Pack Monadnock 6/01/2003

I had barely slept a wink the night before the race mainly because I was so eager and excited to get started and I really hoped I wouldn't get lost trying to find my way to the start line. Those Map-its don't give the best directions. Plus, I know its hard to believe, but I have gotten lost once or twice in the past going to a race and as embarassing as it is to admit I've even managed to get lost in a race from time to time.. I know its pretty hard to get lost in a race - but let me assure you - I can manage quite well on my own !!!

So I'm driving along and after stopping and asking several local bussinesses several times for HELP 'which way' to go - I was pleased that I made it with alittle time to spare before the start of the race... Things are going great so far. Now for the important stuff; like what do I wear - is it hot - is it cold - should I wear shorts or pants and a short sleeve shirt of long sleeve !! should I wear my contacts or wear my glasses.. and goodness - Which sneakers !! Well, if you've ever seen the inside of the 'trunk' of my car - you would understand my dilema - I carry everything back there - just in case I get lost -half the running clothes I own are in my trunk. So, I look at the other runners and go for a slow warm up and I finally make just the 'right' decision and go for it. (or so I thought).

I talk to a bunch of runners and I had heard that there was a woman starting the race a half hour 'early' cause she was slow. Well, I thought surely I could get in on this - cause I'm not as fast like the others and far be it for me to hold anyone up at the finish line.. Like the guy with the "clock".. He wants to get home too you know.. He has a 'life' and he doesn't want to spend his entire day waiting for me to get up to the top.. Only when I mention this to the 'others' that I might try to get the 'half' hour early start - they assure me - I don't qualify !!! they say I'm not that slow !! What do you mean I'm not that SLOW - I protest - of course I'm slow - I'm wicked slow - watch me !! you have no idea how slow I am. They just chuckle and I can tell I haven't convinced them at all. Oh great - this means for sure that I'll be LAST. Don't you just love it !! So to save face - I convince myself that not everyone runs a race like ths - NO - as hard as it is to believe - ONLY the very BEST and Elite runners in the state are in this race and I can't compare myself to them. No, I just joined this club - surely they can't expect too much from me !! So my goal today is to just 'finish'.. and there's nothing wrong with that. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. If it wasn't for slow people like me they wouldn't look so fast. So, you see I make them look good !! YES, They are very lucky to have me. :-)

So, after all the prep work - its now time to go to the start line and begin the race. I practically hop all the way to the start line like the little energizer bunny. I can't wait to see the race course - I can't wait to see all the different 'landscaped' homes along the way. I can't wait to see if I pass that lady who got the early start. I can't wait to see the top of the mountain - I hope its a beautiful view.. I can't wait to see if there will be cookies at the finish. :-) I just love a cookie at the end.. This is just so exciting !!!

But just as the race starts - it starts to rain - actually I thought it was raining in pretty good shape - cause I couldn't see out of my eye glasses - No, my eye glassses didn't come equiped with windshield wipers. Darn it - I'll have to take them off. Now, I can't see at all - I just hope I don't get lost !!

The first 5 miles were a challenge - and I was starting to feel fatigued from the hills. Finally after a while I think I was getting so tired that I wasn't quite as excited about 'finishing' this race after all. I was really feeling VERY TIRED, COLD, HUNGRY, and soaking WET and to top it off I can't see very well. I almost got lost - yes you see it was like this: there was this big WHITE ARROW pointing into the woods and there appeared to be a path like area and so I thought !! well maybe I'm suppose to go there - so I stop and I kind of survey the situation - and I just about to decided to go for it cause I've convinced myself that - your suppose to follow the arrows - but then I hear this guy yell - HEY LADY OVER HERE - OVER HERE LADY !! Talk about adventures !! Whew, that was a close one - I hate to admit it - but it would not be the first time I've gotten lost in a race - I would have told RR sooner but I don't recall anything on the RR application that asked: Have you ever gotten lost on a race course ?? Well, if you've never gotten lost - as a person with experience in this area I can tell you - its not FUN and it kind of gives you a bad race 'time' as far as your results and its alittle embarassing.

Of course the real problem is 'do you tell anyone' - usually some other runner will always ask - so how was your 'time' and then you pause and think - oh great you just had to ask !! being the bright eyed person that I am I always smile and say: OH I had a great time.. then I'll give them that spacey look and walk away as quckly as I can. This is one conversation I do not want to "continue". Not that its embarassing to get lost - No, not at all - I like to think of it as an adventure - some people like adventures and some people don't.. I've always been a very happy runner - that is up until today. When I hit mile 8 - I felt just awful and I had convinced myself for the first time ever as a runner - that I just can't do this !!

I keep running - and I keep telling myself - I can't do this. But for some reason I can't stop.. Somehow I managed to get myself almost half way up the mountain and there's DON - oh my goodness - Don I say: I can't do this - oh sure you can Marilyn - and he smiles and says: Smile I want to take your picture - Don I look awful - your not going to make me look fat in that picture are you? I don't want to look FAT - I'm all WET, and I'm COLD and I'm STARVED and my hair looks AWFUL - please don't make me look fat in that picture !!! Oh alright - take my picture - Gosh I look awful. Then after he captures that 'kodak' moment - he insists on accompanying me up to the top of the mountain - I said: No, Don you've already done this mountain once I can't have you doing it AGAIN. He smiles and assures me he's a team player and he wouldn't have it any other way.. Since I had someone to share my thoughts with - I complained all the way to the top about how COLD, HUNGRY and WET I was - and he was right there to listen to me complain and then to help me 'finish' !!! He's such a nice guy.. We made it to the top - It was an awesome feeling of accomplishment for me. But, I should also say - if it had not been for Don - I'm not so sure I would have finished at all. We each grabbed a bottle of water and headed back down to the bottom to get our ride back to the school and on the way down we ran into Phil and Alison. The driver doesn't want to bring us back to the school until everyone is there to get a ride back - so we wait and we wait and we wait. Poor Don and Phil got medals (cause they're super fast) and they weren't there themselves to enjoy the award ceremonies and collect theirs - instead they were stuck sitting in a van waiting for a ride back - I felt so bad for them and I knew had Don and Phil not helped us up the mountain - they would surely be at the school with all their buddies collecting their medals.

I feel so lucky to be a member of this 'team'. No matter how slow and pokey you are - they are right there to cheer you on and give you 100% support. Just the nicest bunch of women and men you could ever meet.. For the final finishing touch of the day - since there was no food at the finish line - Don looked in his car and guess what he pulled out a 'cookie' he gave it to me to eat on the way home - what a guy.. What a great day - Yes, even thought I was COLD, HUNGRY, WET and TIRED - I think I've had the best day I've ever had running..

Like many times after many races - I realize once again - its not about the course or the weather or my running 'times' - - its all about the 'journey' that draws me to this sport. It was such a beautiful day for a "journey" and I especially enjoyed sharing it with all of you. But, I'm especially proud to be a part of this ROCHESTER RUNNERS TEAM.. :-)