I recently read Born
to Run, by Christopher McDougall. In it he tells the stories of ultra-runners
who race for 50 to100 miles at a time. I was baffled and inspired by the feats
of human determination and endurance. Never one to bite off more than I can
chew, I am now considering signing up for a 10K race. However, it is dredging
up some mixed emotions based on my race history, and so I’m torn. Should I or
shouldn’t I?
Perhaps I should explain.
After bearing and nursing three sons, I decided the only way
to regain some semblance of health was to take up running (I use the word
“running” loosely. The term “jogging” or even “shuffling” would also be
accurate). The “Couch to 5K Running Plan”
seemed to be a good starting point. I wasn’t exactly starting “on the couch,”
but the last time I had actually run, I was screaming at my run-away toddler as
he exited through the automatic doors at Wal-Mart.
to regain some semblance of health was to take up running (I use the word
“running” loosely. The term “jogging” or even “shuffling” would also be
accurate). The “Couch to 5K Running Plan”
seemed to be a good starting point. I wasn’t exactly starting “on the couch,”
but the last time I had actually run, I was screaming at my run-away toddler as
he exited through the automatic doors at Wal-Mart.
Turns out a 5K is actually three miles! Wow. Didn’t know
that.
that.
I followed that plan religiously. And after…a really long
time…of consistently laying down three miles of tennis shoe rubber on the treadmill,
I proudly signed up to run my first 5K.
time…of consistently laying down three miles of tennis shoe rubber on the treadmill,
I proudly signed up to run my first 5K.
I finished the race and didn’t die.
With invincibility coursing through my veins and two months
to train, I set my sights on the next race. The 10K.
to train, I set my sights on the next race. The 10K.
I was so invigorated I bought a new outfit. It was like planning
for prom, only instead of a dress, I bought black workout pants with a slimming
vertical line down the sides and a matching dry-fit shirt. I completed the
ensemble, of course, with new running shoes and accessorized with ear buds. I totally looked like a real runner!!
for prom, only instead of a dress, I bought black workout pants with a slimming
vertical line down the sides and a matching dry-fit shirt. I completed the
ensemble, of course, with new running shoes and accessorized with ear buds. I totally looked like a real runner!!
But apparently my cute new outfit had, infused me with a
tiny dose of competition. The truth is, a person of my running caliber has no
business competing with anyone but herself. Not only that, my training plan had
labeled the “6 mile day” as “race day” so when I arrived at the starting line,
I had never in my life run six consecutive miles. So what possessed me to think
I was going to “compete,” I’ll never know.
tiny dose of competition. The truth is, a person of my running caliber has no
business competing with anyone but herself. Not only that, my training plan had
labeled the “6 mile day” as “race day” so when I arrived at the starting line,
I had never in my life run six consecutive miles. So what possessed me to think
I was going to “compete,” I’ll never know.
I eyed all the participants and spied an easy target, or at
least one I could keep pace with. Surely
I can beat the lady pushing the stroller. Sure, she looked super fit, but
she was pushing a stroller filled with 25 pounds of toddler!
least one I could keep pace with. Surely
I can beat the lady pushing the stroller. Sure, she looked super fit, but
she was pushing a stroller filled with 25 pounds of toddler!
With my super cool running get-up I looked as if I belonged
at the front of the pack. I let Stroller Mama out of my sight for the moment,
made my way to the front and toed the starting line.
at the front of the pack. I let Stroller Mama out of my sight for the moment,
made my way to the front and toed the starting line.
Bang! The race had begun. With the wind in my face, music in
my ears and all those distracting wispy bangs slicked into a pony tail, I
settled into a race-pace shuffle. I felt light on my feet. I can do this. And then maybe 400 meters in, Stroller Mama passed
me.
my ears and all those distracting wispy bangs slicked into a pony tail, I
settled into a race-pace shuffle. I felt light on my feet. I can do this. And then maybe 400 meters in, Stroller Mama passed
me.
No problem. I’ll just
keep her in my sights.
keep her in my sights.
By the one mile mark, I’d completely lost her in the
distance.
distance.
At that point my good sense returned, and I decided to
compete against myself. Just finish the
race, Shauna.
compete against myself. Just finish the
race, Shauna.
It was a run-out-and-back kind of course so there was a turn
around point. A lot of runners were on
their way back towards the start (which was now the finish) while I was still
pushing forward. Keep going, Shauna.
around point. A lot of runners were on
their way back towards the start (which was now the finish) while I was still
pushing forward. Keep going, Shauna.
Perseverance and determination pushed me forward, albeit at
a snail’s pace. At last, I reached the turn-around point. Half done. Gotta do it all again.
a snail’s pace. At last, I reached the turn-around point. Half done. Gotta do it all again.
My intense focus on oxygenating my muscles was broken when
one of the race coordinators drove his pick-up towards me. I was slightly
alarmed and a little embarrassed when he hollered, “You’re doin’ great!”
one of the race coordinators drove his pick-up towards me. I was slightly
alarmed and a little embarrassed when he hollered, “You’re doin’ great!”
Then he added, “Is there anyone behind you?”
“I don’t think so,” I gasped.
Then he proceeded to retrieve all the race markers behind me
and each one in front of me as I passed it. My blistered feet begged me to ask
for a ride to the finish, but my pride silenced me.
and each one in front of me as I passed it. My blistered feet begged me to ask
for a ride to the finish, but my pride silenced me.
Miles 4, 5 and 6 were grueling but at last, the finish line
was in sight. The time-clock had been taken down and the registration table
cleaned up. However, a boy with a stopwatch called out my time as I staggered
across the finish line.
was in sight. The time-clock had been taken down and the registration table
cleaned up. However, a boy with a stopwatch called out my time as I staggered
across the finish line.
To my great astonishment, the whole ordeal lasted just a
smidge over an hour. Definitely the top of my game!
smidge over an hour. Definitely the top of my game!
But I was last. Dead. Last.
When I reached the award pavilion, the names of the first
three finishers in each age group were being announced. I grabbed a bottle of
water and took sips between each gasping breath. The bagels and bananas were
pretty well picked over since most had already cooled down and eaten their
post-race breakfast. In fact, by the time I arrived I’m pretty sure Stroller Mama
had already collapsed the stroller, buckled the toddler in his car seat and
headed home.
three finishers in each age group were being announced. I grabbed a bottle of
water and took sips between each gasping breath. The bagels and bananas were
pretty well picked over since most had already cooled down and eaten their
post-race breakfast. In fact, by the time I arrived I’m pretty sure Stroller Mama
had already collapsed the stroller, buckled the toddler in his car seat and
headed home.
Then I heard my name… sort of. “Shauna Let…Let…Let-tell-lee-yer??”
I wobbled around to face the announcer. He was holding up a “bronze”
medal.
medal.
Apparently there were only three female participants in my
age group.
age group.
Flabbergasted and partially horrified, I forced a smile on
my sweaty red face, and willed my shaking legs to take me yet another distance
to the front. Still sweating, huffing and puffing, it was clear I had just finished.
my sweaty red face, and willed my shaking legs to take me yet another distance
to the front. Still sweating, huffing and puffing, it was clear I had just finished.
I received my medal with feigned dignity, thanking God that
no one could differentiate between a face flushed with embarrassment or one reddened
by overexertion.
no one could differentiate between a face flushed with embarrassment or one reddened
by overexertion.
As the crowd disbursed, my embarrassment subsided, and a
sense of accomplishment took its place. I
finished.
sense of accomplishment took its place. I
finished.
I inwardly giggled as I headed for my car, toting the only
medal I have ever won.
medal I have ever won.
Since I can only improve, I’m considering trying again.
Anyone with me?
RubyRoadCreations says
I ran a 5k obstacle course last year and I am pretty sure it took me 50 minutes. But I am planning on doing it again!!
shauna says
Running AND obstacles!!…I think it would be too much for me 🙂
Jane Hinrichs says
Hi Shauna, Great post! You are such a fun writer to read. You are truly gifted. Keep writing and submitting. I see a publishing contract in your future, maybe several!!! But no, I am not offering to run. I tried to "run" yesterday because this 43, almost 44 year old body is getting bigger than I want it to be. I made it about 15 feet. Then I decided I'd just walk!
shauna says
Thanks, Jane : ) Hey, 15 feet is a start : )
Mary S. says
Great story! Made me laugh:)