The Rono Chronicles: Henry guts out 5K in Cincinnati
Henry Rono, who turns 55 in eight weeks, tackled a 5K yesterday in Cincinnati, taking third in the M50 age group in 19:20. Race results from Cincy are here: As I’ve noted, Rono’s goal remains running a record mile when he enters M55. Rono’s Jingle Bells race was fodder for the letsrun.com Rono message thread and a growing thread at Track & Field News. They make fun of his size. I give him kudos for running a 105 percent effort on the nonexistent Weight-Graded Tables.
A guy who ran with Rono today posted this note on that other message board:
I was Henry’s “pacer” for this race. I place the word in quotations, because after introducing myself to him before the race and lining up next to him to fulfill my duties, that was as far as the pacing went. Henry blasted out, gapping me instantly and putting 10 seconds on me in the first half mile. I was taken totally by surprise didn’t know what to do. He went through mile 1 in 5:50-52; i went through in about 6:07. The problem, as he explained it to me after the race, was that he took off, looked around, and confused someone else for me — someone just ahead of him.
I finished around 19:09 (according to the clock), so i know if Henry had stayed with me for the first 2-2.5 miles, he would’ve blown by me in the end.
By the way, it was one cold day out there … in the 20s w/ a 7-8 mile p/hr. wind. Without sunny weather it would’ve been much harder.
Put Henry on a flat course with good pacing in warmer weather and you’ve got 18:30 or so.
Me again:
Here’s a photo someone took of Henry yesterday, running beside some kids who probably have no clue who that geezer next to them is:
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