Race Report: Second Empire - Final Standings

Submitted by: Brian Lankford

Ashley and I have completed the last race in the 2009 Second Empire Grand Prix Series. The Jolly Elf Trail Run was completed shortly after 9:00 AM Saturday. (more shortly after 9:00 if you were Ashley). The temperature in Cary at Bond Park at 9:00 AM was 26 or 27 degrees depending who you ask. Either way, my thermometer reads "pretty darn cold" at that temp.

It was a nice cross country start, meaning plenty of room to spread out across the starting line. These races are chip timed, but the points are awarded by gun time. This is a distinct disadvantage when you get stuck 20 ft back at the start behind the recreational runner/walkers. You can easily give up 8 sec to your competition before crossing the starting line. We were both happy with the wide open space!

Ashley and I knew going into this race what we had to accomplish. Ashley was out of 4th place overall in the series by about 8 points to his 16 year old competitor. That means he had to beat him by about 20 seconds. Ashley had to run a great race. I had a 15 point cushion going into the last race to hold the 8th place overall position against my 30 year old competition who had found some speed in the last two races and finished ahead of me in both. Could I hold him off on a trail race in miserable conditions?

We stripped down to our little silk shorts and shirt with a little added protection for our hands and ears. The somewhat long winded announcer was torture as we felt the full force of the cold. At the sound of the horn, I employed the "run like you stole it" mentality across the field to the 5 ft wide trail that we would funnel down into. I was passing all the 8 to 10 year old sprinters who could only think about the first 200 yds across the field and the elf clad, jingle bell hat wearing runners going for their 15 seconds of fame. I made it to the trail area with all the traffic behind me. Actually the leaders were just ahead. It was a bold move, but the ones you pass in the field are less you have to pass on the trails. I wondered how Ashley negotiated the crowd as I ran just behind the leaders. I got my answer very shortly as Ashley came up on my right and glided smoothly in front of me. We exchanged the almost non noticeable head nod, knowing we each had our own agenda to accomplish.

I had not seen my competition yet, but I had employed the new "bust a move" right out of the chute. Unfortunately, Ashley's competition was a good 25 yrds ahead of him.

My initial plan of going out fast is working but I can't trick myself into thinking I can run with the leaders, so I find what I think is a "comfortable" pace. I am being passed by the runners that are usually at the front now and each one of them gives the "grunt" of encouragement as they pass. These are truly great competitors. We all know each other's points, and we all know what each other has to do. Ashley is fading off in the distance, but through my teary eyes, (not because of emotion or pain, it's just so daggone cold) I believe he may be catching the kid.

One mile into the race, I have seen all the regulars in the series and our positions are for the most part at their norm. I'm a little closer to them than normal, but one thing is missing. Where is the 30 year old that has been right in front of me for the last 2 races. I don't have much of a points lead. If he is right behind me and staging a last mile or half mile assault on my points lead, I have to stay fast and strong. I can't look back because we all know that is a sign of weakness and fear! I am very much aware that I could still lose the race and the points at this point.

After the 1-mile mark I am joined by a very pleasant and respectful young lad of about 15 yrs old. He graciously gives me the inside on turns and even grunts out "courtesies". I feel like he is a boy scout helping me across the street. We run side by side for the next 2 miles, well actually the rest of the race. He is not a key player in this story's plot, other than pushing my pace, so I can tell you that. At this point in the race, my feet are numb, honestly I cannot feel them except for the occasional root or rock. My hands are in the same state, I am making a fist now trying to protect my thumbs which are in pain. My mustache feels like it has icicles on it. We have passed the 2-mile mark and I keeping a good pace, feeling well, and have my little buddy beside me for encouragement.

At this point, I still have not seen my 30 year old competitor and know he will be making a move very soon. I know he can beat me because he has done it in the past two races. I can still lose this race and drop in the points if I don't run hard. Me and my bud pick up the pace, at least it feels like it. We are burning up the hills and letting it all out on the down hills. If the 30 year old is going to make a move, he better do it now because I've got my pride and the "boy scout" on my side. I can see the 3-mile marker sign in the distance and what do I see coming back to me? I can't believe it! It is Ashley's 16 year old competition! With .1 miles to go there is no crazy sprint from behind by my competition and Ashley's competition is in my clutches, and Ashley is nowhere in sight. I assume he has crossed the finish line and is looking for the kid, counting the seconds and celebrating his victory.

My race is with my little friend that I have run with for the last two miles and we manage a great finishing kick across the field to the finish line for a great show. He got me by about 10 ft., but I knew that Ashley and I had run the race we had to race and we had both accomplished our goals. Every person in a race has there own race to run and it was a great feeling to know that Ashley and I had just won ours.

Ashley ran a 17:25 and gained 40 pts on the kid. That was good enough to raise him from 5th to 4th place in the overall final standings. (Editors Note: Ashley missed 3rd overall by a single point. 5,302 was third, and he scored 5,301). I never saw my competition because my competition never showed up for the race. Ignorance is bliss, because I ran like he was right behind me, calculating his final assault, the entire time. I managed an 18:17 and that clenched an overall final standings finish of 8th.

I would never have known about or even considered running this series if it weren't for the encouragement of Ashley. It has been a lot of work and dedication. We have pushed ourselves to limits we would never have tried and surpassed all of our expectations. I know as runners that's what we're all about, whether it's a 1st 5k, a faster 5k, a first marathon or whatever. Get out there and push yourself, encourage others, and set your goals high. . .You'll be surprised, You will probably reach them and have to set new goals.