Thursday

Nate and I ran our Brookline loop this morning. It was fine.

On Saturday, I'm running at the second Tufts Invitation in the annual 'Has-Been's Mile'. One of the many traditions of Tufts Cross Country/Track and Field is an annual mile "race" for all the alumni of the program. During my 4 years at school, I always enjoyed watching this. It was pretty cool to see all the alumni of the program come back and hang out, reminisce about old times, etc. etc. Well, this is the first year that I'll be on the alumni side of the track, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Usually the race is a low key afair, with the winner usually running about 4:35-4:40 in a sit-and-kick type race. This year, however, will be different.

Nathan "Hog" Brigham and I, roommates since freshmen year at Tufts, and both members of the 2005 class of Tufts University will be squaring off at the Has-Been's Mile. Each of us comes from similar backgrounds. Both of us were Varsity athletes all 4 years at school (with Hog being the better runner), and were captains of the cross country team as seniors. (see right...) Nate is better at longer distances (5k, 10k), and I'm better at shorter distances (800, mile). The race on Saturday puts us right in the middle of our respective distances. While I might be better at the mile, Nate does have the 1-0 lead this "season" by virtue of him beating me at the BU mini meet on 12/31/05. Now, since then, I've run a 4:04 1500 (equivalent of a 4:23 mile). I'm relly excited for the race for several reasons. First, I think it would be awesome to win Has-Been's. Second, I really don't want to lose to Hog. Third, if I beat Hog, that means I get to check off one of my goals on the To-Do List, and Nate doesn't. Sweet.


Now, there are some extenuating circumstances for Saturday. Tomorrow after work, a bunch of my friends from Foley (aka the "A-Team" (see below)) were thinking of going out for drinks with some of the attorneys right after work. I could do this and still race well on Saturday, I just couldn't stay out very late. Unfortunately that night, AK's employeer, Digitas, is having a holiday party. They've rented out Ned Devine's, and AK said we could crash it no problem. It would be wicked fun to go out the with Foley people and then roll up to Ned Devine's with AK. Beating Hog the next morning would be considerably more difficult if I did go out though. We shall see....