The distant past

I recently found in my files, pictures from when I ran the Twin Cities Marathon on 10/6/1991 and 9/30/1984. My times (of 3:38:43 and 3:32:46) did not impress me much at the time ... but now, as an old geezer, I find them astonishing!

Heart of a Spartan photo

Here is a picture that I just received, of me emerging from the tunnel into Spartan Stadium near the end of the 5K "Heart of a Spartan" race that I ran at Michigan State University on May 2, 2010.

Running outside of Michigan

I do almost all my running within my native Michigan. However, in recent days, that changed. My choral anthem "The Greatest of These Is Love" was sung at the First Presbyterian Church of Caledonia, New York on May 16, and I enjoyed early morning runs through this sleepy little town on May 15, 16, and 17. And with my run in Michigan on May 18, my first day back home, it pushed my 2010 running mileage to less than a mile shy of 300.

Computer results

The online results show that, from the timing chip affixed to my shoe for Sunday's race, I finished 974th in the 5K out of 2310 finishers overall, and in my age group (Males 50-54), I was #33 out of 63 finishers. So, well into the top half overall, but just below the halfway point in my age group. "Better in 2011!" is my motto!

A rainy race

This morning I ran a 5K (3.1 mile) race on the campus of Michigan State University, entitled "Heart of a Spartan." The weather was far from ideal, with rain having moved into the area overnight and light rain persisting through the race, but the website advised that the race was still on, and on time, so we headed up at 7:30 for the hour-long drive. (Race at 9:10, with the need to pick up my race packet first.) Due to minor injuries and illnesses I've endured this year, I wasn't able to "cut it loose" the way I had hoped, and challenge my personal 5K record of 29:14. But, by my watch, I still managed to finish in a respectable 30:42 (a pace of slightly better than 10 minutes per mile).
As I had wanted from the age of 16 to earn the title "Dr. Borton" and to become a college choral director, it was enjoyable, while I ran, to let my mind drift back over the experiences that contributed to that (including the first-class training I received with Charles Smith) and to realize that here, indeed, was the place where I did get to become Dr. Borton (with my 1988 Doctor of Musical Arts degree). And on my iPod, I enjoyed listening to hymn arrangements by the Christian group Selah (appropriate to a Sunday morning run), as I had yesterday while walking. Then afterward, it was a great joy to have Michelle find me, and see Christy and Reggie, who had come, even bringing my granddaughter Isabelle, who was sleeping contentedly.