Cooper's Fungus 5K

So, Cooper and I decided to run a local 5K road race. I decided weeks ago, but did absolutely nothing to prepare for it. I talked Cooper into running with me just this past Wednesday. Cooper did train a little, in that he ran several laps around the yard for the three days leading up to the race.

The race was yesterday. We thought it started at 9:30. It started at nine. How I made that mistake, I just don't know, especially considering I was promoting the race in Berea, Wilmore, Richmond, and electronically.

Cooper and I preregistered, so we didn't plan on getting there too early. As we approached downtown, we saw the lead vehicle and lead runners rounding the second corner, which is at least 1/4 mile into the race. Crud!

I drove up to the next intersection where Cooper and I abandoned the vehicle, Laurie, and the younger kids, and ran to the registration desk to get our numbers. We quickly put them on and got Cooper out of his long sleeves and long pants and began the race. Needless to say, we were behind.

The first portion of the race went through the center of the town festival - the Mountain Mushroom Festival. Since we were so behind the others, the crowds had closed in and we had to fight through the crowded street to stay on course. As we got around to the second turn, the crowd was much thinner and we were making better time. Up ahead, we could see the truck following well behind the participants picking up the road cones that sanctioned off the race path. I told Cooper if we couldn't catch up with and get a head of that truck, we wouldn't have a safe path away from the traffic. So, he really started pushing himself. We passed the truck and were tearing up the road at a pretty good clip for an out of shape Dad running with and eight year old.

As we passed the next intersection, we saw our friend Tom Bonny. As part of the Kiwanis, he was a road guard attempting to keep traffic from hitting the race participants. He was about to give up his post when he saw us coming. He told us that we needed to catch up with ad pass the police car up ahead. That was the designated trail vehicle, another safety measure. I said that we'd give it a shot and explained to Cooper what we needed to do. We both picked up our pace and Cooper began pulling ahead of me a bit. We passed the police car, with a howdy on the way. We were now, finally, officially at the tail end of the race.

From there, we started passing the walkers, picking the off one at a time. All along, I kept coaching Cooper. He was running relatively flat-footed, which is terrible for your legs. I could hear him beating his feet on the ground, thump, thump, thump, thump and I coached him to roll his foot as he goes. I didn't really pay attention to his form until about 3/4 of a mile, or maybe even a mile, into the race. He was flailing his arms, they were wild out of control. I talked him into a better running form, but who knows how much energy he had already wasted with the pounding feet and flailing arms. With frequent reminders, his form improved, and I got him running mostly in the grass at the road's edge, when it was available.

As we passed the 1 mile marker, Cooper was still full of energy and we were still passing people left and right. Actually, they were predominantly on our right. At about a mile and a third, Cooper was ready for a break. I had to spur him on a bit farther. When we got to a later intersection, where my Dad, Cooper's Pop-pop was the Kiwanian road Guard, Cooper finally decided he needed to walk. That was probably about a mile and 1/2 into the race. I walked intermittently with Cooper from there on. Occasionally, I would spur him on with comments like; lets try to catch the lady with the dog, or we'll run when we get to the next utility pole, which Cooper would often try to negotiate to the second pole.

I did pretty well keeping him running on the down hills and he was eager to run as we passed Nana's and Poppa's house, which was probably 1/4 mile past the two mile marker. I'm very grateful they were out on their porch. I hollered out when I saw them, Poppa! and they cheered heartily for us, to the point I could feel myself blushing. But, it did wonders for Cooper and his attitude. he ran hard for quiet a while after that. At the next intersection, again we saw my Dad and he encouraged us too. So, Cooper ran well past him.

Afterwards, Cooper was pretty well licked. He was eager to walk and even mentioned that he wante dto drop ot of the race. I told him that he could. But reminded him that there was a pancake breakfast was at the finish line. Cooper is a huge fan of pancakes.

We were getting near the finish and we started seeing lots of people from the Kiwanis at the intersection, most of them were calling me by name and asking who I had running with me. Their accolades prompted Cooper to endure running bit longer.

As we neared the Irvine High Apartments, I was telling Cooper that Pop-pop and I both went to school there, me as a first and fourth grader, and Pop-pop for his elementary education. I told him that now Aunt Jeannette lived there and might be watching him out the window. I also told him that at the far end, in the cafeteria, the pancake breakfast was waiting for us.

And then, I dropped the best two pieces of news I could think of. First, Cooper, I can see the finish line from here! And then, there's Mama and the kids. He new it was over. He was revived. And he finished the race... in front of me, I might add. We sure had passed a lot of people.

We stuck around for the awards ceremony. We were sure how many kids there were in the 12 and under category and were hoping Cooper might chance a win, place, or show. He didn't. He was a little disappointed and I don't blame him. In fact, as hard as he had run and as little as he complained in site of my pushing him onward, I was a bit saddened by it as well. He really did well, not that our race times reflected it.

He seemed somewhat comforted that I got a medal, but I was slightly embarrassed, and a whole lot surprised at my getting one; there just weren't that many in my age group. I didn't feel comfortable sporting a third place finish with a time in the low forties. After all, in my prime, I had come in the top three over all finishers at this race before and people there knew it.

I told cooper that I was sorry that he didn't get anything and told him I suspect that he would have if we had gotten to the race on time. So, in short, it was my fault he didn't. He seemed to think that was okay. And we went and ate pancakes.

We're both sore today, but Cooper still wants to run it again next year. He's a little champ.