S-NO-W Fun Run Jan 8, 2011 2:30:30 PM

Route: Race 5 Mile Snow Fun Run, Lake Geneva,WI
Activity: Run
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/3302/7a27/4b65/7a5d/Runmeter-Run-20110108-1430.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/dZ0F6C
Started: Jan 8, 2011 2:30:30 PM
Run Time: 36:13
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 5.00 miles
Average: 7:15 /mile
Fastest Pace: 6:10 /mile
Climb: 48 feet
Calories: 453
Official Route: Yes
Notes: The race didn’t start until 2:30 which was probably not the best given that you have all kinds of time to build a bit of anxiety. It’s harder to focus as well because I try to get a few things done prior to driving to the race.
Cool day though all around, even though my mile averages were 15 seconds slower than last week’s race. I’m thankful and grateful to be running consistently and to be racing again. In and of itself, if I never were to get increasingly faster (as I hope) I’d be happy just for the sheer joy I have from running!
Speaking of joy and joyful people there are two that I’d like to mention here. I was sitting inside the warming building (the Forum) at the Grand Geneva stretching when I spotted a big smile from a man who looked familiar. I saw a small effervescent white haired lady next to him and recognized him. I walked over and said, “Are you Paul?” he’d already recognized me and his wife knew the story of how we’d met in the Kettles late in the summer of last year. He was a not tanned this time by the glowing sun but his spirit was there and his wife’s spirit mimicked his or perhaps it was the other way around. Paul’s 87 years must be full of stories – next time I meet he and his wife I’d love to hear some of them. When I was small I’d engage my Grandparents with my never ending curiosity for their stories … How they grew up, how they lived way back before I existed… There is so much wonderful in the wise elders. I respect them with all my heart. And Paul and his wife are wise with character. They are sweet together, holding hands as they walk, she waiting a bit nervously for him to be done with the race, and how they both looked earnestly for one another when Paul did enter the building after the race. I found Paul, then found his wife ( I feel badly that her name escapes me) and pointed them to one another through the packed crowd.
We were packed in like sardines at the start of the race. There were no “sub 6″, “sub 7″, “sub anything” ques to put people where they should start. So haphazard was what the race was and though i started more towards the front I was terribly boxed in right away. My goal was to get out a little faster to avoid the box but it didn’t work with no honor system to start. My guess is that this was meant to be more of a party so there were lots of inexperienced runners in the mix. A different type of race, perhaps closer to those red dress drinking racing … Um,
After less than a mile I felt my pace.. Again, it just kind of clicks into place, feeling good then, knowing I can hold it. But it was slower today than last week by about 15 secs per mile… Quite a lot given the race is shorter. Lots of factors go into racing: rest, psyche, race course, maybe today it was even the cold. It just felt harder.
I ask myself ,”Why do I say this is fun to race?” hmm, or did I ever say that? Yep, I think it’s afterwards that I say that. The pain is quickly forgotten when you cross the finish line where the red L.E.D numbers tell you how fast or slow you were. That last mile might as well be faster than slower .. the quicker you get to the finish the quicker you stop feeling the pain.
Oh, the pain isn’t negative.. Probably like childbirth, it’s fully worth it (though I have no experience in the latter).
Somewhere between mike 3 and mile 4 brought me up on to a familiar profile. I stayed behind her for several moments and as I scooted past she piped out some positive words. Yep, that’d be Julie, the girl I’d met in the last race. She is probably the only woman that’s been so upbeat when another woman passes her. But she’s a wonderful spirit all around. I heard her behind me yelling thankyou’s towards the race officials – . We exchanged a few more words back and forth and some laughter that helped me get up that never ending hill. Into the tunnel on the straightaway after the hill. There was my kick but the end was longer out than I thought it was. A brief hesitation and in spite of wanting to slow down I didn’t dare. There was one woman that didn’t fall back when I passed her… I didn’t have that lunge pass in me today… So I had to keep it strong. I kicked harder and I could hear her feet behind me. Around the corner to the right, I knew the shoot was close. There were the red numbers. I could see them at 36:00 and the next 16 seconds were the longest and simultaneously the fastest of the race.
http://www.runmeter.com