You get out what you put in

Got there at 10:30 and spoke to Ron, he gave my boys shirts too. Did a little warm-up and then focused on stretching. At the outset Gordon (husband of Marleen [?] the race coordinator) took off and I tucked in within 50 feet of him. By the time we turned N at the end of the neighborhood I had caught him and I could tell by his breathing that I was in good shape. It was windy so I ran side-by-side and asked him how far down the impassable puddle was after going through the fence, he said 1/2 mile. The turn from the park W towards the main road marked 1 mile he said. I was just keeping his pace trying to relax but I took off my blue windbreaker and opened up. The pace car was ahead and some walkers, I knew that the hills would be tough, just tried to maintain. Hill to fence, downhill to puddle, very slippery with mud-covered asphalt. At the turnaround I was 100 yards in front, encouraged people as I went by them. Uphill, then long downhill stretch to park turn I opened up and was feeling it, but not really pushing at 100%, maybe 85%. Still not sure how hard to push the envelope. I've been running nearly every day so I'm getting in shape. Tough turn uphill by park, then cruise and turn and sprint. Hands on knees, fairly quick recovery.

Jogged to find Phin, he'd put his perennial pink hoodie over my blue windbreaker. Ran all the way back to the turnaround happy to find Jo scootering with Phin. Encouraged him to run through the foot pain, and really I don't think he pushes his breathing as much as he could. Enjoyed walk/jogging back, 78 year old Neals was ahead and pushed Phin to at least jog when he jogged and pass him up. Walked with Olaf who was carrying 25 pound pack and flag as a veteran. Jim had taken the shortcut right turn at the park, he ran back to join us. I was walking with Olaf near last park turn and told Phin he could run the rest of the way, he grudgingly complied. When he saw he only had one turn left he sped up and turned to the finish, Olaf tried to match him but Phin sprinted home. He says he was slow but I was proud of his effort. He earned his XL shirt.

Great meal at the Methodist church, $6 for chili, ate with boys, then showed Jo the pipe organ. Went to UTCH Xmas party at church where B married me. They had pizza for lunch, good caroling, good social interaction catching up with last having gone there 10 years ago, talked to Nate the pastor and his wife and others. Connecting with the co-op clan.

God, the great infinite One who is love, the cosmic joy who carries our loved ones home (Ron always mentions those we've lost, he said cosmic giggle, I said cosmic joy) God, the One who sent His Son, who is One with the Father, the very nature of God Himself, Jesus Christ, who died for us to redeem us, save us, sanctify us, glorify us, who holds the keys of death and hell, to You be glory in our bodies, souls and spirits.

Amen.