Alright, so it was the big day. First 5K in this decade. Officially.
It was pretty warm in Portland that morning, roughly 40 degrees or so. Much warmer that the teens and twenties I had been running in at home. I didn’t even need gloves or a headband!! I showed up to the race an hour early to get registered, pin my number, and pick up my sweatshirt. Not too many people, at this point and I was doing okay. I had to warm up so off I ran leaving the bagels, water, and homemade cinnamon rolls behind.
By the time I arrived back at the race headquarters – there were loads of people, and I needed to find the potties. I was getting nervous. One bathroom break down, I began to assess the competition – here is where I became scared. There were people there in the latest most expensive running gear you could buy. They were doing fancy stretches, and sprints, and moves of which I have never seen the likes. I thought I was totally out of my league, and I needed another bathroom break.
After another break (or three), I decided I should try to line up, and before you know found myself towards the front of the line. I thought great. I am going to get trampled by all these fabulous runner – so I did what any insecure – incredibly nervous – person might do… started checking out everyone’s shoes. It was then it hit me – they all had bright, white, shiny shoes. They may look the part, but I wasn’t too sure that they actually put in the time on the track (if you know what I mean.) My shoes, on the other hand, were a softer, darker, dingier gray than the others. It’s was then that I thought I had a chance.
The start buzzer went off, and I ran ahead – remembering not to sprint and to keep a steady pace. The trampling that I thought was coming never came, and I even passed some the 8K runners that took off five minutes before us. The whole race I was fighting these two fellas who would slow down and speed up as they saw me gaining on them. Finally, in the last 100 yards – I took off at a dead sprint and passed them both. I couldn’t breathe, but I had beaten them! Finished in 25:07 and a smile a mile wide.
On the walk back to the hotel I had a run in with a local homeless person (because these things ALWAYS happen to me). He looked a lot like Santa, but with a yellower beard and one swollen shut-eye. He took one look at my badge and said, “What’s that about.”
I smiled and said, “I was in a race.”
He said, “and you were 119?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Well, did you win??”
“I was just running against myself – so I sure did!!”
and with a snarl of his lip, and fist ala Tony the Tiger he exclaimed with all his might, “GRRRRRRRR, GO GET EM GIRL!!”
He totally made my day, and if I would have had any money on me it would have been his!!
The only downside was that they listed my official time wrong, and that the sweatshirt was purple. I will still survive. Turns out, even with the new updated bogus time (they finally updated it from an hour, but still didn’t have it right) I came in 35th out of 466, and first in my age group.
I will be back!!
Until next time – go get em!!
Andrea
This is so awesome! Love your encounter with homeless Santa.