Race #30

I was going to run the race angry. Right before the race I checked my email and there was a message from my broker announcing his move to yet another firm. This is the third move in about three years and, along with a huge snafu in 2009, has just exhausted me. I thought I’d channel this energy into my run and see if I could at least not embarrass myself.

While I was waiting for the race to start this young kid, probably in his early teens, was on his bike and jumped it off a curb while in pursuit of his mother. He fell off the bike while performing the maneuver and what does he do? He blamed his mother! I couldn’t help but laugh and think about the story my father repeated so many times about the kid we saw falling off his bike then turning around and kicking the bike. Whenever Pop told that story he’d laugh so hard, like it was the first time he was telling the story. At that point I decided I really didn’t have anything to be angry about, have so many good things, and people, in my life that being angry just didn’t make sense.

The change in attitude made for a very enjoyable race. In fact, considering my total lack of training I ended up with a time of 33:15 and felt pretty good throughout the run. The course was a completely flat out and back. My motivator for this race was this little boy, maybe five years old, who was running with his dad. He kept up the same steady pace the entire time until the last half mile when he put on a little heat and left me in his dust. It was amazing how he just kept moving down the street like he didn’t have a care in the world! I was so impressed with him and how his dad seemed to be so encouraging and supportive without being the over-competitive jock dad.

After the race I stopped in at the beer garden for a cold one before I needed to head to the airport. Got to chatting with an older gentleman – probably mid to late 60’s – who was a retired runner. Though he didn’t run any more, I could tell he still had a great love for the sport. He had lots of great stories to tell about his running days as well as those of his three kids. What a great way to pass a nice sunny afternoon!