Lounging at the pool yesterday with the family and some friends in the next neighborhood. We notice a flyer that reads “Family Fun Run, 1.1 miles, Free, June 4th, 7pm.” Well that’s tonight, in about 45 minutes. We see people gathering, a table full of trophies. I’m in my flip flops and have no plans to run. It would be more embarrassing than Belterra. But Joshua wants to run, and Elijah, and their friends too. So I ride my bike home, put on some shoes and am back ready to jog with my kids. Did I mention it was mostly kids? There were maybe ten adults running without a kid. I had no intention of “racing”, but Jessica says to just do it, then run back and finish with my boys. Hmmm… Well… you see… uh… I never meant to… aw crap….
Look at the size of that thing! It’s so ridiculous I can’t help but keep laughing. I put the gallon of milk next to it so you could get an idea of the gargantuan size of this thing. The smaller trophy is Joshua’s for finishing second in his 0-6 age group.
At the start I just started jogging hoping someone would “take it out” and I could just jog with them. Some high school girl in a soccer uniform and a mom in a triathlon suit led the charge. I just loafed along, helping up fallen children in the stampede. About 1/4 mile in everyone had already blown their endurance and were slowing down a lot. I just kept jogging and soon I was 200 yards in front. I stopped at the water stop (yes, a water stop at the 1/2 mile point) for about 15 seconds, drank a couple cups of water and waited for the next person to come in view around the corner. I had time for a little conversation with the lady serving the water. Finally I took off again at a jog.
It was all very quaint. We had to run on the sidewalk. There was a guy on a bike who was supposed to be leading the course but he just told me to go ahead. They had written 1/4 mile markers in chalk on the sidewalk, along with motivational phrases: “you can do it!” “Almost home! Sprint to the finish!” I felt so stupid. I should have just run home. But I didn’t. I finished and the race director lady couldn’t believe it. “Wow, 6:50! You’re so fast!”
I ran back about half way and finished again with my boys. They both did great. Joshua felt sick and still pushed through to finish. Elijah ran harder than I’ve ever seen him. Then I ran back again to help one of Elijah’s friends. Finally I went and hid in the pool. When I saw them about to hand out that trophy, that was almost too much. But oh well, Jessica said just take it in stride and accept it in gratitude. So I will. Thanks to Sendera for a fun family run and a beautiful trophy. And all the kids loved the race, the medals and the trophies they won.
Yesterday at lunch ran on the Greenbelt with Andre and Pat. It was a lovely run, 47 minutes, easy pace, shaded, with free Gatorade at the end (woo hoo!). I did take a spill over a rock, but that just puts me 2 falls behind Pat.
Ran a solo 4-mile tempo late tonight. 6:14, 6:28, 6:20, 6:18. That second mile was into a strong, strong wind. Bad stitch in the third mile. Some lady looking for bats under the bridge blindly backstepped into me and I took a shoulder in the rib cage. It was a good workout I guess, but it’s sad how fast you can lose your fitness.
