Since she graduated from Yale in '01 Emily has run exactly two races (She won the Wellfleet 5 Mile Road Race in '01 and '03). Falmouth would not only be the longest race she'd ever run (7 miles), but when I first told her she had an elite number Emily was a little concerned that four years away from running might affect that status. Still she was excited to be back racing and her training for a marathon this fall was going OK.
As it came closer to race day and having checked results from previous years, she seemed more at ease with the prospect of competing with some big-name runners. Her alternative was to join the over 10,000 runners in the main pack. With the tight start in Wood's Hole, that could mean shuffle jogging the first mile.
I convinced Arlene to join up with me while I followed my bike spectating routine. A few years back I met up with Mark Young and John Babbington to try this routine for the first time. Back then, we met at the White Hen Pantry in Falmouth. John pulled out a well-worn map with various checkpoints highlighted. This is the map he used back when he coached Lynn Jennings to a Falmouth win and course record. The three of us were going to recreate that day by following Mark's athlete, Kate O'Neill.
Now I was going to use that formula to catch Emily at least four spots along the course, and I wanted Arlene to come along. Her only fear was that she would not be able to keep up, but as you will see, that was easily dispelled.
On race day, we arrived at the Falmouth Stop and Shop and proceeded on the quest. We rode to the Shining Sea bike trail and followed it all the way to the start in Wood's Hole. I'd never seen the trail this crowded! There were bikers, walkers, and roller-bladers. Each group went at a different pace and the bottlenecks caused us to keep changing our pedaling rhythm.
When we got to Wood's Hole Arlene stayed with the bikes while I headed off to get race shots and hopefully meet up with Emily and Matt. Matt would be following the race from the press truck. At first I couldn't find them, but then left the chaos of main street to seek out quiet areas. There they were, Em stretching by the water while Matt gave her last minute instructions. Or were they discussing where they would be eating out that night?
None of the tension I normally associated with her big races was evident. Then again, there was no pressure on her. This was for experimentation, to find out if she still had competitive fire and the sinew and lungs to back it up.
Arlene and I were itchy to get back to the first viewing area, a spot where the bike trail crosses over the racecourse 1.75 miles in. After the wheel chair start I decided we'd hang in right to the last minute. Just before the start I saw Emily one last time. She tossed me her extra shirt and I told her to “Have fun”. I'd used that during many tense moments to smooth the edges, but this time it was evident to me that she'd already intended to do so.
Bikes poised, Arlene and I watched the start (I'd never before tried to catch this part) then took to our wheels. Just up the trail the racecourse passed over our heads and we could see the lead pack. From this angle it would be futile to try to pick out specific runners but I kept looking back over my head as I rode, watching the stream of runners passing over the hill. It is nearly a five-minute ride to the first viewing spot, one wildly popular. Since the runners are going nearly two miles, we had time to put down the bikes and walk the path down to the road. A few minutes later the lead group came through and I chanted, “Go Kimbia, Go Kimbia” to the Kenyans I'd spent time with over the past two days.
I had specific times written down as to when I should see Emily. Although her training showed that 6:20's would be very doable, the course is hilly early. Matt and Em had decided on a few miles at 6:45 pace and negative splitting in from there. When she showed up nearly a minute early I was surprised but excited. I had doubted that she'd be able to completely rein in her enthusiasm, but this was faster than the fastest I'd predicted. Later she would tell me that the clock at 1 mile had read 5:58 as she passed. Although it felt right to her, I'm sure she wondered as I did about the toll it might take after 5 miles. I cheered her on and slipped in “That's a little fast” – as though she still needed my input at age 28.
The next leg of our bike journey is less leisurely. The racecourse crosses the bike trail on the same grade, so if you don't beat the lead truck you have to pick a spot to cross between racers. This worries Arlene. But at 3.25 into the race there is quite a spread between elite groups and the masses. During this stretch there are woods to our left blocking the view of runners, and beautiful vistas to our right stretching across the water to Martha's Vineyard.
As we break out of the woods it is obvious that we'll miss the front pack, they are crossing our path about 200M ahead. Once we get to the road there are big gaps and we're across before the lead woman passes. I had intended to count heads but in the excitement I forget. We cheer on Kate O'Neill. She was Em's teammate at Yale, represented the US in the Olympic 10K in '04 and is back running great after two years of struggling with injuries. When Emily passes by, she is now over a minute ahead of the times I had predicted and she seems to be running fine, sweat glistening off her pale skin (after all, she's been studying for the bar exam – not sitting on the beach). Emily is momentarily running alone in a gap between groups, with five men just 30M back. The next women I see are Colleen Wetherbee and Ann Shadle (who ran 4:42.18 in the Falmouth Mile the night before.)
Now comes the hard part. By bike we have to cover 3.5 miles compared to just 2.5 miles for the athletes. This leg takes the bike rider to the end of the bike trail then through Main Street in Falmouth before cutting back to the top of the harbor. Arlene and I fight traffic and red lights while the runners only contend with each other. Here's where Arlene's true mettle is discovered. Whenever we ride bikes, I eventually pull away, especially opening the gap on uphills. Despite the fact that I'm on a new bike, the course is uphill and I'm gasping for air – Arlene is never more than two feet off my rear wheel.
We miss the lead women by less than a minute but are in time to watch Emily go by. Shadle has caught and passed her but Wetherbee is nowhere in sight. Again, Emily looks fine, sitting on another female runner.
Emily later recounts a funny story. This area of the course is dense with spectators. Many people are yelling, “Go Ari, Go Ari” Emily starts to wonder if it is Ari Lambi who's feet she's been following closely. Since Lambi is one of the top XC runners in the nation, Emily is hesitant to pass her even though she considers the pace too slow. After another 800M Emily decides to go, finding out later that this Ari is a Falmouth native.
Arlene and I speed to the finish. We have enough time to argue over who runs to the finish and who tends the bikes. As is the story of our over 30 years together, each attempts to defer to the other. I win, which means I lock up the bikes while Arlene moves to a better vantage point. We aren't together to share the experience of Emily sprinting down the hill to a finish time much faster than anticipated, but we'll relive the moment in our long drive back to Wellfleet.
It is a bittersweet day. The Kimbia athletes are vastly disappointed, but Matt and Emily are happy with her performance. After spending time in Central Park meeting up with friends and taking in the sites, eventually we make our way back to a subdued Kimbia House. No one wants to celebrate, so after a few pictures we head back to Wellfleet – another Falmouth Road Race in the books.
Emily hopes to come back and race again. She thought the crowds were awesome!
Results
Of the 11,000 runners in the race Emily placed 147th overall, 30th female and 19th American woman. Her time for the seven miles was 43:04.
|
| "Airborne" Emily |