45th Falmouth Road Race
On Sunday, August 20, 2017 I ran my 3rd Falmouth Road Race. The first was before kids and marriage. I ran it in under an hour. I don’t remember the exact time. In 2015 I ran it in 1:05:57. What I remember from those first two races is it was HOT, as it usually is and that I was only thinking about my time and pace the entire race. I was not present at all. Not for one second.
Both the 2015 and 2017 races threw a couple minor challenges at me getting to the start:
In 2015 we left our house early, 5:00am, to drive to Falmouth in our old Chrysler Town & Country van. As we got to about 5 minutes from the house, the brake light went on and we realized the car was leaking brake fluid. So we quickly turned around to change vehicles and head out again. I was freaking out. Not calm. Not present. I made it to the start. It was HOT. All I cared about was my pace and as I ran those later miles all I thought about was that I was not hitting the pace I wanted and was not going to reach my goal of running under an hour. I was wrecked when I finished. Disappointed in myself. I suck I thought. Other runners handled the heat and crowds, why couldn’t I?
This year, the 45th running of the Falmouth Road Race the challenges were my husband being sick (which he never is) and my mental state of mind. Life has been busy. My daughter is a senior. College visits. Marathon training. Coming back from injury. I was going to be traveling to the Wilder running and writing retreat. I was trying to come up with every excuse not to run that race. I even texted my coach and said, “Is it ok that I am not excited at all about running Falmouth.” Hoping he would give me an out. He did not. In the end it was up to me. So the morning of the race it’s 5am, my husband John can barely talk his throat is in so much pain. I ask him if he feels ok to drive me. I was still looking for that excuse. He didn’t give it to me either. So we left. He dropped me at the buses and went straight to Urgent Care in Falmouth to find out he had strep throat. I got on the bus with his cousin Kate and Mike. I ate my bagel. Then we realized the bus had stopped moving. It had missed a turn and was on the road that was now closed due to the race start. We had to get off the bus and book it to the start which was about a mile away. During this entire morning the only thing I thought about was what my coach had texted me the night before:
So I want you to be super in the moment tomorrow. As much as you can be. Every step, everything leading to the start, during the race and especially in the final miles. – Coach Bj
Every moment I thought of this and every time I started projecting into the future I would remember this and bring myself back to the present moment. I would remind myself of the moment I was in, we are driving to Falmouth, I’m on the bus driving to the start. Even when I had to start way in the back and it was crowded I was in the moment. Step, step, breath, step, step, breath. Focused on my cadence. I ran the last 2 miles strong. I had fast moments and slower moments. I finished the race hot and happy and soaked from all the awesome volunteers spraying us down with hoses. My husband John was at the finish. I was holding my medal. Big smile on my face. My time was 1:15:25 (includes a 4 min pit stop unfortunately at mile 2). I had no goal except to be present and I was really hoping my legs would feel good after everything I have been doing with PT etc. It may not be my fastest time but it is hands down one of the best races I have ever run.