Make Peace, get sore

A lot of people say running is a spiritual experience and I think I agree. For instance, as I was jogging up the steps at Fitch High's football stadium, one particular verse kept running through my head.
It's from Romans 7: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
At that moment, what I did not want to do was run steps. What I did want to do was sit on my couch eating pizza while watching Simpsons reruns on DVD.
Instead, I kept running steps. And why did I do it? Because a few months ago, a member of Youngstown Road Runners asked me if I would run in the Peace Race in October.
For some reason -- probably running-induced delirium -- I said I would.
He asked if I would write about my training.
I said I'd think about it.
He said he'd pay my entry fee.
I said keep talking.
He said I could get a free column out of it.
I said, "Peace Race? I love the Peace Race!"
Now, I don't want you to think I'm the type of person who can be bought off with a measly entry fee and a free column. I'm not that easy.
I also got a free training log.
No experience,no expectations
A little background about my running history. Although I've been running for about four years, I've never run in an actual race.
So, I'm a little nervous.
Especially since the Peace Race is the area's biggest race (just under 500 finished the race last year), it's a 10-K (about 6.2 miles) and it's run in October. (I don't like running in the cold. Or the heat. Anything from 65-75 degrees is fine. Unless it's raining.)
Since I'm not really sure what to expect, I've tried to set reasonable goals. Last year's champion, Jim Jurcevich, won the race in 29:15, which means I would have to run under a five-minute mile pace to win.
So I can forget about winning.
The person who finished 50th, Nicole Drouhard, ran it in 38:34, which means I would have to run about a six-minute mile pace to finish in the top 50.
So I can forget about finishing in the top 50.
The person who finished 100th, Stephen Flora, ran it in 42:35, which means ... you see where this is going.
Trying to seta reasonable goal
I figure it's conceivable that I could run a 71/2-minute mile pace, provided I run a lot of steps and jog a lot of training miles over the next month. That would put me in the top 150, which isn't going to get my name in Runner's World, but prestige isn't everything, right?
(And besides, I bet I can throw a football way farther than Nicole Drouhard.)
(Sorry, that just makes me sound sad. It's true, though. I can throw a football pretty far.)
It's like I've always said: I may not be the fastest runner out there, but I'm the fastest sportswriter out there. And if I see a sportswriter who's faster, I'm going to kick him -- or her -- really hard in the shins. Seriously.
The basic infoabout the race
This year's Peace Race starts at 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 24. There's also a 2-mile fun run, which starts at 9:30.
If you pre-register, it costs $15. You can pick up a form -- which contains a misspelling of the word "judgment" -- at Second Sole in Boardman or visit http://members.aol.com/ytownrrc.
(And if you think I mentioned that misspelling because I'm trying to feel powerful since I have no chance of winning this race, then I have three words for you: Correct-O-Mundo.)
You can also get more info by calling Ted Rupe at 330-583-2423, which fulfills our contractual obligation to mention one of the Rupe brothers in every running article that appears in this newspaper.
If you're reading this and you're thinking about running, do it. Sign up. It's for a good cause -- the proceeds benefit Tod Children's Hospital -- and you'll be back in time for the Browns-Eagles game.
And, as you finish the punishing 6 miles, you'll be thinking of another verse from Romans 7: "What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
See you there.
XJoe Scalzo is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at scalzo@vindy.com.