02.11.08
4:00.13
I’ve lost a lot of races. In 2000, at Madison Square Garden, I lost a fight to the finish with Tristan Colangelo during the Millrose High School Invitational Mile by .06 seconds. It was so close that I actually thought I won when I crossed the finish line. In May of 2007 at Duke University, after leading from the gun, getting passed, then fighting back, I lost a race to David Proctor from Boston University by .03 seconds. I don’t know what distance that equates to, but it couldn’t have been more than an inch. Losing like that, well, it left a sour taste in my mouth.
I lost another race recently. At Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA this past weekend, I lost a race with their timing system. The clock beat me by .13 seconds. It’s entirely different, running against the clock versus running against other bodies on the track. Racing for time requires patience and the ability to mete out your energy without relying on the all-powerful drug of adrenaline.
When I crossed the line on Saturday, just over 4 minutes after the race started, I was incredulous. I saw the clock as I approached the line, it ticked off the seconds: 3:57, 3:58, 3:59, and then the screen flashed, 4:00.13. My consolation came in the form of a collective moan as the crowd joined me in facing the clock and the brutality of that tiny sliver of time.
I apologize in advance for asking you to dredge up awful (or celebratory?) racing memories, but I have to ask: What’s your closest finish?
Editor’s note: I ran fast enough to qualify for USA Indoor Nationals on February 24th in Boston, MA. But I really wanted that sub-4 minute mile indoors…
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joan said,
February 12, 2008 at 12:03 am
fantastic photo, jason!
(thanks to Shalane’s mom at Prettysporty.com … or was that a shot from friend of CAC, Duncan Hoge?)
Jason said,
February 12, 2008 at 8:18 am
Big thanks to Shalane’s mom at Prettysporty.com! There were about 20 photos taken from the entire race.
John said,
February 12, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Jason,
I know what you mean about a close finish, and that sour taste.
Men 1 Mile Run
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
1 Ray, Alex UNC 4:17.93
2 17 Hinton, John Fleet Feet 4:17.97
3 Thomas, Tristram UNC 4:20.61
George said,
February 12, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Jason,
Do you remember in high school we stressed racing against the clock & not other runners? And Why? Clocks never have a good day or a bad day. Clocks never put on a surge or would lay back waiting for the right moment to blow by you with 50m to go. Just like the Energizer bunny, it just keep going.
George
Tyler said,
February 13, 2008 at 10:58 am
Not quite as crucial as Jason and John’s close finishes, as it was the race for 2nd and not 1st, but a couple weekends ago was pretty close.. worst part is I just knew I was gonna beat him going into and coming off the last turn - that really pissed me off that he was able to respond:
Men 3000 Meter Run
==================================
1 Massam, Ben William & Mary 8:22.00 8:26.11
2 Wilhelm, Patterson William & Mary 8:22.00 8:29.10
3 203 Johnson, Tyler Carrboro AC 8:15.00 8:29.14
4 Midland, Drew William & Mary 8:24.00 8:29.91