~13.1 mi @ ~9.9 min/mi

"Rice University!" Roadkill greets a youngster wearing a t-shirt from his 44-years-ago alma mater. "Hanszen College?" The guy grunts affirmative as he races past. Smallest of worlds!

"My mnemonic for your surname is 'Charcuterie', Ma'am!" Charmingly crew-cut Jenny Charkoudian chats about her past races. She sprints ahead during the middle miles; we reconverge in the long climb to the end where she pushes hard. The word "compete" comes from Latin "com-" (together) and "petere" (to seek). Two seekers give each other a happy fist-bump salute after the finish line. Thank You, Jennie!

Boyish banter between Ken and Emaad entertains both pre- and post-event. We carpool with a stop afterward for a delightful deli brunch. Minor twinges persist in right ITB, left hip, right ankle; minor chafing annoys; last week's prickly-heat-rash persists in the unmentionable nether zone. Posted results show chip time 2:09:01, good for 1st of 12 in the age/gender group, gun time 2:09:55, 142nd of 238 males, 202th place of 406 total finishers.

Riley's Rumble Recorded Results:

• 2:09:01 - 2018-07-29 - Riley's Rumble Half Marathon
• 2:07:37 - 2016-07-31 - MCRRC Rileys Rumble Half Marathon Race
• 1:54:18 - 2014-08-03 - Riley's Rumble MCRRC Half Marathon Race
• 1:52:33 - 2013-08-04 - MCRRC Riley's Rumble Half Marathon Race
• 1:59:44 - 2012-08-05 - Riley's Rumble Half Marathon (warm and humid)
• 2:10:34 - 2011-08-07 - Riley's Rumble Half Marathon 2011 (meltdown!)
• 1:57:33 - 2010-07-25 - Riley's Rumble (race declared a "fun run" due to excessive heat and humidity)
• 1:55:25 - 2009-07-26 - Riley's Rumble Half Marathon (unofficial new course, possibly long?)

(trackfile) - ^z - 2018-08-19