Left: Me, approaching the finish line.Photo Credit: Dane Robison
The 2008 Autumn Classic is an 8-kilometer (4.98-mile) run around and through Lake Lansing in Haslett, Mich. It also happened to be my first-ever 8k race. And while I've previously kicked asphalt over the very same course (though over much greater distances) each race has its own unique personality based, in not-so-equal parts, on fellow racers, event logistics and weather conditions. Oh, and let's not underestimate the power of a good iTunes playlist (purists may disagree with me on this point, but I'm mostly in it for the sheer pleasure of running, and music just happens to enhance my experience).
Finally, post-race refreshments can either make or break an event.
In order to recap this race — for my personal benefit — allow me to rate it on a scale of 1 to 5 hearts — five hearts being excellent (my apologies in advance for going with hearts; I can't figure out how to make stars):
1) Fellow racers:
By nature, the uber-aggressive and obnoxious runners tend to be out at the front of the herd, and because I pretty much run in slow-mo, no matter which races I sign up for, I am generally always surrounded by mild-mannered, respectful runners and walkers. It's the folks who are much slower moving but don't run on the right-hand side of the road, as well as the stroller-pushing parents who weave in and out of the pack, that I find particularly annoying and dangerous. Most every race has them, and this was no exception. In retrospect, I may have been considered the speedy nuisance as I vividly recall an attempt to dart through a narrow gap between a slow-moving female just ahead of me on my left and two walking Chatty Cathys on my right. "What to do?" I thought as it appeared my only hope of avoiding a collision was to hurdle over them. Then my body impulsively lurched forward, and through that beckoning gap I did swiftly dash — after which, I made sure I issued a breathless (albeit polite), "'Scuse me." And if anyone was none the less offended and so admitted, I was thankfully under headphones listening to some jammin' tunes, and so I missed the bitching-out.
2) Event logistics:
I was a bit disappointed in that the race wasn't better organized. For example, there was no course map provided prior to or during the race. I knew the perimeter around Lake Lansing is only four miles, so I wasn't sure how the additional point-nine-eighths of a mile would be tacked on. The ambiguity was a little disconcerting, and even once we'd arrived at the race site (and proceeded to drive in slow-moving traffic for quite some time before we were finally able to park), race volunteers had no idea where the start/finish was, the direction racers would initially travel out of the shoot, whether we'd be running on trails, concrete or blacktop, yadda-yadda. We ended up running on all three surfaces, predominantly on blacktop. The registration Web site described the course as flat, scenic and fast, which it was, and I wouldn't mind running it again under less congested conditions. I very much appreciated the single loop around the lake. While it makes coverage of the event a bit tough for photographers (my photographer husband complained about this), double or triple loops around the same landscape — no matter how beautiful — can evoke annoying "Been there, done that" complaints from race participants. Still, it helps to keep all your publics in mind when planning a race, even shutterbugs. A pre-race warm-up would have been a nice little "extra." As it was, I felt rushed due to the long wait to find a parking spot, and another long wait in the potty line. On the course, watering stations were adequately spaced at about every mile and a half or so. An impressively plentiful supply of cheering teenage volunteers guided everyone around the course. Every mile around the almost-five-mile course was accurately marked, coupled with large digital clocks that let racers know how they were performing. Overall, a fairly decent event. A little more planning and communication, however, would likely have resulted in a higher rating.
3) Weather gods:
Of course, weather cannot fairly reflect the quality of a race. In fact, we runners train in preparation for all types of conditions — inclement or otherwise. In my subjective and biased opinion, the weather was pretty nearly perfect for an 8k. Driving in, it was mildly foggy, even a bit misty. Temperatures maintained at a relatively cool 62 degrees, so organizers drew kudos for issuing long-sleeved T-shirts in participants' race packets. By the time the starting gun sounded, most of the fog had burned off, but the sun remained behind clouds for the duration of the event. Couldn't have asked for better weather, not that mortal men or race organizers had any say in the matter.
4) Post-race refreshments:
Playmakers did an exceptional job with respect to refreshments. I would know: I gladly "partook" of most of it. I wholeheartedly welcomed the water bottle that was handed to me as I crossed the finish line.
After chugging on that for a bit then, having finished said bottled water to rinse off my well-earned "glow," I made a beeline for some Go-gurt, which I sucked down as if I actually knew what the hell I was doing, and grabbed a banana, too. I ended up giving the banana to my husband, then returned to the food table for an apple (for me) and a cup of hot vege soup (for him). If someone had offered to return to fetch me a Great Harvest bread roll and a cup of apple cider, I wouldn't have declined. Unfortunately, such offer was not extended, and I was too elated by the fact that I'd just finished an 8k race to give it much thought.5) Final comments
My iTunes playlist:
Still a work in progress, and I do recognize that my playlist is not within the race organizers' control. I also realize that not everyone will appreciate my playlist selection, but it only has to work for me.
I'm trying to craft one that inspires me to haul ass, but is interspersed with songs that force me to slow down at key points, too, so as to avoid premature burnout or injury. In my continuing quest to update my list to perfection, I'm finding that I am just as excited to hear each carefully selected tune as I am about the thrill of the run itself. I often make mental notes so I can rearrange and change my selections to keep it fresh. Here's a run-down of my current playlist.
"Eye in the Sky" — Alan Parsons Project
"As I Am" — Alicia Keys
"Brick House" — Commodores
"La Tortura" — Shakira and Alejandro Sanz
"Beautiful Liar" — Beyonce and Shakira
"Eyes Like Yours" — Shakira
"Hips Don't Lie" — Shakira
"Get Busy" — Sean Paul
"Wreckless Love" — Alicia Keys
"Shut Up and Drive" — Rihanna
"Temperature" — Sean Paul
"Fighter" — Christina Aguilera
"Are You Gonna Go My Way?" — Lenny Kravitz
"Work It" — Missy Elliott*
"Insane in the Membrane" — Cypress Hill*
"Break It Off" — Rihanna and Sean Paul
"Miss Independent" — Kelly Clarkston
"Dirrty" — Christina Aguilera*
"American Woman" — Lenny Kravitz
"Church" — T-Pain*
"Get Your Freak On" — Missy Elliott*
*Parental advisory warning: Explicit profanity and suggestive lyrics (clearly, I'm going for the beat).
My playlist actually contains enough tunes to get me through a couple of hours of running, in order to accommodate a half marathon, but the list above is what I listened to for today's 8k.
What's on your playlist?
Finally, I was disappointed that my BFF Kate Koltvedt didn't get to join me for this race, but it was great to warm up with an old friend, Stephanie Angel, managing news editor at the Lansing State Journal. I usually enjoy a post-race photo with Kate, but Steph volunteered to stand in.
I look forward to seeing Stephanie next weekend (September 28) at the Capital City River Run half marathon as well.
Plus, Kate promised she'd run it with me, and I'm holding her to it.
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