You get out what you put in

Drove up w/ Dad & P. Short w/u around park and neighborhood, couldn't see any challengers except a Ute garb guy. Got plenty of stretching. Beautiful morning, no snow, not too cold.
At the start Ron said a stroller guy would win the race, he was right. Got out and it was immediately Ute in front, stroller and me. One older guy after the loop around park told Ronnie (stroller?) to show us how it's done. He pushed up and passed Ute guy, I did too at about 3/4 mile. He was about 30 yards ahead, I was trying not to push too much too soon, told myself to reel him in on the downhill to main road. Did so.
He had a better uphill pace than me, but he'd push the stroller and let it go and catch up to it. I was telling myself that I wasn't going to let a stroller beat me.
On the gap thru the concrete he slowed down and apologized, and I was right behind him down the hill. He asked how far we went and we just kept cruising. I was 12:44 a few yards after the turnaround. At that point we were a minute ahead of all else, I knew the hill on the way back would be hard. He somewhat gapped me but I was right there thru the concrete again. Saw Dad with Fezzik and he gave me a look. Half knowing/half quizzical that stroller was beating me. When we got to road leading to park I made my move and passed him. It was tough, and he didn't let up, don't know if I could have tried to gap him harder, but he had some in reserve too. He passed me before we got to neighborhood and put a gap on me.
It felt like he could hold onto the stroller going downhill for a pull, so he had 20 yards on me again. I knew the hill around park would be tough, was trying to get that last 15 yards but he was strong. Seems like he was only 5-10 yards at the right turn, I sprinted/cruised and had almost caught him by the turn to sidewalk finish. We both sprinted like crazy to the finish and he barely got me. They said the time was even, we were wearing ankle timers.
But I was consoled by the fact that he immediately started puking to the side of a garbage can. Lots of retching. He told me later that he'd eaten "turkey ...." and he'd never do that again. So I took 2nd for the 3rd (?) time but pushed him to puking.
This was a pretty hard race. Working the rest of the day my emotions were at the surface (I cried twice) and my body was shaky. So I'm glad to push myself. Woke up the next day with hip still hurting, I believe it's hip bursitis. Hip snap leading to inflammation. Rest the only recourse.
Enjoyed post race festivities. Teased Ron about his discrimination when it comes to giving out drawings, he threw me a shirt to shut me up. Got a pic w top 3 M/F and will keep the certificate for the good frame it's enclosed in. Also won a race registration to a half-marathon in March. That's awesome.
They ran out of coffee and didn't have sugar so I walked with Fezzik tied to me to get some at the church. Fez enjoyed meeting other dogs and obeyed me better than dad, who complained of his hands hurting.
Phin played on playground the entire time. He had a great race! :-)

Glory be to the One who gave me this body, entrusted me with it, and has saved my soul eternally by His grace through faith in the Son He sent.