The View from the Back of the Pack.

I have never won a race. That's not exactly true. In 3rd grade Lloyd and I won the three-legged race on Field Day. If there had been a betting line we would have been considered long shots. Yet the upset reigned the day! However, it was still just a three-legged race in 3rd grade. So I guess I should say I have never won a meaningful race.

I was on the cross country and track team in high school. I came in second a few times and got a few third place medals but I never had the elation of breaking the tape.

The fact it most of us will not. Only one person gets to in a race so the odds are against us. Especially if we are Woggers. It was hard for me to come to grips with this. When I was in high school I was a pretty good runner. A front half guy at least. So it was hard when I wogged the San Antonio 1/2 marathon last year.

Now realize I had no illusions that I was going to do well. I had not trained properly and I am very very out of shape. But I did not expect to be so far back. I did not expect to turn the corner for the last mile and start seeing people on the sidelines that were finished ... with the FULL MARATHON. I mean they had run twice as far as I had Wogged, were done, showered, had eaten and some were even running more! It reminded me of this scene from Scrubs:  

But you know what? I wasn't doing it to win. And the people who finished hours ahead of me? They weren't there to tease me. In fact, the most awesome part of the day was seeing those that had finished their race coming back to the course to cheer on those of us still working at it. Indeed, the view from the back of the pack was pretty good from that sense. I think what we Woggers have to remember, at least I do, is when I look at the magazines with the ripped people, or I look up my stats online the day after the Seabrook 1/2 Marathon and realize I came in last in my age and gender group, it doesn't really matter. I set out to accomplish a goal I set for myself. It's my goal and I'm glad I finished. Even if my name was at the bottom.