This is my somewhat cryptic way of informing you all that I WON the Xterra 10k today!! I am so excited!
The nitty gritty: I led from the gun, so I have no idea how many women were there or if any of them were any good. And if you are wondering about the outcome of the first debate of the day on Thursday: I wore my black Adidas running shorts that are too big, a long-sleeve Craft mock turtleneck base layer in Raspberry that my mom gave me last Christmas, my orange tempo trainers (appropriate for Fall), my Powerbar visor, Soap and Glory Sexy MotherPucker lip gloss, and my favourite ring. No earrings cause the back fell out of one as I was rearranging my outfit before the race and I couldn’t find it so I took them both out 
. OK back to the race! So my time was 41:57, not the fastest thing ever and in the context of a road triathlon I would be pretty disappointed in myself *BUT* considering that this was a twisty trail run at 6400′ elevation with a total of ~2500′ of uphill (and a super scary log crossing!), I’ll take it. I’ll take it AND I’ll go to Hawaii!
The mental mumbo-jumbo: So this race kind of marked a couple of anniversaries for me. One year ago today, I raced my first triathlon! I did the Olympic race at Scott Tinley’s, where despite an abysmal 45 minute dogpaddle/breastroke swim, I still managed to pass all the girls in my age group during the bike and run, and get a podium photo in a miniskirt. You’ll have to look through the archives for that one. That’s also where I met Eileen and first got a glimpse of BC Dot Org but he was pedaling too fast for me to even say HI!
The other anniversary was that of my first (and only) other 10k running race outside of a triathlon – on October 7, 1990, I ran the Fleet Week 10k in San Francisco with my stepdad, Rick, who had encouraged me to try out for the cross country team at my school and who told me that despite my fears, I could do it. He was right. He died of a heart attack at the finish line of that 10k, after we had run together in silence for 3 miles (I had gotten in trubs for being a brat to my brother, but come on I was 12), then made up in silence over the last 3 miles as we ran stride for stride. Even though I never got the chance to apologize or tell him I loved him, I still find peace with the fact that we ran together. We shared the best parts of the sport we both loved – the beauty of rhythm, effort, believing, and just being alive. With 200 meters to go he dropped back with breathing troubles and yelled “Go Courtenay!” to me when I looked back worried. Then he surged past me at the finish line. And then he collapsed and the rest is a blur of tears and shock and no.
There is not a race when I don’t think about Rick and how much I wish he were still here. So today, nearly 18 years later and here I am still bratty at 30 years old, and even though I had no idea who would show up or how I would stack up or even what to wear, I set out to win that race and to show Rick how grateful I am that he believed in me.
So there you go.
Also I really wanted to win that ticket to Hawaii. I can’t wait to see my brother again, and my tan’s going to need some replenishment come January 
.
Comments
This entry was posted on Saturday, October 4th, 2008 at 9:15 pm and is filed under family, my favourite. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
CONGRATS Courtenay…you rock! Seriously, I think you’re pretty unstoppable. What an athlete. I’m in awe.
YIPEE!!!
Nice lip gloss name too…I gotta get me some of that.
And what a mighty fine prize too…your second home.
Go Courtenay!
Congrats on your victory. It is also a touching tribute to your step dad. Keep up the hard work.
HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yay to you! of course i so knew you would win that when i told steve you had won, he was like didnt that already happen and i was like no i just said it was going to happen.
your stepdad would be proud of you (not just for this race)
Congrats on your win and your trip! Glad you found the right outfit.
Yay Courtenay! Way to go! You are having such a great year! I can’t wait to try a tri, and to see you out there next year. I am sure your step dad is proud…
Congrats.. and yea, come back to HI!!
What a great tribute to your stepdad.. look what he started for you. Incredible.
Congrats on your win Courtenay!! Hawaii here you come!!!
And thanks for sharing your story about your stepfather. Very tragic, but like the others said, I’m sure you have made him proud with all your accomplishments! Great way to celebrate his life!
Holy Crap! Nice Win.
Lot’s of winning in our blog world this week.
I know I already told you a million times, but I am sooooo proud of you and so happy for you.
I didn’t know that story about your stepdad. That was really touching. It must be so gratifying to be fulfilling all of this potential that he helped you discover.
WAY TO GO, COURTENAY!
you look very tall in that podium photo. very tall. congratulations, Court! and thank you for sharing your story of Rick — very moving.
Congratulations! And a very touching story about your step-father. Thanks so much for sharing that.
It just so happens that I’ll be in Hawaii this week too. I’ll look for you, but I have no idea what to expect as far as crowds go and stuff. I’d planned this trip with my Mom back in January, so she’s thrilled.
If I don’t get to see you, go get ‘em!!!
Holly