When I sat down at the beginning of 2013 to plan this year’s race calendar, there were three or four races that I knew I had to include. The Tannenbaum 10K was one of them. I ran this race in 2012 (in the pouring rain, I might add), and had a fantastic time. Also, this year’s race was going to happen on my 44th birthday. Anyone who’s a runner will know there is no better way to spend a birthday than by running a race.

I stalked the race website throughout the year, and about five minutes after seeing the announcement that registrations had opened, I was signed up. I sent an email to the race director asking if I could please, pretty please, have bib number 44. He replied on the same day, promising to try. When I went to pick up my race kit on the eve of the race, I was delighted to see that I had, in fact, been given bib 44. I was also given a race kit with some nice goodies, including a super-cool winter hat that has already become an essential part of my winter wardrobe. I never leave the house without it.

On the morning of the race, I found a parking spot (a free parking spot!) about a minute’s walk from the start line. This, along with the gorgeous winter weather, boded well. I went to check my bag and ran into my friend Phaedra. We chatted for a while, then it was time to check my bag and line up at the start line.

I got off to as good a start as I could. I started far back in the pack and got caught behind slower runners (a deliberate tactic to avoid starting too fast). During the first kilometre, my dollar store earbuds gave up the ghost. I didn’t have a spare pair of earbuds with me, so I had to run the race without music. I realised that I have become far too dependent on music for setting my pace, because I struggled to find my rhythm after that.

In spite of this, I managed to keep a reasonably consistent pace, and I didn’t do too badly running up the Spit. Usually I hate running up the Spit. I find it lonely and soul-destroying. However, the race only took us a short distance up the Spit and back. At the 5K turnaround point I sped up a little, knowing that I was now heading back the way I had come. A wave of exhaustion hit me somewhere around the 7K mark, but I forced myself on, telling myself that I only had about 20 minutes left.

I crossed the finish line in a little over 1:04:00 – not my best time, but well within what I was hoping for. I collected my finisher’s medal, and then went to get a post-race snack. Instead of the usual bananas and bagels, there were these sinfully delicious scone-pastry type things. They were so good that I had two of them.

 

I met up with Phaedra again, and we headed to the awards presentation area. Not only was Phaedra the first Masters woman over the finish line, she broke the women’s Masters course record. She collected her award, and I picked up a draw prize (a hat and a voucher for a Road ID, which is already on its way to me).

Just like last year, I found this event to be well-organised and festive. There was a community spirit that sometimes gets lost in the larger events. And the cause – giving Christmas to families who cannot afford it – is absolutely fantastic. After two years of running this race, I can say with confidence that it has earned a permanent spot on my annual race calendar.

This is an original post by Kirsten Doyle.