ITS A RACE!

View from the cat bird seat, aka lead bike for yesterday’s Boys Town 5 Mile. Added the kids run and the 1 mile to my morning duties so I got see all the races right up front. The 1 Mile came down to an eye lash win for 15 year old Alex Tollinger (5:13), a full on sprint to the finish over 20 year old Sam Kohl (5:14).

But it was the 5 Mile feature race that made yesterday my best day of the year so far. I laid it out here on Friday. Michel Davy was In It To Win It. Invited one and all to come take their best shot at her.

Not a single Team Nebraska or LRC Racing Team female in uniform for the biggest, most competitive event of the year in Omaha. This is a RACE folks, where the hell were you?

Doesn’t diminish what NRGE accomplished. How it was accomplished has me doing my “Happy Dance” yet this morning. My invitation to compete fell only on the ears of Jessica Pape, Michel’s training partner and teammate. Jessica took it out hard from the gun, showing Omaha and Nebraska how we do it.

Jessica Pape. If you didn’t know her then, you should know her now.

While Jessica led, Maureen Larsen held second place for the first couple of miles. You can see Michel right behind, well coached and well placed in the early stages.

Michel was not to be denied the win in front of her “Home Town” crowd. She and husband Jesse are house parents at Boys Town and she had the support of everyone. I heard the question come up yesterday “How does Will always seem to find these winners?” The simple answer is: I don’t find them, I Build Them. Silly goose.

Mike Wasson. First Overall Master and 6th overall. The New Face of Masters Competitiveness in Nebraska. I didn’t “build” him but he is ALL BUSINESS.

These two masters cats, Bob Garcia and Craig Christians were all smiles before the gun. You know they’ve got to be happy for Mike.

The Real Race early on. Seth Hirsch leads Joe Harter. I was amazed that the 13 year old could click off the first couple of miles sub 5:00. Joe would drop out just past the 2 mile mark.

Here getting ready to break the tape in 25:33. I got to give the Millard West freshman an earful over 5 miles, even saying that some day he would run for me. Si, mi huevos es mas grande de todos. The entire crowd abuzz about this young man’s potential. Only one cautionary voice among the throngs of those less educated about such things. My command is: Treat this young talent properly! Please, please, please don’t send him down the same path of so many other local talents that either burnt out or left the state for better situations. I’m hopeful that Max Kurz has been able to repair some of the damage from the 90+ miles/week his middle school coach had him running, see what I mean? This one, I could make an Olympic Champion, but only on the 12 year plan.

Coach John Tully had the race he deserves after a tough spring of training.

Mike Reilly was in uniform too.

Ron Olsen, the Man, the Legend! NRGE had six athletes and two administrators in uniform for the race. LRC Racing- 1. Team Nebraska-3. See how this is headed to deja vu all over again?