And it was my very first relay event. Ever.
The races on Sunday were a 5k, a half marathon or a half marathon relay (or 6.55 mi for each runner).
My running partner for this, Steve, is from the Old Man's Running Group and a podiatrist.
Honestly, if you have to befriend someone in your running group, make it an ortho doc or a podiatrist, right??
Anyhoo.....months ago Steve asked me to partner with him for this. Me! Years out of elementary, middle and high school and I was finally picked first for a team.
I was probably too eager in accepting. My desperation was showing.
The Fall Classic is my most oft run race. It was my first 5k back in 2022. It was my second half marathon ever. And last year I ran the 5k without getting physical therapy clearance after just coming off my cane.
Half marathons are all the rage, according to just about any sports magazine. Even the Washington Post had an article on it earlier this year. A lot had to do with Covid and people taking up running (guilty!) when they couldn't go into a gym. And while a huge accomplishment, 13.1 is also doable distance, that can even be walked.
I see half marathons sell out sooner than full ones. And I see more and more half marathon events period.
Since the Old Man's Running Group is the organizer of this race, I keep my piehole shut about the course. It's fine for 6.55, but you have to run it twice to get the half designation. It's not great - or good enough - to run twice in a row. They've had it for 49 years, they're not going to care what I think.
Steve asked me to be the lead, which is fine. Sitting around for an hour to take the (metaphorical) baton would have driven me nuts.
I'd like to say I started out slow, and I felt that I did. Kind of. I wasn't feeling like I was pushing it and the run came pretty easily. Easy enough I bypassed the water stations. However, when my leg was done, I had officially done an 8:51 pace.
I won't lie. I was proud. Amazed for sure, but proud. The last mile was a little slow which means for much of the run I was closer to 8:30 - which is just unheard of for me.
I knew Steve wasn't as strong a runner as I. We are the same age but on our Saturday morning runs, we leave together, but then I'm always ahead. He did closer to an 11 minute pace, so our combine pace was 9:46 - which wasn't bad.
Still we came in middle of the pack. 16 of 32 relay teams.
Just for fun, I went out a few hundred yards from the finish line waiting for him to come in. When he did, I just jumped in and ran it in with him.
I get the appeal of the relay. I don't know many races that do it - two are all of which I am aware. Still, you can have a strong performance for yourself and the team without having to run the entire thing on your own.
Song by: the Who
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