Reindeer Run

We ran this race in Brevard two years ago on a day that was just as clear and bright as today, but considerably colder - I remember there had been frost on the windshield.  The temperature this morning at the start was about forty degrees, and it warmed up even more by the time we finished.  We drove over on Friday morning because we both had appointments at Looking Glass Eye Center, and then we re-acquainted ourselves with the course, which has some steep hills in the first mile but then a nice, nearly flat two-mile stretch out into farm country east of Brevard.  We had the obligatory pasta with marinara sauce at Big Mike’s Pizza downtown, which we remembered from two years ago, and then walked up and down the street a little, enjoying the festive decorations and mild temperatures in downtown Brevard.  We spent the night at the Sunset Motel, our usual accommodation.  When we tell people about this place they assume it is a dump, because it was for many years.  But new owners came in, renovated all of the rooms in retro 50s-style décor, put in nice modern bathrooms, and acquired a good rating on TripAdvisor, which is how we found it.  

This race is well organized by the Center for Women and takes place at the Boys and Girls Club building, just off Highway 276 outside of Town.  A former school, it features a warm gymnasium and good restrooms, which are always appreciated.  We gathered at the start and listened to a very good rendition of the National Anthem, and then in keeping with the reindeer theme we were encouraged to sing that silliest of Christmas songs, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. I had noticed that there were a disconcerting number of dogs in this race, and we realized we needed to be aware of leashes and unruly canine behavior, especially at the crowded start.  But the first hill sorted things out pretty well, children stopping to walk and then thundering past us on the downhill, dogs safely avoided.  At one point, though, I felt a sudden and unusual cold spot on my right leg, and realized it was the curious nose of a dog checking me out and fortunately not tripping me up. 

The course circles just before the two mile mark and returns again, the road flat and fast at this point.  Martha passed me and she was looking strong.  In the last half-mile, I noticed that the runner ahead of me was a man who might be in my age group (it turned out later that he was in the 80-99 age group), and he seemed to be slowing down, so I tried to "reel him in."  I cut the distance in half, but did not quite catch him before we passed under the big blue arch of the finish line; still, I ran a faster final mile because of him.  I was surprised when I reviewed my splits afterward that I had run nearly even miles – 11:54, 12:00, 11:52 – and only two seconds different in the first and last miles despite those hills.  I was pleased with a finish time of 36:37, 22 seconds faster than the Turkey Trot we had completed only nine days ago in Lake Junaluska.  It was good enough for third place in my age group, especially since the man who took first place, who was only a year younger than I, clocked an incredible time of 23:36.  I also realized later that this was my fastest time this year since we began running races on September 11.

Martha finished four seconds slower than at Lake Junaluska – which had been her fastest time since September 11 – at 32:12.  And with four women in her age she took first place once again.  What a great day this was!  We again realized how thankful we are to still be running races together, enjoying the competition and the struggle, celebrating out fitness and strength . . . and then celebrating afterward.

The celebration today consisted of a very good barbeque lunch and good local beer at the unfortunately named “Hawg Wild Barbeque” with our good friends Skip and MaryAnn, whom we had not seen since early September.   

Is there a better way to celebrate an achievement, no matter how modest, than with good food and drink, and with good friends?