While Tray and Mike knocked off 32 and 24 @ Asta, Lea ran 10 in her neighborhood, Lee, Sri and Brent ran the Oleksak 1/2.
Lee did not run the first 8 or so particularly quickly or slowly (it's pretty much all up during the first 4 and pretty much down during the last 4). The first 4 was done at about 9's and the last 4 much quicker.
But the last 5 were another story. Run, walk, run, walk, run, walk, walk. Run, walk, walk, walk. Got to thinking about food and the gu when it showed up was a godsend. My average pace estimates for the race required recomputations until they got to a "can I even finish this?" The words of encouragement I like to give to struggling runners began to come to me, not from me. A probably about 5 year old girl was handing out kleenexes at about mile 11 and it was so unusual and so cute to do I knew the whole thing was worth it. I took some.
Not really sure what was going on but in a strange sort of way I enjoyed the trip. Running extremely slowly, surrounded by like minded athletes is inspiring. It took me 2 hours and 22 minutes to find the finish line. And the pasta meal.
I was a pretty boring passenger on the trip home.
There are good days. There are bad days. This was a good day.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/288516583
What an uplifting story! I really liked reading about the little girl with the Kleenex and "running ... with like-minded runners" Sounds like the day was exactly as it needed to be -- and one of possible deep reflection. Sometimes words just graze the surface of such things. You have so many great friends. I'm feeling glad to be a part of this group :)
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