Standin' on the Corner 10K

This post may sound a little weird unless you are intimately acquainted with the words to The Eagles song “Take it Easy.” You can read them here. Alternatively, you can attend the Standin’ on the Corner 10K which begins and ends at the Standin’ on the Corner Park, next to the Standin’ on the Corner store, during the Standin’ on the Corner annual festival. The Eagles are pretty much played non-stop here.Take it Easy lyrics that I AM embracing:

• “Running down the road”: I was all about running down the road. And up the road. The 10K course took us from the famed corner, down the new sidewalks along the railroad tracks, through the festival site, and down 3^rd Street. It was an out-and-back course, which I love because it allows me to size up the competition at they run past me (or I run past them) on the way back to the finish.
• “Trying to loosen my load”: Although any calories obliterated by my 6.2 mile jaunt were quickly replaced by the free cookies distributed at the finish line.
• “Just find a place to make your stand”: I guess that’s what this whole quitting-my-job-and-traveling is all about.  

Take it Easy lyrics that I AM NOT embodying:

• “Standing on a corner”: Although I suppose at some point I might have stood still on a corner, most of my trip to Winslow was of an active, non-standing-around nature.   
• “I’ve got seven women on my mind”: At the ½ way point, I only had three women on my mind: The three females in front of me. As a small town race, I figured that this was my best shot at winning. By mile five I had only two women on my mind. At mile six, I had just one. As I turned that final corner the only thing on my mind was keeping that lead.
• “Take it Ea-e-e-easy”: Obviously I was not doing this. My initial goal of running at a 9:10 pace went out the window when I was still feeling good after three miles at 8:30 pace. I opted to speed it up instead of taking it easy.
• “Don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy:” So this doesn’t have to do with the race, but my tire situation is getting dire. I had to get new ones in Las Vegas AGAIN. My new-tire count is currently six. I’m really hoping I don’t blow out another tire on the New Jersey Turnpike or some other god-awful place on the East Coast next month.  
• “It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me”: Nobody (girl or boy) slowed down to take any looks at me. I don’t look good running. If you don’t believe me, check out this post-race picture:

 
• “We will never be here again”: Of course I’ll be in Winslow again! I’ve already been here twice this month.
• “Looking for a lover who won’t blow my cover:” What was Don Henley even talking about? I don’t think I have a cover, and the last thing I need is a lover, whether he will blow my non-existent cover or not. Unless, of course, his “sweet love is gonna save me-e-e-e.” Then I might reconsider.   

But for now, I’ll just keep driving and running. This race was a pretty good one. It was the first of its kind, organized by Kim Henling and her sister Larissa. You can read Larissa's blog about the race here. Kim and her husband always traveled to other cities to race and lamented the fact that their hometown didn’t have a race of its own.Pretty soon she was mapping out race routes, meeting with the police department, and shelling out her own money to make this 10K/2 mile race a reality. Hopefully it will become an annual event. The race took place at 8:00am during the Standin’ on the Corner festival in Winslow, which is held during the last weekend of September. The race was $15, which is very cheap. Proceeds (if there are any) will go towards future Winslow races. Check out the Standin’ on the Corner facebook page here.