The race that became a “breakfast run”

I’ve pulled out of races two times after entering at the start and just not feeling like it, but I’ve never been late for a race. Yesterday I was on time again for my race…or maybe I wasn’t…I didn’t hang around to find out.

The Slow-Mag Half Marathon started at 6:30 and we left home, at 05:09. It seems that was probably too late. We joined the queue of backed-up traffic on the highway at 5:35. We were about 6km from the race venue and start.

With “we” I mean Anette and I. At first we weren’t phased by the traffic, but when we realized we were literally moving forward at a “single car length at a time” pace we started lifting our eyebrows. The talk in the car became something like this:

Anette: “This is no serious or big race for you is it?”

Me: “no, it’s just a training run. Just me doing another half marathon. All part of my Num-Num training.

Anette: “Good, so if we maybe don’t get to the start in time it will be ok…?”

Me: “Yes, I won’t mind missing the race; I’ll just run 21km at home.”

Anette: “Because at this pace we won’t make it.”

Me: “I know, but then we’ll just go find coffee somewhere.”

Anette: “Mmm…that is almost tempting…”

Me: “Almost…”

We crawled forward at a very slow pace. There were just too many cars for the roads leading to the venue to handle. I still had to collect my bib and visit the loo before the start as well. Not making the race in time was becoming a reality fast.

I was still not upset or sad or anything for that matter. Missing the race was not going to be a bad thing at all. It will just take me a bit longer to some year run my 2000^th race. I am currently on 1361 races and this race was just another click of the counter.

At some point runners started getting out of cars and ran/jogged to the start. I knew some people will use the marathon to qualify for Comrades and for them this was a huge problem. I was lucky I was not one of them. We crawled forward and the time went passed 06:00. Soon after this people started turning their cars around and head back home. We stuck around until 06:12.

Me: “There’s no way we can make this.”

Anette: “You wanna run to the start and I park the car?”

Me: “No way, I still need the toilet and get my bib.”

Anette: “So are we going home?”

Me: “No, we are going for coffee!”

With that I turned down the first possible side road and drove away from the race. I was relieved and happy with my decision. There was no urgency for me to run this race. It was really just another 21km training run and another click of the counter.

I decided to head for this place…

For some awesome coffee and great breakfast…

We were happy…very happy actually!

Life is good! I had a fabulous “breakfast run”!


Have a super week everyone!