Charlie Kelley's

Chronicle

The Dartmouth Relays 2006

The Approach
Driving up to Hanover in the late morning of this clear and cold Friday, I was delighting in the notion of closing the door on my normal routine and going to play at the track.

The two-hour drive allowed me to gradually untangle the encumbrances of a busy schedule and transition into the mindset of the track competitor. This persona does not slip on without a tinge of uneasiness. Perhaps a bit of sheepishness at escaping the routine. After all, I’m taking a rather considerable chunk of time here. Then there is that bit of nervous energy that accompanies the hurling of ones self around the track with abandon. As we pull onto the campus, I have already visualized warming up and executing a race( and of course reaffirmed my dominant status to the running ego).

The Place
Leverone Field House is a unique greenish cavity of space with a curved roof. The track, although not banked, has wide sprinter friendly curves and a full 200 yard length. The officials are very efficient and the timing is automatic. As we enter it is sparsely populated with a smattering of competitors, this will change suddenly.

The Group
Familiar faces begin to pop up in the gathering crowd. The Mass Velocity Track Club is well represented by as many as a dozen runners competing in events from the 60 meter dash through to the 800 meters. The bright, focused, gregarious group comprising the masters sprint contingent arrives in a wave. Warmly welcomed by each other, there appears to be a special bond among this group. Moving with confidence, relaxed ease, even a hint of swagger, they are at home on this roofed patch of rubber.

Admiration
I’m watching the short sprints and hurdles as I stretch, marveling at the raw speed, the explosiveness, the reaction time, the intensity of effort. I would be witness to many great displays of running , hurdling and jumping talent during this well executed meet.

One runner shared this story: He called me to ask my advice. He said he had not trained since august and both his achilles were sore. What do you think, should I run at the relays? He showed up!

Disappearing Relay Teams
Initially, there were three 4x200 relay teams registered. As testament to the tenuous nature of our very mortal masters limbs , we had two remaining at race time. Apparently when they went to retrieve the team members they were sitting on the bench pointing to various body parts that were in various states of disrepair.

A Race Moment
Time is at first abundant then suddenly compresses. Jogging, stretching, strides. Slowly loosen up, focus, breath, visualize, stay relaxed. Showtime. Step into the starting lane. Heart is racing, mouth is dry. Jump up and down, move around, stay loose. This is why we came, this very moment, control it, slow it down, have fun with it.

Bang! Drive hard, use those arms, relax your shoulders, quick steps, don’t let them get away, stay with them, go, go, go, get them in the corner, here they come, lean, got em!

Well, almost got them.

That fleeting moment of post race exuberance, after a successful execution, that’s the juice. And if someone in this microcosm of flailing limbs should approach you and admire a particular aspect of your effort, someone who has been there, someone who knows, well that’s poetic reverie.

-CK

Mass Velocity folks rounding the final turn of the 400m, 1-2-3 (Carroll, Charlie, and Tuck) in the 50-59 heat	Mass Velocity folks finishing 1-2-3 (Charlie, Tuck, and Lee) in the 200m 50-59 heat

Webmasters Note: Please, no hate mail. I did not hide Charlie or crop him out of these photos. This is they way they came.

Photos available for sale from Maple Leaf Photo