3.1 miles @ 7:18/mi Neighborhood 5K route on Murdock trail north and Northridge Park
Splits: 7:12, 7:15, 7:31, 0.1 @ 6:31/mi
This neighborhood race (ok, technically it's a Fun Run, but it's more of a race for some of us) has been going on for 26 years. I think I ran my first in 1993. I've not run it once or twice. This may have been my 20th time running it.
I have many great memories of this race. I've often been near the front. I've never won overall. I've finished 2nd a number of times, typically behind some upstart teenager from the neighborhood. Some of my favorite memories are competing with them until their young legs pull them ahead to win. I think I've found more joy in seeing them excel and achieve than I would have had I won.
Some memories that come to mind:
1. Catching up to Curt Gassman as he had stopped and just finished vomiting up bananas with about a mile to go. He said he was okay so I went on ahead...only to have him catch me and pass me and go on to win the race.
2. Running side by side with Taylor Allen. With a little less than a mile to go we were passing a young neighborhood girl on her bike. One of us accidentally bumped her handle bar as we passed and she crashed to the road. We both instantly stopped to help her. Taylor's dad Mark had been following us in his car taking pictures. He jumped out and said he'd take care of her and told us to keep going. By this time she was up seemed unhurt so we took off again. He pulled ahead and won the race.
3. Running with Taylor's younger sister Tiffanie Allen. She followed behind me listening to her music until about the same spot of the bike incident, an uphill section, where she passed me. I stayed fairly close but could never catch her again. Larry I think called her Pocahantas because she would run with her long blond hair flowing freely instead of in a pony tail. It was beautiful watching her hair float behind her just ahead of me, so I didn't mind finishing 2nd again. This was the first year a female runner won overall, and the only year I was the first male runner to finish. (We have two old running shoes painted gold on which the male and female winners write their name, year, and time. This got my name on the shoe.)
4. One year Christian Stewart (of BYU football quarterback fame) was a confident high school jock, but inexperienced runner, who started out too fast. I passed him walking about mile 2. He tried to catch me and finished pretty strong but didn't catch me. A few years later, when he was at BYU, he came and ran again. This time he held back the first 1/2 mile or so then left us all in the dust and went on to win easily.
Now to this year's race. It was cool and overcast with a light sprinkle of rain just before the race. I received my new Saucony Fastwitch 6 shoes yesterday. They felt so good I decided to race in them. I loved them. They are so light, yet so comfortable, with just enough support. (I'm tempted to wear them for the marathon next week, but that would be a huge risk, with so 23.1 more miles of pounding.)
Last year I was beaten by Breanna Andersen, Jeff McClellan, Aubrey Shaw, Jayson Andersen, and Tryggvi Christianson. The Andersen's don't live in our ward anymore so I don't see them, but throughout the year I would occasionally remind Jeff, Aubrey, and Tryggvi that I was training to beat them. Jeff was out of town with his family, and Breanna and Tryggvi didn't show up this year, but I did manage to finish ahead of Aubrey (not by far) and Jayson.
Kevin Jessop and I started out together with a group of young boy runners ahead of us, including Kevin's teenage son Alex. When I saw Alex show up I knew at least one runner would finish ahead of me. I knew he had run sub 5:30 pace for his 2 mile tryout run for the THS soccer team. The other 3-4 boys, however, I was confident were going out too quickly and would fade. (It happens every year.) I slowly pulled a little ahead of Kevin and passed the boys just before the 2000 N crossing. Just after, one of the boys pushed hard and passed me back. I admired his tenacity, but knew it wouldn't last. He faded after about 10-15 seconds.
I spent the rest of the race watching Alex run up ahead of me. I try to avoid looking behind me in a race, so I didn't know what was going on behind me. Just before the mid-point turn around Alex took a wrong turn off the path into the park. He stopped, confused. I yelled, "No! Keep going!" and he quickly recovered, stayin well ahead of me.
After the turn around I was able to see who was behind me. Kevin wasn't far back, nor was Aubrey. Last year she passed me just after the turn around then disappeared far ahead of me, and Kevin's been running really well, so I was nervous as I was beginning to tire. I just focused on Alex ahead of me (I was a bit surprised I could still see him) and on keeping my feet turnng over (which was noticably easier with my new lighter shoes).
I was just entering the 1/3 mile path at the park as I saw Alex sprinting for the finish line across the grass. Kevin and Aubrey finished not too far behind me.
So the tradition continues...or is renewed. I finished 2nd behind an upstart teenager, hanging close enough to see them finish, and being very happy for their achievement. Kevin told me later that when he asked Alex yesterday if he wanted to run a 5K today he said no, until he told him it was the Northridge 3rd Ward Fun Run. He switch his answer to yes. Apparently he has had a dream since he was a small boy of winning that race, and thought he had a chance this year. He was right. I'm glad he achieved his goal. Even more, I'm glad that we have this great tradition that has inspired so many more than just Alex...me included.
Breakfast was as delicious as always. It was fun visiting and eating. Every neighborhood needs a Fun Run and Breakfast tradition.
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