Tatonka 5k 2023

Overview

This was the eighth edition of the Tatonka 5k "Fun Run". This was my second time running it. I only learned about it last year.

Declan, Matthew's son, turned eight today, but couldn't be here. He lives back east. So, pre-race, his grandmother led the crowd, singing Happy Birthday, which was recorded and sent to him.

Happy Birthday, Declan!

Matthew's mother and brother run this event, and they're supported by amazing volunteers, including JROTC students from the local high schools.

In addition to it being a celebration of Matthew's life, this run is a fundraiser for the Green Beret Foundation.

Pre Race

Once again, my buddy Don was there and although I remembered his name, I had forgotten that this Don was the same Don who taught Physics at USMA, which is where Iris, one of our (my wife's and my) twin daughters is going to school. Don introduced me to Amy, who was to take first in the female 50-100 age group.

There are only two age groups: 10-49 and 50-100¹. Pre-race I ran into my friend George and his son George. George is 48, while George is 18. I don't remember George's father's age, but I do remember his name: George. That George, i.e., George's father, was a liaison (I think that's the name of the position) for high school students who apply to USMA. George himself, went to the Air Force Academy. His son, George, goes to UNM, which is where Margaret—our other twin daughter—is enrolled.

After readying my ruck (there's no separate rucksack division; I just use this race to help me ease into my Bataan Memorial Death March training), I hung out with Don and Amy as we all sang (at least those of us who weren't too choked up) Happy Birthday to Declan. The color guard and National Anthem were next. After a description of the course, we started promptly at 10am.

The Race

Like last year, the race was held in the New Mexico Veterans Memorial. This year, however it was much more twisty, because it was basically two 1.55 mile loops as opposed to last year when it was approximately three 1.16 mile loops².

This year, a combination of a foot injury and a rib injury kept me from running, much less running with a pack, for the last several months. As such, I knew I was out of shape, so I pulled out all the stops. I had a double espresso a little more than a half hour before the race started; I wore my ice hat filled with ice and I carried two hand-helds, each filled with ice water.

My goal was to not go out too quickly, but to rev my heart up to around 160 beats per minute and hold it there. If there were people to pass or people to prevent from passing while I was up in my redline, I'd try my best, but nope. Sadie came in 26th, in 29:29.6. Eighteen seconds later I finished at 27th in 29:47.7 and I didn't see Erin in back of me, but she finished less than seven seconds after I did, in 28th at 29:54.5.

I'm happy that I was able to rev up my heart rate and keep it up. I'm realistic enough to not be surprised that I was 38 seconds per mile slower this year even though my average heart rate was 4 beats per minute faster. Fitness is a thing, and I've lost a bunch.

Post Race

This year I drank my rice milk and ate my recovery fortified oatmeal before drinking my celebratory beer. I took a few photos as Amy and George took first in their (age, sex) divisions and chuckled as the announcer wasn't completely sure what was going on with George Sefzik taking first and George J. Sefzik taking fourth. I suggested that cheating might be involved.

It was a largely unknown event held in a largely unknown venue. And yet… it's growing.

Before leaving, I hugged mom McClintock and tried to speak.