Round my heart I felt an aching pain.

Bay Days Five Mile Fun Run (1980?)

From the image at left, based on the bib number, I am almost certain this is the 1980 Bay Days Five Mile Run.

That was my first race. My number was 623, and it is the same type of unlabeled card, same large font.

That is a light cardstock, by the way. Perhaps there were holes punched into it, not sure.

Dad was running the race, and somewhere I got the idea that I would also. I did not do too badly. But he was out in front of me.

Do you see? His feet do not touch the ground.

Distance: 3.25 miles
Route: Forest Hills Loop

Head down into the light snow and wind. A beautiful run around Forest Hills. Brisk pace, great bpms, good music.

Temperature: 34°
Climate: wind and light snow
Pavement: wet
Weight: 163 lbs.
Mood: all right

2013 Playlist
Fare Thee Well (Dink's Song) * - Oscar Isaac & Marcus Mumford
Pumping Blood - NONONO
Everything (155 bpm) - Nine Inch Nails
Harlem - New Politics
San Fransisco - The Mowgli's
Animals - Martin Garrix
Love Somebody - Maroon 5
Royals (170 bpm) - Lorde

2013 Bay Days 5 Mile Run

39th Annual Bay Days Run
Start: 8:30 am
Official time: 36:16.4
Place in division: 4
Place overall: 120
Pace: 7:15

Clock set for 6 AM, I woke at 5 when the cats decided to have game of Chase the Shit Out of Each Other. The chase woke me, the surprising gash one of them left in my right calf as they tore across the bed got me up. It was raining, but who knows. I got my kit on, packed fresh clothes, and drove all the way across town to where it all began.

Well, not exactly where it all began, the course used to be much more interesting and shaded. Now it is predictable, with far too many turns, no hills, and just flat, flat, flat. For a brief moment prior to start the clouds opened and temperature jumped up about five degrees. Luckily, the clouds moved in again and it was merely very humid, but not bright.

Used to get so anxious prior to a race, having to pee several times, forcing a movement. But now, shoot. Five miles? That's just ordinary. Only the pack freaks me out.

I did feel a bit queasy by the fifth mile, pushing to make a personal best, which I believe I did. I can only find records for my 1980 and 2007 Bay Day runs, six years ago it was 37:01. I don't do these every year, that may have been the last time I did.

Bay High Playlist
Relax (New York Mix) - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Don't Box Me In - Stan Ridgway w/Stewart Copeland
Rock Me Tonight - Billy Sqier
The Glamous Life - Sheila E
Save It For Later - The Beat
We Close Our Eyes - Go West
? (Modern Industry) - Fishbone

Bay Days

This is the "after" photo, standing in a field in Cahoon Park. You can see the former BMS in the background, a great prison-like building I was attending at the time.

I must have found that number irritating, people wear them much lower on their abdomen where they don't disrupt your movement. Looks like cardstock, boy have we changed in twenty-eight years.

Those shoes are simply awesome.

The Stay In Bay Days Five Mile Run used to begin right there at Bay Days, in Cahoon Park. It's always on July 4th, I believe at 8.30. Ten or so years ago I thought I would run it again, for the sheer amusement of it, and learned that they were now starting at the high school, presumably for organization and facilities, etc. A lot of people show up for it.

However, I miss the old route. It would go through the Metroparks, and in and around all the unusual, older neighborhoods of Bay. There were more trees, a few hills, winding terrain, I remember it being enjoyable, even if I kept my head down and had to stop and walk every half mile or so.

Now it's flat, flat, flat and lots of long, straight roads. It's kind of boring.

Distance: 3 miles
Temperature: 30 degrees & sunny!
Weight: 156 lbs.

Listening to: PODRUNNER Classic - Emotion in Motion (155 BPM)

That was so totally not below freezing, it's the Great Pre-Thanksgiving Thaw of Aught-Eight out there.

155 BPM seems to be Daddy's sweet spot right about now.

Three miles. Thank you.