Names have been changed to protect the innocent.
After the success and high spirits of our 5k in November, the Exercise Instigator at work found out about a run being sponsored by the university down the street from us. This particular run featured a choice of either a 6k run or a 6k relay run by three people (2k each). Remembering that it would be December (cold) and having nearly done ourselves in with a mere 5k, three of us (including the Instigator) opted for the 6k relay. In the end the Instigator had gathered four people (including herself) to run the 6k as well. It took quite a bit of effort and help on a colleague's part to get the entrance forms and sign up, but we managed to get it done.
As of this morning, our enthusiastic troupe of runners had dwindled somewhat. The Instigator has been suffering from shin splints and then caught a bad cold on top - so she backed out of both runs. Two other 6k runners also backed out due to very busy schedules. Our last 6k runner (and one of our most athletic representatives) agreed to run a 2k leg of the relay so that the relay team could still run. To be honest, I had been hoping she would refuse since the two of us from the original team had to work at Open Campus that day, and between the run and the day at work I was losing a fair chunk of my weekend. Alas, she was a good sport and we all agreed to meet at the school around 9:30am.
The two of us who had been in this from the beginning arrived first and went to register. Walking into the registration room the whole thing started to seem like a very bad idea. The next oldest person in the room was probably 22 or 23 and all seemed to be pretty much at their physical peak. We went to the sign up desk, explained that a number of runners could not come and made the changes to the roster to show who was running. We then waited for Our Pinch-Hitter.
We got a call from her just before the opening ceremony. She didn't have a bike key and needed a place to stash her bike. I went over to the school to help her and my other colleague went to the opening ceremony as Our Representative. While I was helping Our Pinch Hitter get her bike into our English Office for safe-keeping, she admitted to me that she had been out rather late last night for an end-of-year party - the "forget the year" drinking parties that friends, social groups and co-workers enjoy together throughout December. She had also just been awarded a black-belt in karate and the end of year stacked up with celebration of such an achievement had left her a bit worse for wear on this particular morning.
Once Our Pinch Hitter and I arrived at the opening ceremony, I got a bit of a culture shock. All of the teams were neatly lined up one behind the next with each team facing the speaker. Several speakers gave words of encouragement to the students - because they were all students. Yes, we had signed up for a student run. Almost all the teams were not only university students, but athletic teams and clubs. The guys from the soccer team, team, the baseball team, the running club, etc. Our Pinch Hitter and I slunk to the back of the crowd. I had to chuckle looking at all the neatly organized, energetic youth in their warm-up suits and the three of us - one out of shape, one just plain overweight and one hung over. All we needed were cigarettes and Bloody Marys.
The next speaker announced that it was time for Radio Taiso!
I have described Radio Taiso before. Basically it is a simple calisthenics routine done to standard tunes. You see construction workers, retirees and school children doing Radio Taiso in the morning before they start their days. Everyone knows the routine. Even for those who don't (me) it is not too hard to catch on. The trickiest bit was leaning opposite the leader - who was facing us. I started following the students in front of me instead. At this point I spotted Our Representative and we fell in to line behind her. Properly warmed up, we were regaled by the school brass band and then saw a performance by the Cheerleading squad.
And it was time to run. The first run was the 6k. Our Pinch Hitter asked me if I was running the 6k and I assured her that Our Representative and I were not. She decided that she really shouldn't either. We could tell by looking at her that skipping the 6k was clearly the best choice. We had an hour before the relay, so she found a table and took the opportunity to catch some rest. Our Representative and I spent the time chatting. When it was time for the relay to begin we decided to leave Our Pinch Hitter for the time being since she was running last and had at least 20 minutes before she would need to run. Our Representative said she would come back and wake her up after I was on my way. I did my best to warm up (it was a stunning sunny day and much warmer than the two weeks prior) and when the starting gun was fired, I did my best not to be left in the dust. Thankfully, there were a few other girls teams that were not planning to sprint the full 2k. We made a nice little pack and I did my best not to fall behind. About 200 yards in I really wanted to just quit. Deep down, I hate running, and getting past the initial phase, when your muscles are still cold and everything is uncomfortable just sucks. Thankfully, I pressed on, and after about 1k I was warmed up and grudgingly willing to finish. There were only two of us left at the very back at this point, but we weren't so far behind. I did my best to sprint the last little bit and Our Representative took off next.
I looked around but I did not see Our Pinch Hitter. I went to the cafeteria and she looked like she was doing everything she could not to vomit. She looked up at me and said she didn't think she would be able to run after all. I don't think we would have let her if she wanted to. I took her running number with the briefest thought of running the last leg so our team could have a finish time. I didn't know if that would be acceptable - and they would clearly recognize me, since I was the only foreigner running that day - but in the end I just couldn't do it. I was spent from the first leg and just didn't want to. I cheered for Our Representative as she crossed the finish line and then told her what was going on. We both had fun and we left it at that. After all, if Our Pinch Hitter had cancelled that morning before coming, we wouldn't have run at all, and that would have been a shame. I have such a fun story to tell as a result.
