Sunmart or White Rock?

Would you believe that somebody actually came and asked me for advice about two races that I've never ever done before myself? Seriously. Who did they think that I was: The Race God? Let's face it, Mr. HARRA is already taken.

I mean I could see if it was one of the 180 or so that I've done - including the 40-some-odd Run The Woodlands 5K. (I'll tell you what sorting the details of one of those races out from one another is pretty darn hard. I did notice this year that there was a bigger crack in one slap of concrete than there was in 2003. I know. Too much minutia or is that minutiae. Sort of like Dan Quayle with potato or potatoe.)

They asked and here was their answer. (Oh, Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous from Tuesday's Musings post, this individual e-mailed me and left their name. Better than you could do!)

Dear Perplexed:

Are you telling me that you are choosing a race simply for a race goodie? Certainly the marathons that you've gotten under a belt would make you less of a neophyte than what you are appearing to be in your humorous writings.

I mean choosing White Rock over Sunmart just because they aren't offering the Afghan this year ... oops, afghan (small case ... I don't want immigration checking me out for trying to import those that we're trying to protect in the war on terror) ... seriously, you'd be the same type of individual that would go do the Little Rock Marathon just for the BIG medal. I mean if you're going to be a runner ... be old school. Be a purist. If you're going to run Little Rock, do it for the challenge. The hills and to run by the world's largest double wide disguised as a library.

Do it for truth, justice and the runner's way!

Now, going back to the goodies, if you are really, really motivated by such things, go and do White Rock, but also don't forget to do Houston and Austin so you can get one of those fangdangled new Brooks jackets that you have to report your time on. And didn't you find it a bit ironic that the race that required you to turn in your time - to get that jacket - also had problems in getting the time right for about 5,000 runners in their own race. Maybe they should check again before being so demanding! (Yes, those of you who are opening up the comment box ... I know that the marathon farmed that job out.)

Nothing against Dallas. Except for T.O. and well, Lee Harvey Oswald too. I mean the White Rock Marathon is a fine marathon, but they are finally figuring out that if you offer prize money that your winning times will go down. (I saw that from checking out the ARRS site. No, that wasn't the AARP site for those of you who are alphabetically challenged.)

But doing Sunmart is a cult-like experience. (Yes, the closest thing that I've gotten was Rocky Raccoon 25K. I've seen a little bit of the light.) Sure, who wouldn't want to run their body on Dolly Parton's .... ah, feet over the hills more affectionately known as the "Dolly Parton Hills". I hear that Dallas' version isn't as sexy as the real thing.

Besides, those of you who are economically-minded, if you live in Houston and do Dallas, you have to go pick up your packet the day before. Which, unless you have friends there, it requires a hotel stay. For Sunmart, you have to pick your packet up here and shoot if you don't want to drive, you can pay for a shuttle to and from. No worries about cluttering your car up with mud if it is rainy day in Huntsville on December 9th -- and you help protect the park environment with one less vehicle - and save gas. Ken Johnson's son, the Park Ranger, will appreciate it.

And speaking of Ken Johnson, a lot of the fine folks of the Seven Hills Running Club who kindly kicked the rear ends of the Houston Running Bloggers will be there on your leisurely jaunt of the woods in Huntsville State Park. Many will be running. Others will probably be manning a volunteer station. (Just watch out for that crazy guy named Hans!)

Knowing just how fast you are - or well not (like me), you won't be able to catch HRB's own Edwin Quarles as he'll be trying to PR on a tough course. I mean, really, 5 more miles and you have all day to do it. How easy can it be? But yes, you're a purist, right? You wouldn't do such a thing as purposedly spending 9 hours in the woods just to cover 31 miles. If you did that, they'll start calling you "Moses".

My good friend from Spring, Bill Dwyer, says he's going to do Sunmart this year as well. I was checking out his blog. He's up to 24 miles this week and starting to rachet up the pressure on some of us. I think he's purposedly setting us all up for a fall as he is going to try re-ignite those earlier days in his running career and beat us all. Maybe the next time I see him I'll call him, "Sandbagger!" In a friendly way, of course. (Wait. Do you see any of Keith Kelleher's humor running into this post at all? Really, Keith has better stuff.)

But the last reason that you should do Sunmart is that there's a good chance that I might be there. And that just depends on how my marathon plan is going. If there is no real shot at getting 4:30, the party begins in December in the woods - and I'll cross over to the "dark side" (as Rick Cook calls it) of ultrarunning! Besides, I want another notch on the Seven Hills Running Club Marathon Honor Roll to get to double-digits - and one of those markings of 50K. :)
So you asked for my advice - although inane as it may be - and here it is!

Psst ... I hope you don't mind that I'm going to post it on my blog too. (I promise. I keep my confidences. I won't say a word until ... well, you know when.)

Signed,

The Race God (it does have a nice ring to it ... don't you think?)

P.S. - Can you tell that I've been a little depressed recently?