Race Report: O'Fallon YMCA 15K Springtime Challenge
O'Fallon, Illinois
April 4, 2009
Have you ever dreamt of winning a race? I probably have, but I'm not sure. Sometime after I hung up the uniform and put away the goalie gloves, dreams of being #1 at anything became dreams of being the best I could be at a lot of things. This usually put me in the competitive category in running and eventually multi-sport, but even having done some National and World competitions, "elite" would be a stretch. I am, if anything, a realist, perhaps to a fault. But maybe I did have that dream about winning a race some day or at least I should have. Today, at age 38, with a time that was not my fastest 15K, I won a race. This is usually where I say, "in my age group", but not today. For the first time ever, I can say that I won first place overall. Oh, and since the course was different from last year -- a course record (cash bonus). When it rains, it pours, and this is the Midwest in early spring and we're expecting snow on Monday, too. Today, however, there was no rain, no snow, only a dream fulfilled, albeit with plenty of caveats (mainly that there were no elite runners present).
The horn sounded while I was in mid-stretch and I looked up to see if it was a mistake when the starter looked at me and said, "Go!" What? Are you serious?!
I'd say there were 200 or so people pushing forward, doing either the 5K, 10K, or 15K. The bulk of the participants near the front made the left turn, meaning they were going at least 10K. Immediately, about 4 guys crossed to the far side of the road as if they were going to turn right for the 10K. But then I saw cars approaching and I thought this was just a safety precaution, so I joined them on the right side. But when we soon approached the intersection where 10K'ers turned right and 15K'ers turned left, I was suddenly in the lead of the 15K. A quick glance over my shoulder and I saw that at least one guy was close behind and going long too. We were soon at the 1-mile marker and I was still in front. I felt pretty good but was probably going too fast for that distance, understandably inspired to "be in yellow" so to speak.
I kept listening for footsteps. Nothing. Mind games, yes. Should I look back, or is that bad luck? Is thinking about winning less than 1/3 of the way through the race bad karma? Will I somehow screw up this opportunity to win? Just run, man.
Mile four -- still just me. Stop thinking and just keep the effort. The mile splits were slower than the first mile, but fairly consistent considering the hills. Running on the shoulder, in the lead, not knowing how it would all go — it was a new feeling for me.
I wondered if I would go faster if I was chasing someone? Or am I going faster because I'm running scared of being caught? I don't know, just run, man.
Random thoughts: "Did that lady just say 'less than 15K to go'"? "Those guys on the group ride looked surprised to see me but boy, did they ever get some sweet weather for a change." "Oh my gosh, I'm still winning, this might actually happen." "There aren't many people out here." "Is that barking dog chasing me?" "Should I look back to see what my lead looks like?" (I decided to only look on turns and OK, I looked a few other times toward the end.)
Just after the middle of the race, I did feel something rare. Freedom. For once, I was not chasing something, wishing I was faster. I was doing my best and today, in this tiny little race just east of St. Louis, it was good enough. There was no to-do list or I should have or I'm going to start this or I need to change that...it was just momentary freedom.
I still had miles to go though and in every race I've ever done (several hundred I'm sure) someone always came by me before the finish. Always. Every single time. Would this ... could this be different?
Hill after hill -- ugh. I'm getting closer. This is really happening. I don't think my time is anything special, but I'm winning. Oh, now I'm passing people from the 10K, and they are encouraging me! Activated!
There is the YMCA building. There is the 9-mile mark. This is going to happen! Straight down the parking lot, spread those wings as if I just won Falmouth. The finish line volunteers appeared to be caught by surprise -- "Oh, our first 15K!" I got a drink and thought about what had just happened. It was different, but mostly the same, but wow, just once, or at least once, I won, I actually won. Crazy.
Wife Jamie was making her way closer to the end of a good race herself and when she was close enough she had a big smile and asked if I had won. I guess she had seen me up ahead early in the race on some of those long roads. I almost couldn't believe the answer when I told her "Yes, I did." I wasn't sure this would ever come my way, so I didn't know how to "act like I've been there before". I was just taking it all in and enjoying the moment, no matter how small time and fleeting it might all be.
And just to confirm it was all really happening, my first and last name were completely butchered and unrecognizable when announced to pick up my medal and cash prize. It was like someone played a word scramble with the letters.
JPD
April 4, 2009
Have you ever dreamt of winning a race? I probably have, but I'm not sure. Sometime after I hung up the uniform and put away the goalie gloves, dreams of being #1 at anything became dreams of being the best I could be at a lot of things. This usually put me in the competitive category in running and eventually multi-sport, but even having done some National and World competitions, "elite" would be a stretch. I am, if anything, a realist, perhaps to a fault. But maybe I did have that dream about winning a race some day or at least I should have. Today, at age 38, with a time that was not my fastest 15K, I won a race. This is usually where I say, "in my age group", but not today. For the first time ever, I can say that I won first place overall. Oh, and since the course was different from last year -- a course record (cash bonus). When it rains, it pours, and this is the Midwest in early spring and we're expecting snow on Monday, too. Today, however, there was no rain, no snow, only a dream fulfilled, albeit with plenty of caveats (mainly that there were no elite runners present).
The horn sounded while I was in mid-stretch and I looked up to see if it was a mistake when the starter looked at me and said, "Go!" What? Are you serious?!
I'd say there were 200 or so people pushing forward, doing either the 5K, 10K, or 15K. The bulk of the participants near the front made the left turn, meaning they were going at least 10K. Immediately, about 4 guys crossed to the far side of the road as if they were going to turn right for the 10K. But then I saw cars approaching and I thought this was just a safety precaution, so I joined them on the right side. But when we soon approached the intersection where 10K'ers turned right and 15K'ers turned left, I was suddenly in the lead of the 15K. A quick glance over my shoulder and I saw that at least one guy was close behind and going long too. We were soon at the 1-mile marker and I was still in front. I felt pretty good but was probably going too fast for that distance, understandably inspired to "be in yellow" so to speak.
I kept listening for footsteps. Nothing. Mind games, yes. Should I look back, or is that bad luck? Is thinking about winning less than 1/3 of the way through the race bad karma? Will I somehow screw up this opportunity to win? Just run, man.
Mile four -- still just me. Stop thinking and just keep the effort. The mile splits were slower than the first mile, but fairly consistent considering the hills. Running on the shoulder, in the lead, not knowing how it would all go — it was a new feeling for me.
I wondered if I would go faster if I was chasing someone? Or am I going faster because I'm running scared of being caught? I don't know, just run, man.
Random thoughts: "Did that lady just say 'less than 15K to go'"? "Those guys on the group ride looked surprised to see me but boy, did they ever get some sweet weather for a change." "Oh my gosh, I'm still winning, this might actually happen." "There aren't many people out here." "Is that barking dog chasing me?" "Should I look back to see what my lead looks like?" (I decided to only look on turns and OK, I looked a few other times toward the end.)
Just after the middle of the race, I did feel something rare. Freedom. For once, I was not chasing something, wishing I was faster. I was doing my best and today, in this tiny little race just east of St. Louis, it was good enough. There was no to-do list or I should have or I'm going to start this or I need to change that...it was just momentary freedom.
I still had miles to go though and in every race I've ever done (several hundred I'm sure) someone always came by me before the finish. Always. Every single time. Would this ... could this be different?
Hill after hill -- ugh. I'm getting closer. This is really happening. I don't think my time is anything special, but I'm winning. Oh, now I'm passing people from the 10K, and they are encouraging me! Activated!
There is the YMCA building. There is the 9-mile mark. This is going to happen! Straight down the parking lot, spread those wings as if I just won Falmouth. The finish line volunteers appeared to be caught by surprise -- "Oh, our first 15K!" I got a drink and thought about what had just happened. It was different, but mostly the same, but wow, just once, or at least once, I won, I actually won. Crazy.
Wife Jamie was making her way closer to the end of a good race herself and when she was close enough she had a big smile and asked if I had won. I guess she had seen me up ahead early in the race on some of those long roads. I almost couldn't believe the answer when I told her "Yes, I did." I wasn't sure this would ever come my way, so I didn't know how to "act like I've been there before". I was just taking it all in and enjoying the moment, no matter how small time and fleeting it might all be.
And just to confirm it was all really happening, my first and last name were completely butchered and unrecognizable when announced to pick up my medal and cash prize. It was like someone played a word scramble with the letters.
JPD
posted by JPD at Saturday, April 04, 2009
