The race I tried not to run

As some of you know--either through word of mouth, my Facebook account, or the Brinkerhoff Christmas wordle--I ran a half marathon.

A Running Start

It all started in July. I bought a membership to the gym through my work for a discounted price and started jogging on the treadmill. At the gym there's a room where the lights are turned out and a movie is playing. On Saturday afternoon I went in to the 'cardio cinema' room, and what do I find? ENCHANTED is playing. Who knew that Enchanted would be the perfect movie to run to? I ended up running 5 miles--a lifetime best. By September I was running in my company's 5K and won second place out of the girls. (The fast ones were injured and/or late to the race.) I won some running gear, promptly returned it to the store, and bought my first pair of real running shoes. I was fired up about running! By November my friends Berkeley, Julie, and I were running on the campus indoor track. Berkeley suggested that we run a half marathon in Moab in a few months. After laughing at the idea, I realized that she was serious. Serious, Berk? Serious. She gave me a week to think about it. I thought about it, registered for the race, and prayed that I wouldn't win a spot in the lottery. Our team, the 'Red Light Runners,' was chosen. Cur-sed!

I slacked the whole Christmas break. I read the family wordle. "Katy runs a 5K and trains for a half marathon." I knew I had to do it. Although nobody remembered, that sentence was burned into my brain.

Training

So I returned to Utah with fire in my bones (and weak ankles and hip!). After not running over the whole Christmas break, I ran along the streets for an hour straight with my pal Berkeley. Again, a new record. I ended up hurting my right foot and left hip as a result and was down for the count. A few weeks later, after giving my body a little rest, I ran five miles around the indoor track and failed to stretch after because they were closing. I hurt my right calf. Down for the count yet again--for even longer. Meanwhile I got sick, yadda yadda, got lazy maybe, yadda.

Two weeks before the race. Oh my gosh, I'm freaking out! I am freaking out. I'm not a quitter! "Katy, you are not a quitter," I told myself. But that being said, I always like to explore my options . . . and by exploring my options, I mean I reply to one of the half marathon emails that are sent out to the runners ("Greetings Runners!" < grimace, cringe, feel sick >) and ask if I can transfer my bib number to someone who really wants to run the race but didn't win a spot in the lottery. Here's the email (it's good):

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Written March 10, 2010 (race day--March 20)

Hi,

Is there absolutely any way to have someone else take my place and run the race? I haven't been able to train as I would have liked to due to injury and sickness and just talked to someone last night who tried to register and didn't get chosen in the lottery.

I would be more than willing to go to the race to bring my confirmation card and show my ID if I can transfer my bib number.

Thanks,

Katy Brinkerhoff

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To which I got this response the same day:

Hi Katy,

We’re sorry to hear you won’t be able to run the race due to injury. Transfers are not allowed, but you do have a couple of options if you cannot run the Half Marathon:

1. You can change your race to the Five Mile Run.

2. You can defer your entry to 2011 if you like, which means that you will be guaranteed a spot in next year’s race. If you choose to do this, you will receive an email in November of 2010 explaining how you can sign up for your guaranteed entry. You will have to pay the registration fee when you sign up. (i.e. the 2010 entry fee does not roll over).

3. You can simply cancel your entry and we’ll mail you your shirt.

Let me know what you would like to do.

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I didn't let Faye know what I would like to do. I just let it be. I pretended like I didn't write the email.

I talked to a friend at work who has run four half marathons. She kept asking me how I was feeling, how the training was going. My stomach would tie into knots every time she'd ask. "Carrie, I'm not running! I'm a quitter!" I would think to myself. On March 5 (so I guess this was the Friday before my Wednesday email and two weeks for the race), I admitted to Carrie that I haven't been training well. Wam, bam, she made me a plan. "What's the farthest you've run?" "Six miles," I replied, with a sheepish grin on my face and terror in my eyes! "Here's what you're going to do. Monday--5, Tuesday--6, Wednesday--5, Saturday--10. Monday--4, Tuesday--3, Wednesday--2, Thursday--1, Saturday--half." There it was--the dream plan for a half marathon runner. "TEN!??????" So . . . I ended up modifying it a little, but I ran that ten--in the snow, no less, and it was perfect. My iPod froze and my black outfit was white by the end, but I did it, and it felt great.

Race Day

We rode down to Moab after work on Friday and arrived at our cabin at a KOA 'K'ampsite. No joke, this cabin was made with about 20 logs--it was hilarious. So petite and camping-like--never thought a cabin could be so cute. And we fit 9 runners into it; now that's how you get a good night's rest.





The next morning we work up at 6:20 to get ready and head on over to registration. I walked up to the registration lady, told her my name, and waited politely for my packet. And waited. And waited. "It's not in heeere... hmm. You'll need to talk to the lady at the Help Desk." "Okay! Thanks!" (Somehow I knew this was going to happen.) I walked over to the Help Desk, told her the situation, and she said my name sounded familiar. "Did you write me an email?" she asked. I thought, "Well I'm not sure who you are," but instead answered, "Yes." "Well you must have told me you weren't running because I'm not seeing you in here," she pointed it. "I wrote an email asking if I could transfer my bib but never said I'd drop out," I responded, smiling. "Well I wouldn't have deleted you if you hadn't clearly told me that you weren't racing," she retorted. (This whole time I'm thinking to myself, "Did I really just run 10 miles last week for nothing???" But I wasn't mad about it--just sad.) So I continued, "Okay, well, I don't think I said that, so I don't know what to do." (My next thought: "Faye, can you do me a solid and get me a bib? Throw the girl a freakin' bone here!") Faye: "Well, I can't pull up my email to see what you said, so you're lucky. I'm going to get you another packet, but if I pull up my email later and find out you dropped out, I'm going to be really mad. Now I'll have to tell the chip people to register your chip so you can get a time..." (and on and on and on. By this time Berkeley and Julie had made their way over to find out what was going on. Awkward pause while Faye worked her magic and hastily crossed out Brian Gardner's name (my new bib!) and scribbled in mine. When all was said and done, she handed the packet to me and exclaimed, smiling, "Here you go! Have a great race! Good luck!" WHOA. Wasn't expecting the 180 there. What are you trying to do to me, Faye? A roller coaster ride is NOT good before a race!

And so I ran the race thanks to Faye. My running pseudonym is now 'Brian Gardner,' to which I will respond on the treadmill, track, or course. The funny thing about the whole catastrophe is that I wasn't stressed out. I knew it'd work out--I would run 10 miles for naught, after all! We loaded onto the bus and headed up the Moab canyon. After 5 miles, you could see some people on the side of the road stretching and what not. Berkeley commented, "Wow! That wasn't far at all! We can totally do this!" "Berk, those are the 5-milers. We have 8 more to ride." :) When we got to the top, I put on my game face. I had my blanket to keep my warm, my energy beans to keep me going, my iPod to keep me dancing and warmed up. The race was great! I was smiling the whole time, taking in the different sights (I kept looking up, over, behind), and even took my headphones out when I ran by the drummers at mile 10. It wasn't until mile 11 that I knew my legs were giving out. Mile 12--an old man passed me SPEED WALKING! "WHAT THE HECK?!" But I kept on and finished the race at a sprint (and passed four or five people on the way!). :)



Proof that I actually ran the race!! You won't find my name online in the 'results' section because I guess my chip didn't end up getting registered. You won't find 'Brian Gardner' either. Trust me--I tried!

After the Race

Life was great. I finished the race in 2 hours and 20 minutes (not impressive, but I finished--and that was the goal!) I was chowing down on the after-race food and went to retrieve my sweat bag. I couldn't find a single girl from my group for about 40 minutes, and in the meantime I kept losing my footing (got a little tipsy). On the ride home we got lost and ended up driving four hours instead of three back to home base. My knees still hurt when I walk downstairs, but other than that I feel like a million bucks!

Thank you all for thinking of me and praying for me. It was a fun experience, and I'm proud to be a 'Red Light Runner!' Hey Mom, you can be part of the group, too!! If any of you know how my mom drives . . . well, anyway.



Love to you all. And remember, don't be a quitter! It'll work out in the end--even if Faye tries to hold you back, you just press on (and keep smiling)!