Steeleville Firecracker 3K 07-04-09

(David) Wow, where to begin with this race? This race would have been a race director’s nightmare. First off it was continuously raining. That wouldn’t be horrible but there was lightning also so they kept pushing back the start time. We should have started at 9:40, but didn’t start until after 10:00 and we still ran the whole race in rain, but no lightning. Like all races this year, I knew I wouldn’t beat my last year’s time. My first mile was 6.14. Last year it was 5.42. Mentally I am telling myself I cannot run as fast. My overall time was 11.42, last year’s 10.56. I knew I was running slower, but not that much slower. I was still able to finish 20th overall and 1st in age 40-44, which leads me to the next race director’s nightmare. A lot of the results were messed up. Apparently the racing bibs had two number 195s, so everyone’s results after that number was off by one. I was number 232. After the race they had me listed as finishing 207th overall, missed by 187. This messed things up a lot. They gave out trophies and I kept thinking I should get something, but didn’t. Marvin and I talked to the director after the awards presentation and he told us what happened. He was very apologetic and sorry for what happened. Marvin didn’t seem too bothered for not receiving his first place trophy. However, I was kind of upset. I think it is really nice to get a trophy because most races do not give them. The only races that I can think of that give trophies anymore are Chester, Pinckneyville and Steeleville. Evansville used to give them but switched to medals last year. It is nice to get a trophy. Plus this is the fourth year in a row that I placed first in age group at Steeleville and I have the trophies lined up in a row. I may never get a first place trophy there again. Oh well, what are you going to do? I do feel sorry for the race director, he seemed kind of blind sided by all this. Add on all the rain that screwed things up and I bet he had a really bad day. I guess if that was the worst thing that happened to me that day I am pretty lucky. Maybe this will give me incentive to train harder for next year’s race. Oh yea, I ran over half the race with my left shoelace untied, maybe that was the worst thing that happened to me that day. I guess I was still pretty lucky.

Firecracker update: I received my first place trophy in the mail the other day. I am very impressed that they went to all the trouble and expense to do that. They also sent a nice letter with it. Really a great group of people.