Race - Below the Hard Deck

Every year the town next to us hosts an annual Thanksgiving Day Road Race. It's fun as hell, people get dressed up in all sorts of ridiculous costumes, the non-runners go to the bars that line the course at 9am and get a good buzz going to cheer us on, and New England weather remains its unpredictable self - some years it's 60 degrees and sunny, some years it's six inches of snow and still falling. It's been a fun tradition for my family, and it now includes my east-coast-converted cousins. But, it's especially important between Sean and I, as were the most competitive of the entire group.

Every year, a few months before the race, we start shit-talking on facebook, placing bets, demeaning each other's athletic abilities, calling each other bitches, etc. And unfortunately, while am I much better at smack-talk, I ALWAYS lose the race. Like, always. And it's usually not even close. I always claim that I didn't try, or that I didn't actually care and wanted to hang back and run with a friend or something, some bullshit to make his win seem less important. But in reality, I always do that "acquiesce to defeat" shit before it even starts. I know I can't beat him, so I don't actually try to run fast. Here's the excuses I hide behind:

While we are both good athletes, Sean is more of a natural runner; tall, lean. Sean has actually run for his athletic career: cross-country, basketball, soccer, etc. Contrast all that to me, I'm shorter, stronger, more of the mesomorph-type body. My sports were always along the lines of football and wrestling. Short explosive bursts, rather than prolonged running. Certainly not ideal to win in a five-mile race. (In the subsequent family pick-up football game and wrestling matches during the day I kick his ass, but those are like exhibition events.)

So, this year, it's different. I'm actually going to train to run. I've done some running in the past, never a lot, and never stuck with it seriously enough for any real gains, though. This time will be different. I will post everything in this semi-public forum, so that way I have a lot more accountability to stick to this. I will post my training and times and whatever else, all throughout from now until Nov. 27th. Sean can do the same, or just comment occasionally, it's up to him. And, of course, we will talk a lot of shit along the way. Should be fun, feel free to offer any encouraging, destructive, or helpful tips along the way.

Since this isn't really what this blog is about, it will be on a seperate side blog, the title of which is the ultimate comeback to anyone who's said they won. Below the hard deck does not count.