Represent

Another summer in Fort Knox, KY, is a long and boring adventure with many hours sitting  in the hotel room relearning how to binge watch shows.  However, I am of the mindset that you are responsible for your own entertainment and daily calendar.  That is why as soon as I got here, I looked up races in the Louisville and Ft. Knox area. I signed up for races days or literally hours, knowing full well that I would have to get up early on Saturday and drive somewhere  to run.   

A few early mornings, a few more medals on the wall, let’s go. "Run, run, get some!"

 

I ran the Hometown 5k in, or around, the Parklands Trail near Mt. Washington, KY, a lovely park with miles of trails for running, hiking, and biking.  Maybe there were 200 people there.  I had been running 8:30 miles for fun back home, so clearly, I would be in the pack.  However, within a half mile, I was near the front of the race. At the halfway turn around, I realized there were only two other people in front of me.  It was an out and back race, so I know I wasn’t lost, but third? Then there was the look of the other runners who hadn’t hit the halfway point yet. They looked at me as if to say, “what the hell is that old man doing at the front of the race?!”

With about a half mile to go I realized that there was no one else behind me and the two kids in front of me were probably already done. Third place was mine. First in my age group, “Masters”. Holy smokes. My reward was a plate of pancakes in a small, local diner, in Mt. Washington, KY. A hole in the wall place with a diehard set of Red State customers, a quaint atmosphere, and fantastic food. 

The second race was the Louisville H.E.R.O. 5k at the University of Louisville.  This was a bigger race and clearly there would be more competition.  Another out and back, the race went around parts of the university. It was a little warmer and I wasn’t on my game. Third in my age group. Behind some, ahead of most. I got a neat medal with the script “L” that seems to be everywhere in Louisville. There was a McDonald’s right next door and I had a hankering for a sausage and egg biscuit and coffee. 

 

The third race was at Ft. Knox.  I learned they had a summer race series and the first race was on a Friday night.  The race was titled, Nacho Average 5k…free nachos at the end of the race. When I tried to sign up, I found out the race was sold out, but I went over to the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) office the day of the race to see if I could get a cancellation.  The organizer said, “No,” but took my number.  As I was driving back to work, he called to say that he had a bunch of last minute no shows and to come to the starting point of the race ninety minutes before the race.  I made it in with bib number “3”.  It was hot on a Friday night.  Four hundred people showed up, hiding in what shade they could find, stretching.  At least at this race, I knew people. It’s more fun to make small talk with people that you sort of know.

 

Running the heat was a beast. All sun, no shade, but – oddly – mostly downhill. There are not a lot of 59-year-olds on Ft. Knox, so it is safe to say that I was at the top of my age group. Prove me wrong. Unfortunately, the race organizers shorted the course by about a quarter mile-ish. The result was crazy stupid fast times because the timed for a 5k but measured it short. I did not run seven minute miles.  

 

This Saturday I ran the Louisville Bats 5k, the last of my self-titled, Kentucky Four Pack, at the Louisville Slugger Stadium on the Ohio River in downtown Louisville.  I have been to Slugger Stadium before. It is a nice minor league stadium that is like the ballpark in Durham, NC.  This was the biggest race of the four with about 500 runners.

 

The race had a fair hill in the first mile and then went into a residential area where the shade of buildings and trees kept the morning sun off.  The race went in a modified loop, eventually coming back onto itself with about a half mile to go. The last quarter mile was a treat. They opened the back gates to the ballfield, and we ran in the stadium around the warning track, behind home plate, and back out the gate we came in on to the finish line.

 

I must admit, by that time in the race, I was focused on finishing and not sightseeing. I was sure I was doing well (for my age group) and I was in the run – not the moment.  I finished with my characteristic arms-wide, open mouth, happy face finish. I grabbed my fourth medal in four weeks.  Second in my age group by :09 seconds!  My reward was a four egg omelet at a small breakfast place a block over.   

 

So what.

 

The so what is that at my age, I am behind some, but ahead of so many others. It's not a competition - but it is. Life. So many of my demographic who look at physical fitness as something to avoided for fear of injury, or God forbid, being sore. My plan is to be that guy who beats men a third my age and they say afterward, "I got passed at mile two by some old dude who smoked my ass."  

Inspirational longevity with a touch of snobbishness.  Represent.