The Race

The course: The North end of Milvia St, a rolling quarter mile starting
at Hopkins. A net climb of 30 feet.

The scene: Silas and I are heading east on Hopkins, toward Milvia.
Another runner is heading west on Hopkins and turns onto Milvia ahead of
us. I'm going to catch him.

The prey: He has about a 20 meter jump on us and is running at a
slightly faster clip. I turn right onto Milvia and size him up. He
reminds me of Jim: large frame, deceptively fast. Weak ankles. His
shorts are blue.

The race: There is a psychic link among us. It's clear that only one
(or two) of us will come out ahead. It's also clear where the finish
line is - the top of the hill at Milvia and Berryman. Silas and I push
it on the uphill, then start blueshorts in on the downhill. He is
running on the left side of the road and we, in the spirit of fair play,
are on the right. He looks over his shoulder, taking stock. He is
toast.

We hit the last uphill, a steep one, and blueshorts is still about 5
meters ahead. Suddenly I hear a sound behind me - a cyclist is trying
to get into the mix. Si and I are closing the gap with blueshorts, but
halfway up the hill, the cyclist pulls even with us. Then she drops
back, and we pull ahead of blueshorts. We hit the top of the hill steps
ahead, and he crosses behind us, turning right on Berryman. The cyclist
catches up to us and continues on her way, and Silas and I take a
victory jog back home.

5.5 miles in 42:19.