Who is Beach to Bay for? Almost anyone

Running the race at least 15 times has raised some questions and given some answers

By Tom Whitehurst Jr.

Tom Whitehurst Jr.

CNot that having run 15 or more Beach to Bays makes me an expert. But having run enough to have lost count, and having seen thousands of people run them, of this you can be assured:

Almost anyone can do it.

It will appear, on Beach to Bay day, that almost everyone did, though the actual number will be closer to 7,800, plus their spectator friends, relatives and hangers-on.

That’s no reason for you to do it. But you should, especially if you haven’t. A lot of people who shouldn’t, or look like they shouldn’t, or look like they can’t, will. It is the ultimate no-excuses event.

If you have actual memories of President Hoover in office, chances are that someone older is running it. If you are in elementary school, chances are that someone younger is running it. If you’re slow, there’s someone slower, and if you’re fast, there’s someone faster. If your teammates are slow, others are slower. If they chose a silly team name over your objections, there will be sillier.

Four-and-a-half miles in Corpus Christi in late May is just long enough, just short enough, just challenging enough, just easy enough, just dangerous enough, certainly safe enough.

On one day a year, that distance becomes a fresh, exciting experience, even for those of us who’ve run Beach to Bay more times than we can count. It exhausts those who run that far every day, and fails to intimidate those who are running that far for the first time in their lives. It’s a solitary experience, a team effort, a time to be alone with thoughts, to strike up conversations with strangers . . .

OK, enough rhapsody. On to the concrete:

If you’re a coffee drinker, should you have your morning coffee beforehand? I always do.

Should you have breakfast? I’d have at least some small caloric intake beforehand, a cup of yogurt or thereabouts, definitely not a Southern Slam, or even a taquito.

Should you drink water beforehand? Even if it means you’ll need to go to the bathroom? Yes. Will there be a place to go? Yes. Will there be a long line? Yes. Will it move fast enough? Does it ever?

Is the baton a burden? No. I used to run a shoestring or elastic cord through it to allow hands-free running, but over the years I decided that carrying it is better than having it bounce against me. There are other ways to carry it, but I wouldn’t do that to my teammates.

What’s the best leg? My theory, based on lifelong unscientific study of human nature, including my own, is that Beach to Bay participants become attached to whichever leg they run the first time. Familiarity breeds comfort and lack of familiarity breeds unfounded fear.

Having run them all, my favorite is the first. But I didn’t find that out until, oh, my 11th or 12th Beach to Bay. Fears of being bogged down in soft sand are unfounded. Starting early means waking up early, but it also means running in the coolest part of the day and finishing early. Also, you have only yourself to credit or blame for how soon or late you finish. Every other leg, you can blame your teammates for being back in the pack. The scenery is the best, the anticipation at the start is exhilarating and you don’t have to wait for a handoff.

My next favorite is Leg 3, the needlessly dreaded bridge. I’m not saying it’s easy, just that it’s not nearly as hard as everyone thinks. Still, you get a sense of conquest. It’s still early enough not to be too hot. And you bask in the gratitude of your chicken-hearted teammates. Don’t go up too slow and don’t go down too fast. Shorten your stride, not your cadence, on the way up, and lengthen your stride and let gravity do the work on the way down.

Leg 2 is considered the easiest. I agree. It’s still early and it’s still cool, but the scenery is nothing special. Legs 5 and 6 usually have a nice tailwind but it’s hot by then. Leg 6, being the last, means having to wait the longest, but the biggest cheers are saved for you at the finish line.

Leg 4, through the Navy base, is the only leg that I’ve run only once. Afterward, I promised myself I’d never do it again. The breezes seem to disappear on the base. I can’t say for sure if I’ll keep my promise, only that I’ve kept it since 1985.

Running isn’t for everyone. Beach to Bay is. Hope to see you there, if not this year, then next year or the year after.



Contact Business Editor Tom Whitehurst Jr. at 886-3619 or whitehurstt@caller.com