The Moonlight Run... I Survived.

The sun began to dip below the horizon, runners began crowding for the start line, and what was that? Some lady chattering instructions for Taebo from behind the PA system, backed by a recording of I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas? I could sure use some feeling... back in my toes. 45 minutes of holding my space towards the start line timing mat meant thin-soled Flows against frigid concrete numbness. Although I resembled a marionette in the hands of a novice, the pre-race workout helped blood find it's way back to the ends of my feet. It also helped that a thousand other runners behind me ridiculously marched along.

Midway through the emcee's ranting the start cannon blasted. It about stopped my heart. Was I supposed to go? Was I supposed to wait for the permission of the mic barer? A great shuffling began pushing me forward. I had no choice. The exodus began. I felt as though I was part of a roller coaster chugging to it's first peak, slowing as the crest drew closer, suspense and anxiety mounting. And then it all broke loose.

Gravity attracted aggressively as the slope dropped away for 3/4 of a mile. The weight of one thousand runners pushed at my back. Half flailing, half flopping, I looked down at my increasing pace on my wrist mounted Garmin. 7:00 minute mile... 6:45 minute mile... 6:30 minute mile... 6:00 minute mile... This was a crazy starting pace, but it was this or footprints up the back of my head. 

The end of the hill saw an abrupt left turn slowing the stampede of runners. The route was far from the dirt paths rolling and twisting through the coulee that I had envisioned. Smooth, flat roadways and wide paved trails flitted in and out of site under the evenly spaced street lights. Runners vied for the turn-around down single lanes, making way for the speedsters already on their way back. Only a couple of dark, treed sections required additional lighting from my GoMotion chest strap light to calm the odd silhouettes dancing under the moonlight. The course was fast. I only hoped I could mange the pace I was trying to keep.

My Garmin vibrated warnings that my heart rate was too high. I didn't quite ignore it, but I did actively practice slowed breathing and relaxation to try and keep the pounding at bay while maintaining my adrenaline-laced pace. Many times I questioned slowing down, but the pack of athletes just in font of me pulled me forward almost trance-like. At mile 4, the trance broke, and the 'zone' seemed to take over. My body shifted into greater ease, and with the efficiency and calculation of a predator, I picked off the pack in from of me one at a time. But the real prey stood solitarily at mile 5, the climb out of the coulee.

Caballo Blanco, from Chris McDougall's Born to Run, pounded into my head that I need to speed up my cadence when going up the hill, "Where you might take two steps, take three!" I put his advice to the test as I leaned gently forward and turned up the steps. My pace slowed to a grueling 10:30 minutes per mile, but I was still gaining ground faster than many of the runners around me. My watch warned me of my increasing heart rate, and I was tiring, but I was almost at the end.

As the hill flattened out, bagpipes chirped to life, welcoming runners to the end of their challenge. Only two blocks to go. Adrenaline flowed back into my veins, and I picked up my pace. Loving friends and family cheered for their athletes. Lights illuminated the roadway. The energy was high. As I turned the corner I caught site of the finish line, and a jolt of pure energy rocketed me forward. I sprinted at a 4:40 minute per mile pace giving all I had left, and the race was over. I survived.

• Time: 47:23:75
• Pace: 07:37 min/mile
• Place 69/630
• Gender 54/253
• Division 12/40

Comments

[Cody]

Well done man.

[Leaves]

Fantastic! Well done, friend.