaching/fatherly instincts kick in. “Don’t get caught up in the opening wave by going out too fast, slow down, steady “your” pace.” We’ve all heard his sage advice before. At Caron’s Corner we’re joined by Coolaid and daughter then at Meadow we’re passed by PapaT. I pick it up just a little to say hello. PapaT doesn’t stick around, he wants to get the 5-miler over with.

Near mile one Coolaid wants to pick it up and looks for me to go along. I pass since I’m there to pace Team Tie-Dye, so don’t see Coolaid again. Beaten by a guy with a stroller, ugh?

Typical BRR, too hot. In the shade it was hot but fairly unnoticeable since my thoughts weren’t on my overheating, but at keeping a pace that wouldn’t burn out the Team. Before we reach Lenny’s we cross paths with M&M for some good cheer. Then we’re out in the open and it gets hot, quite hot. Drinking water was fine but I begin to find the sprinklers annoying since most couldn’t be avoided and just cause sweat to burn into my eyes. Thank goodness the distance was short and the pace steady so we make it to the lifeguard chair on Seaview without a problem (that was Carleen’s minor goal). Up 1st Avenue then downhill for a little respite.

There’s Shaggy for a high five and then up Pine Orchard to PapaT’s for some water (water, really?) The rest of the course was on cruise control. When we get back to Montowese there is more of the problem, as Dorothy, Sno, and Forrest are on the sidelines cheering.

Peanut met his sister on Montowese and led her toward the finish. He was told he couldn’t race so he held back and didn’t reach his goal of top 100 (actually came in 105, holding back). He and I drop off at Allstate (wait, where’s Allstate?) since I’m a bandit and he’s done. Carleen, MasterPo, and the rest of Team Tie-Dye head to a relatively easy finish.

Then, some of the usual suspects begin to appear.

These results I found without really looking:

Puppy 30:17
Peanut 33:57
Quiet Man 38:43
Melissa 39:27 (Puppy’s sweetie)
Snap Shot 43:44
Scoobie 43:44
PapaT 47:44
Coolaid 52:03
NOV 52:11
the Baron 52:34
Corinne 53:43
Carleen 1:00:53
MPN 1:01:09
OJ (?)

Shane 10:18

My race started out with a pub crawl (ok package store run) to find some Carlson Craft Brew for an after race pint or two for all, only to find that Town Line Wine and Spirits in North Branford was robbed.
I don’t know if the target was their stock of CCB or money, but since I’m writing this report, it was some CCB Vete Ol (why not, that was my target) (just the same, packie closed). Shortly after, I pass Ultra’s car parked at Cockaponset and knowing that he doesn’t drink, means that he’s an unlikely culprit. Just up Route 148, I pass Scoobie and Gutherie trekking up a hill. Their bikes lack panniers, and there aren’t any bottles of brew in their hands, so they either drank the stock or are just out for a ride.

I arrive in Chester with enough time to register but fear I’m in the same condition I was on Wednesday night (even though I stretched), with painful knee joints and back, so opt to run as a viking (same as bandit, but my ancestral heritage is viking and clansman, so if I’m going to pillage, I’m doing it as a viking). Coincidentally, MPN is running as a bandit/handler of young Erica, so I tag along.

We gather in the herd toward the back and were joined by IGGY. The ladies decide it’s a kick the guy’s butts day, so their goal is set. MPN and I hope just to get through it.

The gun sounds and we’re off. Ah, a flat course, actually slight downhill, relief.

Our pack of four sticks together for a half mile. Then, what’s this, who put this hill on this flat course? Well, we lose IGGY at the top while Erica looks for her wind and IGGY had found her legs. Things are working fairly well for both of the guy’s. My knees aren’t bothering me. Po is fine, and we spend our time looking (only slightly) back for Erica, protecting her from the masses, fetching her water (ok, guiding her into the water stops), etc.

Mile two comes up for us three, and Po says our splits are good. Where do these uphill undulations keep coming from? Still looking back for Erica who can’t find her father (Bob) anywhere on the course (he’s golfing), so she doesn’t have a target.

We approach the sort of cul-de-sac section around mile three where the leaders share the other side of the road for about 100-yards, and I decide to drop off and cheer the Peanut on.

First comes SilentRunner. Several minutes, the Peanut. Several more, IGGY, Some more, where did the Baron come from? Then my gang. Ah, fresh legs and some actual downhill for the final half mile.

As we approach the Chester Library, this adorable, sweet teenager finds her target and it is MPN and me, as she burns a ton of rubber-smoke in our faces. Po and I are forced from the course.

Though Po and I aren’t allowed to finish we find Lucy, Guthrie and Scoobie, and Sandy there to cheer our gang of BSer’s on.

Everyone mingles a bit with each other and other’s we know, all while I’m trying to make my way toward the beer truck. But the sign says, NO BEER. NOOOOooooo!

IGGY states she’s got a cold six of CCB in her refrigerator. But no invite. Damn, still no CCB. Saturday Vete Ol, I’ll have some yet.