Hayden Humphrey Sat on a Wall

The 2008 Mission Inn Run was pretty good considering I hadn’t been able to train for about three weeks due to illness. (Curse you modern viruses and your resistance to antibiotics!) I improved my time from last years run by about 2:30, which is not bad considering.

The upshot of this race was the final 300 yards. I had Jim Schaumleffel in my sights, and had saved just enough to open it up with a confident stride into the finish when young Hayden Humphrey came steaming up on my right. Passing on the right is just silly, so I poured in just a bit more and we both dashed the last 50 yards in, where Hayden refused to give up and would have ended up in the hospital when I shoulder checked him crossing the line, but didn’t.

Why?

Maturity my friends. Years and years of maturity.

Hayden was obviously young and to have turned in such a successful time was impressive in my book. So I didn’t shoulder check him, or yell at him for nearly causing an accident. Instead, I gave him my place, clapped him on the shoulders, and congratulated him on his run. I suggested he be mindful of tripping up older, more fragile runners like myself, and he said he would.

All in all, a very good day.

Time: 22:25 (about 8 minute splits)
Overall Place: 225th out of 1,187
Division Place: 11th