   
It's a cool, overcast morning. My first Chevys run & excited to
finally get that complimentary sombrero! Slick race scene; all kinds of free stuff, lots
of food, music, booths, and, did I mention food? Course is excellent; flat but still
interesting. Weather: perfect. Course support: perfect.
But I'm focussed on the run. Haven't been this pressured to do well in a 10k since I set
my PR of 36:00, 2-1/2 years ago! All because of a lunchtime bet I made with my running
partner, Dick.
"Highest age group placing wins the other guy's sandwich for the next week"
Good, I see Greg Burke, one of the top 50-54 year old runners to make it tough on Dick.
But Dick points out quite a few 25-29 runners. One guy, with red hair, looks really good
and Dick's smiling, knowing I've got my work cut out for me to win this bet.
There's 8 runners from Kaiser Electronics in the starting crowd of 1000 runners.
GO!! Everyone bolts down Almaden Expwy. Dick's looking strong, but when I pass him, Greg
Burke is ahead (but what I didn't know is that Greg pulled off and did the 5k instead).
5:39 first mile! Dick clocks 5:43. I'm working my way up, running hard from street light
to street light. Thinking of track intervals. At 1/2 mile points easing up for a second
and then picking it back up for another interval. I'm keeping 5:42 pace. Then I see the
red-haired guy. At 4mi I get on his heals and "bother" him for a while. He tries
speeding up a few times. I finally push by, grab the first water at the aid station, and
start building a gap.
It's very hard to breathe but I concentrate on relaxing and realizing it's Sunday, God's
day, and that my true worth lies in pleasing Him. I must push as hard as I can but remain
in control so I don't miss an opportunity to reflect my appreciation of God letting me run
today.
I pass another runner and head down the final stretch. The clock shows 15 secs till 36:00.
No problem. I hear them announce my name and that I'm in 5th place, I see the happy
spectators, and I coast into the finish line. I'm surprised to hear 35:59 announced just
before I hit the line. Sure enough, I had let up too early and just missed getting 35:59.
36 flat again! (I should have paid attention to the clock)
But the real suspense was ahead. We waited for the results. It would be close. We both ran
the best we could. Then Mark Flynn asked, "what if you tie?" Never thought of
that. And we did! We both got 1st in our age. Well, we can't be disappointed in that. No
one wins the bet! We still share lunches sometimes, but this way no one gets cocky :)
-Troy |
