New Year...New Opportunities!

I won't get all sentimental about ringing in the new year, making resolutions, and all that. Will this year be a better year for you? Who knows. That's up to you and you alone. If you've spent 2009 complaining about your weight, lack of time to read, the saddle bags on your butt, too much snacking, stating one to many times that this is the "last" pack of smokes you're going to buy, than maybe you should. Between you and me don't waste your time making a list of a bunch of crap that you're not going to do anyway. Pick one thing - just one, and do it. Then pick another. Chip away my friends. Personally I decided that this year won't be another year of the same old thing. Vague statement? Maybe. Maybe you should keep an eye on me this year...

For the second year in a row I decided to run the Resolution Run 5k. It's such a great way to start the year. This race features the optional polar bear dive into Lake Washington. Last year I thought only idiots would seek out the sun baked 41 degree waters. This year in keeping with my resolution, I decided to get up close and personal with Lake Washington. I hadn't shared this brainstorm with my friends - thought I'd surprise them. It was also a statement to myself - if you're going to stray from the same old thing than why not do so on the first day of the year.

It turned out that Jerry and Susan also signed up for the dip. The stay dry team was made up of Sharon, Albert, and Rita. Rita hasn't ran with us for some time and it was good to see her back with the three stooges. Rain and wind made our arrival very cold. After packet pickup we headed to the car to stay warm until we had to get out and warm up. It was a quick warm up with the usual stop in the bushes for the pre-race pee. Rita not being as comfortable with nature waited in line with the proper folk for the Honey Bucket. We're low on patience and a good bush is hard to beat.

Once we got to the start area we pretty much split up. Etiquette is to line up according to your pace. Sharon, Albert, and Jerry up front and Susan towards the back - she had Cosmo and it's best to get toward the back if you're running with a pet. I'm not sure why I worded it that way...a pet. It's not like people are out there running with cats, sheep, and the like. Anyway, the course has an out and back flavor to it so I knew I'd see the speedsters at some point. Sure enough there they were, cruising with the front of the pack, and once again looking like it's easy. I know it's not and they are pushing hard, very hard. It's just that they never seem to have that twisted contorted look on their face that every picture seems to capture with me. I used to blame it on gas...maybe a side ache. Truth is that's how I run. I'm not half bad to look at standing still. Except for the gas...

The race was fairly uneventful. Lots of roots, torn asphalt, and huge puddles but that's about it. It had been four months since a 5k but I managed each mile in the 7:XX range...the higher end of that range but it felt good to try some speed again. When I saw pavement ahead I knew I was only minutes from "the dip". I was a little nervous about going in. If it's too cold and I'm breathing hard from running will my heart stop? Will it be so cold that I'll never recover from the shrinkage? Shouldn't I wear a life vest? By the time I finished questioning myself there it was just 50 yards in front of me - Lake Washington.

Crowds are yelling and excitement took over and next thing I know I'm in the water. I fully submerge so there's no question of whether or not I actually did it right. Waterlogged I run up the ramp, around the corner and towards the finish line. I feel great - powerful - I did it! I see Sharon smiling and yelling from the side and around the corner comes Albert. Wet hugs all around. It was great and friends made it better.

In short order Rita was there with a big smile for a race well ran. Susan came up with Cosmo - both waterlogged - apparently Cosmo didn't want to go in the water and stopped short of going in. He finally made the right choice. After a quick change of clothes (I won't go in to the detail of 40 men trying to change in a 20x20 tent but let's just say that a little more room would have resulted in a lot less accidental contact) we were off to Starbucks. I enjoy the post party as much as the race itself. It reminds me how valuable good friends are. They don't judge, they support. They push me, and help me. I know that where ever I am in a race, I'm never alone.

Metrics. Michael - 24:29 7:54 pace. 10 of 50 in my division. 136 of 931 overall. Sharon - 21:03 6:48 pace. 3 of 98 in her division. 27th overall. Women - top 5. Albert - 20:52 6:44 pace. 7 of 105 in his division. 39th overall. Rita - 27:57 9:01 pace. 18 of 124 in her division. 296th overall. Jerry - 18:19 5:55 pace. 11 of 462 in his division. 11th overall. Susan - 29:42 9:35 pace. Division unknown. 367th overall. Cosmo - ran barefoot, never complained about the leash, stopped and took a crap shortly after the race started. Better him than me....Have a great 2010. Run...don't jog.