Sunday, October 23, 2005

The Race I Didn't Run

It felt like a race morning. Not much sleep the night before, up early at o'dark thirty before the sun and birds. But this time I was heading out to cheer on my friend Kate in a race that I had talked her into doing. I had trained to run it; had suffered through my long runs up at Shoreline, imagined myself crossing the finish line, sweaty and triumphant. I had even planned on putting my race number right under my Wildflower number: 13.1 miles, a half marathon-a new personal record. It wasn't to be.

Instead, Kate was going to run the Nikes Womens 1/2 by herself. Out of all the things I regret, it was not being able to share the miles with her. I took my mountain bike along, and followed the best I could, but I lost her right around the three mile mark; I turned around and she was gone. I thought I would catch up with her later, but I didn't see her again as I rode the course, following the other runners to the finish line. The course, on mtbike, was not easy. I can't imagine running it. Three huge long hills, a cold foggy San Francisco morning-brrrrr! Later I heard Kate ran every step of the way. Woohoo!

I waited around the finish line for a bit, but didn't see Kate again. So it was a long ride back to the car for me; damp, tired and a little dispirited. There will be other races, I know. But I feel like I missed something special this go around.

Nike Womens Marathon: this is where I went to pick up my race packet. Even though I wasn't running, I still wanted my free stuff! I got two luna bars, and some Ghiradelli chocolate. They were also offering a free manicure and foot massage. Kate got the manicure-maybe that was the secret to her success?

Kate and her husband Alex. No, it wasn't the middle of the night-it was right before race time!

Kate waiting to start in a sea of runners!

And they're off! One mile down; 12 more to go. Kate is wearing green running shorts.

Still running and looking good!

That's the last I saw of Kate. She stopped for a drink of water and I lost her!


Congratulations Kate!
13.1 miles in 2:35:57!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sales. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

No comments: