iCandybyWangC

• The matter of picking your races •

[1½ MIN READ]

While in Alaska for my annual service trip, I had my occasional opportunity to represent the Growlers at the Copper Valley 5K/10K Fun Run. Seeing as it’s my 9th year in an area where I’ve been the regular from Philly, I’m able to greet some people warmly. One of the 5K competitors is also on the staff of the local visitor center where I and my service teammates often go. Me, walking in: “Hi, Dale.” Dale, nonchalantly interrupting his conversation with a tourist: “Hi, Calvin.” Dale may not consider himself much of a competitor, mostly walking the course, but I see him whenever I participate.

I registered at the local Glennallen Chiropractic Center the day before the Independence event. The cost is free (with a shirt!) because of the support from it and other area sponsors. Then I showed up at the starting line with some 100 other registrants.

At the start line, I exchanged names with the race organizer (who was new in the role and whom I’d not yet met). Me: “How many people registered for the 10K?” Bill: “Zero.” “Make that ‘one’, because I did.” Bill: “Oh!”

While line-up began, Bill pointed me out as the sole event competitor from Philadelphia, which promptly made me a celebrity. Dale and I got going with the rest of the relatively mini-mass of people. I did the 5K loop chatting amiably (my wont, you may not be surprised to know); everyone knew I’d be doing it again. Reaching the finishing line the first time, I got as much cheering as the competitors of that 5K distance before I turned back to start again.

I led a few walkers back as I finished the 10K run in 1st place. And 2nd place. And 3rd place. A personal sweep.

Happily, I also negative split the time for every individual mile and finished at a pace faster than I started.

A singular success, a couple of different ways, at the kind of race that makes it possible.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), #negativesplitorpositivesplat #dothedue

FINE PRINT ¶Likeness used with permission. ¶Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2025’07’23’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun with added caption.

 

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