Across this great Country we celebrate our day of Independence in our own ways. Runners race. Why not? You have the day off, and you probably don't need to "start the party" at 9am.(although I'm sure I've done it at least once myself.) So, start a tradition for yourself, go run your local road race on the 4th of July!
I have run the Cranford Firecraker five times. 2006, 07', 09', 13', and this year's race. I have placed no worse than 7th and no better than 2nd...until yesterday.
You may have seen on Nj.com an article that told you I won the race by .3 seconds, narrowly beating Elias Howard, a Cranford native. The truth is, it was a tie. If you saw the photos of us holding hands, you may wonder, "wait, it looks like they tied!" Yes, I won, but in my opinion he did too. So, I will tell you what happened. Since the author of that sad excuse-of-an-article did not bother to interview me "the winner" or "Eli", as he is known by the many people who cheered him on throughout the 4 mile course.
First Mile-The temperature for racing in July was about as good as it gets, low-mid 70's, a bit humid, but hey, it's July, good enough, I can hope for a good time in this. The race literally started with a BOOM from a cannon! It always does, and with no count down, so it startles me every time. In the first 600m, I followed a guy who stopped a the turn from Springtfield Ave onto Kenilworth Blvd. Leaving me with the lead into the wind. I do not always enjoy trying to win a race wire-to-wire. So i eased off a touch, and let a couple of guys ahead of me a bit for two reasons: 1) Let someone else eat the wind we were heading into 2)visually inspect my competitors and hear their breathing.
From 600m-1mile, there were perhaps four or five of us(including Eli) in a pack. As the 1 mile clock came into view I glanced at my watch and saw already 5:08, and by the time we passed it, 5:23 was the split. My personal time goal for this race was 20:59, looking for 5:15 here. I know I have to make a move, quickly.
Second Mile-I make a surge to begin the 2nd mile and have no intention of allowing anyone to stay close. I'm pushing solo into the wind, Eli is following or running alongside me. Everytime he pulls even I surge ahead. He gets ahead as we turn onto S 21st St/Orange Ave, but I refuse to let him hold the lead for long, we are running even again as we pass the 2mile mark, splitting a 5:08 and back on track for the 20:59 I was hoping for. Eli grabs a cup of water and splashes himself, I press on running evenly with him as volunteers and spectators cheer us on. "Go Eli!" I'm clearly not the favorite here.
Third Mile-Just a few steps before the turn onto Birch St, a narrow, wooded street that allows access to a school parking lot; I surge ahead again to take the best line into the turn. About 120m later we make another 90 degree turn onto a narrow bike/foot path that later ends onto Belmont Ave. We headed straight down this path dodging puddles, and a few overzealous volunteers further compressing the already narrow path.We split a 5:22, I figure the 21:00 is out the window. I'm still holding a narrow margin and not relenting.
Fourth Mile-Eli is still hot on my heels, I know he is right there. We approach a left turn onto Riverside Dr, which is followed by a climb onto a roadside path, onto a very narrow footbridge that crosses the Rahway River. We make a right off of the bridge down a short steep decline onto Balmiere Pkwy and another sharp incline onto a path that cuts back through some woods and dumps onto Park Dr. These four turns all come in a short distance and as soon as we hit the path through the woods I gave it another push, still no separation. We cover the 100m on Park Dr before the last 480m. Now after trailing me for a mile and a 1/4, Eli runs alongside and maybe gains 1/2 a meter on me now. I take the inside of the turn and pull even for the final time...
We have a bit more than 400m left now, what's at stake? The thrill of victory? Another cheap medal and low-cost tech tee? Yes on both counts.
Eli, calmly says to me "Want to hold hands and tie?"
I say, "Alright, sure."
"It will probably be the first time that's ever happened here", he says.
"They will probably give it to one of us, but I'm fine with whatever happens", I say.
So we motor along looking to even our stride, and with about 40m to go, I reach out and say, "Ok" Eli grabs my hand, we raise them up between us, We raise our other hands in triumph. We cross the finish line to light applause. I'm shot, glad this one is over. We hit 21:09, last mile in 5:15, shy of my goal, but that's alright. It was still my fastest time on this course in five tries.
Moments later, nearby volunteers congratulate us both, I congratulate Eli on a great race. And it was, neither of us were sand-bagging, I know I ran it hard to the end.
Do I wonder who would have won it if I had said, "Nah, let's rumble!" and put on the after burners? Not really. There are times in life when you can show the strength of the human spirit in sport, and we were evenly matched throughout this race. It was Eli's idea, and I hadn't thought of it at all, but I liked the idea just fine. In my mind, we were both the victor of this race. He's a very good runner, and a nice kid for the times I've interacted with him(having met him at a road race while he was still a HS runner). Now competing for Dickinson College in PA, he has proven his ability through dedication and hard work. That is something that I can respect in a younger runner. I took his gesture as a nod of repsect and recognition, and was glad to oblige him and reciprocate. Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers did it! Why not Eli and Me?
I have run the Cranford Firecraker five times. 2006, 07', 09', 13', and this year's race. I have placed no worse than 7th and no better than 2nd...until yesterday.
You may have seen on Nj.com an article that told you I won the race by .3 seconds, narrowly beating Elias Howard, a Cranford native. The truth is, it was a tie. If you saw the photos of us holding hands, you may wonder, "wait, it looks like they tied!" Yes, I won, but in my opinion he did too. So, I will tell you what happened. Since the author of that sad excuse-of-an-article did not bother to interview me "the winner" or "Eli", as he is known by the many people who cheered him on throughout the 4 mile course.
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| Elias Howard and I linked in Victory. Photo credit to nj.com |
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| We are #1! photo credit to nj.com |
First Mile-The temperature for racing in July was about as good as it gets, low-mid 70's, a bit humid, but hey, it's July, good enough, I can hope for a good time in this. The race literally started with a BOOM from a cannon! It always does, and with no count down, so it startles me every time. In the first 600m, I followed a guy who stopped a the turn from Springtfield Ave onto Kenilworth Blvd. Leaving me with the lead into the wind. I do not always enjoy trying to win a race wire-to-wire. So i eased off a touch, and let a couple of guys ahead of me a bit for two reasons: 1) Let someone else eat the wind we were heading into 2)visually inspect my competitors and hear their breathing.
From 600m-1mile, there were perhaps four or five of us(including Eli) in a pack. As the 1 mile clock came into view I glanced at my watch and saw already 5:08, and by the time we passed it, 5:23 was the split. My personal time goal for this race was 20:59, looking for 5:15 here. I know I have to make a move, quickly.
Second Mile-I make a surge to begin the 2nd mile and have no intention of allowing anyone to stay close. I'm pushing solo into the wind, Eli is following or running alongside me. Everytime he pulls even I surge ahead. He gets ahead as we turn onto S 21st St/Orange Ave, but I refuse to let him hold the lead for long, we are running even again as we pass the 2mile mark, splitting a 5:08 and back on track for the 20:59 I was hoping for. Eli grabs a cup of water and splashes himself, I press on running evenly with him as volunteers and spectators cheer us on. "Go Eli!" I'm clearly not the favorite here.
Third Mile-Just a few steps before the turn onto Birch St, a narrow, wooded street that allows access to a school parking lot; I surge ahead again to take the best line into the turn. About 120m later we make another 90 degree turn onto a narrow bike/foot path that later ends onto Belmont Ave. We headed straight down this path dodging puddles, and a few overzealous volunteers further compressing the already narrow path.We split a 5:22, I figure the 21:00 is out the window. I'm still holding a narrow margin and not relenting.
Fourth Mile-Eli is still hot on my heels, I know he is right there. We approach a left turn onto Riverside Dr, which is followed by a climb onto a roadside path, onto a very narrow footbridge that crosses the Rahway River. We make a right off of the bridge down a short steep decline onto Balmiere Pkwy and another sharp incline onto a path that cuts back through some woods and dumps onto Park Dr. These four turns all come in a short distance and as soon as we hit the path through the woods I gave it another push, still no separation. We cover the 100m on Park Dr before the last 480m. Now after trailing me for a mile and a 1/4, Eli runs alongside and maybe gains 1/2 a meter on me now. I take the inside of the turn and pull even for the final time...
We have a bit more than 400m left now, what's at stake? The thrill of victory? Another cheap medal and low-cost tech tee? Yes on both counts.
Eli, calmly says to me "Want to hold hands and tie?"
I say, "Alright, sure."
"It will probably be the first time that's ever happened here", he says.
"They will probably give it to one of us, but I'm fine with whatever happens", I say.
So we motor along looking to even our stride, and with about 40m to go, I reach out and say, "Ok" Eli grabs my hand, we raise them up between us, We raise our other hands in triumph. We cross the finish line to light applause. I'm shot, glad this one is over. We hit 21:09, last mile in 5:15, shy of my goal, but that's alright. It was still my fastest time on this course in five tries.
Moments later, nearby volunteers congratulate us both, I congratulate Eli on a great race. And it was, neither of us were sand-bagging, I know I ran it hard to the end.
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| Frank Short and Bill Rodgers finish in a hand-holding tie at the Virginia 10 miler in 1975 |
