An Unusual Day
It began early for a Saturday. I’m a layabout on the weekends, well most any day when given an chance, truth be told. But there I was, on a southbound C train to 72nd street at about 8:10am, and then into the park. It was cold, gray and raining. (Official weather; 44 Degrees, 93% Humidity, Wind 6 MPH, Light Rain.) My flannel sheets were 98 blocks north. I was in a sort of silent hell, but refused to complain.
The destination was the start line of a 4 mile run, sponsored by someone and organized by some road runner something that I gave two bits about. This was the first time I had run any kind of anything (except to get away from harm or to catch a train) since Junior High School, circa 1975/76.
It began. It ended. I didn’t win. No one could be more surprised than I, so let me explain. I had done some running in preparation, tis true. Here and there. But I have not yet switched to the life of a Kenyan. I drink, I smoke, I am a bad pea as a dear friend would say.
So I was unable to catch the 26 year old SOB who took the blue ribbon with a tidy 20.01 time, or 5 minutes a mile. I hate him. Here’s my try.
name g/age bib place g/pl age/pl time pace
Fox Dennis M50 5211 NYC NY USA 2434 1748 94 0:34:36 08:39
Let me unpack this a little. I’m a name with a gender attached, pretty straight forward, although I didn’t tell them about my tendency to prance around in high heels and a blue teddy on occasion. Don’t worry about the overall place, doesn’t matter. It simply means I was nearly able to catch up with the SOB but two thousand four hundred and forty three people were blocking my way. The gender place is worse because your supposed to be polite with the ladies, no unnecessary overtaking, so if there is a gaggle of the ladies ahead, it can slow your progress. I ran into that a lot as I ran.
But here’s the real deal. There were 177 old farts in the race (age 50 to 54), and I placed 94th. Pathetic. My mind is 34. I thought that would make the difference. (oh, and for the record there were 15 folks out there between the ages of 75 and 99! Give it a rest would ya? Find an effin porch and kick your heels up!)
Here are the guys who now have targets on their backs as far as I am concerned. Who cares if they are career runners! I’m right behind you big shot.
50 - 54
1 Jerry R Macari 51 UATH USA 23:27
2 Patrick E Guilfoyle 52 FRNY USA 24:27
3 Cesar E Estevez 53 WSX USA 24:28
4 David Hardy 50 HHH USA 25:27
5 Mark Heller 50 GNY USA 26:08
6 Sigfredo Torres Jr 50 NYF USA 26:25
7 Vinny Vicari 50 TERR USA 26:47
8 Don Nathan 52 0 USA 27:05
9 John Whitfield 50 NYF USA 27:10
10 David Graham 50 GLIR USA 27:33
Anyway, there seems to be room for improvement, but that would require some effort, usually something anathema to me. We’ll see.
Oh, and when I got home, I joined AARP! A 5 year membership!
Whatta day!! (as I sip a G&T)
posted by Fox @ 7:36 PM
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