ENTRY #3
The great thing about running and races is that they make for exciting and memorable weekends. This past weekend my family and I travelled to Cape Cod to run the 40th annual Falmouth Road Race. This race is more than just a typical race, it is a family tradition, the so-called climax of the summer, my favorite weekend of the whole year. There are many things which make this race special, but what I enjoy the most is that I have my entire family (and a large amount of Cape friends) to share the excitement and enjoyment with. My parents have run this race dozens of times, my two younger sisters have run it several consecutive years now, my grandmother even ran this past year, and this was my eighth year. With streaks like those, a summer without Falmouth would simply not be a complete summer.
To kick off the busy weekend, on Saturday morning my family and I went to the race expo to pick up our numbers and wander around. In the expo there are typically two things. First, there are always lots of businesses and individuals trying to advertise and sell their products. And second, there seems to be a lot of kids (and even one or two enthusiastic adults) running around trying to collect as many free samples and things as they can. I must say I am guilty of that too when I was much younger, even before I began racing, because my sisters and I would have a contest to see who could get the most clif bars. I don’t think I ever won. The next stop after the expo was a panel session of Joan Benoit Samuelson, Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Rod Dixon, Craig Virgin. All five of these great runners have a connection to the Falmouth Road Race, so they discussed what the road race means to them and then a small talk about the current Olympics. Of course everybody knows these people as Olympians and what not, so it was interesting to hear the more quiet side of their story as road race runners instead of Olympians.
Just to make Saturday even busier, we then proceeded to the high school track to watch the elite mile races at the Falmouth High School track (actually, after going to party #1 out of 3 for dinner). These elite runners came from everywhere in the country, but it seemed like most were from California. And many ran in the Olympic Trials in Oregon earlier this summer. In the men’s race, six men broke four minutes, a great race to see. The women’s race was phenomenal with a new 2012 world best time of 4:26.76.
The next day was the big day, August 12, Falmouth Road Race. When we woke up at 6:30, it was complete down pouring rain, and the humidity percentage was skyrocketed, definitely not ideal racing conditions. There was even a chance of thunderstorms! But soon enough we were out of the door, in trash bags to keep dry. We could not bring a raincoat, or warm ups of any type because this race is a point to point race and with about 12,000 runners, officials do not offer to transfer or keep people’s things.
Even though the house we were staying at was only five miles from the starting line, we still had to leave the house a few hours before the starting time because it is a long process to reach the start. We first had to walk to a bus stop where there were extremely long, but fast, lines of anxious runners waiting to board one of the dozens of school buses to Wood’s Hole, the part of Falmouth which the race begins. At Woods Hole the excitement level is indescribable. There are thousands and thousands of runners, both elites and recreational, gathered in a small area with the same purpose- to run. Clearly, even though it was raining, the energy and enthusiasm was not dampened.
This year, I was fortunate enough to have a great number, 278, which put me in the first corral out of six. Last year I was in the second corral, and it was impossible to warm up or move during the twenty minutes or so leading into the race since everybody was crammed into a tight area. But, this year since I started with the elites, I was able to run accelerations and do whatever I wanted since the first 200 meters or so of the race course was open to corral one. It was great, and almost intimidating, to be up there with the Kenyans and elites. But nevertheless, I think that presence boosted my enthusiasm, not that it needed to be raised even more.
By ten o’clock, the rain had let up, thankfully, but the humidity was still present. At this time, it was Frank Shorter who fired the starting gun, and off the runners went. The first two or three miles were the hilliest miles of the race, but also my fastest. They were actually blistering fast. By mile three I noticed a whole lot of people began passing me; I slowed down a considerable amount for sure. Nearing mile four, a smaller older looking woman passed me and I saw it was Joan Benoit Samuelson! That especially proved I went out fast if she passed me that late in the race since we both started at the same time and by the end she beat me by roughly a minute (though I say someday, I’ll run a faster time than her… maybe). By this point the race leveled out along the beach where thousands of spectators were cheering loudly, boats were anchored along the shore with people, and there were even a few live bands playing. The momentum carried me along when I was tired the most. With half a mile to go there was one last hill, the Falmouth Heights Hill, which really isn’t as bad as it sounds. I personally think the downhill finish was worse than the uphill because it feels as if it never ended. It just kept going and going. 
And all this time while the hill was going and going, I was able to see the huge American flag waving above the finish line. It was almost a tease to be able to see the flag/finish while sprinting the last several minutes.
But soon enough I crossed the finish line with a clock time of just over 45 minutes (I am still unsure of my chip time); a respectable time for 7.1 miles. I was just glad I bettered my time from the previous year (46:07). Many people, young and old, who were in phenomenal physical condition, did not better their time due to the horrid, humid conditions.
At the end of the race there is a large amount of free food at the ball field. But the day doesn’t end there; that was the first of many meals and and eating opportunities of the afternoon. After the race we always go to two parties. The first, we call the “Pokraka Party.” One of the hosts of this party, Ron Pokraka, is one of five people to have run all forty Falmouth Road Races, an amazing accomplishment. Being of that standard and among other things, he also has a connection to Frank Shorter. So, at this party, I suddenly see Frank Shorter just casually eating on the deck chatting with some people. I then later got to speak to him about Falmouth and small things. After meeting an Olympian and eating far too much food, we then went to the second road race party of the day. This party was hosted by another friend and once again there was an incredible amount of food. By the end of the day I think everyone had nearly eaten a couple days’ worth of food! Good thing no one has to race again in the next couple days!
By the end of the day, it feels as if the weekend were more like an entire week. But, that is what makes the weekend special. There is nothing that I know of like the Falmouth Road Race. The festivities, running community, spectator support, and my own family and our history with this race makes it so unique. I am extremely proud of my two younger sisters who have stuck through the race for the past several years. Even if at their young age and interest running is not the most enjoyable thing, they still endure the pain, something I know a lot of people wouldn’t think of doing. Similarly, I am very happy for my parents and grandmother who completed yet another Falmouth Road Race; that is such an inspiration. With my eighth race completed, I already have new goals and aspirations for my ninth. I am already looking forward to next year.
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