Elevation: A Novel

Just after 9:00 am, over 800 runners begin Castle Rock’s 45th Annual Turkey Trot. Everyone worries that Scott is going to have a heart attack during the run. Rather than pushing himself too hard early in the race, Scott takes his pacing cue from Deirdre, given her skill and expertise at distance running. He stays about 400 yards behind her, so she’s still in his sight on every straight stretch of the racing path. A couple of teens speed up to retake their lead over Scott, commenting that they don’t want to let the old “fat” guy get ahead of them. It doesn’t bother Scott, who maintains his pace. All his senses—hearing, taste, sight, smell—are working better than ever. He’s thrilled to be alive.

At the sixth kilometer marker, Scott observes many people sprawled on the grass, having used up all their strength and energy in the first half of the race. Bull Neck, the jerk who wanted to fight Scott at the café, is one of them, a fact that delights Scott. At the eighth kilometer marker, Scott’s still going strong, but during the ninth kilometer, he starts to feel the strain. Before long, he’s really struggling, and is forced to question his assumption that he could do this.