11,000 people. That’s how many ran
the 40th Annual Falmouth Road Race this year. It was my first as I used my time for the
Harwich Half Marathon last October to get in via the lottery system. 11,000 people and me; I knew that the
beginning especially was going to be a mess.
It would probably be a mixture of walking, trotting, and slow
jogging. I knew that setting some sort
of time goal was most likely not going to work.
The weather on race day further
emphasized that idea. The torrential
rains which were falling when I awoke at 5:30am would keep going up until race
time at 10. It would eventually flood
much of the race course and cause delays while crews drained the water from the
worst areas.
I thought getting up extra early
might help me find a parking spot closer to where you caught the buses from
Falmouth down into Woods Hole. I was
right, but many other people had the same idea.
I was in traffic for the last five or so miles of my trip. It was three hours before race time and there
was traffic, then again there were 11,000 runners and who knows how many
supporters as well clogging the streets that day.
I parked at the Town Hall lot which
was nearly empty. The buses were in
sight, a short walk from my car. I sat
inside as the rain continued to come down.
I had bought brand new Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12’s only a week
earlier. They were all black and I was
drooling over the thought of running the race in all black ala Johnny
Cash. Still, I had to make a decision. Do I run the race in my new shoes and risk
them being ruined by puddles of water?
Or do I ‘un-retire’ my old Adrenaline’s that were now my everyday shoes? Ultimately I erred on the side of caution and
broke out my old shoes.
Being that the grip and cushioning
were lacking in the new shoes my expectations for my time dropped. That did not matter though, the experience of
being in Falmouth that day started to win me over. I mean, how could you not like trudging
through the rain and seeing hundreds of people wrapped in trash bags? That’s the runner spirit.
I made my way to the local
elementary school where the school buses were lining up to begin taking runners
to the starting line. I was able to get
the small, very back seat much like I did all during my school years. It was a neat bit of retro until the guy sat
in the seat in front of me and proceeded to open his window all the way. Remind you it was still raining at this
point. Not to mention he was the only
one to open his window. The water came
drizzling in on me of course. I was
wearing a hat but still. Then he laughs
as he mentions there’s water coming into the bus through a vent in the roof. I said ‘yeah and it’s coming in through your
window, too.’ That didn’t change a
thing.
Upon arriving in Woods Hole we
runners we directed down a side street toward Water Street where the starting
line resided. The rain was lighter but
still coming down. Now not only were
there people covered in trash bags but they were also hiding out in any dry
crevice and overhang of buildings. They
also huddled under trees. Me? I figured I was already a little wet why not
just wander around and get a feel for the location.
I had dug out a very old
long-sleeved gym shirt to wear over my running clothes so I was not totally
exposed. I also had stuck my Iphone in a
Ziploc bag to keep it dry, leaving a little opening for my headphones. Oh yeah, running with headphones was not
allowed but the photos of me crossing the finish line show me wearing them,
oops.
I tried my best to get my usual
routine of stretches in as race time approached. With about ten minutes until start time I got
into my position. Due to the insane
amount of runners we were divided into ‘corrals.’ It was like being cattle, fencing and all. I tossed my wet and old gym shirt into a
nearby trash and got ready to run.
Then they announced the flooding on
the course. We’d be delayed close to
twenty minutes. So, there I was wedged
in among hundreds of people unable to do anything but wait and cool down. To top it all off the rain stopped and the
sweltering humidity became more evident.
Once the race got started I felt
good, I was able to navigate the array of hills that greeted us all. Three miles in I was ahead of my original
pace goal. Then the humidity, delayed
start, and old shoes got to me. I could
feel my legs aching which caused me to slow down some. At every mile marker there was a clock so you
had an idea of where you stood. Once I
got to Mile 5 and I was off pace I decided to get back to enjoying the
experience and letting go of my time expectations.
To keep my legs going I began to
slap hands with all of the kids I passed.
It made me feel important so why wouldn’t I? I noticed the people playing music along the
roads, actual instruments, guitars mostly.
The spectacle of this event was unlike anything I’ve been a part
of. Then the sun broke out as I closed
in on the final mile.
At this point I saw the first
medical tent which I was glad I didn’t have to visit. The crowds grew along the roadside, some
place four or five people deep. They
cheered me on as I wanted to slow down.
Of course with only a few hundred yards to go there was one final hill
leading to the finish line under a gigantic American Flag.
As I soaked in the immediate
aftermath of a tough but exciting race my phone went off and there was my
running mentor and best friend Emily asking how the race went. The funny part was that just as I checked my
phone a photographer took a shot of me so that moment is frozen in time.
I walked to where the first water
station was after the finish line. After
grabbing water I slid slowly down a metal barricade and collected myself. People
soaked in sweat passed by staring at their finisher medals. I looked down at mine and was happy. I got up and followed the crowds to the field
where all of the food and beverages were being dished out.
I gladly accepted the bagels,
raisins, bananas, hot dogs, and water then set off to survey the scene. People were still being announced finishing
so the crowds continued to grow while I walked around. I stood in line for a Yasso Frozen Yogurt bar
that I had gotten samples of at the Running Expo a few nights earlier, really
good. I walked to the very edge of the
packed, muddy field, stood up on a fence, leaning against a trailer, and
snapped a photo trying to capture that moment.
I do love running, but for me the best part of a race is when it is
over. Hopefully I am in one piece and I
can reflect on what I have done. That is
what I did in Falmouth.
I was tired and had no clue where I
was. I actually had to use my phone’s
GPS to locate myself and then get a map to where my car was parked. After running 7 miles, and walking a good half
mile to the field, I had to walk nearly two more miles to my car. This may have been the best part of the day
though. I played songs that fit my mood,
and since I was wearing my bib number I received a lot of smiles and waves from
the sea of traffic which I soon became a part of.
The Falmouth Road Race is every bit
of the unique experience that people say it is.
The crowds, the festivities, it all adds up to a great day. Now, the traffic I can do without, needing
over two hours to make a 40-minute drive home is nuts, but I would do it all
again, and will in 2013.
How about you, my fellow
runners? Have you participated in any
races where the time takes a back seat to the overall experience? Notice that I wrote nothing of my
time/pace/finish.
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| At the Finish Line, checking my phone like I said, here's the 'Proof.' |
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| Heading for the buses to Woods Hole |
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| In 'Corral 3' with the Starting Line in the distance. |
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| The best view of the madness after the race, the finish line flag is on the right. |
