Oddness in Auburntown

I stood next to the window, drinking my coffee along with a bottle of water. I was waiting for my partner in running crimes, Nicky Balduf. Earlier in the week, she decided that I needed to race a 5k while I was feeling fit. I on the other hand was not quite sure if I wanted to get back to racing so soon. I had just come off of two weeks at Brevard Distance running camp where I was averaging around 55 miles a week. I felt fast. Yet, I have a long cross country season ahead of me at Carson Newman. I decided that I would just train through it and do it anyways. We had searched 5ks on the internet and had decided to run one in Auburntown, TN, mostly because it was close. She arrived on time at 6:00 a.m.

We knew we were going to Auburntown, but there was no specific directions.  We figured there would be signs once we got into town. Thomas, my tom-tom, got us safely to Auburntown by 6:30. There was no signs for this 5k. I was not worried, Auburntown is only about 3 miles long. So we continued to drive and soon we are out of Auburntown and still no sign of this 5k. We turned back around and proceeded to do this two more times before finding the park.

We finally found C.S. Hawkins park and in a small pavilion there was a table and a man. We just assumed this is where we would sign-up. Nicky asked the man very politely if this was the place for the 5k.

“I have no idea where the 5k is” he responded. We soon learned that he lived out of his car and well there was something a bit wrong mentally with him. “I am 1-8th Cherokee” he told us and attributed this problems to this. By this time, we were both very hydrated so we quickly found the port-a-potties. We saw a man running by like he was warming up and Nicky tried to get this attention but she was ignored. So we snuck back to the car and tried to follow where the runner went. We noticed arrows on the ground and followed them bringing us to the start.

We registered to the race and looked around noticing that there were very few runners there. As we lined up on the start line, the group did not grow. Overall, there was about 20 runners. The top 5 in both men’s and women’s got recognized at the end. Nicky and I knew we had it made, there was only 4 women. Before the course, the starter who only had one arm, briefed us on the course saying, “This course is certified by the mayor, which is me”.

He began the race and started his watch. The course was nice with rolling hills that brought me through the beautiful scenery of the town. I ended up third overall and first female. Coming through the line, I expected to hear my time only to find out that the mayor’s watch had gone out and I had to keep my own time. Nicky never did find out what her time was for she was not wearing a watch.

After the race, Nicky and I went to go sit in the creek only to be told by one of the locals that ran who had a long grey beard that “The sewer runs into about a half a mile down”. We get  this panic look on our faces only to be told, “I’m must kiddin”.

We got out of the creek and changed into our shirts (that depict the one armed mayor) to drive home. As we were leaving we got asked, “Aren’t you staying for the fish fry, it starts at 10:00”. We quickly shook our heads no and told we might be back later. It was by far the oddest race experience I have ever had.

Made it

U.S. track and field might not have the largest fan base but I am convinced it is the kindest. Most of you that follow me my adventures know I made a plea to get to the USATF championships. Thanks to the Flotrack community I made it. First, a diehard track and field fan decided to pay it forward by western unioning the money for a plane ticket and giving me free tickets for all four days. This was with no strings attached. Secondly, an avid flotrack follower allowed me to crash and was kind enough to let me stay on the couch within walking distance of the track. More amazing is that he was ok with picking me up at the airport at 2:00 a.m.

I will admit that I was super nervous about the trip and I was constantly texting people to make sure that someone knew where I was. Thursday’s flight was super long and I ended up in San Francisco for about four hours. I ended talking to several parents of athletes who were participating. I was glad the flight came in when it did for nervous parents of athletes can be a powerful riot. After all of us finally arrived in routine and I had checked my phone several times for the 10k results (the races can be seen here on flotrack), I was picked up and settled down at my host house.

I arrived the next day at Hayward field around two and found my seat on the first row of the backstretch. The people around me were all knowledgeable about the sport but tended to have an Oregon bias. I had one of those starstruck moments when Kara Goucher came around for her victory lap.

I found the flotrack team (minus Mark there was 5) and was able to gain a press pass. We had a pretty awesome set up with the usual media tent but also the garage next to 1500 meters (where Kevin D. had set the video feed from the electronic boards) and above at what I will call the “important people” viewing area. This was where all the live audio and videos were filmed for the races but going on behind us was a constant who’s who of track including the whole Clark family, agents and Ceo Doug Logan.

The next morning, I covered racewalking (total of 5 hours this weekend) and ended up eating at the hotel. Sitting a table was Alan Webb who had a hard night dealing with air conditioning problems.

The rest of the weekend went amazingly and I ended commentating with Kevin Selby who knows his stuff. I could not have asked for a better way to experience the championships. My next goal is to make it to the Olympics but this time I will earn my own way. One day, I will hopefully pay it forward to the next track and field fan.

RC cola and Moonpie

At around 8:00 on Friday night, I sent a text message to a friend of mine “I’ll run moonpie in your place”.  This is when I should have thought my actions through.  The moonpie is a 10 mile race over the hills of bell buckle. It runs like a half marathon. Malorie allowed me to take her place as long as I gave her the shirt. I ended up getting to bed about midnight and leaving the house around 5:00 the next morning.

The race started at 7:00 and as soon as the gun went off, I knew I was going to take this as training run. I rolled the first four miles in around 32:15 and I was comfortable. Then this was when everything began to fall apart by mile five I was at 42:30.  By the time I hit six miles, I was just trying to live.

What I learned at this moment was that I am not mentally stronger. I was not feeling terrible but I thought I should be. I started readjusting goals and I hit the eight mile mark, I want to say in 72.  At this time I realized I only had two miles left and my legs felt fine. I did the last mile in 7:15-7:30. My overall pace was just under nine mins.

If I do this race ever again, I will get over 5 hours asleep and actually train a bit for it. I would love to be able to run it in below 1:20.
(I have no idea why I am smiling at this moment in time)

Can I do this for the rest of my life?

Since last week I have done 3 phone interview, 11 video interviews and have written 3 articles. If I could do this for the rest of my life, I would.

I had this conversation with my roommate from last year and she has decided to go to grad. school for public health."This is something I can be passionate about" she said.

I really think this is important in getting a job. You want to be able to enjoy it. I think right now people are just getting a job to have a job. I'm not saying don't work but figure out how to do something you can love. It just happens that I love the sport of running

I am making money on the side by training a few younger runners. It is fun to introduce someone to something I love so much.

Sometimes everything falls through

The end of the school year was bittersweet. I am excited to be done with my junior year but sad to see my roommates leave. I miss them and thier quirks. They became my best friends and it is weird to know they won't be around next year. They are going on to bigger and better things.

So out of the three internships I applied for I struck out. So I am currently home in Murfreesboro sleeping on a couch. I have applied all over town but the only problem is that I have no real experience in any kind of summer job. I have called several back but was rejected due to lack of experience.

I am interning for a new running website-runtheroads.com-I am enjoying it quite a bit. I am really inline with the mission of the website which is to try to bring the popularity of road racing to the gain followers to the pro end of the sport.

I am slowly increasing mileage starting out with 40 miles and hopefully ending with around 80 miles per week by the end of the summer.

A report of harassment at road races

Eugene, May 12 (The Cara Fake Newsgroup)- A report from Meet Directors USA is showing a rash of reports of harassment road races. Oddly, the reports are coming from women with the names of Sara, Kara, or Cara. There have been a few reports from women named Tara, Mara and Lara.

“I won Hillbilly 5k and as soon as I was handed my prize, the male winner come up grabs my bum and says ‘I’ll be your Adam if you be my Kara,” explains Cara Hawkins, “ Kara Goucher’s name and mine are not even spelled the same way.”

The only explanation for this odd occurrence is the rash of pro running couples with the female’s name ending in “ara”. These couples include: Adam and Kara Goucher, Ryan and Sara Hall, Brent and Sara Vaughn, and Steve and Sara Slattery. It appears that many male runners are looking for their running counterpart.

“It is a good pick-up line, much better then I like your stride,” said Steve (asked for last name not to be revealed) , “It has gotten me a few girls; numbers and running chicks are where it is at.”

Bad Poetry

I would like to propose a toast
please raise your glass with me
to a missed opportunity

I saw the door wide open
it was history worth making
it was mine for the taking

The trail last traveled
that I found
turned me around

So, I would like to propose a toast
drinks are on me
to a missed opportunity