Remember that time I had this
really awesome (not awesome) idea to run races on back to back days. I mean how
could I have possibly learned anything from Doing The Double or San Jose earlier this month. I
flunked the class that experience taught.
But I showed up every day. On
time. In the front row. Taking worthless notes.
This was an awesome running
weekend on paper though. Not only did it mark the “end” of #14in2014, it was the conclusion of
2 race series challenges. I Run The Bay & I Run The Coast. Which have now
been effectively dubbed, The California Takeover. #IOwnCalifornia
I’m the most amazing person
you know. I was born excellent. Matter of fact, when I was born, my Mommie gave
me a high 5. Because dammit I delivered myself in half the time! The fact that
you know me shows not only that there is a Divine Being, but that He too wants
you to be something special.
I am your example in life.
Look upon me with all your wonder. I mean you’ll never actually be me, but
aspire. I am physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually
unable to commune with you. Yet you love me, because I benevolently choose to exist
in this world with you.
Now that we got that cleared
up....let the running begin.
Start:
Please, please, please don’t be a hero. After this you have to fly to Los
Angeles and run again. Take it easy. Slow and steady gets the medal. Wait, is
the path blocked by that hill right there? We have to run up that? #disrespectful
Mile 1: Um,
okay. So another wilderness run. More kids running like they breathe through
their pores. Why didn’t challenge myself to this 20 years ago?
#theymakeitlooksoeasy #theyhavdnolifestrugglesweighingthemdown #ihatechildren *Maleficient Mean Mug*
Mile 2: *older
ginger lady and ginger kid approaches on the left* Did you do this race last year? To
which I huffed, No....and
then she goes.... You remind me of
this woman last I saw year running. You've got a great steady pace. I couldn't
keep up with her, and I thought you were her...and I said to myself, 'Im gonna beat her! Grrrrr'…
*thinking* Did
this lady just growl at me with her kid here? Man, running brings out the worst
in people.
Mile 3: *my
calf muscles finally get the memo about the weekend* FUM we gotta do this again?! Hell to the naw! Oh you
stopping at every water station, and if you even think about stopping to take a
picture mid run, you will NEVER wear heels again! *hangs
head in shame*
Mile 4: That
gottdamn hill again. Oh, and he is pushing a stroller up it. I don’t feel bad
about myself. At all.
Mile 5: I’m
over this. Like really. I feel like this is dumb and the fact that I’ve
convinced other people that its fun is a sign that I’m in the wrong business.
Mile 6: I
want some bacon. *ginger
lady approaches*
She might kill herself in front of her kid trying to keep up with me....and I’m
slow.
Mile (6)0.2: That medal better be everything I
remembered in March. #ItWasJustADream
#QueueUpErro
Finish: I want to go home.
Not gonna lie, I felt a little
defeated at the finish. I cannot get over the speed thing. I LOVE doing these
kinds of events with friends, but I LOATHE that they always have to wait on me.
As fast as I go, I’m still soooo slow.
I crossed the finish line,
looking up for the exit to the Golden Gate Fields track. I reached for my
medal, took my headphones off and saw them. Each one of my friends waiting on
me. With their medals and their smiles...and the photographer. CJC said to her, We're ready to take our group picture now.
It’s hard to describe what
that gesture meant to me. I was so overwhelmed by pure, genuine, loving
emotions that I did what I do best. Avoid them. I turned my inner Leo up to the
“hella extra” setting and went in. I couldn’t deal with those feelings. They
touched at the heart of something really sensitive, something really
vulnerable, something terribly difficult for me to accept.
I am a runner. I have the
shoes, the bib, the tech tee and the nearly over-drafted bank account to prove
it. But I don’t always feel like one. I don’t feel like I look like one,
whatever that means, or that I can be counted into
the brother/sisterhood of running because I’m not fast. It bothers me so much.
It takes the fun out of it.
But not one of them seemed to
care. At all. Not even a little bit. They didn’t seem to care about what time I
finished. They only cared that I finished. I’ve been telling people all year
that it only matters that they start and finish. I don’t care how they do
it...all the medals look the same. I need to stop caring so much about how I do
it. There are people who are inspired by it. Like this guy. What’s crazy is that
my friends, the whole lot of them said the same thing to me on Saturday. I felt
so much shame in that moment. When I read his words, I felt really tears began
to swell in my eyes. I finally got it.
This
Race: Let’s Go 510, 10K, Oakland CA
Medaled Miles to date: 73.67 miles
Medaled Miles to date: 73.67 miles
Total
Raced Miles to date: 86.77 miles
1 Medal To Go ǁ 93% Complete
(2 Challenge Medals ǁ 107% Complete)
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