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The eleventh race of the Grand Pricks Series, #6

April in January

This is the eleventh installment in the twenty one race series.  Most running mags who report on these races center around who won and quick times.  This blog revolves around the seamy underbelly in each race; the also-rans: the has-beens: the crippled: the infirm: the insane.

  These are my people.  Read on.

The Bourne Weary Traveler 4.91 Miler

January 7, 2007

The weather continues to mystify. 

Good friend Dave Malliaros chauffeurs me down to the race in style.  Payment for me taking him out to the bruising ten miler in Connecticut.  We make it to the race in bright sunshine and temperatures more suited for April.

It's early, an hour before the race and the vicinity is already teeming with RATS.  I make my way into the lodge and at once I'm assaulted by the funk fouled festering fumes of fried fritters and get ambushed by runners needing answers.

"What happened in Bristol?"

"Did you send flowers?"

"Did you know your in eighth place?"

"Who stole the Kishka?" Huh?  What a minute! Take a number!

The place fairly crackled with excitement, RATs seeing the standings set the place abuzz.  Apparently my amorous excursion to Bristol on New Years Day was hot news as well.

As were messieurs Peter Wallan and Peter Buhl suitably thankful for including them on a note sent along with some flowers to a certain female RAT who gave us all big wet slurpy kisses.

Yeah, you do all the races AND run around Ontario buck naked your bound to be in the top ten.

And where is the Kishka!  It was fat and round and firmly packed!

All in good time bon ami.

I back away from the group begging me for more information and pick up my number.

I circulate amongst the throng and find many familiar faces not seen lately. Dick Doran was there, betrothed Maryellen Sawyer, and GPS #5 winner Ken Jacobson.

The tried and true were out in force but there were notable exceptions: SRRs mighty Pete Brook, Ray Boutotte and his amazing Technicolor dream shorts (in Florida running Disney and possibly a nude race), and Ron Trippett.

Also a trash talking RIRRs Fred Gladu was MIA.  Fred was at Bristol and wanted a repeat of last years whipping of the Head RAT. Guess he never dried out from that turd-floater rain storm that nearly drowned the Hangover Classic New Years Race.

Pic courtesy of Mike Tammaro: Dave Tyler, Mike Tammaro, Jeff Gould, Coach G, Ted Ridout, and Dave Martin

The cameras are out and we all line up for pics.  I stand along NRAs Mike Tammaro and pin his shoulders and signal to NMCs Jeff Gould, this is his chance to take out the leader.  It caught Jeff for a second thinking about it.  Nah! he smiles, Peter Orni wasn't getting any more sympathy since he's kicking everyone's ass again.  That cards been played Pete, move on.

  Yes, that's a real t-shirt from Munich '72, as modeled by the immortal Rick Bayko,  next is Manny Arruda and Gail Martin

Pic courtesy of Mike Tammaro

After a round of Happy New Years to everyone, we all prepare for this little fun run, Folks are spread out due to the fact that is spring like conditions outside and we all gather for the start.

The race organizer makes a few announcements and as usual no-one can hear him or the start, which caught the pack mid yap. The group set off in a relaxed pace that picks up as the crowd stretches out.  7:14 first mile and I fall in with race series name sake Rick Bayko, but he was just picking up steam, then CRRs Gail Martin trailing Kate Naples, trailing SRRs Steve Pepe, 7:04 second mile and SRRs Mike Quinn with his two kids strapped in his stroller, I swear he has some DC Induction motors in there and a couple of hydride 48 volt batteries.  I smile as he places the wheel up the arse of a loafing Steve Pepe who finally wakes up.  I pass Gail but Kate had a full head of steam I caught her at Norwood but she beat me at the Bobby Bell too. The short third mile 6:57, I spy CRRs Tommy StraQ and give chase, he hears me huffing and puffing and takes off. MRRs Janet Kelly passes me by mile four, a leisurely 8:00 minutes flat, I pace her and we have a drag race to the finish for 36:40 for this 4.9 miler. 

The conditions couldn't be better and the runners were ready to party. All in all a great time not to be missed on anyone's race calendar...Better yet, keep it a secret.

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