The Marathon

Here we are oh, let's say, about mile 10? Not really sure, I just know it's when Kathleen's husband showed up, took our sweaty long-sleeved tops from us, and snapped our picture.

Her sweet husband, Jerry, showed up a total of FOUR times along the course, as well as chauffeured us back and forth to the race. I think this was the home stretch, mile 25. See how happy we were to be almost done?

The race was great, really great. The weather could not have been more perfect, and that's saying a lot. Just the week before it rained in sheets for days on end. Sunday it was dry, sunny, but not hot, and there was a little breeze.

That's Kathleen in the white, and her daughter, Michaela, in the orange. We were very happy she chose orange when we got there and were in our corals, trying to keep sight of each other. Also, during the first mile or two when everyone was bunched up and zig zagging all over the place.

The pink hats Kathleen and I wore say Love. As Wil would say, "Cute story." A few summers back, Kathleen and I were each in Cannon Beach, Oregon, at different times. We each walked into the same little store, saw those hats, and bought one for the other person for Christmas, months away. When we opened each other's gifts, it was a Gift of the Magi moment. We knew we had to wear the hats for the Marathon, so that Love. could be in every picture.

Jerry wasn't our only fan, STM, Wil and Flicka came out, we saw Woohoo's friend, Marcie, who was volunteering, friends from church found us three different times, liz, Tom and Nancy met us at mile 22 for hugs and high fives. It was a love fest.

I wish I'd photo documented some of the get-ups and the clever signs along the way. One couple had on black shorts, on her but were the letters SE on his were XY. Some of the signs said things such as, "You're running better than the government!" "Pain is temporary, but Internet results are forever!" "This seemed like a good idea 4 months ago!" "Your feet hurt because you're kicking so much ass!" "Sweat is liquid awesome!" "Toenails are for sissies!" There was formal entertainment, too, in fact, the whole event was so entertaining, the time went by quickly, all 5:37 of it.

We didn't break any records, but we were in the ballpark of our goal, we finished with pride, nobody got hurt, and we had a lot of fun!