The alarm went off.
My body fills with excitement despite the five hours of sleep after a long night of work. Four months of training, all for this day. There is no way I am hitting snooze.
I debate with myself whether or not I should wet my hair and clean up a bit. I will be out in public... but these people are runners so they understand... but it will only take a second. I dunk my head under the shower-head and get it over with. "Ahh... That feels better."
I grab a granola bar, drink some coffee, finish my routine, and head out the door.
I started running four months ago. After taking note to my parents and their new found love of running, I decided to give it a try. It was late one night at the library. I had been studying for finals for five hours and my mind was starting to wander. Old thoughts of running stormed through my head. I was remembering my track days in seventh grade. I was remembering my awful shin-splints, staring down at my shoes, and wondering why the pain never went away. I also, for some reason, remembered reading an article about barefoot running and its advantages. "Hmm... Well I am at school, without running shoes. I suppose I could try out the barefoot running thing..." I read multiple sites about barefoot running form and such, then went out and tried it. I ran one quarter mile lap and I was hooked. I decided not to run too far to avoid any chance of injury, but I wanted to try it again. I set my goals on the Savin' The Girls 5K hosted at Yahoola Creek Park in Dahlonega, Georgia on June 27, 2010. I have been barefoot running ever since.
Four months later Dave and I are lined up at the front of a pack of runners. I have ran one 5K before, and took some notes. I know that if I am not in the very front of the pack, on the start line, I will have to weave through the walkers. I tell Dave this. We both agree to start out in a sprint just to get ahead of the pack, then go from there.
Dave began running with me about a month ago. He picked up on the sport nicely, ran for two weeks, hurt his neck, didn't run for a week, and ran for the fourth. He told me he was running the Yahoola Creek race. I told him I was going to go hard on that race, but would like to meet up with him there and hang out.
The race coordinator counts down, "Three, two, one... GO!" I take off, leading the pack. Running beside me is a middle aged man. I know he is more experienced than me. His pace, his breathing... I don't know about this guy.
Within a quarter mile he is ahead of me. We plummet across a wood bridge, hit some light gravel, and start on a heavily graveled trail. I knew we would be running over this section. I clear my mind, watch where I step, and take each step carefully. I try to keep my pace up. The middle-aged man has broken away from me. Behind me, I hear nothing, but I know the others are coming. I keep my pace up, make my way to the asphalt, and make a sharp left. I can see him again, forty feet in front of me. I get the feeling he is probably going to beat me.
I quickly snap out of my thoughts. I have close to sixty people behind me. Worrying about the one in front of me isn't going to do me any good. Second place is really good for how long I have been running. I just need to keep my pace up and try my hardest. Second place is fine. Regrets are not. I tell myself to just run and not give up.
We run over the bridge and take a right. I know this area better than anyone else there. THIS IS MY SPOT! I haul up the slight incline and head back to the start point. We pass the finish line at 10:10. My body is drenched. I have been pushing hard and I'm starting to feel it, but there's NO WAY that we are finished. I ask, "How much longer 'till the finish?" She responds, "You have to go around again, then you'll be done." I smile and say, "Okay!" and run on.
After hearing that news I am slightly frustrated. The map didn't show two laps, but I guess if I came here to run, I better do it!
I push on, crossing the same bridge and hitting the gravel. At this point in the race my adrenaline has decreased and I can actually feel the gravel a bit more. It's not so great. I should have trained more on this gravel. "Go! Go! Go!" I tell myself. I hear the crunch of a shod runner behind me. Darnit! I have to go faster!
I step on the asphalt and run as fast as possible. The runner behind me, a sixteen year old in orange shorts and no shirt on, is next to me. We run side by side. I am tempted to say something nice and encouraging like, "Good pace!", but keep my mouth shut and just run. The kid and I approach the bridge and I pull away. I get the feeling he was sprinting. If I just keep this pace I can get second.
At this point I am weaving in and out of the walkers that are still on the first lap. They are very courteous and respective of the runners. They all seem to be keeping an eye out for runners. I hear a woman exclaim, "What do you mean we have to go around this again?" I crack a smile.
Around the turn that leads back to the circle I sneak a peek of the kid. He is ten feet behind me. That is nothing at the end of the race. I slightly pace myself at my already-faster-than-usual pace and aim for the finish. I hear him behind me as we go down a slight incline. I hear heavy breaths on top of stomps behind me. I think, "He is only slowing himself down by stomping the ground." I remind myself of my last 5K, where I was the slow one going down hills. Now the tables have turned and I am at an advantage. My feet graze the ground as I conserve my motion.
We hit the circle. I can see the finish line but I know I am no where near done. I am going to have to pull something to keep this kid off me. I wait until there is about half a lap. I try to anticipate his comeback. When is he going to do it? When is he going to sneak a sprint? I run. C'mon! Do it already!
His breaths get closer. I run as fast as possible. My legs are burning and my mouth is pumping in air. I hear the same behind me. His heavy breaths follow mine. This is anyones race.
There is less than a tenth of a mile left. I run. I really run. I put everything into it. He is getting closer. I can't let him catch me. I hear something. The sounds of glory? Maybe, but those are definitely the sounds of dry heaving. He is running so hard that he is about to puke! I keep running. The dry heaving continues, but he keeps going. I feel myself pull away in time and cross the finish line at 20:51. Eight seconds later, he does. I calm down and walk around. I grab some water and go straight for my dessert, the grass. See, barefoot running doesn't hurt, but grass feels awesome!
after seeing how close together the pictures were taken, I had to animate it
I ask myself, "Could I have run that race any better? Do I regret anything about the last twenty minutes and and fifty-one seconds?" Nope. I am happy. Four months of training and hard work allowed me to get the best time I have ever achieved on a 5K. To say I was happy was an understatement.
Dave finished at 25:51! In my opinion, this is a great time for someone who as only been running for a month.
After the race Dave and I meet up with some of his friends and talked. I speak with the kid that finished behind me. I congratulated him and talked barefoot running with his parents.
I look off in the field and see my parents. I say, "I'm already done." They laugh and ask me how I did. I tell my dad I owe him a dollar.
Here's the deal. My dad told me he would pay my race fee, $25. For every place I lose I owe him a dollar. If I win, I don't owe him anything. Pretty sweet deal unless you get stomped.
My dad asks me who beat me. I said, "Some older guy." and pointed off to the winner. We approach him and my dad asks, "What was your time?" He responds 18:56. My dad, impressed, laughs, and we start talking. The guy thinks its cool that I ran barefoot. He says, "Yeah in that gravel section you didn't even have a chance." I laugh, because it is true.
My Dad, Dave, Tom, and I Discuss The Race
I tell him about the deal between my dad and I. He says, "Well, I respect the fact that you ran it barefoot. I'll give ya a dollar for that!" He runs off and returns with a dollar and runs away. I hand it off to my dad. The deal is done!
I recollect my morning and the past four months. I am pleased with myself. This doesn't happen often, so it feels extra good. I head home to relax. I am happy.
warmin' up before the race(rough gravel section)
around here, most races start with a prayer
Runkeeper Map(I made this after-words):
Race Results:
********** AGE-GROUP RESULTS **********
Savin' The Girls 5K
@ Yahoola Creek Park
Dahlonega, Georgia
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Results Provided By Runners Fit Race Works
********** FEMALE OVERALL RESULTS ***********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 7 Christy Elliott 36 Gainesville, GA 21:59 7:05
********** MALE OVERALL RESULTS ***********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 1 Tom Eckel 57 Milford, OH 18:56 6:06
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 10 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 102 Karlee Armstrong 7 Dahlonega, GA 35:18 11:22
2 142 Madison Shook 10 Demorest, GA 45:59 14:48
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 1 - 10 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 16 Riley Herndon 8 Dawsonville, GA 23:36 7:36
2 30 Tyler Tate 10 Cartersville, GA 25:49 8:19
3 61 Derek Nutt 10 Dawsonville, GA 29:37 9:32
4 110 Evan Minter 10 Ellijay, GA 36:02 11:36
5 113 Clay Ott 7 Ellijay, GA 36:34 11:46
6 134 Canon Wood 7 Dahlonega, GA 42:58 13:50
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 11 - 14 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 29 Brook Loggins 11 Clarkesville, GA 25:44 8:17
2 40 Destiny Tate 12 Cartersville, GA 27:31 8:52
3 50 Hannah Caufman 12 Demorest, GA 28:46 9:16
4 126 Ally Schnetzer 14 Dunwoody, GA 39:56 12:51
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 11 - 14 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 11 Bret Aldridge 14 Dahlonega, GA 22:38 7:17
2 17 Jimmy Grunfelder 14 Dahlonega, GA 24:24 7:52
3 23 Drew Bodney 13 Dahlonega, GA 25:09 8:06
4 148 Braden Crabtree 14 Roswell, GA 49:07 15:49
5 149 Tiger Greene 12 Alpharetta, GA 49:07 15:49
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 15 - 19 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 13 Danielle Cureton 19 Cumming, GA 23:04 7:26
2 35 Savannah Anderson 16 Dahlonega, GA 26:39 8:35
3 88 Jaymelea Whitfield 16 Cleveland, GA 32:51 10:35
4 94 Phoebe Dinkler 16 Fayetville, GA 33:37 10:50
5 97 Rachel Black 16 Cleveland, GA 34:45 11:11
6 115 Magge Holly 15 Cumming, GA 36:45 11:50
7 120 Katie Schnetzer 16 Dunwoody, GA 39:00 12:34
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 15 - 19 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 3 Keith Aldridge 16 Dahlonega, GA 20:59 6:45
2 15 Joseph Dinkler 15 Fayetville, GA 23:32 7:35
3 165 Tyler Edelberg 17 Dahlonega, GA 59:50 19:16
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 9 Tana Martin 29 Dahlonega, GA 22:33 7:16
2 18 Julie Smith 22 Dahlonega, GA 24:27 7:53
3 34 Ashley McIntyre 25 Cumming, GA 26:38 8:35
4 55 Mallory Sadler 25 Pendegrass, GA 28:51 9:18
5 58 Joy Bramblett 24 Gainesville, GA 29:03 9:21
6 70 Starla Prickett 26 Gainesville, GA 30:43 9:53
7 72 Holly Carpenter Desai 29 Hoschton, GA 30:49 9:56
8 74 Alyssa Esco 20 Braselton, GA 31:00 9:59
9 84 Kira Barcus 25 Dahlonega, GA 32:25 10:26
10 85 Negin Akbarshahi 25 Alpharetta, GA 32:31 10:28
11 86 Michelle Bagwell 22 Cumming, GA 32:39 10:31
12 87 Lisa Dickey 29 Dalton, GA 32:50 10:35
13 90 Hope Myers 29 Dahlonega, GA 33:02 10:38
14 111 Elizabeth Carter 25 Gainesville, GA 36:10 11:39
15 139 Erin Buchanan 27 Canton, GA 45:08 14:32
16 140 Rogers Bethann 21 Cleveland, GA 45:08 14:32
17 153 Meghan Shannon 21 Gainesville, GA 52:55 17:02
18 160 Kelly Phillips 28 Cumming, GA 56:38 18:14
19 161 Kelly Todd 21 Dahlonega, GA 57:44 18:35
20 166 Candace Wells 24 Dahlonega, GA 1:00:16 19:24
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 20 - 29 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 2 Tyler Rusk 20 Dahlonega, GA 20:51 6:43
2 4 Marc Dahlquist 28 Cumming, GA 21:40 6:59
3 10 Andrew Pfeiffer 24 Dahllonega, GA 22:37 7:17
4 28 Zach Anderson 20 Dahlonega, GA 25:43 8:17
5 32 Kirk Lundquist 24 Dawsonville, GA 26:13 8:27
6 46 Ben Ellgass 20 Dahlonega, GA 28:18 9:07
7 52 Anthony Sadler 21 Pendegrass, GA 28:48 9:17
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 19 Jennifer Nutt 38 Dawsonville, GA 24:29 7:53
2 27 Jaime Herndon 33 Dawsonville, GA 25:41 8:16
3 36 Catherine Allen 36 Cumming, GA 27:11 8:45
4 37 Karen Battles 38 Dahlonega, GA 27:15 8:46
5 39 Susan Holman 32 Gaineseville, GA 27:28 8:51
6 43 Dana Mincey 32 Dahlonega, GA 27:44 8:56
7 51 Jill Graham 35 Dawsonville, GA 28:47 9:16
8 63 Ashley Trammell 32 Dawsonville, GA 30:11 9:43
9 67 Amy Thraikill 39 Dahlonega, GA 30:25 9:48
10 69 Dawn Sosebee 36 Gainesville, GA 30:38 9:52
11 71 Alycia Gravitt 31 Cumming, GA 30:46 9:55
12 73 Sarah Formica 36 Dahlonega, GA 30:58 9:58
13 79 Christina Everett 38 Cumming, GA 31:55 10:17
14 82 Dana LaPrade 37 Clarkesville, GA 32:15 10:23
15 83 Jennifer Hester 37 Gainesville, GA 32:20 10:25
16 92 Julie Windham 30 Dahlonega, GA 33:25 10:46
17 93 Angela Crane 32 Dawsonville, GA 33:28 10:47
18 96 Jenna Marshall 36 Dahlonega, GA 34:11 11:00
19 98 Misty Grizzle 38 Dahlonega, GA 34:54 11:14
20 99 Bridgett Calhoun 36 Dawsonville, GA 34:56 11:15
21 103 Jennifer Lancaster 34 Dahlonega, GA 35:44 11:30
22 109 Valerie Fambrough 30 Dahlonega, GA 36:00 11:36
23 123 Alisha Matthews 37 Dahlonega, GA 39:27 12:42
24 131 Kristina Millican 36 Clermont, GA 42:08 13:34
25 135 Jessica Gabrels 31 Clarkesville, GA 43:01 13:51
26 137 Jennifer Foster 33 Cumming, GA 44:14 14:15
27 143 Tonya Stewart 38 Jefferson, GA 46:01 14:49
28 144 Angie Kemp 35 Gainesville, GA 46:27 14:57
29 145 Sherry Sutton 38 Moultrie, GA 46:30 14:58
30 146 Jennifer Moye 37 Dawsonville, GA 47:15 15:13
31 147 Jodi Scroggins 32 Dawsonville, GA 47:20 15:15
32 150 Nichelle Lucas 36 Snellville, GA 49:22 15:54
33 156 Candace Sosebee 34 Cumming, GA 53:02 17:04
34 157 Shannan Wade 34 Dawsonville, GA 53:03 17:05
35 158 Jacquelyn Bowden 31 Dahlonega, GA 53:19 17:10
36 163 Joy Edelberg 36 Dahlonega, GA 59:49 19:16
37 164 Tina Brown 39 Dahlonega, GA 59:50 19:16
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 30 - 39 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 6 Anthony Montoya 37 Gainesville, GA 21:58 7:05
2 8 Dean Dewey 35 Cartersville, GA 22:25 7:13
3 12 Tony Ledford 36 Commerce, GA 22:38 7:17
4 14 Tim Ferguson 37 Dahlonega, GA 23:29 7:34
5 20 Steven Nutt 39 Dawsonville, GA 24:47 7:59
6 24 Don Farr 38 Cumming, GA 25:13 8:07
7 25 Erick Phelps 36 Bradenton, FL 25:23 8:11
8 45 Ricky Cornett 39 Dahlonega, GA 28:16 9:06
9 47 Chris Dowdy 35 Cleveland, GA 28:35 9:12
10 48 Andrew Woznicki 32 Dawsonville, GA 28:44 9:15
11 56 Chad Turket 30 Gainesville, GA 28:59 9:20
12 62 Jay Davis 30 Dahlonega, GA 29:57 9:39
13 64 Daniel Herrick 38 Dahlonega, GA 30:15 9:44
14 95 Christopher Sosbee 39 Gainesville, GA 34:04 10:58
15 119 Kevin Holman 35 Gainesville, GA 38:25 12:22
16 154 Kenneth Millican 34 Clermont, GA 53:00 17:04
17 159 Gary Jordan 36 Gainesville, GA 54:10 17:26
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 33 Stefanie Carroll 40 Dahlonega, GA 26:32 8:33
2 54 Mary Minter 43 Ellijay, GA 28:51 9:17
3 57 Carol Holly 45 Cumming, GA 29:01 9:21
4 60 Glenda Strickland 41 Moultrie, GA 29:35 9:32
5 65 Carla Rauth 49 Dahlonega, GA 30:17 9:45
6 75 Julie Roberts 43 Cumming, GA 31:01 9:59
7 77 Betsy Gagnes 47 Dahlonega, GA 31:32 10:09
8 80 J. Lynn Anderson 46 Dahlonega, GA 32:06 10:20
9 89 Stacy Reichert 43 Dahlonega, GA 32:52 10:35
10 101 Lisa Aldridge 46 Dahlonega, GA 35:08 11:19
11 105 Jill Armstrong 40 Dahlonega, GA 35:46 11:31
12 108 Jere Lynn Whitfield 49 Cleveland, GA 35:58 11:35
13 112 Samantha Gay 42 Gainesville, GA 36:16 11:41
14 114 Betsy Gagne 47 Dahlonega, GA 36:34 11:47
15 117 Leslie Caufman 40 Demorest, GA 37:55 12:13
16 118 Sandy Ott 40 Ellijay, GA 38:08 12:17
17 124 Stacy Crabtree 42 Roswell, GA 39:40 12:46
18 125 Marsha Greene 47 Alpharetta, GA 39:54 12:51
19 127 Debbie Schnetzer 43 Dunwoody, GA 39:59 12:53
20 128 Angela Erwin 42 Cleveland, GA 40:01 12:53
21 132 Melanie Vaughan 42 Dawsonville, GA 42:33 13:42
22 133 Paula Smith 46 Dawsonville, GA 42:58 13:50
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 49 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 21 Brett Minter 41 Ellijay, GA 24:59 8:03
2 22 Tim Strickland 44 Moultrie, GA 25:08 8:06
3 31 David Corbacchioli 41 Dahlonega, GA 25:51 8:19
4 38 Jem Clement 48 Clarkesville, GA 27:16 8:47
5 42 Doug Minnear 41 Dahlonega, GA 27:38 8:54
6 44 Keith Andrew 49 Dahlonega, GA 28:04 9:02
7 49 Douglas Gibson 42 Cumming, GA 28:45 9:16
8 53 Robert Rickert 42 Dawsonville, GA 28:50 9:17
9 66 Kevin Strohman 46 Commerce, GA 30:24 9:47
10 76 Mark Sills 46 Murrayville, GA 31:03 10:00
11 81 Robert Ledford 43 Gainesville, GA 32:12 10:22
12 91 Russell Caufman 43 Demorest, GA 33:19 10:44
13 104 Neil Armstrong 40 Dahlonega, GA 35:44 11:30
14 136 Robert Foster 47 Cumming, GA 43:05 13:52
15 155 Noah Reichert 43 Dahlonega, GA 53:01 17:04
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 106 Becky Thompson 51 Dahlonega, GA 35:53 11:33
2 121 Wanda Bryant 54 Cleveland, GA 39:07 12:36
3 122 Sally Kelley 53 Dahlonega, GA 39:19 12:40
4 129 Barbara Myers 58 Dahlonega, GA 40:22 13:00
5 138 Jamie Smith 57 Roswell, GA 44:29 14:20
6 141 Sherry Rogers 52 Clevenad, GA 45:58 14:48
7 151 Sarah Shannon 50 Fayetville, GA 49:37 15:59
8 167 Debbie Head 50 Dahlonega, GA 1:00:17 19:25
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 26 Perry Steger 51 Griffin, GA 25:36 8:15
2 59 Bruce Pilgrim 54 Dahlonega, GA 29:10 9:24
3 78 David Watson 57 Dahlonega, GA 31:54 10:17
4 100 Michael Brown 58 Warner Robins, GA 34:57 11:15
5 107 Jim Higgins 51 Dahlonega, GA 35:53 11:33
6 152 Matt Shannon 52 Fayetville, GA 49:49 16:02
********* FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 99 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 162 Trish Higgins 60 Dahlonega, GA 58:09 18:43
********* MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 99 *********
Place O'All Name Age Hometown Time Pace
===== ===== ============================== === =================== ======= =====
1 5 Wes Wessely 62 Clermont, GA 21:54 7:03
2 41 John Bryant 66 Hayesville, NC 27:38 8:54
3 68 Tom Deal 72 Dawsonville, GA 30:25 9:48 
Posts
Usually my eyes glaze over when I'm reading a race report, but that was pretty entertaining. I made it to the end! Keep up the good work! (writing & running both)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I was shooting for some quality entertainment. I will try!
ReplyDelete