This was the third year I completed the Oktoberfest in Walhalla, and perhaps the most perfect weather conditions I have ever seen – bright blue October skies and temperatures in the 40s. Light frost was lying in the valleys on the drive down Highway 28 and I witnessed a gorgeous sunrise – who could ask for anything more?
As I have said in previous posts about this race, it is
well-organized (by the local Rotary) and takes place on an almost flat course,
the main road through the center of Walhalla.
As in previous years, there were people dressed in tiger costumes
high-fiving runners at the start, and a young Miss Oktoberfest was on hand in
her tiara to present awards. With plenty
of children and families in attendance, it is the kind of race that speaks well
of small towns, with plenty of applause at the award ceremony for “local
heroes” from the area and for older veteran runners like myself who had to wait
for a very long time for our age groups to be called at the award
ceremony.
There were some fast older runners participating who were humbling to compete against. A man my age took first place to my second place in a time of 25:15, while I ran a respectable (for me) 41:56. Even more incredible was a 70-year-old man who ran 21:41, almost as fast as my all-time PR for this distance set when I was 50 years old. I was passed early in the race by an 82-year-old woman who remained ahead of me until I slowly reeled her in again with a quarter-mile to go. As I drew up beside her, I said, “My inspiration!” and she said, “But you’re the one who caught up to me.” I told her, “Go ahead, you deserve to cross that finish line before me,” and with that she kicked, pulled away, and came in eight seconds in front of me. I wanted to tell her later that I knew she had that finish-line kick, but she left before the awards ceremony.
I have grown accustomed these days to finishing in the rear
of the pack. I used to wryly say things
like, “The older I get the faster I was,” or “I’m not the runner I used to be.” Until another veteran runner told me while we
were standing around after a race a few years ago, “Yes, but you are the runner
you are right now, and you should be grateful for it!” Very true, and I never forget those words when
I finish a race these days. If I can run
knowing that I could not have gone any faster, then it is as rewarding today as
it was when I was setting PRs 25 years ago.
Miss Oktoberfest looked like she might have a problem reaching high enough to place the award medal around my neck – she had been dutifully doing so for everyone else, and even carefully arranging the medal so the front side was showing – so I did it for her. It’s always nice to be handed your award by a pretty young woman wearing a tiara! Thank you Miss Oktoberfest. And thank you Rotary of Walhalla for another great race.
