Contrary to rumors, I have not yet died or competed in my last race.
Here is a post to keep this blog alive:
I was a town kid and very familiar with every nook, every road, every street in Chester, SC as that is what kids do.
I left Chester at age 18.
When I was past 40 Chester held a foot race that started and finished at the Powell Theater which I grew up in. For my age, was a decent foot racer and known to most of my peers in the Carolinas and Georgia.
This rare Chester race was special as my Pop came to support me. My Pop was a special guy, always had my back.
The field was loaded with great runners my age like Brewer and Jaggers, but I was inspired to show Pop I was not a total waste as a ?
I went out hard. The 6.2 mile race went out toward Foote Street School then doubled back towards the old Chester Swimming pool. It was very hilly which was a plus to me as I was strong not fast. As a kid, covered that area a million times on foot and my bike.
I was running alone after 3 miles. I was well behind the younger guys but ahead of the stars there my age. I was looking at low 36minutes for the race and not tired. I had kick left if peers over took me. I missed a turn and got lost. I knew my way back to the Powell Theater, but placed last.
I look on that as my biggest disappointment as a foot racer. I had a chance in Chester that day to be Pop's hero. He was always mine. No big deal for Pop as he always saw me as a winner. I missed a chance to prove him right. Who gets lost in their own hometown?