Did I Win?

My dad asked me over the weekend if I won the half marathon. Bless his heart....I didn't, and yet I did.

The Sunburst Races are a series of running events: a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a Family Run. As you all know at this point I ran the half marathon.

My sister Anne joined me as my support team for this race, and I was so glad she was there to share this with me. We got to South Bend on Friday. After checking into the Motel 6, we headed to the College Football Hall of Fame to checkin for the race. My bib number was 100. Easy to remember. I was nervous a good portion of the day just thinking about the challenge ahead of me. I got more nervous once Anne and I drove around the half marathon course. DANG those hills were big!!!

That evening we had a nice Italian dinner with old friends of ours. I ate a little pasta....just for carbs. :-)

Saturday was race day. We got up at 4:45 a.m., and headed to Denny's for a pre-race breakfast. I always eat oatmeal before a long run. I was able to eat it, and off we went to the Hall of Fame, the starting point for the race.

There was a delay in all the races due to a HazMat issue on the course(gas leak). First the marathoners started after 6 a.m.. Next was the 5K folks. They had the largest number of entries. Finally around 7 the gun went off for the half marathon. Anne watched me and waved as I went off with around 1,000 runners. The start was perfect. The temperature was 60 degrees. Really nice.

The first couple of miles take you out of downtown South Bend, along the St. Joseph River, going north. This was a flat portion of the race. My first mile was run in 12:08. That was a decent running time. I didn't want to go under 12, or over 12:30, so it worked for me. At Mile 2, I was hoping to see a port-a-john, but alas there was none, so I did what others did - found a tree, and peed(thank God for being a guy!).

Mile 3 -4 was a killer. This was the first set of hills I had to encounter. I found it the most difficult. I had hurt my lower back a couple days earlier, and after using ointment, and a massage, I was ok at the start of the race. This hill made it hurt, and I was not happy. I decided to walk up the main portions of the hill. I was glad I did. I was aware though I was walking more that running during this portion of the course, and I was slowing down. My first 4 miles were run in 1:08:37. Typically I run 4 miles in under 50 minutes.

At this point I called Anne to see where she was. She was going to meet me near the 5 mile mark, and I wanted to know where to look for her. At the 5 mile mark, there she was cheering and waving pom-poms at me. I was so happy to see her. We checked to make sure I had enough fluids, and I got a new towel to carry with me. I was doing pretty well, though my lower back pain was spreading to my hip.

After a quick goodbye, I was off. I was really angry, because I had to pee again. So I found another tree, and was again glad to be a guy(sorry gals). Mile 7-8 was across the river, and a winding area through a nice neighborhood. Here people pointed sprinklers towards the street so runners got cool off a bit. At mile 7, a race official saw me and said, "You're almost there." I laughed and yelled back, "No, I'm ALMOST almost there." He laughed, and off I went.

At mile 9 I called Anne again to see where she was. She was at the stadium waiting. I told her I would be there as soon as I could....:-)

During a long run, you have time to think. At this point in the race, I thought about my mom. I felt she was looking down on me watching. While I wished she could have been there with me, I did feel here there spiritually, and it helped me push through to the next challenge - more hills at Mile 10!

There were a couple of women from Notre Dame ahead of me, and they slowed down up the monster hill. I caught up with them, and we chatted a bit. We would run/walk up the series of hills at this point. Once we got to the top, there was a bike path, which is the "final turn" of the race. Off I went, and was advised by race officials that we had to take fluids at the remaining stops, because someone had passed out up ahead.

As I got closer to Notre Dame, I called Anne to let her know I was within eye sight of the stadium. The closer I got to Notre Dame Stadium, the more emotional I became. I did have one funny thought. Whenever I go to a football game I get some Caramel Corn. So I was thinking, "Hey, where's the caramel corn? :-)

Approaching the stadium, I could feel tears welling up. All of my training and effort was about to pay off...then I felt a slap on my back. A fellow runner, also emotional hit me on the back as he passed me and said, "Way to go man!"

As I approached the tunnel to the stadium, I was teary, but stopped once people at the entry area told me "Looking good!" As I entered the tunnel I heard a sound I could only dream about as a boy - the band playing the Notre Dame Victory March, and the roar of the crowd. The played crowd noise and the song in the tunnel. It was an awesome experience. As I came out of the tunnel, the announcer said, "Charlie Colpaert of Chicago, IL!" I got chills.

I saw the finish line ahead of me, and I just ran. I crossed the line at 2:59:05. My goal for the race was 3 hours, so I beat that.

I was so happy! I was handed a finishers medal, and I just stood there a few seconds taking it all in. I heard someone shout my name. It was the manager of my gym. He was excited to see me. He ran the half in 1:45, but he told me I did great!

I finally saw Anne up in the stands. I went up to her, and got a big hug!!! She looked so proud, and I felt so happy. We sat in the stands for a few minutes, as I talked about the race. Then we got up so I could walk a bit. My hip was hurting, and I didn't want it to get worse.

The day was awesome. While the crowds were thin, runners would cheer each other on, and I really appreciated it. I yell "way to go" at a few people. I talked to a few people along the way. The girls I mentioned, a man who had two heart attacks, and was happy to be running, and several walkers. I felt a strong sense of community during the race.

My final placing was 977. I was last in my age group(84th). So did I win? Not the race. But I am a winner in that I set a goal, not only made it to the start line, but raced through pain, and emotion to finish. I get emotional still thinking about it.

For the record, I wore my medal all day(Anne told me I earned it, I should wear it). I think I was on cloud nine all day.

I have no regrets about running the half as opposed to the marathon. The 13 mile trek was difficult, and in the end very rewarding. If there is a runner's high, I sure felt it, and I think it has carried over.

I am so happy to have shared the day with Anne. Her love and support of my running have helped me so much.

So now I am taking it easy, and will soon start training in earnest for the Gay Games.

:-)Charlie