Running

Today my husband ran a half marathon. He's done a full marathon before and several triathlons. I haven't.

I really admire runners. I admire their tenacity, their grit...their drive. I'm a little bit intimidated by them too if I'm honest about it. I just don't seem to have what it takes to be successful with running. Whenever I have run...I've always wanted it to be over. I've never loved it. I once made up my mind that I would run in a 5k. It was not an easy one either. I trained all summer...and at the end of August I ran that 5k without stopping. I did it! I wasn't very fast...in fact, I was among the slowest in my age group. After it was over...I was glad! People had told me that running would be addictive, but I didn't feel any withdrawal symptoms when I didn't run again.

Somehow, when it came to running, I didn't have the tenacity and drive and grit it takes to keep it up. I've tried to make myself love it...but can't seem to do it.

Years and years ago I dated a runner. He wanted me to become a runner too. I remember feeling my stomach knot up whenever he alluded to me taking up running. Little did he know, I was already struggling with my sense of self-worth and couldn't figure out what he saw in me. I carefully hid those feelings from him. Having him express his disappointment that I wasn't a runner didn't help matters. Later on in life, I met and married Jamie, a non-runner at the time. I remember telling him how I didn't like running. He felt the same and I remember feeling a sense of relief.

But alas there came a time when he decided to try running in our church's annual 5k race. For him it WAS addictive. He had to run another and then another one. Soon he was wracking up too many 5ks to count. They were getting too easy. So he moved on to longer races. Then he tackled his first Marathon. After that, he couldn't find contentment, so he started training and competing in triathlons. We even birthed a runner! Our son, Allen enjoys the sport very much. Jamie and I hang out with people who run and compete. Luckily for me, there are few others like me in our crowd. Two or three other wives who aren't into it either...and even a husband or two. All along, Jamie has never asked me to run...or has even hinted at it. He seems comfortable with me being who I am...but I admit that once in a while there is this 18 year old girl inside of me who struggles with a feelings of inadequacy.

I really am proud of my husband and how he has this drive to do this sport.

Some things are way more important than medals

Today my husband and several of his friends competed in the Black Diamond Duathlon. He has competed in this race for several years in a row and it is one he looks forward to.

Today during the last leg of the race, he saw a man laying on the trail ahead of him. A few other runners were crouched around the man. As Jamie came up to them, he overheard one say, "Does he have a pulse?" Jamie is a certified lifeguard and has taken courses in CPR. In fact, he just took a refresher course a month ago. God is good, because Jamie was called upon to administer his skills to this man, who certainly would have died otherwise. Another runner friend of ours, Sarah, is a nurse. She ran up shortly after Jamie did. The two of them administered CPR on him for about 15-20 minutes until some paramedics were able to come and intervene. The man was rushed away in an ambulance. None of us know the man's name, but he looked to be in his fifties and was believed to be taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. Perhaps you could say a prayer for him.

The photo is from last year's race. Jamie is not in this photo but Sarah is. She is second from the left. Pale green shirt and black hat. (My son Allen is #11)

I am very proud of Jamie and Sarah for rising to the occasion!

Photo source: Ed Martin

Sectionals for X-Country

I know this picture is pretty lousy...but it's what I have! Today was a gorgeous day! Warm, sunny...a good day for a race. It was Sectionals for the X Country Teams in the area. Allen did not run his best. He got a bad cramp in the middle of the race. Right behind him is Dominik from Arcadia. Dominik is the son of a close childhood friend of mine...so I was pleased to see him in the same photo. In the end, Dominik came in ahead of Allen...but I think it was only because of the cramp. Next year, Dominik! Next year!And here is a little team building exercise after the racing was done!

My Runner

Get Ready! Get set!
Go! And they're off!
I have not been very good about blogging lately. Sorry. I've been a bit distracted by everything in my life for the past year. School. The death of my father. I'm going to get back on track hopefully. I'll start with a very belated post about my son on our high school's Cross Country team. He had such a great season and it is almost over. Only this week to go. Next week he starts swimming with the varsity swim team.
Go Allen Go!!!!
I have found new inspiration for blogging in my area at Bristolwood. It is a blog that I discovered quite by accident while googling images of the annual Halloween toiletpapering of Cheshire. I know...it sounds strange but check out Gudl's blog too. She's the one that got me started googling for more images! I love all the photos they take of the area we live in. Yeah! More neighbors to get to know!

The story of two runners

My husband and son are both runners. Here we have Allen at one of his high school cross country meets. He's doing very well. Today he placed 4th for his team.


Jamie was a competitor this weekend in the Finger Lakes Triathlon. He did great!
I'm very proud of both of them.

Run, run as fast as you can!

Well...this isn't the greatest picture...but it shows you what Allen has been up to lately as a member of the school's cross country team. This is actually the McQuaid Invitational up in Rochester. It attracts teams from all over the state, and even a few from other neighboring states and Ontario, Canada. I missed it because that was the day Mart and I took our sister trip...but my hubby and girls were there cheering him on.

A Soggy 5K!

Today was the Crosswinds 5K. It drizzled the entire time and then...just as Alicia and I were crossing the finish line, it started really pouring. Looks like we are in for a lot of rain for a few days because of Hurricaine Ernesto.

I should probably tell you before you are falsly impressed by my stamina and athleticism....that I actually walked the entire thing. Allen and Jamie both ran and did quite well. I walked at a small 7 year old's pace...but it was good. And...I should also add that Alicia and I earned just as much money for the Sands Cancer Center as everyone who ran. Maybe next year I should train to run it just to prove to myself that I can.

Alicia and I came in dead last. There was someone else who came in with us and she actually medaled. (ok...Dorothy is in her 80's and she won 2nd place for her age division) Anyway...we were soaked to the skin when we were finished. When we got back to the church we went to the awards ceremony. I saw a guy I went to high school with whom I hadn't seen in years. It was nice to see him.

My church always posts pictures of the 5k. When they do, I will be sure to post a picture!