Started 10 minutes late... but still managed to get 1st place in my age group!

That's Mattew, Chad, and me from right to left. Mattew placed 2nd place in the age group. Chad placed 2nd overall.

I left the house around 7:20am on my bike to Almaden Quicksilver County Park to run at the Quicksilver Challenge 10K race. The New Almaden entrance was about 10 miles from home, but I took a wrong turn on the way and made a big loop and wasted a couple of minutes. I thought the race started at 8:30am, so I was thinking I still had time when I arrived there a little after 8:00am. But, the race had already started at 8:00am sharp, and there were only two or three people attending the registration table and the finish line. So, I got my bib, pinned it to my shirt, changed my shoes and took off.

The piece of Powerbar I gorged down right before I took off was stuck in my throat for a while, but I've managed to swallow it (or spit it out) by the time I got to the steep single-track on the Day Tunnel trail. Another steep, but short climb followed on the Great Eastern trail. Everyone was nice and stepped aside for me My quads are still sore from running down the English Camp Trail.

The result:

57:10 -- 7th overall. (1st in my age group!)

44:48 on my watch. So, I started out 12 minutes late!

I met Chad Deherrera, a semi-pro mountain biker who lives just down the street from the park. He's a great guy. Quiet, reserved, and one helluva runner. He ran in his beat-up New Balance that looks like he's been wearing them since high school and the sole looked completely worn out (and he still managed to beat my time!). I'm sure he would run faster with the right shoes. I met him last week at the Almaden Times Classic 10K where he also beat me in the last mile. He ran the Quicksilver 10K in 43:56 - 2nd place overall. I will be cheering for him at San Jose Rock ‘n' Roll ½ Marathon on 10/14.

I also met Mattew Meyers, a high schooler who attends a local Christian high school. I think he's on the cross country team there. I met him at Mt. Madonna Challenge 12K in August, and also at Almaden TimesClassic 10K, too. Very friendly. I didn't know he was so chatty. We will runthe 5K at the Metro Silicon Valley Marathon on 11/4. It will be a short tune-up race before the Big Sur ½ Marathon on 11/11 which I will be running with my girlfriend (her first ½ marathon).

After the race, I biked to Gilroy to see my folks.

That's me snacking on some carbs in Morgan Hill.