Has this ever happened to you in a race? He almost got
me at Toledo, but somehow I kept one step ahead of him.
It's been three weeks since I ran the Toledo Glass City Marathon, and the post-marathon euphoria has faded. Most people experience a wonderful high after completing a marathon successfully. Because it is an extreme event that takes months of preparation, commitment, and hard work and because so many things can go wrong during the race, the successful finisher knows he or she is fortunate to make it through unscathed. The inner glow of self satisfaction for accomplishing a challenging goal keeps a person on the upbeat at least for a week or so. When fellow runners, friends, and relatives recognize their effort, the glow raises a few degrees.
Eventually, though, reality hits, life gets back into its routine, and the lingering fatigue from the race dulls the edge of everyday training. Then you begin thinking about upcoming races. Today I ran a great small-town race, the Rails to Trails 5K in Barnesville, Ohio. Next week I hope to run Wheeling, West Virginia's Ogden Half Marathon, and I've already signed up for the Columbus Nationwide Children's Hospital Half Marathon in October.
The Rails to Trails 5K was excellent as usual. I've run this race for many years. In my earlier 50s I could break 19 minutes on the course but I'm finding it more and more difficult to do that as I age. Today I ran 19:29, a few seconds faster than last year, but still I'm definitely slowing down. I'm not sure how much running the marathon is still affecting me--probably to some degree.
In my book Race Director Carl Kondrach is tops. I know no other director who puts more energy, enthusiasm, and effort into the races he directs. Rails to Trails sets the standard in number of awards, prizes, and good food. There are even awards for dog walkers. Today's chilly temps made the award presentation a little challenging to endure, but it's good to see so many people awarded for something that improves their lives, connects them socially, and empowers them to go for even greater goals. My hat is off to Carl and his crew for such a great job year after year.
Check back next week for a report on Wheeling's Ogden Half Marathon.
Happy running,
Joe C. Ellis
Wow, Joe. I am honored and humbled by your comments. Thank you.
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