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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

It Is a Gift

If you read last week's post, then you know that I was running the St Jude Country Music Half Marathon this past weekend.  I could say so much about this event but you probably wouldn't want to read that much.  I learned a couple of things along the course and was reminded of so much more too.

One of the things that I learned was that there are "only" 242 days until Christmas.  Of course, that was as of Saturday.  I also learned that there is a club of women that have tried running before but they kept spilling their wine.  You would think they would leave the wine at home during their run.  One more thing that I learned and I'll move on.  It was that some cities will put anything in the middle of a round-a-bout to get your mind off of the round-a-bout.  And that is all I have to say about that.  You'll have to ask somebody else.

Let me tell you, I have never seen so many people in one place at one time in my life!  Although I didn't care for the huge crowd, I did enjoy seeing all of the sights along the race course.  I couldn't believe all the people that had lined the streets of the route and so many signs.

One of the highlights of our stay in Nashville was getting to eat with Jeff and his family.  We went to the Rainforest Cafe and had a fabulous meal.  Another highlight was getting to reunite with Kade.  As you may recall, Kade and I finished the Rocket City Marathon together back in December.  We have stayed in contact with each other since the marathon.  It was great to see him again.

Now for the things that I was reminded.  I know that I have touched on this in the last few months but it doesn't hurt to hear it again.  I was reminded that we shouldn't take this gift of running for granted.   I think I was at about mile 4 when I saw a lady in a wheelchair just a clapping and yelling for all of the runners.  I just had to make my way over there and give her a high five.  I don't think she saw me at first but when she did, she stuck that hand out.  It made my day!

Somewhere about mile 11, I was reminded again.  This time it was a blind runner.  The blind runner was tethered to a sighted person and was being escorted by three others.  They wore bright yellow and had signs on their back identifying them.

I'm so thankful to Joy Stark for teaching me the fact that running was a gift early in my "career".  Each time you see things like the things I saw this past weekend, it comes as a reminder of that fact.

That's going to do it for me this week.  Thanks for stopping and I hope to see you again next week again.  I'll be sharing about the Coke 10K then.

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