FatBoy’s First Race. Over t
he Bridges and to the Brew!
I spoke about a key part of being motivated would be to pick a race. So with my running buddy Korey
we decided on Bridges to Brews in Portland. Cause running over bridges and ending in a beer garden is epic right!
Plus reading the description of the race : “Realitvly flat through the streets of Portland. Enjoy the view of the rivers going over the Fremont and Burnside Bridges in Portland.”
Who could resist this! So we booked a room at a five star hotel, go all the way right!, and then plan our trip. I then annoyed the hell out of people from January till we ran in April having to train for my first 10k, and trained my heart out. I put up the receipt in my office and set some goals about the race. Here were the goals:
- Not to have to stop and tie my shoes…
- Grab the water and keep on running
- Oh and just FINISH the race!
Simple goals, but really when you do your first race, truly just finishing it is a huge accomplishment!
The trip came fast and now it was time to put my running shoes where my mouth was and run. Korey and I went to the registration place a day before the race and the nerves started to set in. First I did not look like a runner, and two I suddenly had doubts set in. What was I doing! And was everyone wondering the same thing?
First Race!
But I was going to do this! I remember in one of the magazine articles I read about running the best line “We are all cowards at the starting line” Until that morning of the race I didn’t understand it but now I do. However, I was here, I was going to do it, and damn it all to hell if these skinny dudes were going to intimidate me! I went through the 3 goals in my head, keep myshoes tied, drink water, and finish! Next thing you know Korey and I are talking to the folks next to us, looking around and seeing 1000 plus runners it was crazy! And we started to figured out that runners, don’t look like the magazines only. We saw bigger, smaller, tall and short, it was all types of folks here to have a good time. And we figured why the hell not, let’s get his done!
BANG! The gun goes off and we start to run, I put on the toons, Adele Rolling in the Deep, and start to follow the crowd. We turn a corner and, oh shit a steep ass hill! The best part is I think I heard Korey behind me yell something to the effect of, well we will keep the site clean but let’s say something about the hill. We started running across the Burnside Bridge, and that was awesome!
We are seeing the cityscape and the Willamette river, people are cheering, and I’M PASSING THE SKINNY PEOPLE! Wait, what! Yes I was moving up past people, some were passing me, but wow I was running! In one article I read, it said to find a “rabbit” for pace and just stay with them the entire way or as long as you can. I found mine!
It was a guy who I thought would be a challenge, and he had a memorable shirt “Don’t
be a Scab”. So I started following and weaving in and out with “Scab” for 4 miles, and even sprinted across the finish line together. I laughed because he started sprinting with about a half mile left. I was not going to let him get away so he took off and so did I. I laughed at the end because he caught on and said good job. I read his shirt and it said “Portland Fire Department” I went oh shit I just kept with a fireman.
Besides that it was amazing finishing my first race, and then to rock out to live music, the Bellmen, a local band for Portland, and to drink Weidemer Beer! And let me tell you I don’t like beer but I do after running! We spent about 2 hours after the race drinking and eating with fellow runners! We basically bonded with people who honestly would have intimidated the hell out of me before.
At the end of the run I figured something out. It’s not the size of a runner that matters, but the size of his heart! JUST RUN!
