Running In Place

Run a 5 miler. Well……not exactly.

It was 4.67, but who’s counting!

This was just a really great run all round! Great not just because I did it, and I had fun, and I kicked a little more hill-butt – but because this is just such an awesome community event! The participants numbered greater than 7,600 and raised more than $1,112,000 for the American Heart Association which is great – but the real story is the volunteers who organized, coordinated, and wrangled 7600 folks to all the different locations they needed to be for the various run and walk distances. Also, the people who registered each and every one of us, drove the busses to take us to and fro, the law enforcement guys and volunteer road crew out managing car and foot traffic, the local Legions and fire departments and private folks who provided water, oranges, and lollipops, and the radio stations and bands (particularly The Reuben James who I am a super-fan of ) who played us up Heartbreak Hill. Plus, all the folks along the way, just standing out in the cold, clapping and saying “you’re doing great!” All that. That’s the stuff that makes me all soft inside – when the notion of a community becomes a tangible thing. So I’m all full of gratitute about that.

Now, let’s talk about me! Like I said, I really enjoyed this run. Of course I was all nervous and shit, but at the heart of it, I knew I could do it. A couple of times I had the urge to hop the shuttle for the 3 mile run. My Inner Critic was telling me that I wasn’t prepared enough because I had been sick all week and hadn’t run, but I felt good now and I knew I had it in me to be able to go the distance. So onto the 5 mile bus I climbed and sat next to the 6’6″ dude dressed all in bright red long johns. He was from Ithaca, where a friend of mine lives, so we started chatting. He was running for his step-dad, who died of congestive heart failure and had raised over a thousand dollars. He also has run 14 Boilermakers and was happy to share some tips and experiences, which was great for me since this year will be my first.

Upon getting dropped off, I heard a couple of guys saying that for 5 miles, we should have gotten dropped off at the school, which was above where we were. I didn’t think much of it since it was more of a fun run than a race – no chips, no mile markers, no placing – just run or walk. As a matter of fact, there’s a couple of bars along the route that get lots of folks in for a “pit stop” during the run & walk Anyway, there was no start line, we just all gobbed together and the gun went off, and I started Garmin when I started moving. The first mile felt difficult because I had had no opportunity to do any kind of warming up, but it went fast. It was flat and it was pretty much over before I knew it. The hardest part of the first mile is watching everyone run by you and pull away in front of you and the urge to try to keep up is very strong. But I resisted. It wasn’t a race, and even if it was, race pace for me right now is “finish.” The rest will come. Anyway, I passed a bunch of folks later when they were walking up the hills. Then they passed me again after cause they had renewed their reserves so I guess it all evens out with me in the back again

The second mile felt easier and also went by quickly. I spent alot of time watching other people’s forms. That’s really amazing – I mean, I don’t really know how I look when I run – mostly kind of large and cumbersome I imagine but I get there anyway. Same for other folks – butt kickers, straight-leggers, shoulder shruggers, toe runners, tiny steppers, floaters, leapers, bounders, etc etc. Everybody different, everybody kind of utilizing what comes natural to get where they want to go. It was a very engaging way to pass a mile.

Mile three was two moderate hills. I slowed down but was really pleased that I was able to keep my effort consistent and get to the crest of each feeling winded but knowing I would recover and have stamina for what was to come. I really feel like my endurance has improved a ton in the last several weeks.

The fourth mile was primarily the “Heartbreak Hill” which is, in technical terms, classified as “big-ass.” It’s steep and long, then levels out for a short bit till you round a bend and go up a kind of mini big-ass hill. This is where the bands and kids and people with treats and bead necklaces and signs come out and really give you a boost when you need it! Here is also where I learned a lesson about traveling light so, even though this is already getting long – I just have to deviate for a moment:

I have to preface this with a little background. When I went out in the morning, I knew just how I wanted to be dressed for the run. Tank top, polartec fleece, and my Team Sydney (the group I raised money in the name of) t-shirt over top. I planned to wear my nylon windbreaker over all of this to stay warm till the run and then just tie it around my waist. Which I did. Fine. So it’s nylon, and the knot periodically starts to slip and loosen as I’m running and I just fiddle around and tighten it up while still running – no problem. Now I get to the “part 1″ top of Heartbreak Hill, where the road curves flat before ascending again, and there’s a mess of people from Walmart handing out Sam’s Club bottled water. So I take one. But why? I’m about 3/4 mile from the finish, I’m tired from the hill so far and maybe slightly thirsty but I am not dying and I am not needing to stop, open up a bottle, take a drink, etc etc – so now I’ve got to carry the stupid thing, that I stupidly took, for the rest of the run. And it’s not some mini bottle, it’s like a big, fat 16 oz bottle – and it’s heavy – and it’s hard to keep my hand around – and my jacket around my waist is getting loose and I’m shoving the bottle into my armpit so I can try to finagle the knot on the jacket to tighten it. And my mittens (which I also immediately took off when I started running) are hanging on the jacket and I’m worried about them falling off. I kind of get it worked out and I’m carrying the bottle cradled in my inner arm, like a football – and now I’m getting close to the finish – and this is where the TV and newspaper cameras are and about 6,500 walkers are all lined up, waiting to go, and watching us runners come in. Anyway my jacket is falling off of my waist again. And I am fussing with it and pulling it up, and trying to hold this blessed bottle of water and fiddle with the knot, and trying to kick a little speed for the finish, and of course trying to look all cool for the one million or so people who I am sure are all looking directly at me right now as I run and f*#@ around with my clothes. Finally, I just used one hand to undo the knot, pull my jacket from around my waist, catch my mittens before they hit the ground, and run through the finish with a bottle of water in one hand and half my clothes in the other like I was in a hurry to get to the laundromat or something. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t my picture crossing the finish line in this morning’s paper. Next time I think I’ll travel just a little lighter, or bring a backpack.

So that’s about it. Not quite 5 miles after all but a run in which I felt good and strong, and just had a great time too. Afterwards, I foraged the goody tables – didn’t have to grab a bottled water, already had one of those – and all the snacks had partially hydroginated oils (trans fats) in them. That doesn’t make sense to me – I mean it’s the HEART run and all. So I waited till I shuttled back to my car and munched on the orange I had brought while I listened to Cat Stevens sing about being “on the road to find out” and feeling all kind of peaceful and Zen-like.

All being said and done, I raised a total of $345, in part thanks to some awesome RBFers who so kindly gave generous donations and, as always, give me invaluable encouragement and moral support. I heart you all!