What a race. The Pettit National Ice Center was the venue for Saturday's indoor marathon relay showdown. The Unfrozen Caveman Runners team took on bitter rival Team #hashtags in a battle royale for running supremacy. Loser buys the beer. The lead changed hands several times, with no team taking total control. Back and forth, back and forth, both teams fought tooth and nail looking for any kind of competitive edge. Naturally, it came down to the final laps to determine the winner.

I took the baton (ok, ankle velco strapped chip) with 12 laps to go in a suicide attempt at catching #hashtags legend Krista L. With only a few laps to go, I caught up to her and humbly yelled "DESTROYED!" as she looked on in utter defeat. I took a couple victory laps, knowing that the Cavemen had this locked up. A desperate, yet valiant, last lap sprint by Joe P. was fended off. The running equivalent of a stiff arm in football. Crossing the finish line, I was spent but looking forward to my victory beers.

Little did I know that the #hashtags played us like fiddles. They had an extra lap lead on the Cavemen all along, an ace up their sleeves. WHAT?! "This can't be!" cried Rochelle. "I demand a recount!" shouted Tracey G. "But I already picked out my victory beer!" exclaimed Jordan H. The official results slapped us in the face, showing a mere 78 second defeat over the 26.2 mile course. Marty and Sarah S. laughed hysterically and openly mocked the Cavemen team.

But this team would not hang their heads in shame. Instead, they congratulated the other team while silently nodding at each other, knowing that they only had one year to train for the 2012 relay and avenge the loss. Better get started...

Final Results:
Team #hashtags - 3:20:18
Unfrozen Caveman Runners - 3:21:36