Out at Free Union, site of the infamous 17 miles in the cold and driving rain run. And guess what? It was cold and rainy again! Fortunately, the rain had mostly stopped by the time the race was ready to start. Us early birds huddled under the registration tent to stay dry before then. It was while packed in trying to keep dry that I overhead a guy on his cellphone leaving a message for his buddy to please bring $5 because he was short on his entry fee. Without saying anything, I handed him the five dollar bill I always carry while running. He asked how he could repay me, and I just said, "Have a good race. Run like you stole something!" (Hee, hee, I saw that on a sign in Richmond and had been waiting for just the right moment to use it.) He offered me a banana in thanks, and I ate it against my better judgement.
Everyone lined up at the start, and the race organizer or whoever it was asked us to take a moment of silence for the troops and their families and the soldiers who've been killed, and then ended this solemn moment by saying "runnersonyourmarkgo!!!" Huh? Anyway, I was a little startled, and took off fast. I really, really, really wanted to break 30 minutes. In the rain. Without having run in weeks. And after having eaten more than enough sugar to make up for all the sugar I didn't eat last Xmas because I had gestational diabetes.
Not wanting to repeat my Turkey Trot mistake, I positioned myself relatively close to the start line. Which meant that as fast as I was, I was still getting passed by everyone. Even the guy who was juggling. By mile one, I admit I was kind of winded, and feeling pretty crummy about the race. As I approached the mile marker, I could hear the volunteer calling out splits, only I couldn't make out the minutes, only the seconds. I heard "Mwah Forty-five! Mwah Fifty! Mwah Fifty-five!" And just as I passed the mark, I heard, "NINE MINUTES!"
No, seriously, what the eff?
Nine minutes flat. Folks, please be careful flying home from your holiday travels, because there is a chance of pigs in the stratosphere.
Mama ran a nine minute mile. Mama never ran a nine minute mile, not even when she was young and drank coffee.
Mile 2, I kinda felt like I was going to throw up. That pre-race banana was a bad idea. Still, I got there at 19:45.
Then, early in mile 3, I got a wicked cramp in my shoulder and actually had to stop and walk a little bit. But I still finished in 32:21. Not a PR, but pretty respectable for me, especially on a flat and boring course in the rain.
I didn't care, I ran a nine minute mile. Oh, and instead of some lame-o t-shirt, I got The Stick. What a great way to start the New Year!
And no, I did not end the old by signing up for Richmond. This doesn't mean that I've closed that door, though. Boy, wouldn't I love to break 5 hours.
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