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California International Marathon Relay
"A Cool Dream I Had"

   A Cool Dream I Had

Last Saturday night I had a dream. Suddenly I was amongst 4000 people. It was dark and cold on a Sunday morning.

Then It got lighter, I saw a white line and the nation's top marathoners were packed behind it. Wow, a chance to race with the best! And a $1million prize was at stake! Like race horses snorting frosting breathes, there was a long line of anxious runners poised at the front.

A gunshot rang out and we all bolted forward seemingly without concern for any conservative marathon pace. In the corner of my eye I saw the elites pull ahead and instantly veered over to run with them (it was a dream anyway) But I couldn't! Even with my fastest sprint, the lead pack of 20 quickly left me behind, cutting all ties with the rest of the mob. Like an elite "boy's club", of which I wasn't invited, they settle into a tight group, off to divvy up the prizes between them. And a second group of 7, running 5min pace, formed behind them, also out of my reach.

The first turn, on a slight downhill, was in sight. I seemed to remember it from a previous run. It was never a concern before. But in my dream I was careening recklessly towards it. The first groups leaned into the corner like a pack of synchronized cyclists. I thought to myself nervously, "Buckle up! We're going in!" and I swung wide into the opposite lane. The crowd cheered but it all seemed so distant because I was breathing so hard. I clocked a 5:32 split! And the lead group was a 1/4 mile down the road.

I looked back expecting to see a good gap, but witnessed a charging mob with determination in their eyes. I swallowed hard and pressed forward up the first roller. Hills are my strong point. But my pedal was already floored and my pace waned slightly. I was suddenly engulfed and spit out the back of the third group of marathoners.

I humbly resumed pace on the flat and then suffered the same fate on the next hill as a fourth group surged by. My 2nd split in the rollers was 6:00 flat. On the slight downhill I was able to speed up and hang on to the 4th group. Wow, finally, I was running alongside some of the best. But struggling. And they were talking. Chatting about past races & other teams. But I missed parts of it because every grade they'd casually step it up a notch and leave me behind for a bit. Ugh. And some guy went running off the road onto the undulating dirt trail, and still pulled ahead up to the third group!