Mistaken Identity

Funny moment this weekend ...
As I came up the final hill in the Austin Marathon over the weekend at mile 25.5, I was breezing by runners right and left.  I had never experienced so much energy that late in a race, and honestly, I felt like I could have ran 5 or 6 more miles after it was over.  I ran my last mile at a 7:18 pace, my fastest mile of the marathon! 

The crowds were beginning to thicken toward the end, and a huge group of Texas Longhorn-clad college girls were waiting at the top of the hill.  As I got closer, their cheers became louder and louder.  I thought to myself, "Yeah, the old man's still got it!  Man, I must be lookin' good ... these southern gals don't even realize that I'm 42!"  I passed them proudly, rockin' my best "Cool Guy" imitation! 

But as I made my way past them, the cheering didn't die down, in fact it increased to a deafening scream.  I looked back over my shoulder, and about 20 yards behind me was a young college-age runner dressed in Texas Longhorn burnt orange from head to toe!  Just then, all of them started shouting, "C'mon Josh, you can do it!"  Man ... they weren't cheering for me at all ... they were there to see JOSH! 

I just laughed to myself and kept chuggin' away ... Oh, and young Josh never passed me!  No way I was gonna let this kid half my age who just stole MY personal co-ed cheering section get the last laugh!  Go Longhorns ... and go Josh 42 year old runners!
... be great today!