It’s been a number of years since I was excited about Pat’s Run. In January, shortly after I completed my third PF Chang’s Arizona Marathon – I committed to captaining another Pat’s Run team. I mean, it’s a 4.2 mile run – so anyone could begin training for this kind of experience. Right?!
Last year I called the team the MCC Sprinting Scholars, but there were a number of people who didn’t work or go to school at MCC, so I thought I would drop the MCC part and just go with the Sprinting Scholars – it’s a strong name and I wanted to keep it.
After creating the team, I let my friends know how to register as a team member and then began my advertisement all over the MCC campus. By the end of March, the Sprinting Scholars were 24 team members strong with several MCC students and staff – and as always some of my closest running friends.
(A good friend in the MCC athletics department offered to support the team with Sprinting Scholars t-shirts, so that we could all show our team spirit and truly “be a team”. We would all match on Pat’s Run morning – VERY COOL, indeed!)
This was the first time I offered to help train anyone interested in becoming a runner. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons we met at the MCC track and completed a 2-mile course I’d designed a year or so prior. Each time out, someone (if not several someones) from the Sprinting Scholars met me at the MCC track for our jaunt around the college – in front of thousands of people moving from car to class to car. Occasionally we got a high-five along the way from students who knew us and were supportive.
By the 16th of April – we were excited and ready. Some trained well, others not at all. But we were out there – ready to fly through the 4.2 mile course. It wasn’t until race morning that I really got to meet the majority of the team. A handful met me at 5:45am to park and warm up together. So, by the time we reached the starting line – we were pumped and warm.
Fortunately, Pat’s Run was well organized, this year. Nearly 30,000 registrants were milling about the starting corrals. The corrals were designated by anticipated finishing time – and what a blessing this was! Last year everyone (runners, walkers, strollers and sleepers) lined up together and it was a MESS. I thought I would never do the run again it was so poorly organized. I was elated to learn differently, this time around.
This was my 6th Pat’s Run and my 6th organized team – for several years we were the Techno Trotters. We even won the team challenge and took first place the first time we made the team. But, those days are long gone – not only are many of those original team members living in other parts of the world, now, but the race has gone from several thousand (and maybe 25 teams) to tens of thousands and well over 350 teams.
As we all lined up in our corrals, I was alone. No one on the team would be joining me and my 39 minute goal. With the exception of 4 members – I was in an early corral (#6). The rest of the team members were corral numbers 15 through 23. The first corral went (as did teammates Rachel, Margaret and Kristian). Then, every 60 seconds they released another corral. The organization was fantastic. As my corral approached the starting line, I saw 3 more team members (Lauren, Loretta and Andrew). They arrived late and were waiting for their designated corrals to move toward the starting line. Loretta was running for my friend, Anne, who couldn’t run for medical reasons – and since Loretta and I had run together a few times prior, she figured she could jump into my corral and keep me company. Yes! A buddy! And, her pace was always good – I knew she’d keep up with the 39 minute corral! Sadly, within the first several hundred feet – we got separated and that was that. We were both on our way to the finish line alone (with 30,000 strangers, of course).
Pat’s Run is one of those races you love to hate. The course is really not wide enough to support the numbers of runners and even with the 60 second separations between corrals - the sea of people is incredibly frustrating. I’ve never really understood the need for water stations a mile #1 of any race, but if nothing else, it gives me the opportunity to take the outside lane and pass a bunch of people who probably won’t finish in 39 minutes, as they predicted they could.
Shortly after the #1 mile marker, the sea of people turn right and head up a rather steep climb over Papago Park/Mtn. This is another opportunity to pass those who have not done hill training. And, my training was paying off. I could see my pace: mile #1, 9:02. As I flew down the hill and passed the second unnecessary water station and the #2 mile marker, I looked down at my watch – 9:06 pace. I was pleased – I am on track to hit my time and completely floored with my progress. Unfortunately, the narrowest part of the race occurs just after mile marker #2. While admittedly, there has been some “thinning” out of runners, nothing is great when running in one lane around several neighborhood bends with hundreds of people at your sides. And, as I rounded the last of the annoying bends, I could see one of the MCC students standing with a home-made sign that read “Go Mer”! I was super excited – 2.5 miles down and a cheering fan – thank you, Kim!
I was tired as I approach the 3rd mile marker – and I looked down to see my pace was a 9:04, but at this point I was puttering out. I did get a small burst of energy at the 3rd water stop (ok, maybe this one is excusable). I took the outside lane to run passed those stopping/slowing for water. I could see one of my students from my evening class at SCC. Danica was working the 3rd water station with her husband and daughter and screaming cheers to all the runners. It was a quick “Hey Danica” and I continued to the finish line. I don’t know what happened to me as I hit the 4th mile marker and could see the dreaded pace marker on my watch: 9:40. Crap! Just as I focused on my crappy mile, I saw Loretta! There she was, right in front of me! I yelled for her and we finished the last two tenths together. Oh well – we started and finished together. Overall time: 39:07!
Loretta and I waited just outside the finish line and we got to see the majority of the Sprinting Scholars finish! We loved seeing everyone come around the corner to run into the ASU stadium. We stood there cheering people on for nearly an hour before we felt our duty complete and went home.
I walked back to my car with my good friend and coworker, Kris. We were thrilled and giddy the whole way back to the car. 39:07 is a 9:18 pace – I’ll take it.
The Sprinting Scholars took 41st out of 330 teams. 1st place went to the ASU men’s track team! Not too shabby!
Next race? October 23rd – the St. Louis Rock ‘n Roll Marathon – all 26.2 miles of it! See you there!
