For most of van 2, this was not our first since we ran it last year. For those who haven’t done it, image an F3 road trip / run workout with little to no sleep. You have one runner on the course between vans 1 and 2 at any given time for 200ish miles. And to those, who haven’t done it, I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list. It is filled with lots of memories and great 2nd F.
Getting ready for the event there were scheduled runs and black ops runs all over the greater F3 Louisville area. Our van 2 had Motor Boat who is now based in Cincinnati. He also put in the work as BigBird was down by the Newport by the Levee one night and saw him running and gave him a shout out.
We can’t mention this event without recognizing the behind the scenes work that Patty put in. I won’t say the spreadsheet was accurate (just ask Jolly Rancher from last year), but he was like the Operational Q for the event for the 2nd year in a row. Without him, this event wouldn’t have happened. And if you find an error on spreadsheet, he’s gonna tell you the Google doc was “unlocked” this year.
Before we talk about our starting time for the event, you need to know what happened last year. We had a late start time, arrived at the finish about 5:30pm with no pizza left, and long lines for the Bourbon. This year would be different, we “sandbagged” the numbers and got an early start time. Patty had two sets of books…the inflated miles times and more likely actual times. You have to be careful though because if you get to early to major exchanges, you could be given a two hour hold penalty. This helps to ensure the down range volunteers are at their checkpoint. Patty said the overall team time beat the more likely estimate by over an hour.
Just like last year, we met at the Middletown Walmart to drop our vehicle. Unlike last year, we decorated our van which makes it easier when trying to locate your van. Last year was like trying to find a needle in the haystack. BigBird brought lights for the outside of the van. Make sure to ask him about his one 20 foot string that had to be about 8 foot long. PK was a masterful van artist and we also added some other quotes and tracked our kills. A kill is when you pass another runner on your segment. (If you get passed by a runner, your soul is taken.).
Here is the listing of pax in van 2 – Motor Boat, PK, BigBird, Meter Maid, Honey Do, Air Raid (R), and DeVitto (pacer). DeVitto was a late and great add. He had never done it and helped support various runners on our legs. He finished with over 23 miles, which was by far the most of anyone in van 2.
Motor Boat was a beast again this year. I always envision him as the the embodiment of Braveheart while running. He said it’s all about pace and went out and kept putting up sub-8 minutes miles that got lower with each run.
Speaking of times, this was no Sunday fun run in terms of pace. Everyone went out and did their best to push their own pace and give 110% with each segment. There was great enthusiasm when our runners returned with a water/Gatorade to meet them along with an F3 flag.
Overall, there were 217 teams and our overall time for van 1&2 placed us 35th in terms of best overall times (roughly top 16%) and finished in the top 10 of the open men’s division. Awesome work!
I did want to mention a few of the highlights throughout the event:
*It pays to be a winner – patch on Motor Boat’s hat and embodiment of our F3 Louisville team (Van 1 &2)
*Seeing Newman and PCI at one of our segments not because they should have been there but because they were lost.
*DeVitto dropping his powder vitamins in the van while mixing it; it would have made cocaine bear proud OR the time he pulled out a glove to administer some icy hot to his own quad.
*At major exchange, Husky (R) forgetting his night running gear, slightly late to meeting the prior runner and after pax helped him get ready, he asks “now which way do I run”?
*Van 2 chatting with F3 Cincinnati at the Wilderness Distillery in day light and we all introduced ourselves. They said said they had an F3 Motor Boat. It was him…talk about awkward. Don’t worry F3 Louisville will always claim Motor Boat!
For those looking for more including pictures, check out the #BourbonChase channel and make sure to sign up for next year…
-Meter Maid
F3 Louisville 