Speed, it's what every runner wants. Few are gifted enough to have it naturally and even those who do are required to put ridiculous amounts of time and effort to keep it. It seems like I run crazy amounts, to make minimal gains, and I know it doesn't even scratch the surface of what real runners do. It's kind of sickening, but at the same time, I have a whole new level of respect to them. Where do I fall between the Tortoise and the Hare? I'd like to think closer to the hare, but today I'm a turtle.
This is the last scheduled race before the end of the year. The last race should be special, right? Well, special enough to get us out of town for a mini vacation. Say hello, to Mackinac Island! Who schedules a summer time island for the tail end of fall? Well, runners of course! It's a chilly, dreary, day to start with as we wait for the ferry. The line waiting for the boat looks much longer than the boat could hold. Who knew there were this many hardcore, boarder line psychotic people. As it turns out, standing room only for our group of Superstars, but at least we were inside. Oh, those poor suckers outside dealing with the wind and splashing water. See, should have got to the dock sooner! Speed is good, again.
This race has three options, the half marathon, a 5.7 mile run, and get this a 5.7 mile walk. Why would I even mention this? Wait for it, suspense is best for story telling, the one time speed isn't best. I signed us up for this race before CT got injured. The race powers wouldn't let her defer to next year, but they would let her switch to the walk. Now, don't get me wrong, CT is happy to be doing anything, and although it's not running, it's something. You'd think that simply being able to participate and not having to only watch would be the icing on the cake for her. No, the icing on cake with the cherry on top, better make that a TURTLE sundae, was when she found out they also give awards for walking! Her eyes started sparkling like only hers can. Oh boy, competitive CT is back.
Once on the island, we all get settled. As you know, to me there is no such thing as a race that is too cold. That being said, it was damn cold with the wind. Luckily, we could hide in the building prior to the start. To say CT was antsy, is an understatement, stressing over if she'd place in her age group, wanting first. She finally had to go line up early. The shorter run and walk started earlier than my race, but I couldn't stand outside in the elements long enough to see her off. My plan was to stay in the warmth until about five minutes before her start, then see her off. Just as I was about to do that, sis Downhill, told me let her go, she's in her zone, she's starting to get snippy! That was enough for me, to heed the advice of Downhill. I know all about that zone, best to stay clear!
Holy crowded! Lining up, it was a mob of people in a little space. I suppose it helped to keep warm, but it was almost impossible to even see where the start was. I had a vague idea of how the course would go. The first two miles were along the shore, then the next nine were over and around the interior or the island on "trails" and the final two were back on the same road we started on. This wouldn't be a flat course and I knew the biggest climb would be from about mile two to five. I figured I'd have an advantage here, but also didn't want to push too hard to burn too much energy, but based on this cattle heard of people, I was now worried about how big these trails were. This would go against all my race strategies, but told myself to go out fast to avoid getting stuck behind people if the trails were tight. Speed.
Splish, splash, goes the starting gun. Is this a triathlon? Two steps past crossing the starting line, two huge pools of water laid in wait. There is NO WAY I'm running thirteen miles in soaking shoes. I did my best impression of a basilisk (Look it up), again speed! Past the water, the challenge became dodging people and horse poop for the first mile. Going fast, trying not to spend too much energy making unnecessary moves, I felt pretty good, until some young kid blew by me. Speed. Things are thinning out and now it's just a matter of finding the grove. As I caught and passed small pockets of people, I couldn't help but notice how poor people race. Granted, running along the curves of the shoreline was scenic, but I was amazed at how many people stuck to the edge of the curve that they were running, without at least trying to being on the inside, let alone adjusting in an attempt to run the tangents. I caught and passed so many people when I really didn't feel like I was running faster than them, simply by cutting the angles. Hell, maybe I don't need speed, if everybody wants to add distance to their run.
Mile two is where the trail started. Trail turned out to be an exaggeration. Dirt road is more like it. Maybe starting out fast wasn't the best idea, because I clearly didn't have to worry about getting stuck behind people on a narrow trail. Before I could second guess my strategy, there was a huge mud puddle, bog, swamp thing spanning the entire width of the trail. Skirting the edge as best as possible seemed to work, but it was also very slippery. Now, I was glad I started out fast because the people were now thinned out enough were it became easier to plan and navigate around the water hazards.
Somewhere in this section the hill definitely started. Passing a volunteer, she cheerfully announced to the woman in front of me she was woman number ten. As I pass, nothing. Does that mean I'm so far back I don't count for the guys? Or is it because I'm a guy, that I don't matter? What a bunch of bullshit, or on this run I suppose it should be horseshit! Either way, it annoyed me. Sorry number ten, the hill is here and this (meaning being a head of me), isn't going down. There goes number ten, then nine, and eight females.
The middle miles leveled out. Figuring the worse was over, I felt pretty good, besides almost drinking part of a tree that had fallen into my water cup at a water station. While not exactly on PR pace, I was doing much better than I thought I would considering I had just ran a marathon six days earlier. But, then the rollers started. Up and down, up and down, over and over. Scouting the course on the web, this caught me completely off guard. Brutal. This is where Karma caught up with me for making it a game passing those women, starting too fast, and probably not falling in one of those many puddles. My hip started bothering me and all I could do was wish for the trail portion to end and road back to the finish to start.
Nine guys passed me and I swear they all looked like they were in my age group in this section. Even though I had slowed, I still was clocking some great miles. It frustrated me that these guys were catching me, but at the same time I knew my time was going to end up being pretty darn good. Damn hares, maybe they'll need a nap before the end.
Crossing the finish line, I somehow managed to run my third fastest half marathon time on what was a damn hilly course. I gave CT a hug, she was all smiles with her medal for her race. Then it was hobbling to the building to change and attempt to warm up. Inside, we checked the results. For me? Fourth in my group. Not fast enough to be the hare, but I guess I still have my hair, so those nine guys who passed me must have just looked old. Sure enough, CT the walker, placed first in her age group! Can you believe that? It shouldn't surprise, but she she is coming off surgery, and she still gets an award. Figures, the "injured" turtle of the group, is really the hare.
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