After months of build up. After weeks of mind games. After days of taunting. After hours of planning. After minutes of actual training.

Last night was the Big Race.
4 Competitors
1 running track
1 mile
1 asthma inhaler

The four lads at work often play pool at lunch, but decided we needed a new challenge. For some reason we settled on a mile race.

None of us are especially sporty (if you discount that 2 of us are martial artists, one watches wrestling, and one’s a Scotsman).

Originally we had planned to run it to coincide with the Olympics, but due to delays, and probably much more symbolically, it ended up being run during the Paralympics.

Last night we turned up at the track, got changed, warmed up, stretched and made our way to the starting line.

I have asthma, it doesn’t affect me too much, but I get easily out of breath. One thing I’ve had to work at, even to be able to run just a mile is my breathing. But I got that sorted, instead of breathing in, out, in, out, it really helps if you breath in, in, out, out, in, in, out, out etc. I was prepared.

The race started, WorkPaul took an early lead, with WorkNeil and me close on his heels, and WorkLad falling behind. A good start.

My carefully laid plans were soon ruined however. WorkLad was making so much noise, coughing, choking, gasping, wheezing, spluttering right from the start, and SO noisily and comically that I couldn’t stop laughing as I ran .. for the entire first lap of the four, I was laughing. My breathing plan was all messed up, in the second lap I really struggled, and WorkPaul and Work Neil pulled away.

The final standings were:

1. WorkPaul
2. WorkNeil
3. mcphee
4. WorkLad (a non-finisher)

WorkLad claims to have finished 3 laps before stopping, it was actually 2.

The moral of the piece is probably Don’t laugh at others misfortune.. or you’ll run out of breath. or something

The rematch is planned for next month. Will let you know how it goes!