Of Rabbitt and Buffalo

Before any more discussion of Buffalo, I must share some advice from a Rabbitt:


Step By Step
Eddie Rabbitt


She seems a million miles away
When she walks by
You don't know what to say
You gonna make a move
You better make it now
And don't be afraid
'Cause love will show you how

You take that first step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she's the one you're dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don't you know step by step
Step by step
You'll win her love

She looks too beautiful to touch
But your heart keeps talking to you now
Don't give up
You think you see something in her eye
But you will never know until you try

But you gotta take that first step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she's the one you're dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don't you know that step by step
Step by step
You'll win her love

Second step
Third step
Don't you know step by step
Step by step

First step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she's the one you're dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don't you know
That step by step
Step by step
You'll win her love

Second step
Third step
Don't you know step by step
Step by step

First step
Ask her out and treat her like a lady
Second step
Tell her she's the one you're dreaming of
Third step
Take her in your arms and never let her go
Don't you know that step by step
Step by step
You'll win her love

Ahh, that hits the spot. Now where was I... Yes, Buffalo...


Buffalo was a clusterfuck. That's the best I can say. It was one of those races where the 1/2 marathon shared the course with the full for a portion of the run. I've seen this before. There are so many 1/2 ers and so few full runners....something bad is bound to happen. After the 1/2 course the full was a fuck up. There were unmarked intersections, traffic on the course, absence of water, no crowd support, and high heat. It sucked. But...I'm glad to have run it well and to be done with it. But the last 5 miles was the slog of my life. I was so delirious and out of it. I actually started to talk aloud to myself while running past people on the street (like a homeless guy).

Race breakdown: I averaged about 7:55s until mile 18...then the heat and lack of water kicked in. I ran a 9 and then fought to hold 9:30s and the 10s for the last couple. Ouch it hurt. Some of you will recall that I wrote about the perils of going out too fast, of "jackrabbitting" with the crowd and then dying. I really don't think this was me. Three weeks ago, I did 8:05s for 22 without an issue. Perhaps Sunday's slightly quicker pace tore me down too much, but I don't think this caused the crash. Proper water would have made this a much better--faster--race, I believe. I also want to say that I'm not unhappy with my time. I am happy with it, in fact. I just don't like to finish in such a form--10s for the last few. I'd rather run 8:30s the whole way if that is to be my average. I guess I'm a purist.

Soon, I'll start training for some sprint triathlons. More on that in the days ahead.