September
23, 2012 – National Whitewater 5K Trail Run
I can remember this race like it happened
yesterday. It was my 3rd
actual race; I was just running it because I hadn’t, as yet, run a trail race …
and this one seemed like a pretty good challenge with lots of hills and over
one hundred runners competing.
Trail runs are a little slower than road races due to
the stumps, roots, and hills; so, one can usually add about 2-3 minutes to a
regular road race time. My road races
are usually between 22-24 minutes, depending on the course; because of this I
was shooting for a time of about 25 minutes.
I arrived at the race about an hour early, as usual,
to get my pre race warm-up in … and also to check out the competition. It looked like I had my work cut out for me
with quite a few fit looking runners my age stretching and chatting with their
other fit friends.
The race began with a frenzy; I looked at my Garmin
and noticed that we were running at a 6:40 pace, which is a little fast for
me. I did my best to stay with the front
pack, but was slowed when we hit the woods and the trail narrowed. In a nice way this gave me a little respite
from the frenzied pace, as most everyone else had to slow also. When I caught my wind, I closely watched for
the trail to widen so I could pass the runners in front of me in order to catch
up with the leaders who weren’t slowed by the mass of people on the narrow
trail.
About a mile and a half in I had caught and passed
about 15 runners; setting my eyes on a young fellow just in front of me in a
yellow shirt. He glanced back and saw me
coming, quickening his pace a little. I
stayed with him step for step, and about 200 yards farther up the trail he
pulled over and lost his breakfast, giving me an opening to scoot by. I’m probably mean, but it felt really excellent
for me, an old guy, to press on by a youngin to the point that he had to stop
and throw up. That gave me a burst of confidence to trust my training and push
harder in order to make up more time.
From the top of a winding trail I could see about 8
or so runners through the leafless trees, and increased the pace even
more. I guess that gives me more
enthusiasm that anything else, setting my sights on people in front of me to
catch. By the time we hit the clearing
heading into the home stretch I had caught every person that was visibly in
front of me; the best I could do now was just to push as hard as I could until
I crossed the muddy finish line next to the man-made rapids at the National
Whitewater Center. I crossed the finish
line in a time of 27.17, and I was feeling pretty let down until I checked the
results board and found out that I had finished 25th out of 135
runners … giving me 2nd place for my age group; thus, earning me a
medal for my efforts.
This race taught me to just give it my best and let
the chips fall where they may. The same
is true in the race of life. It is
important to trust the equipping process invested into you by spiritual leaders
who have been there and done that; thereby, giving you confidence to trust your
training and expect an excellent result for your efforts. When you are faced with challenges of life,
just look them squarely in the eye and give it your best, trusting in your
training to carry the day.
Live OUT LOUD! Mark Harrell (Habakkuk 2:2)
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