The returning runner…

Act 51 – Wind…

I cruised in the sixth and last spot in the varsity mile as we approached the 880 mark. I found comfort from the gusting winds as I drafted behind the lead pack. As we approached halfway, Coach Runge yelled out the times with apparent terror in his voice; “2:30, 2:31…”. I understood his panic. We trailed Morse High’s best in a battle for San Diego’s Eastern League championship. Their third man had beaten me the year before and their other two (the Roberts brothers) were quite a bit better. I had no speed – at least no “final stretch sprint speed”.  But what I did have was the ability to dramatically change gears halfway through a race. Taking note of the panic in Coach’s voice, I imagined my third lap as our best sprinters (David Russell and Kipper Bell) running back to back 220s.  The final lap I tried to find another gear and imagined running each leg of our 440 relay team. Whipping around for a glance back as I crossed the finish line, I found two more Patrick Henry HS runners close on my heals – Joginder Dillon and Sean Sweeney with the discouraged Morse runners brining up the rear. We had swept the mile and with amazing efforts from our sprinters had captured the Eastern League title.

More often than not, I have found the wind to be a “friend” when racing but there are some things to keep in mind whether racing or training:

·       Don’t be discouraged – when it’s windy everyone will be going slower.

·       Drafting is a real thing! Use it when racing in very windy conditions.

·       When passing a runner going into a headwind, do it with authority! Otherwise, you will find a “friend” drafting close behind you.

·       When training, I’ve actually “played” a bit with crazy winds (you’ve got quite a bit of it in Nevada) – sideslipping a foot or more sometimes as a gust hits. Try to make it fun while being careful at the same time.

·       There are of course some hazards:

o   If you are planning on training along a sandy beach in gusty conditions, you are going to get sand-blasted and eye protection or changing plans is in order.

o   When trail running, falling trees and branches are a real possibility.

o   And, if you are on a narrow, steep-sided, trail death from being blown over the side is a real threat. I once ill-advisedly led a Grand Canyon hiking group into an 80mph blizzard going down the South Kaibab Trail. We all survived but it was close…

Photo: Grand Canyon South Kaibab blizzard survivors – Brad Pardue, Coleman Pardue, Trent Gookin, Mark Gookin