Yesterday's race was both rewarding and incredibly insulting. I'm not exactly sure what to write about either feeling.
I arrived at the fairgrounds for the Michiana Relief Sale 5K about an hour before start time. I checked in, made some small talk with the other runners. Sipped on my water. Agreed that yes it was chilly but it was going to be a good run. Then someone asked where I was going to be stationed.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Aren't you volunteering for the race?" he said.
"No. I'm running."
The slightest pause passed, just enough to notice.
"Good for you!"
This happened three times. And it really pissed me off. Each time the person got a silly smile on their face, like they wanted to pat my head and buy me a pony. Yes, I'm a fat guy that's gonna run. How about "What's your goal?" or "Hey, great! Good luck in the race!" or "Been running long?" or any of the other banter I heard all around me?
But it wasn't going to spoil my run.
As the fates would have it, a treasured friend from high school happened to be in town and attended the race. My friend is, I believe, 6'5" and as lanky as a cat. In fact, back in the day, we were known as Calvin and Hobbes. But that's another story. Hobbes found me and we immediately fell into the familiarity of old friends. We agreed that he need not stay with me through the race, but he did want to come back and find me after he had finished. He wanted to pace me as I finished up.
There was a lot of people there I knew. It's a small town and the relief sale is put on by my denominational church, so there was even a greater chance of meeting someone I knew, or was related to. It was great to see old friends besides Hobbes, but I will admit about being nervous about running with, and embarrassing myself in front of so many I knew.
We lined up and started off after the 2K walkers left the track. The route took us around the half mile horse track twice, then out into the parking area, back into the fair grounds and then back to the track for the last half mile. I got lapped by the leader just shy of the first half mile. No problem. I knew that was going to happen. I knew I was going to be at the back of this pack. As I was finishing my first lap, the timer was calling out pace times and I remembered that the organizer said that he'd be doing this. Half mile in 7 minutes. Not great, but about my average.
By the second time around, the timer wasn't calling out the pace. He was off to the side drinking coffee. That pissed me off too. I may be slow, but I deserve the respect that was afforded the faster runners too. It wasn't as if I was in last place. I had 5 runners behind me. Nor was it as if I hadn't finished in the 1 hour allotted to the race time. This happened throughout the race. Volunteers that were posted to guide runners through the fairgrounds left their post by the time I came through. That pisses me off.
Still, it really was a good run insofar as the pace was good and hard. I was about a mile from the finish when Hobbes joined up with me. We chatted a bit, though my pace was a little higher than would allow a comfortable conversation. This was, after all, a race. He kept me going, encouraging me, asking how I trained and what else I was doing this summer. And we talked about his training for a half marathon he was running in a month. I really enjoyed that last mile.
His longer stride did push up my pace a bit, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. And before I knew it, there was the chute. I did kick it for the last 100 yards or so even though there wasn't anyone to race ahead of. Crossed the line at 40m47s. It was nearly a minute and a half off my race last weekend. I was really pleased.
But I was disappointed that other runners had already walked off. Some had already picked up their prizes and were walking around the sale. Now, I'm not being a whinny ass here. The other runners don't owe me anything and I certainly didn't expect everyone to stick around at the finish line for the back of the pack. But there was no one. Except Hobbes. Where was the congeniality of runners that I've been reading about?
So, what a mix of emotions. A good hard run. Great time spent with an old friend. A marked improvement in my pace and time. Didn't come in dead last. And yet, I experienced condescension, apathy and downright been ignored.
After posting this, I am letting it go. I met my goals and I will be there next year.
Showing posts with label 5K. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5K. Show all posts
9/21/10
Race Report -- New Directions 5K
First off, I don't know how to write a proper race report. Second, this really wasn't a proper race. Ok, now that we have that taken care of, let me tell you a story.
The New Directions program at the local hospital is a medically supervised "rapid" weight loss program that I have been trying to follow for the last two years. It really is a good program when I choose to not sabotage myself. The merits of a medically supervised program certainly has its pros and cons. But that's not what is important right now. What is important is that every September the program holds a 5K fun run for its clients and their families
There were 12 runners this year. Of the twelve, I believe I was the only client to run that was still in "weight loss" mode. Others were either family or had made it to "maintenance" mode. It certainly seemed to me that I was the largest person to actually attempt to run. Now, last year it seemed that the runners included up to 30 runners and I placed pretty much mid pack. I was also 50 pounds lighter. How I gained weight while faithfully participating in a medically supervised "rapid" weight loss program is another story and isn't important right now. What is important is that this year, with only 12, I ran dead last. Most who ran last year chose instead to participate in the 5K fun walk But I'm getting ahead of myself.
It was a overcast but otherwise fine fall morning. The temps were in the mid 70s. My wife had planned to run as well, but her recent illness made that impossible. Luckily, my 12 yo daughter did not have a cross country meet that day and the race officials were kind enough to let her run in my wife's place. I was really looking forward to spending the morning with her.
We set off and, as we had planned, my daughter took off ahead. My pace is about 15 mins per mile right now and, frankly, it would have been difficult for her to maintain such a slow place for 3.1 miles. I'm ok with that. I got about a half mile out before I realized I will not be able to keep pace with the other runners. And I was a little disheartened by that. I mean, who WANTS to be last? I tried my best not to think about it and focus on my game plan. Run 6 mins, walk 1.
The route took us through park trails, over bridges, along the river and, for a bit, along a busy street on a side walk. It really was a gorgeous day. And I did find myself enjoying the run for what it was...a chance to show to myself I could do it.
Then it happened. I got passed by a walker. A big, goofy guy speed walking just zipped past me like I wasn't there. I have to say it was more than a little embarrassing and I thought, for just a moment, to just pack it in. My first DNF. I was dead last and got passed by goofus. My arches were killing me. My back hurt. The route took us past a Mc Donald's (WTH? Why would a weight loss program route their race past a Mc Donald's. Really).
But I wasn't going to let my daughter down. We had planned that she would come back along the race and run my last half mile with me. I pushed forward, keeping to the game plan.
That goofus walker, I must concede, was about 6'2", had a stride twice as long as my own and had obviously trained to speedwalk. One could tell that from the efficiency of his motion. Every quarter mile he'd walk backwards exactly 15 steps. I don't know why. I do know that he passed at least two other runners besides myself. I wasn't so disheartened once that happened.
Dear daughter did meet me as planned. She had crossed the finish line second (unfortunately the race only allowed for clients to place) and was so excited. She ran with me, pushing me to push through. I could hear the other walkers finally gaining on me, with one 8 year old girl actually passing me for about 10 seconds, but then she got a side stitch and had to slow down (heh heh heh). I kicked it about 100 yards from the finish line and held my daughter's hand as we crossed the finish line at 42 minutes and 6 seconds.
I remember thinking at that moment just how happy I was to have done this and to have my daughter with me as I did. I also realized that I had done it for myself just as much as I stayed in there and not disappoint her.
Everyone got a participation medal that day, if they finished. I know it is dorky, but I wore mine with great pride. I didn't care if anyone stared at the grocery store or in the pharmacy. I am 40 years old, 120 pounds overweight, and I ran a 5K dammit.
The New Directions program at the local hospital is a medically supervised "rapid" weight loss program that I have been trying to follow for the last two years. It really is a good program when I choose to not sabotage myself. The merits of a medically supervised program certainly has its pros and cons. But that's not what is important right now. What is important is that every September the program holds a 5K fun run for its clients and their families
There were 12 runners this year. Of the twelve, I believe I was the only client to run that was still in "weight loss" mode. Others were either family or had made it to "maintenance" mode. It certainly seemed to me that I was the largest person to actually attempt to run. Now, last year it seemed that the runners included up to 30 runners and I placed pretty much mid pack. I was also 50 pounds lighter. How I gained weight while faithfully participating in a medically supervised "rapid" weight loss program is another story and isn't important right now. What is important is that this year, with only 12, I ran dead last. Most who ran last year chose instead to participate in the 5K fun walk But I'm getting ahead of myself.
It was a overcast but otherwise fine fall morning. The temps were in the mid 70s. My wife had planned to run as well, but her recent illness made that impossible. Luckily, my 12 yo daughter did not have a cross country meet that day and the race officials were kind enough to let her run in my wife's place. I was really looking forward to spending the morning with her.
We set off and, as we had planned, my daughter took off ahead. My pace is about 15 mins per mile right now and, frankly, it would have been difficult for her to maintain such a slow place for 3.1 miles. I'm ok with that. I got about a half mile out before I realized I will not be able to keep pace with the other runners. And I was a little disheartened by that. I mean, who WANTS to be last? I tried my best not to think about it and focus on my game plan. Run 6 mins, walk 1.
The route took us through park trails, over bridges, along the river and, for a bit, along a busy street on a side walk. It really was a gorgeous day. And I did find myself enjoying the run for what it was...a chance to show to myself I could do it.
Then it happened. I got passed by a walker. A big, goofy guy speed walking just zipped past me like I wasn't there. I have to say it was more than a little embarrassing and I thought, for just a moment, to just pack it in. My first DNF. I was dead last and got passed by goofus. My arches were killing me. My back hurt. The route took us past a Mc Donald's (WTH? Why would a weight loss program route their race past a Mc Donald's. Really).
But I wasn't going to let my daughter down. We had planned that she would come back along the race and run my last half mile with me. I pushed forward, keeping to the game plan.
That goofus walker, I must concede, was about 6'2", had a stride twice as long as my own and had obviously trained to speedwalk. One could tell that from the efficiency of his motion. Every quarter mile he'd walk backwards exactly 15 steps. I don't know why. I do know that he passed at least two other runners besides myself. I wasn't so disheartened once that happened.
Dear daughter did meet me as planned. She had crossed the finish line second (unfortunately the race only allowed for clients to place) and was so excited. She ran with me, pushing me to push through. I could hear the other walkers finally gaining on me, with one 8 year old girl actually passing me for about 10 seconds, but then she got a side stitch and had to slow down (heh heh heh). I kicked it about 100 yards from the finish line and held my daughter's hand as we crossed the finish line at 42 minutes and 6 seconds.
I remember thinking at that moment just how happy I was to have done this and to have my daughter with me as I did. I also realized that I had done it for myself just as much as I stayed in there and not disappoint her.
Everyone got a participation medal that day, if they finished. I know it is dorky, but I wore mine with great pride. I didn't care if anyone stared at the grocery store or in the pharmacy. I am 40 years old, 120 pounds overweight, and I ran a 5K dammit.
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