Recently I made some observations about the importance of places. Reading back, I cannot believe I forgot to at least give some recognition to a locale that has been as important to my life as a runner as maybe any place else. Pioneers Park in the western section of Lincoln, NE.
This fall marks the 20th year I have been dealing with the turns, dips, trees, hills, and challenges of this stalwart course of high school running. A course that can be crazy fast in dry weather and squishy, energy sucking mess in wet conditions. My first attempt in an actual race was the Nebraska Wesleyan Invite August, 1995. I was a JV member of the Lincoln Southeast Knights. Since that late summer morning, I have followed that white line for more workouts than just about any other route on my menu. Running through driving rain, 90s and humid, shin deep snow, and perfect racing days. That course has shaped me as a runner and a coach.
The morning of September 19th, 2015 saw me check off another “to-do” on my running list. At the age of 35 (!) I was running my first ever college race at this year’s Woody Greeno Invite. As near as I can tell, I was the third oldest guy on the starting line (props to Darin Schlake and Ryan Regnier, oldest and second oldest respectively). Due to a series of conflicts over the last few years because of coaching high school cross country, I had not been able to lace up the spikes. Finally, I could make it and have a team to run with.
Placed out left in Box 23, Lincoln Running Company Racing was the only non-college team to participate. No other running clubs chose to field a full 5 to score. After a great little huddle (hadn’t been part of one of those in a long, long time), the gun went off, unexpectedly. I have never been a fast starter. I generally rely on my strength to get me through races and just be really consistent. I knew in this race with the number of runners that I wouldn’t be able to pass as many as the course is fairly narrow for the first 2k of the race. I didn’t want to get caught out, and ended up dodging and weaving more than I would have liked in a crowd of 18-20 year olds. Had a goal of sub 28, which is pretty rich for me on a course like that in my first race of this variety.
My age-group nemesis/friend (nemiriend?) Ryan Regnier pulled past me heading through the 5k and I tried to hang on to him, couldn’t. Battling a bunch of guys at least 14 years my junior, it was awesome. I would get past them on the uphills, they would catch me on the flats, and we were even on the downhills. So often I am solo in races, but never was I more than a few strides from another athlete. After suffering through Choo choo hill a second time I was in a race the last 400m trying to hold off the young bucks. Got one or two, but not enough to make me happy. Got a couple of “holy cows” from some guys when they saw me after the finishing line.
Pioneers is the place where you can go to test yourself. There is no rhythm to it. The terrain and footing and angles and light are always changing. Your heart rate redlines, then you recover. You are absolutely killing it on a downhill and then encounter a soul crushing quarter mile uphill. You share it with every prep and college runner that has come through this city in the last
Every guy on our team was out there with different expectations. Regnier has Twin Cities Marathon in two weeks. Rathje has California International in two months. Marolf and I are getting ready for club cross in San Francisco in two months. Vidlak just ran an elite mile in Duluth. Schlake and Dostal are just kind of doing their thing. While I didn’t race nearly as well as I was hoping, being a part of a team again was freaking awesome. Thanks for letting me tag along guys.