Grace and Humility

1995 journal entry … Walking towards the start of yesterday’s 5K in Kirkwood, I passed a familiar looking man. I said, “Hi!” not wanting to offend someone I should know but couldn’t place immediately. How did I know him?

 Then it hit me. He’s the channel 4 sportscaster, Zip Rzeppa, presenter of the zany “Zippo Awards.” Just as my mind made the connection, a man walking beside me commented, “There it is. My bragging rights. I’ve got to beat the celebrity!” Similar comments rippled through the crowd of runners gathered at the start. It seemed almost everyone wanted bragging rights at Zip’s expense.

During the race, Zip was running somewhere behind me, I knew this because runners around me were high-fiving each other mid-stride, and saying, “We’re beating Zip!” 

 After the race, the bragging rights had grown from a ripple to a tidal wave of euphoria. Runners greeted one another at the banana table, giving each other a thumbs up - “I beat Zip!” The awards announcer spoke to a distracted crowd, they were too busy bragging to one another. Trophies were ignored. Course records, age group awards, times – none of it mattered, it was all about beating the celebrity!

I am sure Zip figured out what was going on, how he was the reason many runners ran just a little bit faster. He seemed to understand what was happening -- “Regular” runners were competing with a celebrity. 

With his trademark smile and humorous remarks, he mingled in the post-race crowd and signed autographs. Zip certainly took it all in great stride. As I made my way through the crowd, he smiled at me and said, “Great race!” Zip should have won an award for grace and humility.”

“Running is always an exercise in humility.” – Kristin Armstrong