morning - 10 Vernon Worthen. Well... Such a crappy day. Drove over to practice and got everyone going in their groups. We headed up the marathon course, using the paved trail instead of the highway (after a big talk on safety with traffic). The run was actually great. Some of the guys fell off, but I just cruised with Nick and Preston and we were having a great and tough run. It was a bit warm, so I was a little blah about running home. But since The Circle was out of the loop this weekend, I decided to make this my long run and just run home from practice, adding in 8-10 miles with tempo and then just posting an easy 15 tomorrow and I would have another solid 120 week fall in my lap. To run home, I had Ally (and her friend came along with her) run over to the park and pick up the car and Rylee since she would be done so much earlier than the boys and I. Just as we came down Diagonal and were going to start moving into the fast finish for the boys, I saw two cops get out of their car. They kind of walked toward a driveway, so I about said to the guys that we were going to see a domestic dispute - because that's how cops usually approach them. But then they stopped and looked at me and asked if I was Dave. Just like that my heart dropped. Why did they know my name? My mind raced; has one of the kids been hurt? They said, "There has been an accident." Time kind of slowed down. I didn't know what to think. Then they said, "Do you know Teri?" And I just freaked in my mind... ally was running with Teri (her best buddy, or next door neighbor, parent to past/present/future kids I have coached and taught and worked with in church, mom of one of my girls' best and longest friend). They said she had been in a very bad accident, had been hit by a car and I needed to get to the hospital. They offered me and ride and we got going. I asked about Allyson since they didn't tell me anything about her or what had happened. They told me she was physically fine, but mentally a mess. They told me what they knew and such. She had been hit by a mirror of a truck basically right in the head/chest. Ally was only feet in front of her and somehow hadn't been touched. Of course this made for a ver tough and long day at the hospital. Teri passed away with no brain function - they are arranging the donation of every organ the can, so she is still being supported. The situation was a mess. It is something no one, no family should ever have to go through. Allyson is having a very tough time basically holding her destroyed friend as she died. But she is so crazy tough. She called a man who was the first driver on scene to tell him thanks, and he couldn't stop telling me how great she did being there for her. My emotions are just all over. I couldn't feel more hurt for her sweet family. It is, I don't even know the word, to see your spouse covered blood (even after the er cleaned her up), and just thinking how wasn't it her? I feel okay for a bit, but then I get pretty sad. I'm pretty emotional already, so this kind of throws me. (Kinvara lime 487) | 