Running with Royalty

This post is a little different that most. Instead of being reflective...it's a note of excitement. Runners, Mass. residents, and general sports fans will all be able to appreciate my experience this weekend.

I rolled out of bed at 5am on Saturday morning, silently cursing myself for signing up to run the Running Psychologists 5K. Barely able to maneuver through the room with only my cellphone to light up my belongings, I couldn't believe that this is really how I had chosen to spend my Saturday morning. (The logistics were a nightmare - but that's another story that I am not ready to revisit just yet.) But an hour later, I had made the drive into Boston to run with other attendees at the 116th Annual American Psychological Association (APA) National Convention in Ray's Race (Note. This race was formally called the "Rats Race"...just a little psychologist humor, I suppose.)

Despite my early morning griping, I was excited to get a quality run in. I had been to lazy and exhausted to run the two previous days and my legs were aching for a good workout. The weather was beautiful. Any if nothing else - it was quite the networking event. But even chatting about goal times with the veterans of Division 47 could not compare to what I was about to experience.

I had been told a number of times how exciting it was that Bill Rogers was going to be the starter for the race. Okay...pause...I have a confession to make here. Until 10 minutes before the race, I didn't even know who Bill Rogers was. I know, I know. It seems somewhat sacrilegious. He may have even being referenced in Parker's "Again to Carthage" that I just finished, but I still didn't place him. Being relatively new to the sport of long distance running, I had not been aware of his accomplishments. However, I was not alone in dropping my jaw when the race coordinator introduced the man (or super human) as the only person to win the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon...4 TIMES EACH! Being amidst such running royalty was amazing itself. But wait...there's more.

The race began with a short loop, just under a .5 of a mile. We were told not to get too excited as we passed under the finish line banner, as we were only 3 minutes into the race. We than continued a bigger loop that had us crossing the Charles twice. As I was trying to keep a good pace in attempt to surpass my previous 5K time, I realized that someone had come up next to me and matched my pace. Much to my surprise, THE Bill Rogers turned his head in my direction and without a hint of hard breathing, asked "So...where are you from?" The conversation, albeit somewhat belabored on my part, lasted for a couple of minutes. After some basic conversation on the Holyoke Road Race and other chit-chatting, he said, "I'm just gonna go up there, if that's okay with you." And that was it. For a short period of time I was running step for step with Running Royalty. Later after the race, I went to say goodbye and thank him. Before I opened my mouth, he said, "Hey, Holyoke! How'd the run go?" As my older brother so perfectly put it - it was pretty trippy!

In the Lehigh Valley Marathon this past spring, I had the opportunity to run with Joan Benoit Samulson. Now I've run with Bill Rogers. If anyone hears of a race that Frank Shorter will be competing in - let me know. I feel like I should complete the triad.

On the training front. So - there will be posts to come about my training. In only a few short weeks, Lauren and I will be running in the Susan G. Koman 5K in Boston. Look for information on that race soon. Two weeks later, I plan to travel down to Pennsylvania to participate in the Camelot for Children 5K. I'll round out the fall running season with the Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon in late October. Oh - and tune in for another great story from the APA convention regarding running. Who knew that psychologists were such crazy runners!