Red Bud Bandit

Time: 36:30 (w/u), 32:57 (10k), 16:49 (c/d) = 86:16
Distance: 5.08, 6.31, 2.09 = 13.48 miles

W/u: 9:06, 7:43, 8:05
2 miles: 5:40, 5:21
Red Bud Classic 10k: 5:33, 5:25, 5:08, 5:04, 5:07, 5:11, 1:30 (for .31 miles at 4:48 pace)
C/d: 8:49, 7:23

Lots of action. Scotty and I went up to OKC for some banditing duties on the famed Red Bud course. This race has gone to shit the past few years and doesn't warrant me paying money to participate. I feel bad saying that about one of the biggest races in Oklahoma, but that's the way it is. Last year three of my buddies swept the 5k race and weren't paid the proper recognition because they didn't have a chip. "No chip, no time." They didn't have a chip because the timing company ran out before all of the bibs were allocated to the participants. It wasn't their fault for not getting the chip, the race director and timing company didn't do their job. Those are my reasons for running/racing without paying, normally I wouldn't do such a thing.

Scotty and I warmed up about 3 miles which were fine despite the 30 mph wind out of the north. This race starts at 2 pm and is usually hot, but not this year. I had on my schedule to do a tempo run of 8 miles so I wasn't sure if I wanted to put the 2 miles at the beginning or tack some on after the 10k. In the end, we decided to do it at the beginning. I heard the race announcer holler "13 minutes until race time" which gave us the perfect amount to slam out 2 miles. We headed straight into the wind for a mile in 5:40 and came back in 5:21. Someone's watch was running fast because just as we were jogging to the line the announcer said, "2 minutes until the start," and then 7 seconds later it was, "1 minute until the gun goes off." The gun was fired maybe 30 seconds after the final announcement.

The race started and Jonathon Pillow was quickly out to the front along with Dizzle. The first mile is slightly uphill and directly into the wind. I think I mentioned that before, but it's worth mentioning again because our opening split of 5:33 felt like a crawl. It helped that Pillow is a bigger dude and I was able to tuck in behind him like a punk b. Just after the mile I was feeling great so I hit the front to inject a little pace, not that I wanted to run any faster but I just wanted to check the legs of the other runners. I led for maybe 600m and then backed off the pace to settle back in with Pillow, Dizzle and Landon Willits.

Nothing much would change for the next few "k's" other than the direction of the course. Getting a break from the wind was a huge help and the fans cheering in front of their Nichols Hills mansions were nice too. Pillow ran like a tough guy most of the race and had quite a few surges into the front only to falter momentarily. He would then get an extra burst and hit the front only meters later. I'm not too sure about the tactics, but the courage was there.

Around 6.5k Pillow was off the pace and Dizzle and I were about to join up with the 5ks on the course. I passed the red Mercedes and tried to chase down the lead cop when the walkers/joggers drifted over onto the lefthand side of the course. Scotty and I were flying by a throng of people taking in the course and we got a few cheers along the way. People didn't seem too worried about getting out of the moto-cop's way despite him giving them the "whoop-whoop." What if someone was injured and needed to be escorted off the course?

The final section of the course was pleasant and Scotty and I were able to maintain a good clip throughout. We finished with the wind at our backs and didn't feel the need to race it in. We crossed the line in tandem but didn't hold hands or anything like that. I think I might have tipped my cap to the race timer as we crossed the finish line. I also normally wouldn't cross the line during a bandit-effort, but I wanted to mess things up as much as possible I guess.

Ever wonder what happens when you "win" the race as a bandit? Here is your answer. I'm not going to apologize for a long post. This is riveting stuff. Good races by Jerry's Kids in the 5k and Aja and Cat in the 10k.