April's race: Aches, ponytails and a fast race for an old guy. Corvallis Half Marathon/5k.

Obviously I ran the 5k. There is always something to learn from a race. Today I learned not to be concerned that my body, i.e. knees and back are a bit achy while warming up. 

As I began my warm up about 45 minutes before the start, my knees ached and my back were feeling tight as I began my slow jogs. I ran only a few dozen meters on my first jogs because I ached. Stopped, stretched, squats, hamstring stretches, jogged again. Still achy. Walking, more stretching, running again...better, but still achy. More deep squats while holding onto a parking sign pole. That helped. Jogging after that felt better. More dynamic stretching, more high knee jogs, feeling better. Faster running, feeling smoother but still a bit tight. Down on the sidewalk doing cat/cows and twisting stretches, running...better. Let's see how this goes...still concerned.

Lined up, wondering if I'm too near the front as not many people are coming forward. Race starts...body feeling pretty good, but am I going too fast? My breathing is fast and deep. Adrenaline from the start, relax and it will settle down. Hmm it's not. I think I'm going out too fast, slow it down, relax. Inner thoughts "I'm trying to!" It's not working, people passing me but I feel like I'm working harder than I want this first mile. First mile, 8:44. Yes, too fucking fast.

New mind set time. Don't panic. Relax this second mile, maintain pace as much as you can, don't blow up! Concentrate, find a mantra. "Don't die, don't die." Okay, not a positive one but it'll work for now. Mile two, I'm afraid to look at my watch so I don't. 

One mile to go. You can suffer through this! Don't slow, maintain until the last half mile then push. I turned a corner, kinda cut it and felt bad about passing a woman when doing it. She must be pissed about it, she passes me right back. Good for her. Don't let an old fart cheat on you. Old fart notices she has nice ponytail swing. Channel my inner RG! Follow the swinging ponytail. (Note: RG was a marathon friend who enjoyed watching the swinging ponytails of women while running marathons. Yes, the hair not the other ponytail you may be thing of! RG died several years ago and there are still running moments that bring back memories of his running essence and joy.) 

He was right, there is something mesmerizing about following the metronome-like swing that helps one ignore the pleading of the body to slow down. I did follow, she did not slow down. I kept up but could not catch. That's okay, she earned  beating this old guy and I appreciated her pulling me in for the fastest mile of the race, 8:34.

Damn I was hurting though and tired, but my knees weren't achy, my back was fine, my quads and lungs were burning. It was a good race. 

The reason I do this, t-shirts and beer.

My March race and high school and small college races

 I didn't post about my March race. It was a 5k in Vancouver, WA on March 20. It was my birthday race and I ran it with my daughter Jasmine and her husband Jared. "Ran with" is a loose interpretation as they finished several minutes ahead of me.

The course was excellent, going along Vancouver's river front them veering off to run through the grounds of historic Fort Vancouver. Was pleased with my run, even finished first in my age group.

Since then it's been a busy time. Still training and my April race is just days away. But what has kept me busy has been officiating area track meets. I've been busy officiating the high jump at Willamette U's track meets and being the start for several area high school meets. Also attending USATF officiating clinics on other weekends. It has been fun to be a part of the events and watching kids compete as I once did at the high school and collegiate level. 

Tonight I was the starter at a local high school meet and witnessed one of the best finishes to a race you could imagine. The 4x400 relay, the last event of the night. Kennedy HS's final leg runner takes the baton 30 meters behind the leader. Down the back stretch she narrows the gap. Coming out of the final turn she is on the shoulder of the leader. The home stretch is a battle, will she have anything left? In the last 10 meters she passes the leader and wins my a torso. As exciting as an Olympic finish and just as gutsy.

When I share my college track experience with folks, I tell them I was a mediocre small college distance runner, which I was. But I am proud of being a collegiate athlete, even a lettered collegiate athlete. I know the work it takes to being a true student-athlete. We aren't the ones eyeing huge professional contracts. We attend classes and study because we know the degree we are working towards is our future, but we also head to the track in the afternoon for workouts that exhaust us and get us to the dinning room just before they close it down. (This was back in the old days.) 

We/They participate because they love the competition between rival schools and to challenge themselves. Some get a bit of scholarship money, but I'm sure not at the level as the football/basketball players. These are the ones who truly participate for the joy, challenge, love of the sport.

Want to see sport at its finest? Go to a high school or small college meet. You won't see world records, you will see the heart and spirit of competing.