My Own Private Equinox Legacy

I revised my report. Names of the innocent have been removed.  I ran my own race out there for the entire 3:15 and did not hold back or pick it up for anyone.

The standard for an Equinox legacy is for sub 3 times, top 5 finishes. I arrived here at age 46 and got one top 5. Other than that you're SOL. 

Masters legacies are a bit more open-ended. It more has to do with and consecutive marathons (or lifetime in the double figures) and how "in" you are. 

Anyway, below is a just the facts summary of things that are not on the official record (EQ report).

I was here for 11 Equinoxes, and participated in all of them just not all were the marathon. Of five starts in the marathon, five finishes all of them top 10. Just one outright masters title (2004), but four age class wins (and one 2^nd place), and three more overall masters (40+) runners-up. Also I wrap up with four age records (48, 50, 55, 56), and were it not for the 2+ minute train delay in 2004 it would be five for five. Have talked some about age grading over the years, and finish now with the 2^nd highest male masters age grade. The official report doesn’t list that. It’s pretty damn obvious they don’t really like carpetbaggers here in Alaska. Also, although this category is not acknowledged, oldest top 10 finisher with a 7^th at 55 and 8^th at 56, and second oldest top 5 finisher with that 5^th in 2004. No

I also participated in three relays, doing each leg once. I truly enjoyed those experiences and sharing the fun with other runners. Each was a win. In 2007 we won the men’s title (Paul Greci, Roy Strandberg), 2009 I was the improbable third leg with a couple of fine young runners (Werner Hoefler and David Norris) and we ran the 2^nd fastest relay ever (now 3^rd), and in 2011 teamed up with a couple of fellow masters (Mark Lindberg and Hannibal Grubis), and we broke the all-time masters record.

In years that I did not run (injury, or focusing on other things) I participated on race day by working on the race course. The Out and Back Aid station in 2005 when I had a stress fracture, Sheep Creek crossing in 2010, and Henderson Road turn off in 2012.

So that’s my legacy and I’m not disappointed, and leave with no regrets (well except maybe for that train and a couple ill-timed injuries).