Cocoa 5-K

As predicted, the weather was much warmer this year for the Cocoa 5-K than in previous years – 42 degrees when we awoke at 5:00 a.m. (warming to 57 degrees by this afternoon).  There was a brisk wind out of the north, however, and we both decided to wear long-sleeved shirts and gloves and were glad of the protection from the wind.  This course is not without its hazards – sidewalks that zig-zag in tight circles and speed bumps in the parking lot of the Civic Center, and uneven pavement and valve-covers on the long straight stretch down Evans Street and back.  But that stretch is glorious, with glimpses of Bogue Sound between the houses, the morning sun sparkling like diamonds on the water, and then the sight of that high bridge, the Atlantic Beach Causeway, that we will cross a month from now in the Crystal Coast Half Marathon and 10-K.

The course is out-and-back, and when everyone ahead of me turned at the barrel, I could see who was ahead of me.  A young man wearing singlet and shorts was way ahead of everybody else, and he ended up the overall winner in a time of 19 minutes and some change, fast for a course like this one.  And then Martha came along, focused and strong, with the woman who had edged her out at the Havelock 5-K two weeks ago right behind her.  She eventually passed Martha, aided and abetted by a man pushing a stroller and taking much too much space on the narrow sidewalk.  Martha congratulated her friendly rival later and I met her husband, too, while we were waiting for the awards.  There is competition in running races, but there is also graciousness unlike any other sport I know.  I suppose it is a humbling thing to know that there is always someone faster than you, even if you are an elite runner.

I was proud of Martha’s time; last year it was 30:01, and this year it was 28:44.  I, too, ran a strong race and had no problem with that right knee; I finished in 35:07, faster than my last two 5-Ks.  Both of us were second in our age groups.  We celebrated by having lunch at the Ruddy Duck – shrimp tacos for Martha, grilled mahi tacos for me – and returned to the condo and sat on the balcony, soaking up this unexpectedly warm sunshine.  I overheard somebody saying on their way out to the beach, “We’re from Pennsylvania and just escaped the Polar Vortex, so this feels like heaven!”