Thwarted by Joe Birch.

(Note on my use of the word "tomorrow" in the previous post...I did intend to post "tomorrow" when that post was written, but then I lost my internet connection for the better part of 48 hours. Man, is there a story behind that and man, am I not going to write that publicly on this blog.)

Today was the 36th annual Overton Park 5 Mile Classic. Megan didn't run it with me, but she and Jonathan were wonderful enough to make me a "Go Becky!" sign and stand strategically throughout the race course while I ran for close to an hour. 56:52 was the time on my watch, which is the fastest I've ever run 5 miles. That's about 4 minutes faster than I ran the race last year and I miraculously ran each mile faster than the one before it.

Due to a scarcity of porta-potties, I did not get a chance to pee before the race. I was extremely concerned about this. But in the end I did survive.

The first mile was a little stiff, the second better, the third I hit my stride, and by the fourth I was passing people right and left. The only downside that I've been able to find so far in being a mediocre runner is that you are constantly being beaten in races by people who walk a ways, sprint past you, then walk some more. All that effort to keep a steady pace and never stop and we mediocre runners are consistently passed by TERRIBLE RUNNERS who get way better times simply because they can run fast over very short distances. The longer the race, though, the fairer the playing field. It's much easier to sprint and stop over 3.1 miles than it is over 5 (or 6.2). So today, when Megan yelled out between miles 2 and 3, "There are people walking ahead of you!" I calmly yelled back, "I've got this!" Yeah, suck it walkers. I passed throngs of them in the third mile.

Along the fourth mile, I started to pass people who were actually running. And then, 4.5 miles in, I saw a guy in front of me holding a steady pace, just about what I was running, and I thought, 'hold up; isn't that local journalistic celebrity/Action News 5 anchor Joe Birch?!' And it was!

Joe has run a lot of races in the Midsouth and I've never come close to beating him, or finishing near him, or even seeing the back of him at any point during any run, ever, so I figured it was a good sign that I was keeping up with him this time around. I focused on the back of his head and moved closer...closer...sailed right past him. A small victory, perhaps, but you'd be amazed how little cognitive function is going on in your brain after running for 4.5 miles, so it was a big deal in my head.

I got further and further ahead...and it was right there...I could see the finish line...but I could also hear Joe Birch say to someone next to him, "I'm going to pick it up here." And sure enough, a tenth of a mile to go, there goes Joe Birch cruising past me to finish several seconds ahead. WHAT THE HELL.

I hope my look of indignity is visible in Joe Birch's finish photo.

(Just kidding...Joe Birch is awesome and kudos to him for a strong finish.)

And that was the race. NOT BAD. Now I just need to remember to stretch (and stretch and stretch) today so I don't wake up tomorrow with locked knees and the gait of 98-year-old woman. (Oh, it's happened before.)