As the vocals start on the ninth track of one of my favorite album, it is as if I am hearing it for the first time . . . . “Stories we all got’em,” and runners are no exception. Runners often gather after races in small groups stretching, rehydrating, and spinning yarns. These tails usually involve some aspect of training or racing that have gone awry.
One story that comes to mind unfolded during the 1600 meter final at the IHSA state meet in 2004. There were great expectation for this race before the gun went off. Many expected a new state meet record out of this talented field. It was a virtual field of who’s-who among Illinois prep middle distance runners.
However, that is not how the race unfolded. As soon as the gun was fired the runners packed up with little daylight between all 10 of the runners in the race. The pace was pedestrain. It appeared none one was willing to shake free from the pack and run his race. With one lap completed there was still no distance to speak of between the 10 runners. At the half way point the pack passed the start somewhere around 2:12. The IHSA state meet mark in the 1600 meter of 4:05.17 was safe. Near the conclusion of the third lap, the last place runner summoned his courage and attempted to make a move to break free from the pack. It was as if he deceided he had this one chance to break the collective will of the group as he was going to seize it. As the group was approaching the starting line for the third time with the anticipation of the meet officials ringing the bell to signal the final lap he manuvered out and around the pack and sprinted for all he was worth to assume control of the pack and the race.
Suddenly the rest of the pack surged after him, and one by one the field began to over take him. It was a mad dash for the finish and every runner threw caution to the wind while trying to outkick the field and win a state title. That brave runner who broke the log jam in the highly touted race has gone down in IHSA history as the 2004 IHSA Class AA 1200 meter state champion, and his teammates the following year at the U of I would often remind him of this accomplishment. To his credit and defense he had previously raced the 3200, which he finished in sixth place in a time of 9:25.46. This brave and talented runner was no other than, Art Glaz, who’s Bio can be found here.
Share some of your favorite running stories in the comments after this Blog.
Sadly, I don’t have a good story of running gallantry on the track or field. Hmmm, what good stories do I have?
When I ran Chicago last year, somewhere between 20 and 25, a spectator handed me a Twizzler for some extra sugar. I guess I looked pretty tired by that point, so he yelled very loudly, “Good job, YELLOW!” I was really, really offended by what I assumed was a racially-motivated comment. Eventually, I remembered that I was wearing a bright yellow technical tee and felt rather sheepish.