The Cape to Gate 44-mile Relay Race, held on Saturday, February 25, was my first “race” of the season. I use the term “race” very loosely, as our team– alternatively named Team Gimp, Team BQ or Caped Cruise-aders–did not plan on racing at all.
Our team runners consisted of Tracy, my sister-in-law (you may remember her as my pacer for the VT50), Carole Donohue, our new running buddy, and myself. Our team also benefitted from having a head cheerleader, sherpa-in-charge Mrs. Regina Jenkins, my lovely mother-in-law, who chauffeured our stinking asses 44 miles from Cape May, NJ to Margate, NJ.
She didn’t complain once; however, she did agree that I smelled rotten.
Tracy, Carole and I are in the midst of training for the Boston Marathon, and decided we would jump in this free (yes, free!) race as a way to spice up the week’s long run. With Boston 7 weeks away, the run had to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 miles. I run by myself all the time. Why not run with people? Be a little social for a change?
So, our plan was to cruise the course–long, slow distance (LSD) style. Cruising has its consequences, however.
The other teams had 5, 6, 7–up to 10 members, who would run 1-2 mile sprints, and then rest or ride a team bike while their team members ran their sprints. It was clear from the beginning we were going to get our asses kicked by these teams. And we did. We finished dead last. DFL. To paraphrase a popular saying, at least we enjoyed the ride.
Enjoy we did.
It was a beautiful morning (and day) to run. Saturday morning started in stark opposition to Friday’s weather, which was characterized by pouring rain, thunderstorms, and relentless 50 mph winds. There was none of that for us.
When I took off at 6:55 a.m. there was no wind, and the temps were in the low 30s, and due to rise into the 40s and 50s. Perfect running weather.
The sun was rising as the moon was setting, and in between the sun and the moon, peaking through the clouds, was a rainbow. On mornings like this, I can’t imagine doing anything else but feeling the ground beneath my feet. It truly was a good day to run.
One of the best aspects of joining this event–second only to my wonderful running companions–was the opportunity to run in a different area. While I had run on this course before as part of the Ocean Drive marathon, it had been at least two years.
It is gloriously scenic, traveling along the water, the boardwalk, and the cute beach towns of Southern Jersey. The course meanders over wonderful little and big bridges that connect the land amidst the tributaries. It is one of my favorite routes. I wish I lived closer so I could do it more often.
Every few miles or so, my team members would drive by in the car, making sure I didn’t need anything, and give me the war cry: “Woop! Woop!” I wonder if the residents along the course wondered if there was a new type of wildlife flown in that day…
Because each of us had planned to do our scheduled long run, we would overlap on the course. Not true to the form of a relay race, but a great way to capture some company while running. Tracy joined me at the half marathon mark. We took off as we had on so many other days: running together, chatting, soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the terrain. The right running partner can make all of the difference.
About 19 miles into the run, the other relay runners were starting to catch us. (We had started an hour early so that we wouldn’t finish too late and miss the post-race festivities.) I have to admit, the competitor in me didn’t like the feeling of getting caught. I thought I would be okay with this turn of events–after all, I knew it would happen–but that little voice inside wanted me to speed up.
Don’t get passed!
Yet, as I had been saying to Carole and Tracy all week: We have bigger fish to fry. Boston is the focus here. While doing 6 or 7 fast intervals is a fantastic workout, it does not serve the same purpose as the oh-so-vital long run.
So, I convinced the horses they would have to stay in the barn, while Tracy and I continued to cruise at our LSD pace. (I know I wasn’t alone in my feelings of wanting to run free a bit. I could feel Tracy’s horses chomping at the bit…)
Running slower does have its advantages, after all. If I had been running faster, I would not have had the opportunity to soak in my surroundings:
the ocean stretching out to sea as far as I my eyecould go;
the sun and moon playing with the rainbows;
the Wildwood boardwalk amusements where I played every summer as a child when I would go to visit my grandparents;
the soul-healing power of comraderie.
Two hours and 54 minutes went by in a flash. I finished up my 20 miles as Carole started her run. Tracy would stay with her for the first few miles, and then join Jeanne and I back in the car. It was a full-on running party!
The Cape Cruise-aders (wisely) stuck to the plan and finished our 44 miles in 6 hours and 53 minutes. Not too shabby at all for a little frolic by the seashore.
Conveinently enough, the race ended at Robert’s Place, a bar in Margate, NJ. What better way to celebrate finishing and friendship than with a nice cold beer (or two…).
- Head sherpa Jeanne and I toasting to the day
Cape to Gate was a great time, great course, and lots of fun. This event is a free race that is open to anyone.I highly recommend it if you live or will be in the Southern New Jersey area during the last weekend in February.
We found out during the awards ceremony that a team can win for “most creative.” Well, if we can’t be the fastest next year, I believe we will have to find a way to be the freakiest.
Woop-Woop!
