January 18, 2014:
Livvy's Love Fun Run / Walk 8K
Goal: To circle Stone Mountain in 48 minutes or less
For the first
race of 2014, we have found a race around the base on Stone Mountain, which
covers 8K for one circuit. Moreover,
they offer a 5K option. As Bonnie and I
have been walking Stone Mountain and completed our first circuit on December
25, I proposed to sign Bonnie up for the 5K, and she accepted! The Fun Run / Walk is hosted by a family
foundation, Livvy’s Love, which the Hayes family named as a memorial to their
daughter, who had died in an accident about five years ago. The proceeds from the run will support
college scholarships to graduates from Tucker High School, so we were excited
about both the cause and the venue.
Friday evening, January 17: I’ve
picked up our tags and packets on the way home from work. I’m really excited that we’re both actively
participating in the run / walk. 8K is a
good distance for me, and Bonnie has greatly improved her fitness over the past
year so that we have no concerns about her ability to complete the 5K. She has begun using the C25K app, alternating
running and walking.
However, the
weather is turning colder, and the forecasted temperature for the start at 8 am
tomorrow morning is a frigid 25 oF.
Bonnie has already given me some cold-weather running gear, but she
doesn’t have the appropriate gear for herself, so we do some last-minute
shopping at Sports Authority in the hour before closing time. She finds a long-sleeved running shirt, a
purple running jacket, running gloves, and a hat. I also pick up a blue skullcap, and some
chemical warming packets for our hands. After we get home, I try to turn in early for
the night, with a 6:00 am alarm, although it’s past midnight before I fall
asleep. However, the last thing that I
see is Bonnie working on her iPad, studying the route map for the race! I’m so pleased that I’ve not only afflicted
Bonnie with my new-found passion for running, but have also infected her with
an appreciation for maps!
Saturday
morning, January 18: For some reason, I did not
sleep well last night. I’m overly
excited, even anxious, about the race, and I’m out of bed by 5:30 am. I’ve had some good times in previous races,
but have not been able to get even close to those times in practice runs. I definitely don’t want to regress after
having four good races in 2013, with steady improvement. However I’m well prepared for the race,
having run the route several times, and having some familiarity with the
location, height, and number of hills along the route. I eat my typical pre-race breakfast of oatmeal
and cappuccino, and after Bonnie is up, also prepare banana-blueberry smoothies
for each of us. We leave the house
exactly at 7 am, and arrive at the Stone Mountain parking lot at 7:25 am. After putting on the last of our gear, we
open the chemical hand warmers, squeeze and shake them, and I feel a little
heat after a couple of minutes. The
package states that it takes 20 minutes to reach peak heat, about 135 oF. We join the gathering group, and find that
most participants have found shelter in a heated tent. A man, slightly older than me, asks me about
running in Georgia, and I admit that I’m new to the sport, having started only
last year. His name is Marlin, and he
has recently moved to metro Atlanta from Utah.
When I ask him about his races, he answers “I don’t run the ultra-marathons. But last year I ran five marathons.” Despite his experience, Marlin is a modest
person and doesn’t flinch when I tell him my longest distance is 10K and
that at my best I’m running a 9-minute mile.
About 5
minutes before the scheduled race start at 8 am, we are coaxed from the heated
tent, and join a small group doing Zumba exercises. I join in vigorously to keep warm. In fact I don’t think that Bonnie has ever
seen her husband dancing so much. But
I’m getting stretched out quite nicely.
I can’t see the time but I’m sure that it’s past 8 am when we are
finally encouraged to gather at the starting area. I’m the first person there, and do a quick
sprint on the roadway behind the starting line while the area is clear. Then I realize that it might look like I’m
showing off, when 1) this is a Fun Run, and 2) I’m a middle-of-the-pack
finisher. But it feels good to sprint,
so I take on more one jaunt, just a little shorter, then circle back to a
position about 10 meters behind the starting line. Bonnie joins me there, where we try to listen
to pre-race instructions, although it is hard for me to hear over the roar of
the generator powering the heated tent.
Nonetheless I get the essential information about ice patches on the
roadway, and the turnaround for the 5K runners.
A small group sings, which a few bars in I realize is the National
Anthem, although it is difficult to hear without amplification. Only as the singing is ending do I realize that
no one other than Marlin, on the front row, has removed caps and hats, but it
IS cold and it is difficult to hear.
I give Bonnie
a kiss and wish her a good race. The
official gives the signal to get ready, and then we’re off! It feels great to begin, and I quickly reach
to a comfortable pace as we leave the starting area. Oops, I realize too late that I’ve completely
left Bonnie behind. I ran off without
her. Hopefully she will forgive me.
The first
kilometer: The first part of the race
is a gentle uphill section. Fortunately
this is ideal, as I’m feeling strong and so it isn’t particularly
difficult. Moreover, it probably helps
to keep me from starting too quickly, because in other races and practice runs,
I tend to start too quickly and then slow down too much at the end when fatigue
sets in. There is some ice along the
left side of the road near the curb, so I resolve to stay at least half a meter
from the curb for safety. A few people
are running on the sidewalk, until they encounter the first ice patch, at which
time everyone moves onto the roadway.
There is a little traffic and the road is not officially closed, but the
starting section is a four-lane roadway, so there is plenty of room for runners
in the right lane (relative to the direction of vehicle traffic) with oncoming
cars in the left lane. I cover the first
quarter kilometer in 1:30, so I can safely increase my speed a bit. I start to pass a few of the runners, while I
focus on form and maintaining a steady cadence.
I complete the first kilometer while approaching the west gate (towards
the village of Stone Mountain), at 5:13.
It’s a great time for me considering that most of it was uphill, and I
just hope that I haven’t started too quickly.
The second
kilometer: After we pass the museum
in Confederate Hall, there is more automobile traffic as we approach the main
parking lot for visitors that are climbing the mountain. Bonnie and I climbed the mountain in
August. The police are controlling
vehicle access so that we can safely run through the first intersection. There is a reserved pathway for us through
the parking lot parallel to the road, then I run through the second
intersection. The sidewalk goes to the
main road, which at this point narrows to a two-lane road, with one-way
automobile traffic on the right, and a left lane divided for pedestrian traffic
on the left and bicycle traffic towards the middle. This begins my favorite part of the circuit,
as the next four kilometers will pass the south side of the mountain, with
minimal traffic. Shortly after I pass
the one-mile marker, a runner comes back in the other direction, running down
the bicycle lane, then another and a third.
I realize that these are the leaders in the 5K, who have already reached
the turnaround point and are racing back to the finish line, near the
start. Then I round a corner to see the
abandoned railroad bridge to Stone Mountain Village, along with the turnaround
sign for the 5K runners. I didn’t
realize that the turnaround would be this early in the race. As I run straight past the turnaround point
with the other 8K runners, I smugly think, “REAL men run the 8K, not the
5K!” Let’s hope I don’t regret that thought. We start heading downhill as RunHelper sounds
the 2K mark, finishing the second kilometer in 5:24, 10:37 total elapsed, a
42-minute pace.
The third
kilometer: I try to relax and take
longer strides in the first significant downhill section, and feel myself pick
up speed quite nicely. For a moment, I’m
running directly into the sun, which is momentarily unpleasant even with
sunglasses, but as the elevation drops the sun is less intense. The adrenalin of the start has lifted and I’m
starting to notice that my lips are dry and my hands are extremely cold. I should have put on some Chapstick. I definitely need to remember that before my
next cold-weather race. Also, the hand
warmers are barely warm, and definitely not warm enough to keep my hands
comfortable. I put the hand warmers in
my pockets. Fortunately the long-sleeved
running shirt has thumbholes to provide partial protection for the hands, and
there is enough room to draw my fists completely into the sleeves. That is MUCH better, and my hands are not
cold for the rest of the race. This
section has no long level areas, just mildly rolling hills. I am only rarely passed by other runners and
am occasionally passing others, especially on the uphill, where I am able to
focus on maintaining pace. I seem to be
struggling less than some others going uphill.
I’m thankful for the advice that I had read in several places about
working on uphill running to improve speed and conditioning. It’s paying off nicely. The third kilometer alert sounds 5:22 as I
near the Children’s Playground, 15:59 total elapsed. I’m two full minutes ahead of my “minimally
acceptable pace” of 6:00 minutes per kilometer!
Now to keep it up.
The fourth
kilometer: I pass the 2-mile marker
just past the Children’s Playground. The
mountain rises gracefully above me to the left, and a beautiful vista of trees
lining a lake is to my right. Despite
the cold air, I am really enjoying the views, my legs feel good, and my
breathing is steady. In fact I think
that my muscles are now perfectly warmed up.
The run is going well. Then I am
passed by a younger, stronger runner, who is obviously way out of my league (why
did he start out so far back?!), but I’m keeping up with everyone else without
difficulty. In fact this proves to be my
fastest kilometer, at 5:10, and 21:09 total elapsed, at the halfway point. I doubt that I can achieve a 42 minute finish,
because I know that there are some significant hills ahead, but I’m feeling
good and focusing on maintaining a good pace.
The fifth
kilometer: This is another pleasant
stretch, with mild undulations uphill and downhill. The time passes quickly as the road continues
along the lake, with slightly different views with each gentle turn. There are a few recreational walkers coming
from the other direction on the road, but no vehicle traffic other than a
solitary police car that passes slowly.
I hear the sound of cheering up ahead, and then come around a corner to
see a group of about 10 people, at the bottom of a hill. There is a 100 meter gap to the runner ahead
of me, but they begin cheering again as I approach, and then I realize that it’s
also a water station. A woman stands out
in the roadway with a cup of water, I slow down a little to accept the cup,
gasp “Thanks!” and take a gulp only to find that the water is ice-cold (of
course!), and too cold to drink comfortably.
I have to spit it out, then cautiously take a smaller sip, before
dropping the cup and the rest of the water into a garbage can along the side of
the road. Having slowed down, I have a
little trouble regaining speed, but focus on form as I head back uphill as I
pass the three-mile marker, and the five kilometer alert sounds, 5:42 and 26:51
elapsed. Not quite as fast as my
Phiddippides 5K in December, but not bad considering that I must save some
energy for three more kilometers, with several uphill sections to come.
The sixth
kilometer: The road turns to the
north. I always get the feeling in this
section of “returning to civilization”.
The covered bridge to an island comes into view to my right. Many good memories of walks with Bonnie come
to mind, from the parking in front of the bridge, and family picnics with
Bonnie’s parents, brother and sister on the island. I think of the tree on the island where my
father-in-law wants us to spread some of his ashes when the time eventually
arrives, but “That would be illegal” and chuckle at the memory of his story
about his son-in-law costing him thousands of dollars for a legitimate plot at
the Arlington Cemetery on the north side of Atlanta. At the top of a hill, the roundabout for the
Gristmill and covered bridge comes into view.
This is the end of the bucolic section.
Heeding the sign for pedestrians to move to the sidewalk, I dutifully
follow the law as the street returns to a four-lane, two-way roadway. The alert for the sixth kilometer sounds,
5:54 and 32:45 elapsed.
The seventh
kilometer: This will probably be the
most challenging kilometer, but at least I know that from having run it a few
times before today’s race. None of the
hills are steep but this section is steadily uphill, past the parking lot for
the Skyride to the top of the mountain.
At least it’s not a surprise. A
policeman is stationed at the four-mile mark, and I try to smile and say “One
more to go!” He responds with
encouragement “Almost there, not much further!”
I’ve definitely slowed down going uphill, but at least I’m not having
any pain in this stretch (which had happened a week earlier, when I had to
stop). I keep thinking that I’m hearing
footsteps behind me, but I can see my own shadow stretching at 10 o’clock,
ahead and to the left, and don’t see a following shadow. I quickly look behind to be sure, and I think
that I might see someone 20 meters behind, but not certain. I just remember that this is a “Fun Run” so I
need to move over on the 1-meter wide sidewalk if I sense that someone is going
to pass me. A blocking maneuver would be
really uncool. I reach the top of the
hill at the end of the seventh kilometer.
This stretch was 6:20, which is a little disappointing, but under the
circumstances probably the best that I can manage. Total elapsed time, 39:05. A 42 minute finish will be impossible at this
point, but I think that the hardest part is over.
The eighth and
final kilometer: My optimism is rewarded as
I reach the main intersection with the road going out to the east, main gate,
and I turn left towards the finish area.
Downhill! I focus on lengthening
my stride while leaning forward to increase speed, to take advantage of the
slope. There is now definitely someone
hot on my heels. As I reach the
intersection to the finish area, the person behind me is unsure if he should go
left or straight and asks the guide for instruction. I know that I should turn left here (of
course I carefully studied the map, several times), but not sure if I should turn
before or after crossing the intersection?
The answer is provided by the guides: cross the intersection and then
turn left. Upon making the left turn I
immediately come up on a group of walkers, as this is the place where the 8K
runners meet the 5K route, and we share the same finish line. I call out “Passing on the left” and step off
the sidewalk to safely pass the walkers on the street. In fact it feels like I’m zipping past the
walkers. The person behind me is calling
out “Passing on the left” every few seconds, whereas I’m satisfied that I have
room to pass by staying on the street. I’m determined that he will not pass me, and I
run as fast as I can manage. I’m audibly
groaning with exhaustion on occasion, but I’m not going to slow down now. I turn right past a police car that is
blocking traffic, and see great news and not-so-great news: The finish line is
ahead, the clock shows 44 minutes, but the very last stretch is slightly
uphill. Then a young boy catches me on
the left (not the person who was calling “Passing on the left”) and pulls ahead
of me. I find one last calorie of energy
and catch up with him. We are clearly
racing each other to the end, and the people at the finish realize it and are
cheering us on. There is another runner
ahead of us who is moving much more slowly.
Unfortunately he is directly in front of me, and I must slow down in the
last few meters to avoid running him down.
So I’ve finished third in this little group of three, but still a strong
race. By avoiding the collision at the
finish line, I failed to see the time that I crossed, but I stop the RunHelper
at 44:30, then stagger to the side of the road, then catch myself to stand up
straight again. I walk back along the
side to the finish line to confirm the clock (now reading 45 minutes) but I’m
really happy that I finished in less than 48 minutes.
Epilogue: I see a box of bananas and pick one up. However, an hour in 25 oF air has partially
frozen the banana, and although I can eat it, it isn’t particularly tasty. I text Bonnie that I’ve finished, in case she
is able to check her phone. I pick up a
water bottle, and try to regain my equilibrium when I realize that Bonnie has
just crossed the finish line. Oh
no! I was supposed to ready myself to
photograph her finish if I completed my race first. Sorry Bonnie! (for the second time this
morning). There is a break in the
finishers, so Bonnie walks back to the finish line and we “stage” a photo of
her finish.
We warm back
up in the heated tent. Volunteers and
donors have provided delicious pastries, ham quiche, some sausage and egg
biscuit sandwiches, Powerade, and hot coffee.
I settle for a small pastry, a quiche (really delicious) and hot
coffee. I asked Marlin his time, and he
finished in 41 or 42 minutes. So I
wasn’t too far behind this experienced runner.
The Zumba
exercise is still going strong – where do they get the energy? Then I realize that none of them are wearing
runner’s tags. Around 9:15 am, we all go
outside for the award ceremony. I’m
dancing again, to stay warm. They
announce all of the 5K winners first, including age group winners. There are gaps in the runners, for instance
very few age 20-something runners, and also no runners over 70 years old. Finally, it’s time to announce the winners of
the 8K. The top finisher crossed in 32
minutes, and strikes a great pose with his trophy. The Hayes family is personally congratulating
the winners and posing with them for photos, which is a really nice touch.
I was very
pleased with my race, and the field is relatively small, so I’m hoping that
perhaps I’ve placed third in my age group.
When they call out the male winner, age group 50 – 54, I hear my name,
and can hardly believe it! My first-ever
athletic award! It’s sweet vindication
for the kid that was picked last for teams in gym class. I accept my medal, a warm handshake from
Norman Hayes and a big hug from Nikki Hayes; they are Olivia’s parents. Marlin won the 65 – 69 age group, at 41:35.
 |
| Frank won! (his AARP age group, that is) |
Sunday, January 19: The
official race results are posted: 43:59 for me, and 47:33 for Bonnie. It turns out that I wasn’t the fastest in my
age group: the overall winner of the 8K, at 32:55, was a 50-year-old man. I actually finished in second place, out of
four runners in the 50 – 54 age group. I
was ninth out of 43 runners altogether in the 8K, so that’s pretty good for
me. A year ago, the 8K (5 mile) distance
would have been a very long walk. If I
had even thought of entering such an event, I probably would have finished at
or near the end.
Goal: To circle Stone Mountain in 48 minutes or less: Achieved!
http://livvysloveinc.org/index.php?page=runwalk
No comments:
Post a Comment