The 114th Annual Dipsea
Had a blast towing the line with Paddy O'Leary this morning for the 114th annual Dipsea. Hung on for about 100 yards before deciding to stay in my lane rather than catastrophically implode. Skipped the watch this year, just like last, and dialed into perceived effort instead.
I’ve got a love hate relationship with the steps that mark the actual start of the Dipsea. On one hand, you feel like you’re about to throw up the whole way up but once you’re past them, it’s one of the best warm ups one could ask for. A straight shock to the system.
My race shifted the moment I stopped thinking about how I felt and started thinking about everyone else around me. Huge shoutout to Ryan Melendez, who I ran with last year and who was back again this year - a familiar face that made the race a little less intense. We kept each other moving, rallying everyone around us until Cardiac. At one point, we must’ve had 10 other runners with us moving faster than they’d imagine they could.
Hitting Cardiac required a shift - from mainly cardio to muscular endurance.
Downhill running at Dipsea is an art best learned by just sending it, and send it I did. Caught Matt Gaide on the Steep Revine steps and almost didn’t recognize the back of him with the debut of the ponytail. I pinched his butt then kept moving.
Crossing the finish line faster than when I did than last year was all the affirmation I needed to know that I’m doing something right.
Had a few people come up to me after the race to say thanks and congrats. One guy even called me a legend for pulling him along and helping him pass a coworker he never thought he’d catch.
Reflecting on today, the resounding theme is that we’re all capable of extraordinary things and we’re all capable of bringing others up along the way.
As always, huge thanks to the Dipsea Organization for preserving history and putting on a race that’s unforgettable for everyone who toes the line.
Congratulations to the locals Katherina Laan, Mega Miles & Luke Rachlin. See you all next year!
As the legend Dan Pagano likes to say, Always Be Passing.
One love,
GG