Saucony 2009XC - Molly Huddle

My current attitude is when in doubt, the roads will always be there. The local turkey trot leads into the Emerald Nuts run on New Years Eve which is a fond memory during the spring marathon in Boston followed by the familiar summer mirage of hot waves of asphalt rippling in the distance at Falmouth because there is always a time for the roads. I like to run a few races in late summer and early fall, that’s my ‘season’, but whenever the track is not treating me right I like to know I can escape to the pavement to cheer up.

The atmosphere at road races is relatively relaxed; it is hard to take yourself too seriously when three rows behind you on the starting line someone is dressed up like a hot dog. All the athletes usually drop the steely-eyed glares and intimidating demeanor reserved for the track, a place of business where I often forget it’s all a game. Here, we all want to win, but it’s obviously a big party, so we talk, we hang out together, we even bond. Afterward, it’s hard to stay upset when things don’t go well because you get a free popsicle, orange slice or cup of cold beer depending on where you are…

And the awards! It’s like some surreal social art project and game show combined. Half of the town races through the streets while the other half lines them screaming their heads off, holding signs, singing gospel music and what have you. Then in the end two people win a trumpet and a car, or a giant novelty check….or a frozen turkey and some pie. But not everyone else goes home empty handed because there are always the age group awards to be had.

In the next three months I hope to race the Crim 10 mile in Flint, Michigan, the CVS 5k here in Providence, RI and the Tufts 10k in Boston. I’ll enjoy the races, hopefully make some new friends and maybe even get the family involved as my dad is hitting hard in the 60-65 group over 5k. I will be mentally refreshed. I will be stronger from the distance and hills. Then I’ll be ready to dust off my steely-eyed glare and get back to the track.