Got up at 5:45 a.m. to pouring rain and 43* F...and dreading the 10k run through Detroit... I wear my old running shoes because I don't want to get the newer ones soggy and pack three changes of clothes to take with me. I don't want to be waiting around or driving home in soggy clothes.
My girlfriend, C, picks me up shortly after 6 a.m. and we head into the D. (That would be the wonderful city of Detroit!) As we're driving, the closer we get to the D, the more it looks like it hasn't even rained! So I'm thinking I must have a storm cloud over my house! LOL!!!
We get downtown and I have a parking pass for Cobo Garage, so we wait in a long, long line of cars. It was worth it because we just had a short jaunt from the car to the inside of Cobo. We used the restroom and met up with my manager and his son. Just so happens my manager has a crush on C and was paging her to meet up!
We stretch a bit and chat and before we know it, it's time to head over toward the start line. We follow the masses of people.
We arrive to the start area, but are no where near the start line. I'm worried because I was wanting to make good time and there were thousands, literally, in front of us. So, they are chatting and all I can do is think about everyone in front of us...while jumping up and down to stay warm and not tighten up.
You'd think with 12,000+ people registered, some with dogs and strollers, that they would have had us line up by time - you know with the fastest in the front and the slower folks in the back...but no such luck.
It probably took us a good two or three minutes to actually reach the start line... I said see ya later to my friends and off I went.
What a disaster! I weaved in and out of people for the first three miles. It was exhausting! There were a couple of abandoned cars in the road; at which point I followed a couple faster runners up onto the sidewalk. Then it was more weaving around walkers, joggers, strollers...all while watching for potholes in the road. I was ticked off! And even though I was ticked, I did say "sorry", "sorry", "sorry" every time I squeezed passed someone. It's just common courtesy~
Finally, a little past mile three, things cleared up and I was able to run somewhat without weaving. Around that time, there was this girl, younger than me, in pink, who was not running in a straight line. One of my pet peeves...straight line people! I eventually got around her and then it was like the two of us were racing. She would pass me, I would pass her, we would be running neck-in-neck...
About mile five, we had a slight hill to go up and off I zoom past her... Hee, hee, hee... Us runners do that. Find someone in front of us and pick them off... Oh that person up there...I'm gonna pass him/her! Then pick off another one. ;)
This girl in the pink, she was a good runner and I was thankful that we were "racing" each other. Made me go a bit faster!
Right before mile 6 we had to go through this tunnel...it was pretty cool. After we get out...who's next to me but the girl in the pink. Now we can see the finish line and we both pour it on. All I can think is...there is no way this young whipper snapper is gonna beat me. Zooooom! Ha! I beat her! ;P It's the little things like that which make a race fun...well, at least for me. If I would have seen her after I stopped, I would have told her - good run and thanks for the race! :) Alas, I didn't see her.
Now I am on the hunt for some water... Go inside Cobo...mass confusion. People everywhere... No water to be found. Finally, I spot this guy carrying a carton of water...ATTACK! I grab a water and down it... Still thirsty. Spot another guy...Attack (smaller attack, less thirsty!). The line for food was ridiculously long. I didn't even get a banana or a bagel or anything!
I was really disappointed because I was looking forward to my first 10k and the Turkey Trot itself. Very, very poorly organized. Unless they make changes and document them, I will not be doing the Detroit Turkey Trot again.
Although...even with all the weaving and my old shoes, I did make good time!
As of now, these are my results...
Distance 10K
Clock Time 54:01
Chip Time 51:47
Pace 8:10
Age Division Place 24 / 276
Split 31:45 (a little before mile 4)
Female Runner Place 253 / 3098
Next race....Jingle Bell 5K on December 5th!
Edited to add pics I found online! LOL!!!!
I'm the blurry girl in blue in the background...I must have been looking at the girl in pink thinking...Where the 'f' did she come from?! LOL!!!
Here's the chick in pink...my blue arm next to her! LOL!!!!
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