J.R. Briggs

How I (accidentally) ran a 10K

October 5, 2009

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Yesterday I (accidentally) ran a 10K.

Our family is in Michigan for a few days. My wife, my in-laws and I signed up to run a race in Ann Arbor, called Big House Big Heart 5K Run. The race, which raised money for charities and research for specific diseases like ALS, is only three years old – and there were 5,000 runners signed up to run. In the first two years it was simply a 5K (with a 1 mile fun run/walk), but this year they opened it up and also had a 10K component. But here’s the best part of the race: the finish line of both the 5K and the 10K is the 50 yard line of Michigan Stadium (also known as “The Big House” because it holds 110,000 fans) where U of M plays their football games. For being a huge Michigan fan that I am, I was extremely excited.

Megan and her mom (both hardcore runners) ran the 10K race. My father-in-law and I (amateur joggers, at best) ran the 5K. I am slower than molasses.

The starting gun went off, I turned on the timer on my watch, put in my iPod earbuds and off I went. Around the end of the 5K I was feeling great. We could see the stadium off in the distance – the final stretch. As we got closer, the course marshals were directing people to the right – away from the stadium – rather than to the left. I was confused. All sorts of things were running through my head.

I thought we were in the final stretch. My time is right on. This is about 5K.

I ran another several minutes.

Something is not right. It should not take this long…and we are continuing to go away from the stadium.

Then, I began to notice people’s race number bibs. Everyone else had a white number bib on. Why was I the only one in the midst of a myriad of runners with a yellow race number bib? Huh. I ran a several more minutes and saw another course marshal. I asked “Um, did I miss the turnoff for the 5K portion of this race?”

She said, “The 10K race started at 8 am. The 5K race doesn’t start until 9 am.”

And then she laughed at me.

Oops.

I was exhausted. Now I’m exhausted, embarrassed and demoralized. I thought about stopping, turning around and walking back to the stadium.

What the heck?” I thought. I’ve already run more than half of it already…I might as well finish this race.

And so. I did.

I ran through the tunnel as the Michigan fight song was blaring through the PA system, moved out onto the field and sprinted that last 50 yards – under the goal posts, through the end zone and straight up the middle to the large yellow “M” on the center of the field – and watched myself up on the JumoTron cross the finish line. My father-in-law came in shortly after I did.

You’ll be happy to know that he and I were both DQ’d from the race (i.e. our times were not posted on the race results page due to our gaffe). But, according to the timer on my watch, my time placed me finishing 92 out of 108 people in my age bracket, which would mean I’m officially awesome. Or something like that. I am uncertain as to why I did not receive a medal…

I’m incredibly sore. Almost fell, quite literally, out of bed this morning. But I’m satisfied that I completed my first-ever 10K.

By accident.

In closing, I’d like to thank Steve Jobs, Bono, Michael Jackson, Coldplay, Kernfraft 400, The Cranberries and the University of Michigan Marching Band for providing the musical inspiration for me to finish the race.

Go Blue.

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