The Buzz Run is in its 5th year, with an Oktoberfest theme and held at Sumter Original Brewery. Proceeds go to fund United Ministries. I’m unsure of who exactly directs the race, but Sumter Pest Management seems to take a large role. The race is easily my favorite exterminator-led event on the Tour de Columbia and one of the best of the year.
Why? Let me count the ways: 1) PANCAKE FLAT COURSE – I mean not a hint of a hill. It makes Shandon look like a mountain range. They got it certified after a short course in year one, so now it’s perfect for a PR attempt. 2) BEER – Sumter Original Brewery is a gem. It’s on a corner lot in the downtown area of Sumter with an awesome rooftop deck, where they have an afterparty. Runners get one free beer, and their “Mr. Hops” is among my favorite local IPAs. 3) CHANCE TO COSPLAY – There is a mention of an Oktoberfest theme. I showed up at the first race in full lederhosen, and I may have been the only one. Totally a “I-thought-this- was-a-costume-party-but-it-really-isn’t “vibes. No matter, as I have zero shame and I’m always up for maximal attention. I just continued to wear it every other time I’ve raced it. Plus, the stupid costume usually gets me on their race flyer. The ego knows no bounds.
This year’s race looked iffy though. Hurricane Isaias was getting ready to make landfall and race day weather looked all kinds of terrible. Like wind, rain and maybe thunder. I half expected it to be canceled, and half wanted it to be, since it would probably effectively ruin the race and afterparty. But they were still on per their Friday night FB post. When I woke up on Saturday morning, I’m not going to lie, I thought about bailing. Rain was already pouring, and an hour drive in this slop was not looking too fun. I should also mention the potential backup race was in Sesqui, a mere 2 miles from my bed. But that would be wasting my registration AND my sweet new felt Oktoberfest hat. We can’t have that.
Left the house at 0700 and Isaias is in full effect. Had some torrential rain on 601. Nothing like a little hydroplaning on a narrow rural highway to wake you up in the morning. However, in a rare Oktoberfest miracle, the rain let up just as I was arriving in Sumter. The Strictly timer said the radar actually looked good for the next hour or so. NICE. Had a chance to do a full warmup in the lederhosen without getting wet and dropped off my own special brew at the taproom.
We had a pretty good CRC representation at the start, even with the weather and long drive from Columbia. I didn’t know what to expect, as I had not run much in the past couple of weeks since the med school race. As it turns out, my ass, quad and achilles decided to bring MY BACK into their special club of Things that destroy Alex’s fitness. Apparently, I hurt my back SLEEPING which is about as old-man an injury as I can imagine. It took me out of commission for the Jamie Scott race and tailgating for the Kentucky game. You know it’s serious if I can even drink beer sitting up.
But the back was better and I was just going to see what I could do. As noted, the course is a complete pool table, so I should be able to mount a steady hard effort. With the gun, I was a little excitable, but I tried to keep things in control. Again, my whole sense of pace is thrown off with my absolute trash fitness. We enter a nice neighborhood, akin to Sumter’s version of Shandon, and just rolled down the runway. I tried to keep Eric Masaitis, a long-time Blue Shoes rival, in sight. I mean I may be slowish right now, but the dude was pushing a stroller with a sizeable kid in tow, so maybe I could hang.
And yeah, that wasn’t happening. I was getting gapped and before long I was pretty much by myself. Mile one in 6:57, a good 40 seconds than my pre-injury pace, but I don’t dare go faster. We finally hit the turnaround, which is a few blocks. Mile 2 feels about the same pace, but damn I am definitely feeling the lack of endurance training. Sucking way more wind than I would like. As I approach the next mile marker, I hear footsteps, and some XC kid blows by me. Oh damn, the leaders must have gotten off course, because no way this guy was behind me. Mile 2 comes back in 6:59. Sure enough, Strictly’s Ryan Schaffer goes by me as well soon after, and I know for sure he was near the lead in the early going. Mile 3 gets really rough. I am starting to really labor, and the breathing is getting all ragged. Man this sucks. Finally, I see the turn towards downtown. What I seem to have forgotten is that there is probably still a half mile to go. I’m trying to mount a kick but my lungs are vetoing the decision. I start hearing footsteps AGAIN, but this time their pace seems similar to mine. Sure enough, Sean “F%^G” Higgins (Randy’s term of endearment) edges by me. I try overriding my engine but the fuel gauge is definitely on E. But, maybe I can still catch him! I’m blasting it out at 10000% for a bit, but then Mr. Stomach decides to join in on the fun. Total dry heave. YIKES, can’t be puking at the finish. That will definitely not be race flyer material. One last turn and I mail in the last bit to avoid a reversal of fortune. Total HYC flop in the finish chute, where I fight like hell to keep the coffee and Honey Bunches of Oats from making a repeat appearance. Finally, things settle down and I look at my watch. 21:23. Another post injury PR, but man is it humbling to nearly catch a case of the pukesies running a 5k at my old tempo pace. Still, good enough for 11th overall/2nd in AG, behind Higgins of course. I think the XC kid (Trip Hunt), Ryan and Visser all ran close to 4 miles.
But it did create a bit of karmic justice. Eric Masaitis was leading the 2021 Springdale 5k when he, Greer and Michael Nance got led off course. The beneficiary was me, winning the overall because of the misdirect. Masaitis was rightfully upset, though I have made sure to remind him about it from time to time, even before this race. And who won this race? Eric. He took the overall, stroller and all, for a redemption of sorts. I hate it when people go off course, but you have to like that.
Age group honor roll: Ryan Schaffer took 2nd in the 30-39, running 20:34 for 3.72 miles (5:31 pace), Kevin Costello took 3rd in the 50-59 behind me and Higgins. Joyce Welch was tops in the 50-59 women, with Lynda Leonardi 3rd. Billy Tisdale made a rare appearance (he was a regular on tour until about 2015 or so) and took 1st in the men’s 60-69. Mary Cassidy won in the women’s division. The male 70+ was swept by the CRC with Pete O’Boyle taking the win, George Cassidy 2nd and Pete Poore 3rd.
Notable finishers: Monica Stevenson, Drew Dickerson and Stevie Dee Dukes
Pics by Southern Lens Collective, montages from the CRC newsletter/Tracy Tisdale.
