Although I would never profess to be "Running Bear", I am qualified to submit an anonymous race report since I did actually see him and talk to him yesterday as he dined for breakfast with the legendary John Pendergrass. As I have mostly retired from running and writing race reports, I nevertheless decided to chronicle my overnight trip to Nashville with two of the great Pine Belt Pacers, Tony Mozingo and Keith Barrett. All I can say is, "what a trip".

We began our journey with much trepidation because of the distance to the race, the fact that we had to return home on race day, the fact that Tony hasn't run more than six miles in a year or more, and the rumor that Keith was actually just hitching a ride to Talladega and wasn't really going to run anyway. Leaving Hattiesburg at eleven with the hope of arriving in Nashville by the time the expo closed at seven, I found myself being a "fly on the back windshield", (not the wall), as Tony averaged about ninety on the way there. We cleared the Tennessee line with plenty of time to spare and approached Music City during the height of the afternoon commute. Keith continued to comment about the "Birmingham traffic" to the point that I was convinced that he really thought we were in Alabama! Arriving at the expo, we saw a few of our comrades from Hattiesburg and hung out with the more than thirty-thousand prospective runners and walkers that were around the downtown area.

I can't disclose the rest of the evening other than to say that we "focused" for the next morning by hydrating and resting after dining at a nearby joint. Every time we drove somewhere, my two companions argued about the danged Birmingham traffic, but by dawn we were headed to the parking area at the finish line (Titans football stadium), where we caught shuttle buses to the starting area. Kily Garcia joined us on race morning and at seven we began our journey. Tony looked surprisingly fit and stealth, and Keith was optimistic about his chances of running a PR with five weeks' rest and tapering. Both were sadly disappointed as they proceeded to run one of their slowest times ever. So much for celebrating their tenth year of running races together… (In 1997, Keith, Tony, Vicki Copeland, and others, so enamored by the heroics of Elmer Beardshall, Pendergrass, Butch Sims and the like, began training and traveling together.)

After the race, Tony hung out at Mile 26 waiting for Barrett and Garcia with Titans running back Eddie George, who also ran the half-marathon. George, a big fan of Mozingo's, insisted on an autograph and begged him to wait in his air conditioned Escalade with the rest of his entourage. While waiting, the two discussed the Heisman Trophy, playing professional sports, and of course the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

I had a great time supporting Keith and Tony and came away from the experience with a desire to focus on getting in shape. I did make it home in one piece and am thankful that at the last minute, Tony's desire to get home won the day from Keith's close persuasion to take I-20 east at Birmingham, and kill the rest of the weekend at the race track.

THE END

My story goes this way:

I had to work extra time during the week and pray that nothing happened with the computers on Friday so I could take the afternoon off and drive to Nashville.

I left Hattiesburg around 1:00 P.M. still thinking if I would be able to make it to the expo at closing time. Well…I got there about 7:45 P.M., the event had finished, but the place was still open. I approached one of the Marathon staff members to explain how long/fast I had been driving just to get on time, he read the anguish in my face and handed me the bib number and chip together with the shirt they had already packed. At that point I felt like I had won the race!.

I drove around downtown trying to find a place to eat; everywhere was full of runners! Later I found a place close to the hotel and had the traditional pasta dinner.

The next morning about 5:30 A.M. I rode with the masters Tony Mozingo and Keith Barret to the race place while listening to good country music to get in the mood.

I was anxious about the starting time, the shuttle, the corrals, etc. and a calm and very confident Mozingo told me that we had plenty of time while he talked about the great 10 years of running together with Keith. He also convinced me to run with them in corral #3, so there I was with the Elite’s runners at the starting line.

We took off at 7:02 A.M., everybody was running fast; I let Keith run ahead about 50 meters and try to keep a good pace without losing him from sight. Everything looked great, a band every mile, a lot of people cheering the runners, the aid stations, etc. I checked my Garmin when I crossed the half point and I was surprised noticing a time of 1:46:10. I felt strong and happy, then by mile 14 I had a call from mother nature and I had to spend some valuable minutes in the porta-john. I was running at an 8 minute pace until mile 16 when I hit a good hill; my body didn’t respond as expected and I had to slow down a lot. It was hard for me to get a good pace again, by mile 20 I was exhausted. I ran the last six miles struggling, just wanted it to be over, but close to the finish line the great Tony Mozingo encouraged me for the last kick to finish at 4:05 chip time. That was my fourth marathon in this year and my second best time. I can call it a good accomplishment.

I didn’t see all the other pacers, but checked the results and they did really good. Kudos for all of them.

Run For Your Life.

Kily Garcia