I’m loading loose groceries into a tiny, ancient rental convertible and waiting for some guy to bring me paperwork so I can leave. Apples roll into the front passenger side, smooshing a shrink-wrapped pack of sausages. I check the time. 6:45am, the same time I’m supposed to meet my sister for the race. I still have a two-hour drive ahead of me. Where is that guy with the paperwork?
The nice thing about built-in alarm clocks is they have the opposite of a sleep function. At least mine does. That’s when you wake up before the alarm is set because your subconscious doesn’t trust real alarm clocks on account of not using them much. I imagine a mostly unused alarm clock might be passive-aggressive when it comes to big events. Plus I’m not sure I even know how to set mine properly.
There’s no taking chances when you have to meet a group of people two hours away at 6:45am on a Sunday morning and you have the parking pass. The rental car dream was a big red flag, so I got up before the alarm did or didn’t go off and I went downstairs to make coffee and mentally prepare for the big 10K.
A 10K is 6.2 miles, which I’d run a half dozen times since late August. My favorite run was also the first one I did along a flat and shaded roadside to an abandoned watchtower on the Delaware coast. On all my practice runs, I paused my running app so the clock wouldn’t roll while I snapped pictures, a hobby that paired nicely with running this summer.
This was the summer of running for the enjoyment of it. Actually, I forgot that I wasn’t going to call it running anymore. I jog. What happened when I went out for sporadic, leisurely jogs and left the timing gear at home was I got slower. Like, a minute-a-mile slower. I started tracking my pace again around the time I started 6 mile practice runs, but I never got faster.
I was nervous going into this race. The night before, we all got an email from the organizer that basically said “Look, we better tell you right now: expect long lines and delays. In case you didn’t know, you’re not the only one doing this race. You’ll be running with 20,000 other people. Twenty thousand. So take off the crown and just show up and enjoy yourself.” I thought it was the kind of email that might be helpful to get every single morning.
It turns out, the race was extremely well organized. I met my baby sister and her running buddies right on time and we parked at the nearest shuttle stop and were whisked off to the start line. Here I am in the only pair of sunglasses I seem to have left after summer, with the stunning Bay Bridge in the background, plus what looks like an unsuspecting woman getting ready to take a swim.
The course was 4.35 miles of bridge, plus some mileage before and after to make up the 10K. The bridge part was absolutely amazing. At the midpoint, we were hovering 186 feet above sea. There were telephones and sobering signs for a suicide hotline. My sister said she looked over the side at the top, but I didn’t dare. We were so close to heaven. This is where I hit my peak, the part in the run where I felt strong enough to keep going to the finish line and maybe forevermore.
Then mile 5 came. For some reason, I was still chewing gum I’d had since the drive down. I didn’t want to throw it over the side of the bridge and hit an unsuspecting seagull, and suddenly this old gum felt like an albatross, a real liability I was lugging towards the finish line. My mouth was desert-dry and I a little panicky. This is where I wanted to walk so bad. Then a song came on my playlist that made me keep going.
I’m superstitious about using the shuffle feature during races. One reason is that it’s really hard to get my phone in and out of a running belt (more on that in a bit) to skip songs, but I also think the songs talk to me at various points, and often when I need to hear them the most. Around mile 5.2, when desert mouth hit and I noticed a hill looming in the distance, Ray of Light came on. I don’t even know I’d ever listened to the lyrics before, and then in my about-ready-to-give-up-and-walk state, I heard this:
I happened to be jogging alongside an airport with grounded planes that were “flying” faster than me, so I got a case of the chuckles, which are like giggles for delirious, tired people. Then trying to remember where it all began brought it home.
I had the best cup of coffee in my life after the run. I got a space blanket, which I thought they only gave out for marathons, but I took mine because a 10K is as close as I’ll get to running a marathon.
Congratulations on earning a badge of running honor 🙂 And it’s always so wonderful doing things with sisters – whether its shopping or sweating… 😉
AnnMarie
Glad you got to enjoy a good cup of joe too 🙂
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Thanks AnnMarie! I agree: sisters are the best 🙂
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Wow. Love this. The struggle, the joy, the song, the reflections. And your triumphant medal. Lovely post. X
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Thank you Bea!
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Oh I enjoyed reading this one BBB. 🙂 Witty, endearing, inspiring with coincidences that seem like messages from the Universe. Brilliant. Congratulations on your 10K!
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Thank you so much!
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Oh my God, this post makes me want to go for a JOG right now! Kristen, I am so proud of you, reading this gave me such a shot of energy (to which my stupid sprained ankle is saying, “easy now”). Thanks for sharing this, and I hope that medal is going to a prominent place in your home!
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I’m really bummed to hear about your ankle – rest and take it easy! Joe hung the medal in a prominent room in the house. Made me very proud.
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And I forgot to say… what a powerful, full-circle moment, it gave me goose bumps 🙂
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Where’s the ‘love’ button? I love you’ve come full circle on this bridge and that metal is pretty darn cool. Congratulations for thriving through your race!
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I guess these full circle moments happen a lot in life…this was a fun one to write about. And thanks!
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I’m jealous…I love runs on the water:) And loved reading this it made me smile this morning. Thanks! Congrats on your happy across the bridge run!
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Thank you! This was my first bridge one, so really special 🙂
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That bridge is in my neck of the woods, –and I’ve been on the mailing list for the race. I don’t run, yet. Maybe next year. Congratulations!
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You’ve probably seen they’re offering an early sign-up spot for next year’s run. I overheard someone say they hope to expand it next year, which doesn’t seem like it would be a problem as long as they have the same organizer in place. It ran seamlessly from my perspective. There were a lot of walkers too. You just had to be able to do a 19 minute mile. As for running, I started with couch to 5K and would recommend it if/when you’re ready. Walking is great too, though.
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Hey, I did not know about the early registration but apparently the early spots are already taken. I also did not know it could be walked! This gives me an incentive for next year, thanks!
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Oh YAY! I was hoping to hear the story behind your race. What a beautiful, grateful and honest perspective. I loved every moment of it. I’ve officially added this to my bucket list of races to do…as soon as this danged knee lets me.
I’m also glad to know that someone else pauses their watch for photo stops 🙂
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I’m just going to take my jacket off *pause* snap a few pictures *pause* *pause* Wow, my best time yet! This is my preferred way of running, naturally. It’s part exercise, part stopping to smell the roses.
Thank you for your kind comment.
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I TOTALLY agree! In fact, I haven’t dug out my running watch in a really long time. Something liberating about being freed from the time tethers, no?
I’ve been thinking about your post all morning…you helped me remember why we run in the first place. Thank you, Kristen!!
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Sure is. I may go back to not timing runs. I have one I want to do with my daughter(s) next month, but after that might ease back. Last winter was really rough on getting out on the first place and I remember feeling so guilty about it. I hope your knee heals and that you get out in a way that feels good for you!.
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So happy for you. Loved every bit of this. Except where you almost made your 11yo story come true, though I did laugh at that part, um, sorry?
Aren’t shuffled universe songs the best? I can’t thing of any better fitting song. I got chills during my marathon when Shake it Out came on at the end when I was almost dying.
As opposed to one of my training runs when I asked the universe for a sign and the song that came on? I Like Big Butts.
Ha! The universe is smart, yes, but also has a good sense of humor. Congrats on an outstanding race and a phenomenal day!
Your medal? A little piece of heaven. 😉
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Haha! That’s great, and it really is. We were all trying to figure out what the shape was. One woman theorized it’s a replica piece of the bridge, a plate or whatever it’s called. Oh I love this. My very own piece of heaven.
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Yay for you! I ran a 10K. Once. I’m not ashamed to admit that I walk part of it, or at least, ran so damn slow it was practically walking. But I finished, and I was glad I did it. I also realized there was no euphoria in running for me. So I stopped. I’m a walker. Love walking.
Also, the thought of running 4-plus miles across a bridge that high was scary just reading about it. That medal you got — TRULY a major award!! And well earned. I am delighted for you.
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Woo Hoo! 10k done and dusted.
What a fantastic effort. Must be something you will always treasure, these things don’t always just happen, a lot of preparation needed. So kick back and smell a few (out of season) roses. Cheers BB
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Congrats – big achievement – well done.
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Yay! Congratulations! What a beautiful scenery. I agree with everyone else, this post was awesome amd inspiring. Made me even happier to have ran my 3 miles this morning. Good job!
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First of all, I love that you get it. IT. Secondly, that you share it. Thank you, my dear. ox
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Congratulations~ sorry the wishes are so late! I knew you could do it! Your so nice to the seagulls~ saving them from your gum! Glad to hear your weekend went well! Hugs!
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first of all – congrats on the run – woo – and that is a nice award – so unique compared to the traditional ones –
and second, you are so funny – lamo – esp. with stuff like this:
“sobering signs for a suicide hotline”
and
“So take off the crown and just show up and enjoy yourself.” I thought it was the kind of email that might be helpful to get every single morning.”
also so spooky cool to hear that song came on and how it all fit in – so nice – really nice.
and regarding the songs, well the last 5 k we did was a turkey trot a couple of years ago – and it was a literal party afterward because they had so much free food and everyone in our party won something from the raffle. The event is not longer like this – it was a “newly” organizing it and well, she had some lessons to learn with going all out – ha – but it was great to stay and feast and wait for raffle numbers. anyhow, nobody brought music with them – even though I do like music – and I could relate with what you wrote about being energized by the right song at the right time – and for me – I was running alone for part of it and when I felt like walking – there was a song in my head that I started singing that always gives me a surge. and the funny thing is that it is the most unlikely song – it is wanted man by Ratt – lol – and the drum part is in my head – and you think it would be a song like “I need a miracle” or a dance jam like “jam on it” -but this old rock song from ’87 is in the brain and singing it just helps. so funny.
okay – hope you have a great day and congrats again – also – happy December! ❤
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Not sure how I missed this (except that I can’t see your posts on my work computer) but congratulations and…sigh…
Sherry
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