It’s up. And it’s good. I started this year’s race season a little early. Usually my first run of the year is the Cooper River Bridge Run in March/April. But here I am two weeks into the new year and my first race for the year is under my belt. And even though the organization of the race left a little bit to be desired…my run, my race was fairly decent.
This was the Inaugural Riverfront Race Festival which basically loops around the old Naval Base in Charleston. And as with anything you do the first time…there are lessons to be learned. Hopefully, the staff and volunteers at the Riverfront Race Festival learned several this weekend. Like the importance of friendly volunteers at packet pick-up…like starting the race ON-TIME…like better signage on the course (or maybe the Zen Master was the only one with issues on that one)…but I’ll get to that in a moment.
Events today were scheduled to start with the National Anthem at 8:10. The Zen Master and I got to race central around 7:30. Now the Zen Master prefers to show up right about the time the gun goes off but not me. That stresses me out. I like to get there early, get the lay of the land, warm-up, etc. And today I wanted to make sure that I had time to acclimate to the cold. So, we got there about 7:30 a.m. But maybe we should have driven separately. And this would not be the last time I would have that thought today.
But shortly after we arrived we headed down to the start. The Zen Master suggested we run around a little and warm up. I whined. How far? I don’t want to go that far. I don’t know what my problem was but I just wasn’t in race mood today. But we warmed up. We talked about how excited I am for my last long run next Saturday…20 miles. The Zen Master gave me an odd look. I know…I’m whining about running 100 yards for warm-up but looking forward to running 20 miles. Go figure.
But after we got warmed up it was near the scheduled time for the National Anthem and line-up. But it wasn’t happening. Nothing was happening. At 8:30 we still hadn’t heard the National Anthem. But we were warmed up…and just standing around waiting. My least favorite part of all races because there is always some amount of that regardless…but this was starting to be ridiculous. 20 minutes behind schedule…come on.
Another 10 minutes…finally the National Anthem. The 5k starts and we are just minutes from our own start. Now the Zen Master is running renegade (i.e., non-registered) and not running with me. He wants to see how well he can do and I run a LOT slower than he does…or so I thought. We selected a spot to meet up after we both finished. The race started…and the Zen Master was off. Out of sight in about a minute.
I started off at a comfortable pace. The course was good. Mostly flat…but a few good hills. I maintained a consistent pace and plodded along. After the first two miles you loop back around and the Zen Master and I high-fived as he went back by…that would be the last time I would see him for a while. Longer than expected as it turned out… 
I plodded along…and I thought I must be hitting the halfway mark. And there just ahead was the 3-mile marker. Oh yeah…I’m on it.
I took one brief walk break at a water station (helps get the water in you – not on you). And here’s a tip I learned today. Don’t try to take a breath and drink at the same time. This is not good… One would think I would know that already. I took about a minute and a half walk break around mile 4.5 or so. Other than that I ran…ran…ran.
Just before we reached mile 6 there is a split in the course. There was one sign indicating that the 10k runners should go right…half marathon runners go left. Obviously, I went right. Around another corner and then the straight away to the finish. My official finish time: 1:07:40. So, close to a personal best (need to get under 1:04:29) but considering that I’ve been sick all week…only ran on Monday and then was out of commission the rest of the week…I felt really good about my run.
Now, as I came up to the finish line I started looking for the Zen Master expecting him to be cheering me to the end. No sign of him. I headed to our meet-up location. Nowhere to be seen. I figured he must be floating around so I grabbed some shrimp and grits and wandered around the finish area. No Zen Master. Now this isn’t like some of the larger races where you can’t find anybody. The finish area was crowded but not overly so. He should have been easy to find.
And while he was wearing a grey jacket…like 100 other people at the race…I was wearing my bright pink Nike t-shirt that says “Serving up some hot damn” (which I did by the way) but it also should have made me easy to spot. I ate my shrimp and grits, ate half a bagel, and drank two cups of Gatorade…wandered around for 20 minutes…no Zen Master. WTH?
I got worried that he got ill or cold and went to the car so I headed to the car. No Zen Master. Back to finish. Wandered around. Still no Zen Master. Where in the HELL was he? I couldn’t figure it out. Checked the medical tent because I’m really starting to worry. Nope. Checked the car – again. Nope. Wandering around everywhere and I CAN NOT find him. Now I’m ready to go. I’ve finished. I’ve had my shrimp and grits. I’m getting cold. I want to leave. But of course I didn’t drive. So, I was again questioning that idea.
Of course I would not have ever left without knowing that the Zen Master was okay but the thought did cross my mind. For a moment…but I continued my search. Back around the finish area, back to the car…over to Lost and Found but they can’t help with Lost people. Great. Now it’s starting to rain. I’ve been done for over an hour and I was expecting to be on the road home about right now. And the Zen Master is nowhere to be found. WHAT IN THE HELL!?! So, I start to worry that he was arrested or being detained because he didn’t pay the registration fee. Okay, I realize this is a ludicrous idea but this situation was becoming ludicrous…and frustrating.
Back over to the medical tent…nope, he still has not materialized there. I come out and glance over at the finish area and there he is…just standing there…drinking a cup of Gatorade. I walk over and ask him, “Where the hell have you been?” He looks at me and said, “I missed the turn and just finished the half-marathon. It took me two hours and 15 minutes. My God, I’m hurting.” I couldn’t believe it…all that time he’d been running. I couldn’t help but laugh.
Now keep in mind that the longest run he has done to train for today was 3 miles. Today he ran 13.1 all because he missed one turn. One crucial turn. He explained that he didn’t see any signs and just kept running with the 8:00 minute mile pacer. He asked at some point if they were close to the 10k finish and they told him it was just ahead. He said I was getting really tired though and couldn’t figure out why. Then he saw the marker for mile 9…and he realized he was on the half-marathon course. And there was no choice but to finish. He could barely move and was STARVING…imagine that…
I laughed all the way back to his house. I laughed harder when he had to get out his car and walk up the steps to his house. It was quite amusing…to me. He wasn’t laughing so much. Bet he wasn’t laughing later when he had to load his car and head to a gig for his band Dirtweed. But the 2010 race season is off and running…sort of speak. Next is my marathon – four weeks from today. Its official…race season is off to a GREAT start! Until next time, watch for the signs on your own course…or be prepared to take an unexpected path (which isn’t always a bad thing.)
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