Running like hell to keep up with the devil

Last weekend I did the Run Like Hell half marathon in downtown Portland. Although my time was not very fast, the race went much better than the half marathon I did a few weeks ago in Victoria B.C. The weather was quite cool (around 45 at the start) and I saw a lot of over dressed runners. I wore med length lycra shorts (bicycle style but without the padding), a tank made out of technical fabric, two pairs of socks, my trusty tennis shoes, a breathable hat, and some running gloves. I was cold at the start but completely warm and comfortable by mile 1. In contrast there were runners all around me wearing sweat pants, long sleeve tops, knit hats, and jackets. At around mile 5 of the 13.1 mile race there were a ton of jackets and even some shirts tied around runners' waists.

Then there were the people who wore costumes. God bless them. I don't have the energy or imagination to run a half marathon in a costume but I love the people who do. Watching them during the race is a great distraction. There was one guy dressed as the devil and he ran at about my same pace. I let him get a head of me so I could watch him and follow him. I know that sounds crazy but mentally it helps a great deal to play these kinds of games during a long race. I told myself I was running like hell to keep up with the devil. At about mile 8 of the race we ran through a very hilly part of town. I wanted walk but kept running, albeit slowly, so that I could keep the devil in my sites.

The funny thing is that the guy in the devil costume never knew how much I was relying on him or how much he helped me through the race. If you're out there Mr Devil costume, thank you.