What Was I Thinking?

With the heat index hovering in the mid-nineties and "Life in the Fast Lane" blasting in my ear buds, I reached deep inside for that final bit of energy to carry me the last hundred meters of the race.  Sprays of mist greet my sweat-soaked skin as I moved past the finish line. The sun may have been retreating into the horizon, but it’s heat would linger for hours.  I said little to the other runners finishing around me.  That was okay because I had the sense that they didn’t want to talk much either.

This year’s Midnight Madness race had been absolutely brutal.

A heat advisory had the race director eliminate the 10K, placing everyone into the 5k as a safety precaution. That meant foregoing the longer race that I prefer for a shorter one at a distance that I hadn't trained to run.

But what did I really expect when I signed up for a race that started at 7:00 pm in the evening in the middle of July?

In other words...

What was I thinking?

Pre-race crowd, seeking as much shade as possible.

Why Did I Sign Up for This?

This race is an annual event in Ames, Iowa (Home of Iowa State University, my wife’s beloved alma mater - Go Cyclones!).  With a 5K and 10K, the event is billed with a good “festival” vibe.  Cold beer, food and live music await finishers afterwards and into the evening.

Having fun in my wife’s former stomping grounds definitely provided motivation for her to endure the 5K.  Nor would I turn down a cold ale or two later - likely after guzzling three gallons of water.  

But that’s not why I signed up for my first twilight race in over four decades

Blame it On Bix

The official reason I offered to anyone who asked is that I signed up for Midnight Madness to prepare for similar conditions at the Bix 7 in two weeks.  That seven-mile climb up and down the hills of Davenport reigns as Iowa’s largest race, attracting runners from all across the nation.  With this year’s version being the golden anniversary and knowing the talent that will likely bring to the shores of the Mississippi, it's my hope this race leads to a respectable performance in that one.

Would the wind whipping through that flag be a friend or foe?

Blame It on Awful Songs and Ice

Digging deeper, there are a couple other reasons that I chose to put myself through the sweat-soaked pain cave that was Midnight Madness. Blame it on Nostalgia.  And blame it on Winter.

First the nostalgia.  Last time I ran a twilight race was way back in late August 1980.  I was going into my sophomore year of college, starting my second season for Umpqua Community College.  I honestly remember little of race itself, telling me I neither kicked ass nor stunk up the joint.  What I do recall is meandering afterwards from downtown to the edge of the South Umpqua River. With streetlights casting long shadows over the riverbank, my thoughts wandered from the race to friends, potential girlfriends and a near future that appeared - and largely turned out to be - positive.

Embarrassingly enough, I distinctly recall Robbie Dupree's "Hot Rod Hearts" buzzing in my head during that walk. Painful as it is to admit, every time I’ve heard that dreadful song since then, my mind immediately snaps back to that memory (including atrocious lyrics such as "Schoolgirl brushes her hair back, Blue jeans can't hide the bare facts, Bad boy knows where to find her, Runs the light, sneaks up behind her." No question that sentimentality can overrule wisdom.)

Next up, as miserable as I felt for most the 5K in that accursed sauna that we call the Midwest under a Heat Advisory, it was hands down better than enduring the painfully numbing chills of the winter.  Would I have objected to the thermostat being turned down a few notches or some drier air stopping by for a bit?  Of course not.  But, living in a state with both weather extremes, I’ll take the heat over the cold every single time.

Not much ice to worry about either.

This is inside the Ames Fitness Center where I spent most of my time before venturing outside!

Evening Vs. Morning

My wife teased me that I couldn't do this race because it would finish too close to my bedtime. She's not wrong. At the same time, I noticed some interesting pro's and con's about racing in the evening compared to the morning.

• Pro: Sleeping In. As opposed to getting up early to have my body ready for a morning race, I actually got to sleep in late. I can't remember the last time I slept in on a Saturday morning.

• Pro: Full Breakfast and Lunch. Have to say that I also enjoyed being able to enjoy a full breakfast and lunch - as well as time to savor a pot of coffee and a mocha!

• Con: Heat. Not that there wouldn't have been heat and humidity with a morning race, but once we were past ten am, it was an ironclad guarantee that we'd be looking a heat index in the nineties.

• Con: Waiting So Long. Another downside is having an upcoming race linger in the back of my mind throughout the day. I don't like my racing to impact our lives beyond the morning. But when we had to suddenly help with a move, I needed to be clear about eating lunch by a certain time (and not having a beer afterwards!).

Overall, Midnight Madness definitely qualified as a good experience. Kudos to the race director and volunteers for their part in mitigating the challenges posed by the weather. Likewise, a live band, food and beverages certainly provided an incentive to stick around afterwards.

What Are You Thinking?

Time for your thoughts?  Agree? Disagree?  Want me committed?  Let me know your thoughts below or on Facebook.  And thanks again for reading this blog!  I truly appreciate all the kind words!