Well, the deed is done. My second running-related crime has been committed- unless you count Jay-walking and indecent exposure (those running shorts), in which case I am a regular criminal.
Today I ran the Father’s Day 5 miler in Central Park, New York, without having signed up for it. In my last post I discussed some of the moral issues related to “illegal racing,” without drawing any conclusions. I also, to clear my conscience, convinced myself that I wouldn’t run in the race section, take too much water from the water stops, or indulge in post-race delicacies (plums, on this occasion). All these convictions broke down when I entered the disgusting sauna that was the outside.
So yes, I ran with the racers, drank their water, and even took a plum after the race. Not only that, but I even borrowed a bib from my brother so I could start in a corral; and since my brother is a fast runner, I got to start in the first corral which made me feel pretty cool. Granted, it was completely undeserved, but it was still fun.
If you happen to peruse the pictures of this event, I’m the runner who is nonchalantly covering my bib with my hand for every photograph. I didn’t want the New York Road Runners realizing that there was a guy with a half-marathon bib running a 5-miler, somehow discovering my identity with some high-tech face-recognition software, and banning me from all future New York Road Runner events.
So judge me if you will, but it was fun. Sweaty, dehydrating, stomach-upsetting fun. And it was totally worth it.
We the Runners 