This weekend we went to Lincoln, Nebraska to run the Halfsie Half Marathon. I had planned on running it when I signed up for it in May. Time would not allow me to do this yet. My daughter Megan ran it for me! Now she is a swimmer, so going for a half marathon run is kind of out of her realm. She started running more, and whether she will admit it or not, I think she really does like it! (Deep down anyway!!!) So I was a cheerleader for the weekend, and Megan and Sarah ran the half marathon, along with 7 other members of the Watertown Area Run Club (WARC). What a great weekend. I was a proud dad! If I could not run, I at least got to watch her!
A lot of people came from Watertown. It was a great weekend!
Of course, as runners, we also got to spend a lot of time going out to eat. We may all be good at running, but we are even better at eating!!!!
After supper the night before the half marathon, we were out walking, and enjoying the weather. It really was a good weekend to run. Started off in upper thirties, and then got to the upper 40’s later. No rain!
Everybody was getting lined up to go on the bus to the start line. I had these “medical” jackets to wear and help keep warm to begin with. Then when they started running, they could just peel them off and go! It makes a big difference trying to stay warm when you are standing still waiting to go.
Of course, if they were all going to dress up as a doctor, they had to act like one too! So their hands were ready to take on anything, but really, it was their legs, and their heart they needed for this event.
It was time for Megan and Sarah to get going. I was going to go out on the course later and cheer them on. I was able to get to the 9 mile section, and then get back to the finish to see them come in. It is ok to be a spectator, and as runners we all appreciate the spectators cheering us on. But as a runner, it was a lot harder for me to sit there and watch them, then to be out running with them.. A mixed emotion kind of day. I was proud of all of them, but was really proud of Megan for doing this. I would have rather been in the race with her running too, but not yet. I have worked my way up to 4 miles, but not 13.1 yet. Hopefully next year.
Here is Megan finishing the half marathon. She ran a 2:07, and the last half marathon we ran was in Disney 2 years ago, and we ran a 2:41. She improved by 34 minutes! That is a huge amount of time. Many of the ones from WARC ran a personal best! It always makes things even better when you can conquer a goal,, and get a time you have never gotten before. But, the events themselves are what is the most fun. Spending time with people who love doing the same thing…and if you can run a personal best, it is just icing on the cake!
Here we are after the finish, trying to get these 2 warmed up. Next time, we ALL with be running. I have, quite frankly, had enough of the spectator role. It may be awhile before my speed gets back, but even if it doesn’t, I just want to run more. I have had my “times” in the past, and that is ok. There comes a time in your life when certain things just don’t matter like they used, with the final finish time being one of them. Enjoy the time you had doing it! Enjoy the day! Enjoy the friendships! Enjoy the memories! Everything else is just “extra sprinkles” on your dessert. Achieving a new goal, or a personal best certainly make those events more sweet, but the finish time is not the “end all” of things. Just get out and move, and live each day as it comes. Keep making memories. Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day # of new streak: 218
