NO SENSE

I crossed the finish line last week at the Newport 5K and the clock read 20:38. This was 2 seconds under my fastest time ever. I had run, according to the clock, my best race ever.

But I didn't think so. It didn't feel right to me. Nothing I'd run recently indicated that I could do this. In this race, I'd completed the first mile in 6:36 (a good start) but slowed to 6:59 for mile 2. As tired as I felt and as twisty and turny as mile 3 was, could I have really done the final 1.1 miles in an average of 6:23 per mile? No way!

It just makes NO SENSE!!!

So, instead of celebrating I trotted up to the race director and asked if he was sure the course was measured correctly. He insisted it was. Other runners, however, were not so sure. Virtually every one I questioned said that they also felt that their time was too quick. The consensus was about 30 seconds too quick. That agreed with my impression of 30 to 40 seconds off.

On the other hand, the man who finished second felt that the course was 30 seconds too SLOW! Who should I believe, him and the director or the other runners and myself? My sense that mile 3 went by too quick, however, was just too strong. Perhaps the course WAS measured correctly, but perhaps, for some reason, we turned too quickly away from the twisty, slow waterfront and too soon to the more direct main road. That's what I think happened.

But, of course, I'm not sure. So I went to see the posted results. I know that I can at least be sure of who finished before me and who I beat out. More importantly, I can be sure of whether or not I'd won an age group award. And there it was! My name in capitals, signifying that I'd finished first in my age group!!

Unfortunately, they had me listed in the wrong age group!!!!!!!!!

I was first among men 60 to 64 and I was listed as 60. In fact, that won't happen till October, 2009, 25 months into the future. Well, I told the race director and this mistake he acknowledged and corrected and I was returned to my proper division where I only placed second. Well, at least I'd won something!

And my conclusion about the race? The race is 2 years, 1 month and 30 seconds too fast!