The Race (Pt. 2)
What was it about the race that made it so enjoyable despite all the hard work?
I have thought about it so much since then and now realize that the reason is a little embarrassing if I am honest. For the majority of my life I have been involved in areas where any perceived success is dependent upon other people or it is difficult to see the fruit of one’s labours. I am not complaining about this as in fact this is a wonderful way to live and work because it means you become team orientated and others centred in your approach.
Yet sometimes it is challenging for that very reason because you are dependent upon other people. The things that you want to see achieved just don’t happen as they should or perhaps they happen not as quickly as you think they should and that is not the easiest thing to deal with if you are my type of personality.
However this race was different. I know that what I am about to say will sound selfish rather than selfless and therefore I am hesitating to even say it. The fact was that every bit of effort and training that I put into the race had a direct effect upon my success in that race. The more I trained the better result I was going to get. If I didn’t train then the lack of results would be caused by me and me alone.
Effort equalled results.
This was for me tremendously satisfying.
In thinking this through a little more I have decided that if you are in a situation like me where your life is really centred on others being empowered to achieve what is essentially in your heart then you need a means whereby you do something that is totally dependent upon the effort you put into it.
I suspect some people call this a ‘hobby’ – whatever you call it methinks it is absolutely necessary. That’s why I intend to run again – so where’s the next race?
The Race (Pt. 1)
The morning came so slowly – it usually does when you are really excited about something. Couldn’t sleep – just waited until it is was a reasonable time to get up! It was the night before the big race. I had been training for months – now the day had arrived.
Park to Park – one of the toughest courses on the running circuit – full of hills – 5, 10 or 20 kms of hills, hills and more hills. My first race – 5 kms for me was the aim – hopefully under 30 minutes that was the goal.
The moment came – lining up with over 800 other starters in my race division of 5 kms – talk about nerves. I was about 20 rows back from the starting line – trying to remember all the training – when to go harder, when to hold back – don’t push too hard up the first hill – when to push hard to the finish line – so many thoughts! Then it happened – someone was beside me in the crowd. It was my good mate Matt Reis. Because of the staggered start he had completed the 20 km – came 6th in a PB now the mate I had trained with was beside me. “I’m here to run with you mate”, he said – wow, I was so moved with emotion – my eyes filled up as I thought of what Matt was doing for me. “I’ll pace you!” he said. The gun went and I was off. “Slow down big fellow”, Matt said to me as I took off far too fast, for the first hill was a killer. I settled and ran as we had trained.
I came to the point that Matt and I talked about often – it was the point when I would give my all – about 1 km to go and I had to push it. I picked up the pace – everything was hurting as the hills had taken their toll. 500 meters to go – Matt yelled the final encouragement to me – if I could give it all I would get under 30 minutes. So that is what I did. I didn’t want to leave anything on the course – I know it is silly but at the end of the day I didn’t want to finish and know I could have done better.
The finish line was now in sight – I sprinted as hard as I could – my breathing short – legs aching – over the line. Nothing left – couldn’t even bend down to untie my laces to remove the timing tag.
Matt was there – 27.05 minutes – a PB – it was worth it – every moment of training that hurt forgotten. I had done it – 108th out of 890 starters in the 5 kms – 18th in my age group of 40 – 59 years AND I am 50!
I loved every moment of it!
Why did I love it so much?
It was one of the most exciting things I had ever done.
You know I have thought about my emotions about this race often since – tomorrow in this blog I will share why I think I loved this race so very much and why I want to do more races. Somehow I think you may be surprised at what I have to say!
