The Essence of Being and Becoming a Runner

As I approached the registration tent for this 5K I could not help but notice how different it was to the race I had competed the previous weekend. That race was a 24 hour, 100 mile or 48 hour endurance race. With the 100-mile mark on almost everyone’s goal list. This was a taco themed fun 5K to raise money for a charity. At the endurance race it was a group of runners who had set up tents for their own aid stations and were serious about logging miles. At the 5k some were dressed in costume and it was more about the comradery and less about the miles. I was thinking that there were probably very few people like me who had run over 100 miles in a race and then signed up for a 5k right after it.

At the endurance race, my goal was to hit the 100-mile mark before the 30 hour mark.  That is the usual cutoff time for a 100-mile race and when you earn a buckle which is a goal of many an ultra-runners. I met my goal rather easily. My friend Dave however, wanted to go the furthest he could in 48 hours and did 135 miles which is pretty impressive. During this race since it is a loop race you talk with other runners, and we talk about strategy and other races. We talk goals and we all encourage ourselves.

At this 5K, my tactic and goal was completely different. I would not run for a good 5K time. For this race I was not competing even against myself. It was more to show my friend Crystal support. She had asked me to join her on this 5K. I had told Crystal and her friend Heather I would run with them. Afterall Crystal was only running because of me. She had heard me speak about my experience running the length of New Jersey and was inspired to begin running again.

There were frivolities all around us and we were joking and at ease ourselves before we started. Yet when the race started both Heather and Crystal became focused. We tried to settle into a nice pace that would get us to the finish line in a respectable time. They had done a 5K about a month before and they had gone out too fast. Which I explained to them is very common even among experienced runners. The adrenaline is pumping, and you see all the other runners and you naturally speed up.  One of the things you have to learn is to block out the other runners and run your own race. Try not to get caught up in the excitement. Much easier said than done. We however did settle into a steady pace for the first mile.

At that mile mark I noticed that Heather’s breathing was irregular and that she was struggling. She soon said that she needed to walk.  She told us to go on. Crystal said she might need to walk soon too so that Heather would not feel down about walking. Yet Crystal and I continued on for another mile at the same pace. In fact, it was slightly faster than the first mile but there was a downhill in this section.  But we would be returning on that same section going uphill soon.

Crystal kept plugging along and I think the uphill slowed her down. Hills not only sap your energy physically but mentally.  When she indicated that she wanted to walk I pointed out a bend in the road and said let’s run to there. It was my way of getting her to run a little more than she would normally. Which she did. We than walked the hill and talked. She had run cross-country in high school and was now just trying to start running again. Both her and Heather are young mothers so having time for themselves is a rare occurrence. I could relate since I had raised a family. I told her my runs were times I was in control of schedule when it seems like I was in control of nothing else. I think that a lot of runners like that moment to themselves running.

We were approaching the last half mile and I said at the upcoming bend we can start running again that it is always good to run to the finish line. She agreed. This last portion of the race we ran and she pushed herself. When we crossed the finish line, she was tired. Her face was red and she sat down on the curb to catch her breath and drink some water. She had pushed herself hard. After watching her I turned around because I wanted to greet Heather at the finish line. I have found that a supportive face at the finish line makes one feel happy. I almost didn’t recognize her because she had taken her jacket off and was now in a bright blue shirt. She crossed the line with a big smile on her face. I gave her a high five. She looked strong and was only a couple of minutes behind us.

It was at this moment at the end when I saw the essence of being and becoming a runner in both of them. They both talked about their improvement from their last run and they had both pushed themselves hard and challenged themselves.  While the distance was not close to the endurance run that Dave and I had done the weekend before. The two of them had pretty much done the same thing as us. They had pushed themselves to their limits. They had analyzed their performance and how they can improve.  They also had fun as we ate our tacos and enjoyed the comradery of other runners. They were now officially runners.

I thought to myself that they don’t know it yet but they will be doing longer distances. I know that both of them will say “Ray you are crazy. This 5K is enough.” I however see a half marathon in their future. They are both very determined and focused women. They will soon conquer the 5K and will push themselves again. When Crystal finishes a half marathon or dare, I say a full marathon. I don’t know whether she will thank me or curse me. Probably both.

The other thing about being a runner is the friendships you build. Dave and I usually do a few races together in the year. We are constantly scouring the internet looking for races. It is almost an addictive behavior. We see many of the same runners at the races and every race is a very supportive environment. It is nice to be around supportive people because it pushes you challenge yourself.

Shortly after the race Crystal texted me with a link to another race and asked me if I was interested. She is definitely now a runner.