“it’s not a race. Just keep going at a nice steady pace.”
That was my mantra when I began running and I wanted to encourage myself. I knew that I couldn’t keep up with more experienced runners or college kids so I had to motivate myself to keep trying even if it seemed like I wasn’t making progress. Heck, it’s still my mantra on bad days when I have “the lazies“.
Well, forget all that. Today IS a race!
April 5th at Memorial Park and I’m here at “4 for the park”. Not a huge race but I’ve been looking forward to this for a while. I usually avoid crowds when running but sometimes you need to test yourself out against others. Today I did have to do my best and not just in the sense of just showing up and finishing but really pushing myself hard.
Besides the need to finish the race at the best pace possible, I’ve got another appointment practically right after the race so the quicker I finish the better.
On Saturday morning Memorial Park swarms with runners. So many times I’ve driven past and seen them and here I was among them.
The local runners are used to these events and pay it little mind. Since it’s a shorter course some people have already run the trail and are just coming back in. I don’t do much in the way of stretching. Four miles isn’t a big deal for me so I really don’t need all that much prep. I just walk back and forth till it’s almost time and spend my time looking at all the runners in all sorts of shapes and sizes and age ranges. Some even too young to run but that participate anyways; kids in “running” strollers being pushed by their parents. No doubt getting a sneak preview of the trails that they will one day run.
Nearly time and people gather behind a giant inflatable start line. I look at the mob of people trying to decide where I will line up. Obviously not the front. I will just get in the way of all the fast runners. The tail end has all the beginners and walkers. I would forever be dodging and going around them. I find a spot somewhere near the middle with a large empty space.
The start line
The announcer counts down the last few seconds. I cross myself and the mob surges forward at a slow pace at first; walking as the first rows get going. I finally get to the front and start at a slow jog. Dodging people left and right, looking round for ways around them, trying not to crash into people coming up behind me.
That first mile is always ridiculously long. You figure you’ve run a long way already and then that 1-mile sign comes up and you realize it’s just beginning but you keep going. I make the second turn on the course. Coming in the opposite direction are the race leaders. Some cheers from the runners around me. I make the next turn and approach the 2-mile mark. Gatorade and water ahead. Some people don’t even try to aim for the waste bins. I pass it by.
I run over the pedestrian bridge over Memorial Drive. It suddenly hits me that here is yet another landmark that I had passed so many times by car on my way to downtown or some other location in the loop and here I was on foot. This is now part of my personal map of places I’ve been.
3-mile mark. Keep going strong. I’ve been steadily passing more and more runners and not giving ground but some people suddenly catch and pass me by. I pick up the pace determined to keep up with them and not fall behind.
Up ahead is an inflatable thing that looks like the finish line. Is that it? I speed up, burning hard for the finish. Someone yells “false alarm!” It’s not part of the course. I groan internally and slow my pace and continue to run steadily.
Finally some well-wisher on the sidelines yells “just two more turns and you’re done”. I look expectantly as the road unwinds and sure enough there it is.
Now, do it now!
My last burst of speed to finish strong. I half expect myself to be out of energy after that false alarm but nobody is more surprised than me when I kick it into high gear and practically peel out catching up and passing not just the guy in front of me but several others. I zip past the finish line and have to brake hard not to run into a crowd of people.
No time to celebrate. I look for the parking shuttles to get back to the parking lot.
Later I look online for my time. 39 minutes, 6 seconds. About 9 minute, 45 second per mile. Not bad but I can do better and next time I will.
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