It all begun a "Century" ago

The energetic music emitting out of the sound system barely diffused the jitteriness.   The cold February morning induced the jumpy, tense emotion I’m feeling at that moment. And then the celebrities -- they who put the glitter in events like this -- led the warm-up -- a no-frill yet fundamental pre-race activity -- with music accompaniment. 

I surveyed the competition. It was a strange new world.  Gone is the track oval. In its place is a road seems to be leading to nowhere but the finish area is the exact same place where we’re all standing at that moment. The so-called elites positioned themselves in front, non-verbally announcing their presence via their outfit, short shorts, mid rib singlet wrapping their skinny frames.  The familiar sound of the gunstart, a sound so eerily familiar in my younger years officially signaled my return to the sport I long abandoned in favor of a much publicized, much worshipped game in this side of the Pacific. 

It began the way I commence any race, full throttle, accelerating in top velocity. But unlike my favorite sprint event, overheating came unsurprisingly sudden. Stride became slower, breathing became harder, and the competition made me look like a beginner –which I really am, at least in this event.

A few minutes after, which seemed like an eternity, the struggle came to an end.

 16 minutes and 8 seconds since the race started, 75 participants finished the job before me.  Odd experience for someone used to be the second or third best in a foot race. The only consolation was, out of 1804 finishers, I would be considered faster than the other 1,730 runners. Not bad for a first timer to run three kilometers. But no medal recognizes the 76^th best runner.

The festive scene in the post-race event is an uplifting sight. Freebies abound, from the Tuna brand sponsoring the event to the overflowing sports drink which when purchased cost a fortune( at least for a budget-tight consumer like me).

 No podium finish.  No medal. No applause from spectators. Nothing resembling the glory I once enjoyed in shorter, all-out speed distances.

 But not a tinge of sadness nor disappointment or frustration was felt.  Why would I?  when I can have bragging rights to announce based on the official results I run faster than Derek Ramsay J