The Squealing Mitch  

Event run on November 4, 2007   

Five Runners Go Under World Record in Zionsville

“Sounds like a great idea.  I can’t make it this year. Put me down for next year.” – Dozens of emails received sending regrets for the Squealing Mitch invite.

            The idea came to me on the first morning of daylight savings time.  The day before, my morning running group was just beginning to see some daylight at the end of our run.  Normally, that trend would have continued until the summer hours when we would be running the entire time in the light.  Instead, we were thrust once more into the dark side.  After an entire winter of running in the dark, we were subjected to more of the same.  Instead of cursing the dark, my idea was to use this time change to our advantage.  I planned to put on a race in the fall just minutes before the time change. 

            The race name was to be the My Man Mitch Guaranteed PR 10 Miler named for our esteemed Governor Mitch Daniels who brought us Eastern daylight savings time.  I would be able to guarantee a personal record (PR) based on the starting time of the race.  Ten minutes into the race, the clock is turned back one hour.  If you started at 1:50 AM, you might finish the ten miles at 2:20 AM thus you would have completed 10 miles in 30 minutes (a new PR and probably a world record).  Last fall, I was required to be out of town during the time change and could not put on the race nor could I put on the Squealing Pig 10 mile race that I had directed the prior three years.  With my time limited this year, I decided to combine the two races and call the combination the Squealing Mitch.

            The Squealing Mitch was by invite only.  I emailed runners who I thought might enjoy it and expected very few to attend.  Last Sunday morning at 1:40 AM, eleven humans and three canines appeared at the Boys and Girls Club of Zionsville.  Two of the humans; David Ide, the executive director of the club and my daughter Josie were there to support the race.  The remaining people and dogs were there to run in a very unique race and make history. 

            There is a plethora of races where you pay a registration fee, line up to start along with hundreds or thousands of other runners, run the race of varying distances, receive aid during and after the race, receive a tee shirt and/or award, are provided with facilities for your elimination needs, and are given results to see where you placed among your peers.  The Squealing Mitch was none of these.  There was no fee, no shirts, no aid or restrooms, no whining and no wimps.  It was just a small group of us ready to participate in a simple footrace in the middle of the night.

            At 1:40 AM I went over the course with the runners.  It was mostly on the rail-trail.  It was a flat , fast course, measured by wheel twice to the exact 10 mile distance.  There was enough light reflecting off the cloud cover to see and on one elected to bring a flashlight.  It was 35 degrees with no wind.  Three of us ran in shorts.  I programmed the big race clock to count down and the race began at 1:50 with the big clock counting backwards from 60 minutes.  At zero, the clock reversed and began to count forward.

     Five runners completed the 10 mile race while the others ran varying distances winning their own self-defined divisions.  All of us running the 10 mile distance were able to break the existing world record for 10 miles of 44:45 set by Paul Koech of Kenya on September 21, 1997 in Amsterdam-Zaandam.

            Josie wrote down the runner’s names and times as they finished.  David Ide turned on the parking lot lights for us, brought some water and cups for the finishers and gave each finisher a stuffed toy rhinoceros that we would each name Mitch.  As each runner finished, they thanked us for the race and left to get some sleep.  I was asked if this delightful, unique little race was to become an annual event.  I think not.  I kind of like the one-time aspect of it and I think trying to duplicate it might tarnish it in some way.  Besides, I don’t think I want to give up my world record.

2007 Squealing Mitch Invitational invitation that was distributed for this race is below:

This unique race is a combination of two races.  The Squealing Pig 10 Miler and the My Man Mitch Guaranteed PR 10 Miler*.  There is no time to hold both races, thus they have been combined into The Squealing Mitch.  It is a fast, flat 10 mile run, where you will be guaranteed that you will post a personal record for the distance.  This race is by invite only (either by flyer, word of mouth, a secret link on the www.runz.com website or director’s invite).  It is a one of a kind run.  We will begin at 1:50 AM on Sunday, November 4, 2007.  That’s right 1:50 AM, just before we set back our clocks (2 AM).  Most runners will complete the 10 miles in less than 40 minutes (due to us gaining an hour).  The race will begin and end at the Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville.  There will be no fee, no shirts, no aid, no restrooms, no whining and no wimps.  The big clock will time us.  There will be a clipboard for you to print your name and finishing time.  Come before 1:40 AM for race directions and final instructions.  The course will be run exclusively on pavement, mostly on the Zionsville Rail Trail.  No streets will be crossed.  Flashlights are optional, but it will be dark, cold, and maybe wet.  Stop complaining, just come and take this opportunity to set a PR.  

What: 10 Mile Run                                                                    No Fee          

Where: Boys & Girls Club of Zionsville                                No Shirts

When: 1:50 AM, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007                                  No Aid/Restrooms

How:  By invite only                        

 No Whining             No Wimps

No Registration, Just Show up at 1:40 AM

 * Reference to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels who moved Indiana to Daylight Savings Time shortly after he was elected.  On Eastern Daylight Time, the state of Indiana now suffers with darkness in the early morning hours of the spring and summer, much to the chagrin of morning runners throughout the state.  The only good to come of it is that the time conversion has made this run (and your 10 mile personal record) possible.