Members of our running group met at our church around 5am in the morning. There was a mixed bag of emotions on their faces. Some of our members came listening to music while others were double and triple checking Gu packs, water bottles, socks, shoes, bibs, and whatever else they could think to check. I wondered what their reaction would have been if I took their timing chip and they found it missing between the 7th an d 8th time they checked for it. Hey, if I can't run I might as well have a little fun with those who are! In the end I did not have the heart to do it. I decided they obviously had a lot on their mind and did not need me messing with them. I also believe what goes around comes around and I don't need that bad mojo.
We set out for Nashville to catch the bus and take us all to the start line. It crossed my mind whether or not I would be able to get on the bus and make it there or if the bus driver was going toss me for not being a race participant. You see, I had a lot on my mind this morning also! Forget running a race, I had city workers to get past. Walking onto the bus I thought I would be really slick and turn away from the driver and strike up a conversation with my crew. You know, like I am one of them and I belong. Along this same time my sister(bless her heart) decides to reconfirm I am meeting with her husband at mile 3 to give him her bag and wedding rings after the race starts. I could just feel the bus driver looking at me and I wondered how I could explain to my wife that your husband got tossed out like a sack of potatoes from public transportation. After what seemed like an eternity I caught a glimpse of our driver and his mind was somewhere between Demonbreum Street and the Waffle House.
I safely make it to the race start and this is where I truly miss not being able to take part in the race. Teh excitement and anticipation is hard to match. I thank Clarence(our bus driver) for the free ride and exit going towards the Parthenon. Yes, Nashville really does have a Parthenon complete with Athena, pillars, and everything else. It is a very nice setting and especially in the evening. My sister actually had her rehearsal dinner there. I always wondered how Athena felt about us praying to God at her feet and vice versa how God felt about us praying to him at her feet. I'm sure he is pretty secure in his identity, but funny to think about.
We made our way to one corner of the building to wait for the start of the race. We met quite a few other people from our group there. There was a little small talk going on and then the race within the race started. You see, porta potties and more importantly toilet paper is better than gold on race morning. There are 35,000 race participants at the CMM. I am going to guess there are about 100 porta potties with two rolls of toilet paper in each one. Let's just say only 30% of the runner use the porta potties. That means at minimum 105 people use each porta potty on race morning. More women run races than men. You do the math and figure if there is enough tp to go around.............nope. Lot's of wet bottoms running around. Pretty nasty when you think about it. I get a kick out of the guy who sticks his head out of the porta potty asking if anybody has some tp. Poor guy is out of luck. Bet he remembers to bring some next year.
We were inching closer to race time and our group gathered round to say a quick prayer. I made sure we got away from Athena over there. I did not want any interference between us and heaven. We prayed for safety, to do our(their) best, and to glorify Christ in all things we do. We all went our separate ways and to each of the assigned corrals. Along the way we ran into two more friends Wes and Emily. We had a prayer time with them also. There are some people in this world who just make you feel better about the day after you spend a little time with them. Wes and Emily are two people just like that.
Little did we know the race was going to start 15 minutes early. My sister was actually down tying her shoe when her corral was told to start. I was inside the fence on the runners side carrying her bag, a jacket, and a phone. Don't think I would be able to make it 13 miles carrying that. I knew I was going to have to hurry to make it to the 3 mile mark to see some in our group. I was meeting family members up there to watch the runners come by. I started to run through the streets of Nashville and had some comments thrown my way about how I made a wrong turn and the race was the other way. One guy asked me if I was winning, and ofcourse being the Caucasian man, I am always a target for Forrest Gump.
Through all the ridicule I made my way to the meeting point. Huffing, puffing, and sweating I got there feeling pretty good about how fast I had arrived. I figured I went about 1.5 miles in pretty quick order. My little world got popped when I saw the elites had gone over 3.1 miles in the same amount of time. I mean, I know I am no elite, but to double me up....really? Forrest would be disapointed in me.
I found a lot of enjoyment watching all the runners come by. The energy you feel at events like this is second to none. You can not go to any other event where all those involved have the same goal and you are all pulling for each other. Heck, even the elites help each other and they are truly competing. There is also no feeling like watching you sister go by when you know how hard she has trained. Watching your buddy go by you have run with countless times. And watching the people you don' t know be so excited to be a part of this event. You can't help but get caught up in it. From the road and being in the event it is so easy to get in your own world. When you watch from the sidewalk you get to experience the entire fields accomplishment. Everybody in the field woke up that morning with the determination to finish a half or full marathon. Not one person walked onto the road saying they did not want to finish and I got to be a small part and one voice to encourage them on.
Truly, the most rewarding part of my day was being a part of the race with my sister Stefanie and buddy Jeff. Poor Jeff cramped up right when he got to where I was standing. I did not know whether he was sweating or if somebody had dumped a five gallon bucket of water on his head. I had planned on running with them the last 4 miles. Jeff just could not shake the cramp so Stefanie and I headed on. We got to about mile 11 and the humidity was really taking its toll on everybody. We even passed a few participants laying in the street taking in fluid. My heart literally jumped as Stefanie just kept right on trudging along. This had been a goal of hers for over year and she was about to accomplish it. I really did not have to say much, just a word here and there. We would break for just a second to take in some fluid and keep going. After we made our way up the last big hill the last 1/2 mile or so is all downhill. Something got ahold of her legs and she took off. She always was the fastest in our family. I stepped onto the sidewalk before the last couple of turns to the finish line as Stef. finished her race. I felt a sense of pride that she is my sister and just accomplished something like this and more importantly in the manner she did it.
After the race we all got together and swapped a couple of stories before we hurried away from the rain. I completely enjoyed myself as a spectator. I enjoyed the perspective and being a part of it. However, the next time I get on public transportation at 5:30am in April I will have number on my chest.
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