Before the start of the Bayshore 10K.
Finishing with a smile! Or is it pure joy of seeing the finish line despite the pain?!
The beautiful Lake Leeneau. A little R & R with M.
It was race day! Well, almost! Packet pick up. One last event leading up to the morning of the race. A bustling sea of people finding their number and line to collect their coveted race number and shirt. Although, I was not running this time, my husband was. And I couldn't help but feel the excitement and wondered if he felt it too. I kept asking him if he was getting excited. His reply was "I guess so." Though bummed for him that he didn't seem more excited, it was appropriate. My husband is NOT a runner. In fact, he predicted that this may be his rookie appearance and his retirement race, all wrapped up in one 10K. He was challenged to run the 10k because his friend was going to run the marathon for the second year and I, too, was to run the marathon. We all know by now that I'm running a different race. My husband's friend, on the other hand, ruptured a disk in his lower lumber 3 weeks before the race and had surgery recently to repair it. Who was left standing, ready and waiting? My husband!
The night before the race, I found myself, oddly, going through the same pre race routine I would if I was running. Setting out clothes for the morning, double and triple checking to make sure I had all the gear I needed, and praying that if it was to rain, that it would be a light rain. (There was rain in the forecast. The only question....how rainy would it be!?) I found myself tossing and turning in bed all night, waking up almost immediately to the sound of the alarm. Hitting the snooze button twice, I rolled out of bed, realizing that I didn't sleep well and wanted to stay in bed for a little longer. But wait....it's race day!!!!! Well...for my husband....not for me. I focused my attention on getting myself and our daughter ready. Pulling out the sign we made for daddy and unwrapping the cow bell we bought so daddy knew where we were! M was excited to share with her daddy this experience. She even asked if she could run next year with daddy. A true testament to the example that daddy is setting for his curious and very observant daughter.
It was raining! A light rain. But it was cool too! The light rain and relentless drizzle, dampened many of the runners, now starting the race, wet and cold. Temperature at the start of the race was about 54 degrees. The National Anthem blared over the loud speakers, followed by the familiar "Runners take your mark." (starting gun sounding) And the runners were off! We quickly found my husband in the sea of runners, zigging and zagging, trying to find their pace. M rang her cow bell and shouted "Go Daddy." Daddy waved and smiled. A warming sight for anyone to see. And a comfort to my husband, I'm sure as he started his first mile.
For those of you who only are spectators in this sport, you don't realize how wonderful it is to hear your shouts of encouragement, while pounding the pavement. Runners feed off the clapping and the shouting and the encouragement. The best encouragement is seeing your loved ones on the side, cheering for YOU! It is the BEST pick me up! Better then any gel or cup of water!
We headed back to the track to find a dry place to sit and wait for the runners to return. At 31 minutes and 48 seconds, the first male 10K runner was crossing the finish line!!!! Amazing! Almost 2 whole minutes later the second male finisher crossed the line. The first female 10K runner crossed the line at 41 minutes. Still a respectable time.....actually.....an amazing time! The runners were now entering the track in groups, growing larger and larger....a constant flow of runners crossing the finish line. I stood tall, with my camera ready and my eyes focused at the track entrance. Then, about 50 minutes into the race, I spotted my husband. I told M that Daddy was coming. She was excited to ring her bell. He rounded the last turn, I pointed my camera and started shooting. I could hear M and my mom yelling. He heard us...well, the cow bell. He turned and smiled and waved. A huge smile both on M and his face. I could tell he was tired...glad the race was done! He did an amazing job! Finishing in 53 minutes!!!!
We reunited with a kiss and a hug and his first comment about the run...."This is the DUMBEST sport ever!" I laughed, not taking offense, but laughing with acknowledgement....that only he would say those words after running and finishing his first 10K. It is now safe to say.....he is retired from road racing....at least on foot! :)
It was an odd experience being the spectator this time. I have a greater respect for all the loved ones, including my husband, who get up at the crack of dawn to travel and cheer their runner on, only to find themselves sitting around in anticipation of when you may cross the finish line. Let us not forget, they brave the traffic, the crowds and the weather, just as we do. They are just as much warriors as we, runners, are.
Until our next run.......
