August is a rough month for my job.  As a college program head, getting the new academic year off to a new start is predictably a challenge, especially lining up all my staffing for two campuses, full-time and part-time teachers as well as tutors.  This month has not been the exception.  After putting in two weeks of 12-16 hour days, with only two 8-hour days of rest, my summer running partner emailed me again about a unique race to be held last evening in Mooresville. 

When she first mentioned it, I agreed it looked like fun, but I quickly reminded her that in August I have learned not to make any plans.  Plus I thought it very unlikely that following two such busy weeks of work, I would want to drive out of town Friday night to run three races.

But she asked again, and, feeling a need for some physical release, I said maybe . . . I packed my running gear and took it to work with me Friday, changed clothes after my last meeting, and asked my GPS to take me to Mooresville, NC!

I had a blast!

I had previously run 17 races, all 5K (3.1 miles), all in my home county; but this one was unique!  It was only my second evening race (I definitely prefer to run in the cool of the morning), my 2nd chip-timing race, my first race outside my own county, and it was 3 races in one.  A one mile race, then a two mile race, then a three mile race, for a total of six miles, with brief rests between races.  And it was so hot and humid that every runner, after walking three blocks from registration to the start line, was already drenched in perspiration before the race ever started!

I had been intrigued by this race for two reasons.  I have often wondered how fast I could run a single mile, in a race setting; and having observed at the end of many races that, after a 10 minute rest, I had a desire to start running again, I wondered if that desire would fizzle quickly . . .  This race could give me a chance to answer both of these questions.  What I didn't count on was the intense heat of an August evening!  

I planned that I would give the 1-mile run all I had, and then take the other two runs at a comfortable pace.  A 1-mile time of under 9 minutes was my hope - until I got to the start line, considered the sweltering heat, and decided in that humidity I would be happy just to beat 10 minutes.  Start time 7:00.  Nine minutes and two seconds later I crossed the finish line, making this the first race ever that I placed first in my age division.  The funny part of that story is that it was also the first race I ever ran that gave no finishing awards!   :)     Oh well, I knew it, and I got a great running shirt!

The second race, the 2-miler began at 7:25.  Totally drenched from head to toe from the first race, and with unrelenting heat despite the threat of dark storm clouds on the distant horizon, my goal was to run/walk comfortably, and I did, finishing in 23:35 with a pace of 11:48 per mile, this time 3rd in my age division (out of only 4).

Little by little the runners were dropping out.  Apparently the heat kept many from even starting, as I think there were over 200 preregistered before race day (based on my bib number being 228), but only 101 runners finished the 1-mile run.  Only 80 finished the 2-mile race, and only 68 finished all six miles.  The final race (the 3-miler) started at 8:00.  Although the heat had let up by this time, many who started this last race didn't finish.  I finished 64 of 68, so I got to chat with the end-of-the-line biker (that's a kind of sheepdog race job, herding all the runners at the end), learning that I had taught his girlfriend and knew his face from her Facebook pictures.

My running partner Elizabeth and her husband George also completed the entire 6 miles, and we had such a wonderful time together - sweating, laughing, and pouring water on ourselves every half mile.  And Gatorade is really good after a 6 mile run!

I'm glad I didn't miss this one!  It was exactly what I needed in the midst of my unrelenting August work schedule.  August is nearing its end, and I am sure I can make it to the finish line now!




Other Running Posts:

Running with Charlie

Aargh!  I Walked!

2009 Running Log