I was a runner in my youth, participating in track and cross country. Knee injuries put my running career to a halt in college but I still fondly remember that feeling of flying while out running. So when Don Sechler of the Kutztown Optimist Club asked if I’d be running in the Kutztown Fools Run this year, I couldn’t decline. This was the end of February and I hadn’t been training so I was a little nervous but eager to run again.
My nerves increased as the days flew by and my version of training was only running around the backyard with my 3-year-old daughter.
Race day arrived bright and early Saturday, March 28, with a light snowfall. As I arrived in Kutztown, the temperature did not rise much, but the excitement of race day was contagious in Beltzner Hall at Kutztown Fairgrounds. Everyone was so encouraging to one another. People of various ages from children to seniors stretched and drank water and completed their other prerace routines.
Then, the call came for the start of the 10 mile race. I headed to College Boulevard to watch the dedicated runners line up at the starting line. Minutes later, the start sign was turned around for the 5k runners. I joined the crowd of runners, seeing familiar faces and receiving greetings from a few. I disappeared in the crowd, hoping to not get in the way of the faster of runners.
Don Sechler said a few words to honor the memory of local runner Sally Miksiewicz, the East Penn Manufacturing CEO tragically killed while running in the summer of 2014. Sechler said Sally was a loyal Fools Run runner every year since 2009 and also one the Optimist Club’s ardent supporters. The club named the 5k in her honor, the Sally Miksiewicz Memorial 5K Run. Even though I didn’t know her personally, I thought about Sally while I ran, glad to be doing something she enjoyed to honor her memory.
The next instant, we heard, “On your mark, get set,” and the air horn blared. We were off! I tried to keep up, but running up that first hill really tore me up. I very quickly realized I was not prepared for this race!
But I persevered. I kept a steady jog for most of the race, my scarf blowing behind me. I enjoyed the quiet and solitude of running through the campus with only a couple of other runners around me. I only had to stop to walk a couple of times for short periods; otherwise I ran most of the course, which took me past places where I took many of my classes or once lived.
Amazingly, the first two miles went by in a flash. Then, the last mile slipped by even quicker. As I passed other runners at the brief turnaround by the bridge on College Blvd., they smiled encouragement and seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as myself.
The last half mile seemed to drag on even though I had picked up my pace. I gathered the strength and coaxed myself to keep pushing forward as I passed familiar people along the sidewalks. With my lungs burning, I pushed myself through the finishing line to be greeted by, “Well, at least you’re smiling!” from the person taking my racing ID for the results tally.
I was smiling because I was so proud to have completed the race, even though there were times I didn’t think it possible. There is no better high than a runner’s high and no better high than finishing a race.
Maybe next year I’ll train first.
Lisa Mitchell is an editor for Berks-Mont Newspapers.