I really do not know where to start to describe this weekend, so I may as well start with the most important. A HUGE thank you to our incredible host GJ (The Ram) for putting us up and hosting this event. Shelter Island’s newest resident did the land mass proud by bringing in the Dukes of Flatbush for a weekend of running, drinking, bbq and bike riding. All the essentials in the DOFB charter. We may have even added to the DOFB with a possible team motto, a winning quote from this weekend from yours truly that should be learned in multiple languages

“How much to make this go away right now”

Now on to the fun stuff: The weekend and race looked to be in jeapordy on Friday as the rain came down and the weather report looked bleak for the weekend. Thankfully, the weatherman was wrong as usual and we had ideal running conditions, 58 degrees, overcast and not a drop of rain.

The start of the race looked intimidating as the contingent of ringers were brought in from NYC

Even with this intimidating bunch the Dukes were ready for a run. The team actually looked quite intimidating to the competition with our team black shirts and scowls, ready to race. Here is my mini version of the race report

Mile 1 – Downhill from the start and I am starting to move a little fest. I see a Shampoo ahead of me and decide to keep up. BIG MISTAKE. I hit the first mile marker at 6:40. Who do I think I am?

Mile 2 – More downhill and some flats. The locals are out and cheering us along. Hit the 2nd mile marker at 13:45. Still going way too fast

Mile 3 – The pain begins. I know that I am trying to break 45 minutes here so I keep pushing, but I am starting to breathe heavy and know I need to catch my groove soon or I am done

Mile 4 & 5 – The locals are out and pushing us along with their cheers. I have never been so happy to see a Blueblood with a Gin & Tonic as I was today. I think I may have found my stride, I am moving at a nice pace

Mile 6 – I am near the finish and look down at my watch and I have a chance to break 45 minutes. Only problem is the uphill section starts. Damn Island!!

Finish – I enter the local school track where the finish is and see that I am at 44:00 with who the hell knows how much to go, but I can see the finish line. I reach into whatever I have and go for a full sprint. Think I may have been drawing power from the 3 Patron Silvers I drank the night before (never wise before a race), but wherever it came from I crossed the line at 44:53, a 7:13 pace for a 10K. Best part of the finish is hearing the announcer call my name and my time as I finish over the louspeaker and the crowd cheers – Good Times

Now is the fun part. The race is over and I get to watch my friends cross the finish line. Except for Shampoo, who finished ahead of me in 40:24, damn him and his speed. See the official race results here

The pictures and the smiles below really tell the whole story. Everyone finished the race and everyone finished in great times. I think the DOFB may be ready to take on such luminaries as Warren Street and CPTC in the upcoming race season.

Great race & great weekend. Now for the recovery runs to get back into it