The race experience was great, really great, but let me tell you just how close it was to being a total disaster. The story is worth reading, so I’ll try to keep it short. Ready?
Quick bits of info that you should know:
- This was my first running event
- The Race the Taste started at 8 am
- Raceday preregistration ends at 7:30 am
- The start line was located next to Adams and Lake Shore in downtown Chicago
- My alarm clock was set for 6 am
- I live in River Grove which is about 35 minutes away from Chicago by the CTA train
Here’s the story:
———————————————————-
6:58 am: Blissfully recollecting my dreams I glanced at my alarm clock and saw that it was 2 minutes before 7 am. Solid. My exact thoughts at that moment were: “Why the hell is it so bright this early…” I laid in bed a few minutes, preparing myself for a great day. In my mind I cycled through all the things I needed to prepare and the times I needed to leave at, when something just didn’t feel right. It then finally clicked in my mind, “Crap, my alarm clock didn’t go off!!
The next 5 minutes were a blur. I somehow managed to put in my contacts, dress up for the race, wake my mom, eat a banana, find a small backpack, and get into a car to be on my way to the CTA train.
7:10 am: It wasn’t until I was pacing back and forth at the CTA Green Line platform at the Harlem stop that I noticed, I had two different socks on, forgot my underwear, didn’t have anything to listen to, and that I forgot to put fresh batteries into my camera.
I did a couple of laps, power walking anxiously around the platform, before the train arrived. It was at that point that I started doubting I’d get the chance to run. Scenarios started running through my head with me arriving at the “Race the Taste” booth just to get an asshole attendant telling me I’m one minute late.
The CTA Green Line made good time getting to the city once I got on. Being so early in the morning and there being so few people on the train, it flew through all the stops. It got to the Roosevelt stop in around 25-30 minutes.
7:50 am: The CTA doors open at the Roosevelt stop. At this point I’m convinced that I have forfeited my chance at running at the event. In order to make the most out of my trip downtown, I decided to go on a casual run in the city. So I ran towards Lake Shore Drive. The next part, again, a blur.
Either it was by divine intervention or by my subconscious stubborn stupor, but my casual run turns into a bank-robbery-chase sprint for my life. I’m suddenly hauling ass to make it to the event.
7:55 am: I’m at the event and I find my way to the end of the registration line.
7:56 am: I’m catching my breath and waiting in line.
7:57 am: I’m still catching my breath and waiting in line.
7:58 am: Finally, I get my registration singlet.
7:59 am: I jog towards the starting gate and pin on my racing number.
7:59.40 am: I get my racing number pinned and look up towards the baracaded, starting-line area. For as far as I could see, there were people. Thousands of them! They were all waiting to run. I would take me about 3 kilometers to get to the end of the line!
8:00.00 am: The announcer blares the starting horn and the stampede of runners are unleashed. Before I have time to think, I obtain super-human powers and hurdle the barricade.
8:00:03 am: I bump into a person or two after landing on the other side of the barricade and I’m less than 10 meters away from the starting line!
8:00:40 am: I cross the starting line for the Race the Taste.
———————————————————-
So here is my broken down conclusion of my pre-race conditions:
- I didn’t eat anything
- I sprinted before the race
- I didn’t stretch before the race
- I didn’t have underwear
- I was wearing a 100% cotton shirt
- I was running with a backpack
- This was my first ever running event
Based off of my training, that you might have or have not read about, what time would you guess I got? Did I complete the race? Part two will be up soon.
Posted by pannenko 