Happy Groundhog Day!

In addition to being a really fun movie (I can't listen to "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher without smiling) Groundhog Day is National Rheumatoid Awareness Day. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to do the TLC Groundhog 10K Run in Kansas City and raise some money for the Arthritis National Research Foundation. It all added up to a really neat experience that was well worth the effort.

Proud Finisher

The race took place at Sub Tropolis in (or should I say "under") Kansas City. This is a limestone mine that has been converted to industrial storage space and climate controlled environments. The race is sponsored by The Children's Therapeutic Learning Centers of Kansas City to fund the work they do for children with special needs. That alone would be reason enough to do the race but they were giving away some pretty neat 10K finisher medals so I sent in my registration.

It also gave me a focus race to raise money for the ANRF, a foundation that grants money to researchers working for a cure/treatment for all types of arthritis and autoimmune diseases. I created a donor page and was humbled by the generosity of my family and friends. I can't thank them enough for supporting me on my run. I truly did think of each and everyone of them as I trotted along the tunnels.

I didn't know what to expect when we arrived at the venue. After looking at pictures on-line I was pretty sure I wouldn't have any claustrophobia issues but it was overwhelming to see the place in person. The mine was dug leaving pillars holding the roof up with everything else between cleared away. It reassembled a huge shopping mall with lots of support columns throughout. Walls were added where they needed to divide the area for storage units and such but near the entry way it was pretty open. There were over 1400 runners in the 10K and it didn't seemed packed at the starting line at all. But it was loud. That many voices echoing off the walls make quite a din.



Dan K. and Kate H. before the race.

When  the race was about to start everyone just started moving to their area. I was in the green wave along with most of the participants. The crowd just sort of moved forward and before you know it we were crossing the starting line. I felt good and set my own pace. Since GPS watches were useless it was just a matter of running how you felt. I did have my timer going and knew what mile I should be on at any given time. The problem was that I missed the mile markers in the crowd and didn't quite know my distance part of the time. So I walked when I needed and ran as much as I could.

They said the mine was a constant 68 degrees. But I can tell you it was much warmer the farther you got from the entrance. I am thankful the route was well marked with cones on both sides of the path and lights overhead. The tunnels that lead off into the side were blocked off and dark so you would really have to try to get off the route and I had no intention of straying from the pack.



Even the pillars are huge.

Even before I neared the end of the first loop the fast runners were passing me. Bicyclists lead the way shouting for us to move to the right, leaders coming! They looked so smooth and fast as I trudged along. When we started the second loop I was seriously wondering what the heck I was doing and who I was trying to impress. Three more miles of this! Ugggg.

But I wasn't the slowest, I finished ahead of 70 others and 2 ladies in my age group. I wasn't the most challenged, the blind man with his guide dog and the parents pushing their disabled child in a special running stroller where amazing. But I did finish and in just about the time I was shooting for. Would I have liked to go faster? Of course. Was I willing to push my body to accomplish that? No. I participated and finished and raised some money for a worthy cause without wrecking my body. That is winning in my books.

My friends Kate H., Dan K., Doug S., Jenessa M., and Emery S., all stepped up to the line and ran like a groundhog through the tunnels under Kansas City. It sounds crazy but that's what crazy people do. And I like being this kind of crazy. Enjoy Groundhog Day, again and again, and again!