Run 4 Fun Race Report

"Nope."

Our Protagonist (let's call him 'Dan') had taken just one step out the door. The cold rain, which he thought he might be able to beat, had made itself known immediately, and Dan just as immediately went back inside his warm, dry hovel.

Down into the basement he goes. and onto the treadmill. He's been trying to avoid the mill this week, but he deems avoiding cold rain more important. He runs ten miles, probably more than he should have.

He runs so much this morning because he figures that the evening's Run 4 Fun may not be optimal due to further chances of cold rain. That's if it happens at all.

"Nope."

Dan steps outside before it's time to drive to Medina for the race. It's still raining and it's still cold. Dan almost, almost, decides not to make the trip at all. In spite of himself, he nevertheless gets into the car and begins driving south. 'I am gonna regret this,' he thinks. At least he can add, ran too hard in the morning to his other excuses for the day, such as it's cold and rainy, I cannot run so late at night, and I am sure to make a fool of myself, etc.

Run 4 Fun is a great little Friday evening 5K to benefit Medina City Schools. Dan hasn't run this particular race for ten years or more. He immediately bumps into old friends galore. It seems that his injury, combined with the Covid Pandemic have caused many of his old friends to become near strangers. It feels great for Dan to re-connect with so many of these great folks.

As he lines up with Harold Dravenstott, who has generously offered to stay with him during the race, Dan begins to feel like old times at the beginning of a race. Oh, the anticipation!

But then the run begins, and everything gets real. He and HD begin at an easy pace, yet he is almost immediately out of breath nonetheless. HD and Dan eventually settle into a 9 to 9:30 per mile pace, only slightly faster than planned.

Somehow, despite a slight slowdown, Dan maintains a nearly even pace and finishes in just under 29 minutes. About three months ago, Dan had run a nearly identical time at the Mardi Gras 5K in Panama City Beach. One may have hoped that Dan would have improved since then, but consider those excuses of his.

Some day, Dan will need to get into shape. Today is not that day.

Dan and HD near the finish, with Dan about to make his Big Move   photo credit: Beth Bugner