I needed more running shirts so I signed up for a 5 mile and a 5 K race a week apart. This was a Family affair for both of the races.
The 5 miler also had a 3 mile option that I signed up my 2 oldest girls for (12&9). They Started 10 minutes after us 5 milers left the line. We ran an extra 2 mile loop before we rejoined the 3 milers and finished at the same finish line. The wager with my kids, and 63 year old mother was whether I would be able to complete the 5 mile race before they finished the 3 mile course.
It was mid 70-’s at the start and we ran a bike path along the Petaluma River. I found myself feeing fatigued at about 3 miles when I would normally be “hitting my stride” in a longer run. (Note to self – do more speed work).
At mile 3.5 I got my second wind and we had rejoined the 3 mile racers. I caught my mother who looked a little rough (sorry MOM!) about then. About a half mile ahead of her I shouted to my 12 year old as I caught up to her. She tried to stay ahead of me for a quarter mile, but I overtook her quickly.
At this point, I heard footsteps behind me as I glanced back and saw a familiar shape. Darryl Beardall, a 72 year old member of Empire Runners was gaining on me. He had beaten me in a 10 mile trail race 2 years prior and I wasn’t going to let it happen again so I kicked it in to high gear for the last half mile. The snapping and popping of Darryl’s artificial hip became fainter slightly so I knew I had a couple steps on him as we picked off runners through the home stretch.
I arrived at the finish line to a stack of finishers in the chute that extended out across the line. I felt a tap on my elbow and there was my 9 year old with a silly grin. Somewhere in the last part of the race I had just edged ahead of her, since she finished right behind Darryl and I.
Final results, all of us were pretty much middle of the pack, but my MOTHER took second in her Age group!
Now before you crucify me on nearly getting beaten by a 72 year old man, read up on the gent…..
http://www.empirerunners.org/halloffame/DarrylBeardall.pdf
So Mom said she wanted to do the 5k to benefit the hospital, the next week….
So I headed down to the local shoe store to sign up Mom and I for the 5 K at the Country club (This was an Adults only Affair) It was scheduled for Friday night.
After a hectic workday, I quickly threw on my running clothes and headed to the Country club 15 minutes before the start of the race. Looking around I could see this race had attracted the elite runners of the area. There was one team dressed in 80′s regalia, complete with headbands and knee high fishnet stockings….These folks were SERIOUS… 
Even Clo the Cow was entered. (So I wasn’t the Fattest or Whitest)
We took off at the start for the first of 2 loops, in a mad scramble, and I don’t think I PURPOSELY stepped on any of the walkers who lined up in front, but It was a “charlie foxtrot” for the first 500 yards. I was about 12th when we came to the first turn, and I saw the Lead pack coming back towards me. They had run off course, so I was like 3rd for 15 seconds, then they blew by me as we climbed the first hill.
I was right at 8 min. at the first mile marker. I was shooting to beat my PR of 26:00 in a 5 k. I thought I was on track to do that. When I wheezed my way up the hill before the second lap and saw 12:33 on the clock, and heard someone say I was in front of the 1st place female that I knew I went out too fast. When we hit the second hill, the first place woman passed me and said “C’mon dude! I was following you!” At that point I knew I’d been “Chicked” 
. In the next quarter mile I was passed by a whole peleton of 20-40 year olds who actually used race strategy.
At that point I settled into a pace that was more sustainable and began to feel better as I lapped the walkers . “Well I won’t be last” was my mantra as I launched snot rockets in disgust.
I sounded like a windbroke nag as I crossed the finish line after 29:23 and about 255 feet of elevation gain. Nearly 3 1/2 minutes slower than my goal. At the line the volunteer handed me a tongue depressor stick with “24″ written on it. I handed it to the next gal in line recording bib numbers and went to claim my post race beer.
My mom came in afterwards with a big smile and exclaimed “boy that was tough!”
I enjoyed a couple of micro brews and a pasta dinner before I headed for home. I wore my Tshirt and didn’t think much about the race except as a training run, until I got an email from the race director with the placings.
Turns out I had taken second in my age group. At least I wasn’t last!
Mom was middle of the pack on the hilly course and was already planning on how she was going to do “hill training before her next event!
