I’m in Orlando for a job, which is good — great to work down here, really good people. I’ve been bummed that I’ve missed some races back home of late, and the Taconics hosted the North County News 5k yesterday. It looked like it rocked.
I was surfing the interwebs the other day and realized there was a 5k being held down here by the Orlando Runners Club. I’ve only ever run one other race while traveling, so I was excited that this was going to fit in with work. A bit of research revealed this was a fast and flat course, so I was, er, excited. Last year I ran a 19:57 in the St. A’s Run Against Hunger in Croton on Hudson, NY, and it changed the way I felt about running. It make we feel like concentrating on speed was something to which I could become addicted.
Since Boston I’ve done three or four speed workouts so I was hoping for the best. In order to PR in this race, I needed to run 6:24 minute miles. I was alas a bit concerned about the weather. It’s HOT this time of year in Orlando, and it was 75° at the start with about 85% humidity. I did a ten minute warm up, and I can back sweaty as could be expected. I lined up close to the front, and actually got captured by the team’s photographer. I’m kind of sizing up the kid in front of me and evaluating the ethical implications of running over him should he have lined up too close to the front. Needless to say, when the gun when off he was off like a bullet, and was way ahead of me!
It wasn’t to be a perfect day for me. I started well with a 6:13 first mile, but the heat really got to me. I was working hard and wanted it to be over. Two 6:32 miles, and in at 20:06. I feel like I can account for the sluggish middle and end by considering the heat. Right? Right? OK, justification over.
I came in 9th overall, and didn’t see anyone ahead of me of a similar vintage, so I hung out for the awards. I was thrilled to find I placed first in my age group! It was my first medal! So therefore I was freakin’ thrilled. What an awesome day!
After the race, I ran three miles with two guys from the area — JP who came in second overall, and Estevan who placed first in his age as well. It was great to talk to other runners who I hadn’t met before. We all often run with the same folks,and it’s great ro realize that runners the world over can spend a few minutes bullshitting about, well, running.
Now we’re working early every day, so I’m going to have to run in the evening. It’s freakin’ humid down here. OK, I’ll stop complaining.
Ever since I started running, my kids always asked me after each race if I won. “How was the race Daddy? Did you win?”
“Well, Kids, … No,” I’d say. ”Daddy isn’t fast enough. I’m too old. I came in 2,346th. But it’s not about that, kids. It’s about getting out there and running. And not crapping yourself. OK ignore that part. It’s about doing the best you can do after lining up with other runners. Giving it your all.”
When I called them yesterday, I didn’t feel like it was the best time to explain about age divisions. I mean, my battery was low, or there were sun spots, or they were going to a carnival or something, so I just wanted to explain to them what happened as quickly as possible, and later on I’d explain that overall I was ninth.
“How was the race Daddy? Did you win?”
“Well, Kids…..”
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