This could easily be titled Redemption Week or maybe the Redemption Club. A week after the Kalamazoo Marathon beats me, it's starting to become tradition to run the Fifth Third River Bank after to feel better. Well, at least last year worked out that way. This year, honestly I didn't even have the heart to attempt redemption. It seems like it's been so long since I've had a good run, one that I'm proud of. I was so bummed coming off the marathon, I waited too long to even register for the River Bank before the online registration closed. I figured that was a sign, to not do it. Instead, I was reminded by CT that I did earn my spot in the Under Two Hour Club and should do it. On the last day possible, she drove to the expo to register us.
The running joke (ha running, get it?) is that it always rains during this race. Being this is only my second time lining up for this race, I can't speak to that, but this year the weather was much more to my liking, cool. This is also the first race that I can remember wearing a thin sweatshirt prior to the race start with the intention of dropping it once the race started. It's a cheap sweatshirt, but logical me still feels like that's a waste. So, last minute, I thought I'd check it at the gear check line. The River Bank is a huge race and the gear check line almost equaled the bathroom lines! Forget that! This whole time CT was itching for me to check out the Two Hour Club. I was still reluctant because it would split us up. But now, I figured what the heck.
Not only does Two Hour Club have select access, but it's also in it's own building. The first perk turned out not only did I get access to the building, but I was also allowed guests. Suddenly, this went from being a cool notion to being almost like rockstar status! With a flash of my yellow bib, the doors open, smiling faces appear, the warmth of heat blasts my face and if I'm not mistaken the clouds opened up and a ray of sunlight hit me, ahhhhhh! I'm not sure if I was more impressed with this status change or realizing that CT was definitely going to owe me for allowing her access to this Utopia! Don't worry, she took it as humbly as she always does, when she told me I better run fast today to make sure I get her in the Club next year!
Plenty of seating, food, drinks, the list goes on and on. Oh and the whole point for me going in to check this place out, the gear check? Simply, walk up, put your stuff in a bag, done. They even had free stuff not to mention a huge TV showing the event live. The only thing missing that I could tell were the scantly clad woman feeding grapes to you or giving massages. At least that's how it felt.
As race time approached, I had already made up my mind, I'm getting in this Club again! Yes, I've had a few bad runs lately, but the streak is ending today! Even though I positioned myself just in front of the pace group aiming to finish at the two hour mark, my aim was on the next pace group. Try to keep them insight for the first half, then see what's left for the finish.
Clink (of the champagne glasses) goes the start horn. Damn, lots of people run this race! I'm sure even more would, if they knew the perks of the Two Hour Club, but I'm now sworn to secrecy! The race doesn't seem quite as packed as it was last year, but then again it's not nearly as warm as it was last year where all I remember was the awful BO on overly sweaty bodies trying to rub up against me. Gross! Somewhere around the first mile mark, I remember somebody flying a drone with what I'd guess was a camera on it. I have to admit, that was kind of cool and would have enjoyed seeing the pictures from it or even flying it, you know doing those nerd things instead of running 25K.
Most of the miles all blur together in this race. I think it's because many of them are spent staring at the person in front of you for so many miles point blank. It isn't much before mile ten when things actually start to open up. It was probably the nerd thoughts around mile one, but for some reason I was cranking on math and time, mainly trying to figure out exactly what pace I'd need to stay in the club. I knew all I had to do was prevent the pace group behind me from passing. At the same time, I'm pretty much staying with the next fastest pace group. For the record, a 7:44 per mile pace is needed to get in the Club. The pace group I was running with was the 7:30 per mile group, which is damn fast. Even so, looking at my watch, still doesn't leave much room for error. To be in this Club, you have to earn it for sure.
At thirteen miles, I was starting to get tired, but I had also passed the 7:30 pace group. With two miles left, I started passing people who were cramping up. While I didn't feel the energy to push any harder and decided it wasn't necessary to prove anything else. I'd be in the Club again, beat my time from last year, and finally had a good run that I was proud of, victory enough.
It could have been the weather finally being on my side. Maybe, I was just due. Or possibly it was the motivation after seeing the perks of being in the Club. Whatever it was or the combination, it guaranteed entry into next year's Club!
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