Crazy Legs Race Report

Here is the long awaited race report from Crazy Legz (why do we spell everything with a Z now) Relay.

Crazy Legz (CL) took place on Saturday, 3/1 on roads, trails,and sidewalks in and around central Florida. Our team (Fleet Feeters/Team Hendryx) was made up of Sean, Tony, Chris and myself (Bill) and we were our to repeat our win from last year. The was team was changed slightly from last year - Rene' is still getting over and injury and Steve is racing Gate River so Tony took their place on the team. The course was shortened slightly from last year to 61 miles and 12 legs. Each of us would take 3 legs and run on average 15 miles.

The race started on the UCF campus at 7:30a with a total of 6 teams competing for the title. The start would be staggered by estimated finishing time - in an attempt to get all the teams to the finish line at the same time. We were the last team to start - taking off at 10:30a - 70 minutes behind the team that left in front of us. Ou goals for the race was to win (obviously) but it was also to try and pass each team out on the course before the finish line. We packed all of our gear (and maybbe some cold after race refreshements) in to the Element and were ready to go.

Leg 1 - 5 miles - Bill - this leg was rather easy, after exiting UCF campus the route traveled some of the back roads in east Orlando. Most of the run was on sidewalks and some of it was on the shoulder of the roads - a couple of the roads did not have a lot of room and I had to run on the grass to aviod being smeared by a car. Total time for the lag was 30:12 - 6:04 pace. We were on our way.

Leg 2 - 6.2 miles - Chris - just a lazy 10k here - again on roads and shoulders of raods - with a couple sidewalks mixed in. By this time it was starting to get hot and there was not a cloud in the sky. To make it worse, you can not see anyone who you are chasing you just know that they are out there. There were some long stretches of road on this leg but Chris was strong and we continued our goals of catching the folks in front of us. Total time for the leg was 42:15 - 6:48 pace.

Leg 3 - 6.5 miles - Tony - since Tony was new he got to run all the long legs of this race. This leg had a stretch of road that was about 3 miles in length - what fun he must have had runnning on a totally empty road and seeing anyone for miles. We waited for Tony at a couple of places to give him water and to make sure he truned at the right place, then we moved to the next transition area and waited for him to show. We had to waive him in to the parking lot where we were but no worng turns and we were moving along. Total time - 44:32 - 6:51 pace.

Leg 4 - 4 miles - Sean - this leg was only 4 miles but this is where the course enters the Econ Forest and runs on singletrack trails. Sean took off on this leg and we went right to the next transition area because we would not see him in the forest until he exited at the next transition area. Sean passed plenty of horses, bikers and some runners along the way. he made his way through the trails without any worng turns and exited to the transition area. Total time - 24:00 - 6 min pace - WOW

Leg 5 - 5 miles - Bill - I was milling around the back of the Element getting ready for my leg when Sean emerged from the woods - who would have thought he would rip off 6 min miles in there. We made the exchange and I took off - my leg was much of the same as Sean's - single track, horse trails and lots of bridges. I saw a few horse back riders a long the way and plenty of campers drinking cold ones and fishing. I missed a trun a long the way but was directed the right way by some partying UCF students. I emerged form the woods to see my team with some water for me - I thought I was done but still hhad a little left. I arrived int eh transition area just as they were pulling up - what timing. Total time - 34:00 - 6:48 pace

Leg 6 - 6.4 miles - Chris - I handed off to Chris and he was off - he ran this leg last year and we gave it to him this year because it has some tricky turns in it. The first part of this leg is on the road and is 3 miles straight away - boring. Also, along this road the dogs came out to run with Chris and keep him company - or eat his leg, we did not know. We waited about half for him to make sure he had enough water. When we stopped we noticed another runner - we were strating to close in on the competition. When we got to the transition area there were two teams there so we were getting closer. Chris passed one of the teams right before handing off to Tony - one team down 4 more to go. Total time - 43:15 - 6:45 pace.

Leg 7 - 5.6 miles - Tony - the first part of this leg is on the Oviedo trail - then heads to roads in Winter Springs and eventuallly ends at the McDonalds (in case you want a Big Mac) in Oviedo. We waited in WS for Tony to make sure he knew which way to go and when we saw him he was only seconds behind another runner - he would easily pass her before the transition area and now 2 teams were down with only 3 to go. Total time - 36:49 - 6:34 pace.

Leg 8 - 5.1 miles - Sean - out of the McDonalds parking lot and out on the roads and part of the bike trail - Sean said he would be good to go so we went on to the next transition area and waited for him. This was a pretty non eventful leg - pretty broing and only a couple of turns so not a lot of chance to get lost. Too bad he did not get to pass the car wash - that would have made him run a little faster than he already is. Total time - 31:15 - 6:08 pace

Leg 9 - 3.8 miles - Bill - while at this transition area we started to see more teams - they had just handed off to their teammates so we were zeroing in on them. This leg was on the cady Way bike trail and a little piece through Winter Park Pines. It is short and pretty fast with the only elevation being the bridge over 436. As I was going over the bridge I crossed paths with two teams - one was running pretty well and the other was struggling a little - they were about 3 miles a head of us so we still had a chance too catch them. I ran as hard as a I could after I saw the other teams to try and give Chris a shot at catching them on his leg. I pulled in to Cady Way park and handed off to Chris - happy to be done for the day. Total time - 23:05 - 6:04 pace.

Leg 10 - 2.4 miles - Chris - this was nothing but a sprint for Chris - all out trying to run down the others. Back to Goldenrod Park on the Cady Way trail - as Chris was going over the bridge he was able to run down another team - 2 more to go. Total time - 15:26 - 6:24 pace.

Leg 11 - 5.3 miles - Tony - it is really getting warm now and everyone is wearing down a little - Chris and I are done, Tony is running and Sean is getting ready to be our anchor and finish this thing off. Tony had to run from Aloma to 50 on Goldenrod - boring! But he knew we were getting closer to the teams in front and he gave it all he had to chase them down. We met Tony at the one turn on the leg (by the alternative Mens Club) and got him some water at that point. We then went on to the last transition area. At the transition area we saw the last two teams - thhey were 11 minutes and 6 minutes ahhead of us so we would have some work to do to catch them with only 5.7 miles left. Total time 37:15 - 7:00 pace

Leg 12 - 5.7 miles - Sean - from Econ Trail back to UCF, two teams left to pass and only 5.7 miles left to do it. Sean took off fast in an attempt to track them down. We decided to meet him about half way and see what kind of progress he was making. When we stopped one team had just gone by and the other was waiting for their runner - we were getting closer - at the half way of the leg we were 1 minute behind and 9 minutes behind the other. After Sean has passed us adn grabbed some water he could see the runner in front and went after him. Sean was able to pass him before entering campus. We were able to get to the finish line just in time to see him finish and congratualte him. Total time - 40:15 - 7:00 pace

recap - we were able to pass all but one team - they started 70 minutes in front of us and finshed 9 minutes in front of us - so we were still 61 minutes faster. Total time for the course was 6:42:00 - 6:38 pace for a course that covered raod and dirt and for a totally open course so you must stop at all the traffic lights and yield to traffic. This was a new course pace record and beat least years pace of 6:50!

1st place overall for the second year in a row! SSee you next year. Pictures will be posted shortly.