Aaron
Just the facts:
What: The Concordia University President's Day 5k cross-country run (I think in this case, President
refers to the President of the University) Where: Concordia University Campus, Mequon, WI. Weather:
about 40 degrees with winds from the Southwest and drizzle / rain. Course conditions: cross country,
some mud because of the rain, otherwise, grass, woodchip paths, small inclines and declines, nothing
major. My Time: 18:58 (winning time was 15:32!) My Place: 7th out of about 150ish (I think, have yet
to see official results posted online) 3rd in Age group (19-29) Free stuff: t-shirt, water, Gatorade
inside building, bathrooms, health fair in the gym, door prizes.
I thought it was going to be a nice day for a run, but when I woke up it was gray and wet outside. I
thought to myself, "I have run in worse" and I put on my "uniform" and grabbed my running bag with
my cross-country spikes and extra clothes and some water and money and headed out the door. I then
turned around and retrieved my car keys. I was now ready to go. I got to Concordia University at
about 8:40, and the run started at 9:00. I signed up and was ready to go after some warmed up runs
and stretches. A lot of people looked bundled up for this run, but I took off my warm ups to reveal
my black running shorts, red, white and blue spikes and my red dri-fit sleeveless top. I toed the
start line with another runner that was dressed as lightly as I was. After some words from the
University President, we were ready to go, and the starter had the gun and said "ready. . .set. .
.*click*. . ." nothing. So he dropped the gun and yelled "Go!" and then the gun loudly popped when
he wasn't ready for it. The runners take off in a sprinkle of rain and a bit of applause from the
people that had gathered to watch. After about 300 meters, I had found myself to be in second place
to the eventual winner, which it then hit me that I did not feel my usual rhythm and timing while
running. I began failing back and people began passing me when we reached the bluff that overlooked
(and quite unsafely I might add) Lake Michigan. After going past the mile marker, I was passed by a
boy of 13, who was all legs and feet. When I realized this, I wanted to do a u-turn and jump off the
bluff. I kept stumbling along, only to be passed by the 2nd place finisher of the women's division
of this years Al's Run (http://kinder.cis.unf.edu/rec.running/1-9k/alme03-aar.html she beat me by 12
seconds for that 8k race). And then another guy about my age catches up to me, but I find the
strength to stay even with him. We even enjoy a brief conversation:
--
Guy: "Wow that kid (referring to the 13 year old) sure is fast!"
Me: "ugh. . ."
--
Somehow, I managed to pull away from him, and catch up to the woman who previously passed me. We
stay together for a bit, and as we cross a bridge about 100 meters from the track were we are to
do 3/4 of a lap to the finish line, she tells me to "go get that kid." I then felt a strange
sensation .
. .yes I was actually moving faster, and the kid, who was once almost out of my sight, is now within
striking distance as our feet now begin to strike the track surface. At this point, the crowd was
gathered around the track, and is 100% behind this 13 year old. However, I can hear him breathing
really hard, and even though I was struggling, I wasn't going to show it. He was running on the
innermost lane, and I took the one to the outside and with my spikes digging into the recycled
tires, made my move. With my arms pumping and chest puffed and legs churning I probably looked
like a much thinner and slower Olympic sprinter. I passed the boy and about 100 meters later,
crossed the finish line, and stumbled into the girls that were collecting tags at the end of the
chute. The results posted looked like this:
Mf: 18:58 Woman: 18:58.8 <she must have had some kick! Boy: 19:00
--
I felt like I was going to hurl, and I could feel the icy glares of the spectators after beating
this kid in the last 300 meters. I am not concerned though, he will have his day in a few years, if
not sooner. I got a "medal" which was crafted in the art department of the school (actually it was
ceramic and painted bronze, kind of unique). Post race I heard rumors that the course was actually a
little longer than 5k, but I have yet to hear anything definite about that.
-Aaron TheYAM.net
What: The Concordia University President's Day 5k cross-country run (I think in this case, President
refers to the President of the University) Where: Concordia University Campus, Mequon, WI. Weather:
about 40 degrees with winds from the Southwest and drizzle / rain. Course conditions: cross country,
some mud because of the rain, otherwise, grass, woodchip paths, small inclines and declines, nothing
major. My Time: 18:58 (winning time was 15:32!) My Place: 7th out of about 150ish (I think, have yet
to see official results posted online) 3rd in Age group (19-29) Free stuff: t-shirt, water, Gatorade
inside building, bathrooms, health fair in the gym, door prizes.
I thought it was going to be a nice day for a run, but when I woke up it was gray and wet outside. I
thought to myself, "I have run in worse" and I put on my "uniform" and grabbed my running bag with
my cross-country spikes and extra clothes and some water and money and headed out the door. I then
turned around and retrieved my car keys. I was now ready to go. I got to Concordia University at
about 8:40, and the run started at 9:00. I signed up and was ready to go after some warmed up runs
and stretches. A lot of people looked bundled up for this run, but I took off my warm ups to reveal
my black running shorts, red, white and blue spikes and my red dri-fit sleeveless top. I toed the
start line with another runner that was dressed as lightly as I was. After some words from the
University President, we were ready to go, and the starter had the gun and said "ready. . .set. .
.*click*. . ." nothing. So he dropped the gun and yelled "Go!" and then the gun loudly popped when
he wasn't ready for it. The runners take off in a sprinkle of rain and a bit of applause from the
people that had gathered to watch. After about 300 meters, I had found myself to be in second place
to the eventual winner, which it then hit me that I did not feel my usual rhythm and timing while
running. I began failing back and people began passing me when we reached the bluff that overlooked
(and quite unsafely I might add) Lake Michigan. After going past the mile marker, I was passed by a
boy of 13, who was all legs and feet. When I realized this, I wanted to do a u-turn and jump off the
bluff. I kept stumbling along, only to be passed by the 2nd place finisher of the women's division
of this years Al's Run (http://kinder.cis.unf.edu/rec.running/1-9k/alme03-aar.html she beat me by 12
seconds for that 8k race). And then another guy about my age catches up to me, but I find the
strength to stay even with him. We even enjoy a brief conversation:
--
Guy: "Wow that kid (referring to the 13 year old) sure is fast!"
Me: "ugh. . ."
--
Somehow, I managed to pull away from him, and catch up to the woman who previously passed me. We
stay together for a bit, and as we cross a bridge about 100 meters from the track were we are to
do 3/4 of a lap to the finish line, she tells me to "go get that kid." I then felt a strange
sensation .
. .yes I was actually moving faster, and the kid, who was once almost out of my sight, is now within
striking distance as our feet now begin to strike the track surface. At this point, the crowd was
gathered around the track, and is 100% behind this 13 year old. However, I can hear him breathing
really hard, and even though I was struggling, I wasn't going to show it. He was running on the
innermost lane, and I took the one to the outside and with my spikes digging into the recycled
tires, made my move. With my arms pumping and chest puffed and legs churning I probably looked
like a much thinner and slower Olympic sprinter. I passed the boy and about 100 meters later,
crossed the finish line, and stumbled into the girls that were collecting tags at the end of the
chute. The results posted looked like this:
Mf: 18:58 Woman: 18:58.8 <she must have had some kick! Boy: 19:00
--
I felt like I was going to hurl, and I could feel the icy glares of the spectators after beating
this kid in the last 300 meters. I am not concerned though, he will have his day in a few years, if
not sooner. I got a "medal" which was crafted in the art department of the school (actually it was
ceramic and painted bronze, kind of unique). Post race I heard rumors that the course was actually a
little longer than 5k, but I have yet to hear anything definite about that.
-Aaron TheYAM.net
