Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Sunday, myself and thousands of others took part 11th annual Komen Chattanooga Race for the Cure. It was a great opportunity to support breast cancer research, mix and mingle with other runners and take part in a road race. Sunday began as a very dreary day with scattered showers throughout the region. However, the huge turnout and positive vibe of all those present did much to make the gray skies above less noticeable. As all the runners queued up for the race, instructions were given regarding the race lineup. Those taking part were directed to line up in the massive crowd behind the starting line by their running ability. There was a person near the starting line holding a sight that read ‘8 Minute Mile’ and another further back hoisting one that read ‘9 Minute Mile’. Walkers were advised to stay further back. Knowing I average only a 10-minute mile, I stayed further back in the group of slower movers that had no sign to stand under.

At the sound of the starting horn, the huge crowd at the starting line set into motion and slowly disintegrated as the runners began the race. The visual of this was like a stream of water being poured of a hardened block of sand with the grains slowly floating away as it disappeared. After a minute or so, the crowd had dissipated enough that those toward the back could set their feet in motion. Apparently, many of the racers did not realize the difference between walking and running. Despite repeated requests that walkers stay towards the back, there were plenty of them towards the front taking their time, forcing the runners to slow up and navigate around them. One man decided his small child could keep pace with him and tried to hold his hand while running in the race, dragging him along. That poor child could have been seriously hurt or worse yet trampled. Running among a huge throng of runners could be akin to driving on a crowded freeway with no room to pass, yet still maintaining a high speed and trying to circumvent those in the left lane creeping along at a slower speed.

After navigating the traffic jam of runners and finding the open road by which to run, the race and the fun truly began. The course took runners through the Fort Wood neighborhood near UTC and then to the UTC campus and finally back through Fort Wood to the finish line. Running through Fort Wood, there was a spot along the course with speakers blaring the classic endurance song, “Eye of the Tiger”. It was very inspiring for the comical reasons associated with the song, but also that time and effort had been taken to do such for the runners.

I’ve been both a participant and spectator of races like this before, but it was not until Sunday that I realized the contribution observers cheering on those running make. It was encouraging to see random strangers standing along the road clapping and cheering. Some UTC cheerleaders were even out in full cheerleading regala cheering the runners along. It was not very far into the course, less than the 1-mile mark, where the first water station came into view. I normally pass these by. I did notice that many runners find it necessary to violently fling their emptied cup on the ground versus just a relaxed drop or toss.

It was not far beyond this and near the 1-mile marker that I heard some increased clapping and cheering. These cheers were for a runner all ready on his way back! We’d been running only 10 minutes and this guy was two-thirds of the way through the course! He passed with a big grin and not a hint of exhaustion or even exertion. Per the race results, this speed demon is 26 years old. However, youth can not be the only contributing factor to his speed. A 43-year-old man finished in just under 19 minutes. The top female runner was 25 years old and finished the race seconds shy of 19 minutes. A 47-year-old female crossed the finish line at 21:25.

Crossing the halfway point of the race, there was another musical contribution. From a van’s stereo system, Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer” emanated from the speakers. The lyrics “…we’re halfway there” never rang so true! By this point in the race, most runners had set their pace. There was not much passing up being done anymore, save an occasional body that saved their second wind for the final mile. It seems that many of the course’s uphill climbs were saved for the final leg of the race. For some strange inspiration in the final throes of the race, somebody was playing some Scottish bagpipe music for runners to enjoy. With less than a mile, there was a group of people smiling and cheering displaying a sign that read “Almost there!” The last set of hills seemed especially taxing, but I trudged on and was at the finish line in no time. My friend Patrick was gracious enough to snap the photo of me ending the race. It was a great race and a great day. It was both a victory for breast cancer research and all those who took part, be they organizers, runners, walkers or spectators.