Ran in a 10 km race yesterday morning! It was a learning experience to say the least. Some people have healthy pre-race rituals; some people sleep for two hours! I know what my friends and family are thinking…I just couldn’t sleep. I even tried reading a Grisham novel, a sure fire way to put anyone to sleep. Where is the talent or skill in his work? I forced myself out of my brief slumber at 4:30 to make it to the race! Met my old pal, Jeff Kuhel, at 5 to make it to the Sanchong Riverside 10 km Race. Once upon a time in a galaxy far away, Jeff had run cross country for UCLA. Off to the starting line!
I learned a few other things at this race. Taiwanese races and American races no same same. I was concerned when I saw loads of elderly folk lining up ahead of me at the start. Oh man! These old guys must be fast! BANG! And we are off to the races…well maybe not. The first kilometer was ridiculous! As I watched the front of the pack disappear into the distance, I was stuck in some type of herd, flock, school, or whatever the correct collective noun is for a group of shuffling Asians. It was as if we were some group of prey trying to scare off predators by fooling them into thinking we were one massive beast. Wait! What’s that? I saw an opening and went for it. I got into my stride for about a minute when suddenly I was reduced to the Asian shuffle once again. Who wouldn’t include a very narrow pedestrian bridge towards the beginning of a race? Nice one Mr. Race Director. So I spent the following kilometers weaving my comparatively massive frame through the entire population of China. I hit the halfway turn around mark at 27 minutes…SLOW! The second half was much easier and less of a cluster____! Crossed the finish line at 48 and change. Second half of the race was good and all in all still had a good time!
Left the race and relaxed for a couple hours. Then joined an old friend of mine and played my first legitimate basketball game in years. One of the refs walked up and immediately asked me where I had been. Guess I left an impression with my on court antics in my previous days of hooping in Taiwan. The Taiwanese refs and I had quite a relationship back in the old days. Played the entire game!
Left that game and immediately left to play basketball with some other Taiwanese friends from the old days. Not bad for an old guy: 2 hours sleep, 10 km race, full game of basketball, and some more ball after that!
877 more to go!
Mr. Kuhel and I warm up at the start.
I was tough to find at the starting line!
This sounds like fun! Wait for the gun to go bang and shuffle!
Made it unscathed! Look at the playa with the sweet hat off to my side!
Baileys in your coffee is a healthy pre-race ritual…or so I’ve heard.
LOL! My mom LOVES Grisham novels!
Did you seriously say playa??