Friday, June 28, 2013

Dreams of a race director

You know you are an obsessive race director when...

I have had race dreams many times, most are anxious nightmares, usually right before an event. Things like I have told everyone the wrong date and nobody is there except for participants, or I can't get to the race start and everything I do is preventing me from getting there. But, last night was a bit much.

In my dream I was organizing a marathon. A marathon with only one person, a fast woman. As I was walking the course in the morning, I realized that the course was marked with faint chalk. I happened to have a highlighter built into my shoes (dreams, right!?), and quickly realized that this was just the thing I needed to mark the course. I went along until time was running out and I had to get to the start. I ran over there (the start happened to be at my childhood home in Seward Park) only to realize that only half the course had been marked. I sent her off on her marathon start and ran back out to the course hoping to beat her to a couple of tricky turns so she wouldn't get lost.

As I am out there I realized that it was getting very very hot and that I had completely forgotten any aid stations for her. I panicked.

And then....I woke up!

As I lay there I realized the reality and that this nightmare was not actually happening. But, as a concerned race director I really truly tried to fall back asleep quickly so I could get back into the dream to get her hydrated. I still don't know if I ever got to her in time. I hope she is OK in the heat!

You know you are an obsessive race director when....

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

I have made it as a race director

It has been a long time since I posted last, perhaps that is because Run For Good has been swamped with work, which is a good thing! But, just this morning I was feeling anxious, about our upcoming brand new event that needs more participants, or perhaps because of my meeting today with a major sponsor. Anyhow, I forced myself out the door for a run, something I have been very very lax on lately.

My knee has been grumpy the last several months and it has been a frustrating process. As I first started out I was tired, my knee was screaming at me, I was forced to walk way more than I wanted to. I was unhappy.

Then, like a mirage, coming toward me, a woman, whom I have never seen before, running, wearing one of our race shirts! It was our Good Karma shirt from the first year of that race. I smiled, briefly considered trying to take her picture with my phone (thought better of that one) and moved along, beaming.

I cannot believe this is the first time this has happened to me. Other people have reported spotting our race shirts on strangers, but never have I seen it with my own two eyes.

I now know I have made it as a race director. It put a whole new spin on my day! Goes to show that you never know what the smallest act will do to another person's day. I bet you she has no idea!