This is about the race I ran back on December 10. I started to write about it, and then got lazy, so I finally pulled it out and finished it today.
The Reindeer Romp in Crosby Township is a benefit for Crosby Kringle Chest (toys for kids). There is a 5k and a 10k. I did the 5k for the first time two years ago with Ed. Eddy has not been training with me lately, and he is suffering from some irritation between his toes that seems to happen every year around this time, so this year he was staying home.
I decided to go for the 10k in order to get a longer run in this weekend. I was supposed to run 10 miles, but with my warm-up jog this ends up being just a little over seven. Falling behind on the long runs already, just two weeks into marathon training. Oh well.
I had a choice this weekend of running the Jingle Bell 5k downtown or the Reindeer Romp. Usually they are on different weekends. Jingle Bell is one of those big, fundraiser events. Although it is for a cause I support (Arthritis Foundation) and on the same course where I set my 5k PR, the Reindeer Romp is more of the kind of race that I love: small, but very well-organized. And the race shirt is a tech top and there’s a pancake breakfast at the end.
Contrast this with Jingle Bell, where you have to pay to park in the lot across the street, you get the same old white cotton shirt with the same design on it that they use for all the other races around the country (and even repeat from year to year), and all you get at the end are the usual bagels and bananas. And you have to fight your way through the crowds.
It’s been in the low 30s for the past few days, and I forced myself to get out and run in it even when I might normally have run on the treadmill, because I wanted to try to get used to the cold. As if that were really possible.
Of course, it was even colder this morning (about 20 degrees when I left for the race). Crosby Township is west of here, about 30 miles and a 40 minute drive. I was wondering why I thought this would be fun.
Sun was rising by the time I arrived at the start. Parked in the grassy field next to the Senior Center. Packet pickup was in a tent outside the building. Got my shirt and ticket for the door prize. The shirt this year is a long sleeved technical top in a lime green, and I think this is like the 3rd lime green shirt I’ve gotten at a race this year. I throw the shirt in the car, then head inside the senior center to hit the restroom and hang out where it is warm with other people who are making fun of the shirt.
I see some other people who are going to be running with their dogs, and I wonder if Eddy and I started a trend two years ago when he was the only dog.
We head outside, and walk across a frosty field to start in the street. It’s cold, but clear and sunny and really quite pretty out. There are a couple of people dressed in costumes (there is a costume competition, with prizes), including a guy dressed in a deer suit. Or maybe he is a reindeer? But not Rudolph, because he lacks the red nose. Anyway, few enough people that everybody gets a prize. The race director has them come up to the front and does the judging before the race begins.
The race director advises us that there is some ice on the path beneath the underpasses along the 10k portion of the route, so I know to watch out for it.
And then we’re off, running through the quiet, country roads of Crosby Township. This part is familiar to me from the 5k.
My goal is to try to get as close to 50 minutes as I can, although I know that something like 52 is more realistic. That’s about 8:00 pace. First mile is 7:56. So far, so good.
I become aware of a woman with frizzy hair who might be in my age group (it is hard to say for sure because we are all so bundled up) running nearby. Somebody to race with. Wonder if she is doing the 5k or the 10k.
At about 1 ½ miles in, we hit the bike trail, where there is a water stop, so I have a cup. I am remembering how when I stopped at this point to have a drink while running with Eddy, he got so pissed at me. He just wanted to go!
Mile 2 is 8:33, because I slowed down at the water stop. I have pulled ahead of the woman with the frizzy hair, however. I can hear her footsteps behind me, and I am kind of hoping that she will be making the 5k turn off.
Mile 3 is 8:03. Frizzy Hair has caught up to me. It appears she is also running the 10k. We run side-by-side on the bike path for a bit.
Finally, she speaks. She says that we should see the lead women coming back towards us soon.
Since she has spoken first, I ask her how old she is. She is 38. I say, okay, you can go then! She is much younger than I am.
Frizzy Hair tells me that last year she ran this in 48 something, and won her age group but she is not in as good shape this year. I tell her I just want to get close to 50. She says we’re on track for that but I don’t agree. We chat a little bit more about racing. We do see the two lead women coming back towards us. It does not occur to me that this means that I am in the top 5 women. It’s such a little race, anyway.
Mile 4 is 8:24. No more talking because it is slowing us down. Frizzy Hair takes off. I slow down to avoid the ice beneath the underpasses. Mile 5 is 8:32, but that is the best I can do. Anyway, no other women are passing me, and I don’t really care about Frizzy Hair because she is so much younger.
Mile 6 is 8:22. Now we’re in the last stretch coming up the road towards the senior center. I catch up to Frizzy Hair. There is another runner who appears to be a teenage boy in a black hoodie, and I am about to tell Frizzy Hair that we can take this kid when Frizzy Hair finds another gear and takes off. I can’t catch her, but I decide to dig deep and beat Black Hoodie. Cross the finish line just ahead of Black Hoodie, who turns out to be a woman after all so it’s good that I pushed myself. I tell Frizzy Hair that she ran a good race, but she doesn’t seem to hear me (she is wearing earbuds) or else she is ignoring me now because I insulted her by implying that she might be in my age group, when in fact she is 14 years younger than I am.
Inside, I change into dry clothes and get some pancakes. They don’t have real butter, or real maple syrup, but still the pancakes taste very good and satisfying. I sit down at a table with strangers and wait for the awards. Frizzy Hair is sitting at another table, chatting with people who appear to be her friends.
In the end, I do finish first (out of eight) in my age group. Was fourth woman of 46, and 25th of 83 runners overall. Final time was 51:23, so not very close to 50 minutes, but in line with what I could reasonable expect. Did not win a door prize, but was happy to get my little award medallion, which I wore around my neck for the drive home. I like that it has the name of the race and the year on it, instead of the generic medals they give out at some of the smaller races. It is that kind of attention to detail that makes the Reindeer Romp special.
