Time after Time

Donna, who is my colleague, friend and training partner ( and likely triathlete next season) runs in a lot of 5K's, at least one every week, frequently two in a weekend, and every now and then, two in one day. She is strong and fit, regularly runs in the high 20's, and seems to thrive on them.

But our conversation after last Sunday's Teal Ribbon 5K http://www.caringtogetherny.org got both of us thinking that maybe she should cut back just a little.

Donna: The timing people here today are the same people who timed the DARE Race in Niskayuna yesterday

Me: You recognized the people at the finish line doing the timing?

Donna: Sure. And I thought I passed their truck on road when I was driving over here this morning.

Me: You recognized their truck, too?

Don't know about you, but the only thing I see at the finish of a 5K is the big clock and the numbers, and I'm trying to make it in under some arbitrary number, like, say, 90 minutes. I am usually aware of the chute, because there is usually one there, and I am vaguely aware that someone is prompting me to slow down (ain't that ironic ) and trying to steer me into the tangle of ropes and tiny little flags. But as far as I'm concerned, the voice is disembodied, and I have no clue who or what it belongs to.

When I get to the end of the chute, somebody or several somebodies want me to stop so they can rip the tag off my race bib (Maybe if I do this long enough and get really, really svelte and fit, someone will want to rip my shirt off - but that's more along the lines of a hallucination than a fantasy) At this point, I am trying to remember how to breathe, and trying really, really hard to keep it together enough so that some well meaning volunteer isn't going to say to me, "Sir, are you all right?" in a tone that means "Should I get the paramedics over here, stat?" Gees do I hate it when they call me "sir"

And I am trying to stand up straight and put my hands over my head, as opposed to bending over, grabbing my knees and begging my lungs to start working again, because my running companion Nick L told me what he'd been taught: that I finished the race, that I am a winner and I should act like one and not slump over like a loser.

Given all that, Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel could be in that chute and I would neither recognize nor remember either one of them.

So I am amazed that Donna not only sees the people, but she recognizes them, calls them by name and asks after their kids. Next thing you know, she'll be putting them on her Xmas card list. At that point, she really should cut back a little on her 5K's!