I suppose it was inevitable, but I didn't see it coming. My friend and fellow "runner," Ellen Kay, showed up at my house Friday evening at the same time as I pulled in from and afternoon of shopping at the discount mall (more about that later). It was my birthday.
After her arrival and an exchange of a few pleasantries, I announced that we were going out for dinner on my dime. She pitched a fit! Would have none of it - after all, I am unemployed. Even after I insisted that I would be able to survive nicely for at least another nine months without touching my retirement account, she wouldn't budge.
That was merely the beginning. After all, it was my birthday and I really only wanted to be waited on. Instead, I rooted through my freezer and produced a container of my garden-fresh marinara sauce and dutifully produced a pasta (pre-race) meal with garlic bread. I had wine, she (a well-know teetotaler) had water. We stared at the boob tube until EK's eyes drooped. She tucked in about 9 PM, while I reveled in my birthday until 10:30 or so.
Up on Saturday morning about 6 AM. Had to prepare my bag (change of clothes and extra whatevers) and coffee. Grabbed juice, vitamins, and yogurt before loading the car and heading to Decatur.
We arrived at the starting area about 8:10 AM, picked up our race numbers, t-shirts, and other race "goodies" and dashed back to the car to get out of the wind and cold air. It looked to be a challenging weather day.
After a couple trips to the bathrooms, and making final decisions on garb for the run, we lined up with 300 others for the 4th Penguin in the Park 5K race. EK hoped for less than an hour for her finish. I was hoping for a 10:30 pace (about what I had the previous year). The route was dry (mostly) and out of the wind (on a bike path through the woods).
The official results have yet to be posted, but I saw 31 minutes about the time I crossed the finish 
line. Not bad I thought, particularly for walking 5 times along the 3+ mile route. More than a minute faster than last year. At the starting area I had seen the gal who would win my division, but how many others were in the group was not known (other than Ellen and me).
line. Not bad I thought, particularly for walking 5 times along the 3+ mile route. More than a minute faster than last year. At the starting area I had seen the gal who would win my division, but how many others were in the group was not known (other than Ellen and me). After I finished and received my medal, I hurried to the car to strip off my running hat, jacket, shirt, and sweat-soaked running bra. I put on a dry shirt and then my winter coat. I grabbed my camera and headed back to the finish area to wait for EK.
I really do enjoy being at the finish, especially for the slower folks. When the runners turned the final curve, I would yell encouragement. I kept my eye on the far ridge in the hope of spotting EK as she came down for the final quarter mile. Finally, there she was in the distance. I started to yell for her as she rounded the ben
d. Then, she whipped by my vantage point.
d. Then, she whipped by my vantage point. John "The Penguin" Bingham was across the route from me. Ellen didn't even notice him as she charged for the finish line. She not only met her goal, she set a PR (personal record). That finish line saw her sneakers at 49:30! It was a great day for her.
We returned to the car, peeled off wet clothes and put on dry, then headed to the Millikan gym where we were fed and the awards were handed out. The gal who had been identified at the starting area won my division and beat my time by about 5 minutes. The gal who came in second beat me by about 20 seconds. I was humbled. If only I hadn't taken so many walking breaks. It wasn't my day, but it was a great day for Ellen!
We left and went in search of the elusive Easter bonnet.
Next year will be the 5th Penguin in the Park. They will cap the run at 500 participants (because of the narrow bike path that constitutes most of the route). We will try again. I will strive for 2nd (if the skinny gal with long gray hair returns).
It is a new week. It is time to recommit to the job search. I have applied for one job and used a cross between the old and the new resume. I have reconsidered the new and it is too "flashy" and doesn't really represent who I am (particularly after Saturday's crushing "defeat').
Even with a better performance, it wasn't good enough for first place this year. There is always someone younger and/or faster. We can only hope to place. But that isn't all that bad. Ellen got to celebrate her personal victory, and I am content to cherish my time as well.
"'Winning' is an elusive if not irrelevant goal to most runners." - Running for Dummies
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