Each Day Is a Gift

I was so excited about this Sat's run that I didn't sleep a wink.  Mark must have worried that I would sleep thru the alarm.  He called me twice before 5:25 am.  He's the most punctual guy I've known.  He had my seat all warmed up when he picked me up at the hotel.  THANKS Mark!!! for chaufering me around and the nice visit.

We got to the JRP and waited for the Chumps to arrive.  Met Lora, Gene, Rick, Darin (Teena's new bishop) and SO GOOD to see John (Teena's bro.) again.  We started off together at an easy conversation pace.  Teena, the future Olympic Female Athlete, got inpatient and took off with Mark.  I was happy running with John and Darin.  At around mile 3.75 Darin had to take a pit stop.  I was glad that John stayed with me 'cause I didn't like running in the dark by myself.  We were running around average 9:20 pace.  It was fun talking about his first marathon last year.  Darin never caught back with us. 

At mile 5 John wanted to turn around to make it a 10 miler.  I took a total of 14 oz. HEED.  I was surprised that John hadn't drank any.  At around mile 5.5, Teena and Mark caught up with us and we ran back together and found Darin with Tao.

While waiting for Rick, the Sub-for-Santa-5K organizer, I took a Gu.  Everyone was talking about how fast to run this 5K.  I wasn't going to run it 'cause I was having arthritis and tendonitis pain.  But standing, waiting and freezing was worse.  So at the last second, I had Rick put "Smooth" down on his clip board and off we went.

Teena went with the boys, Mark, Gene and Rick.  I kept an eye on them 'cause I didn't know the course.  After crossing the first bridge, the trail forked, I couldn't see the lead pack.  I took the right fork, turning back to ask if it was right, no reply.  When it dead-ended to a road, I realized my mistake and ran back.  I could see 5 or so runners with one girl in pink who had gained the advantage since I took the wrong turn.  There were also lots of people on the trail and not sure if they're in the race.  I had to stop to pick up the tickets the race organizers had dropped.  

I wanted to make up the lost time so I gradually reeled the runners in.  At the turn around, Rick was there to give out tickets, I had regained my lead.  It was fun side-fiving Mark, then Teena as they sped by.

At around mile 2 the trail forked in a sorta round about.  I took the left fork, remembering that was where we ran earlier in the dark.  WRONG one!!!  the right fork is shorter as I soon saw the girl in pink running there and ahead of me.  I wasn't going to let her had the advantage b/c of my own dumbness.  So I sped up and passed her for good.  Teena ran the last 0.25 mile in with me and told me I was 2nd woman in.  No need to guess who was the first woman winner.  I took 4th place overall, of course 1st in my AG.  I won a nice brown bag of goodies same as 30 other runners and 500 other walkers.  Thank goodness Darin, the bishop, didn't run this race.  And Teena's temple recommend is current for another 2 years.

It was a FANTASTICALLY FUN day!!!  THANK YOU Mark, Teena and John.  You are AWESOME!!!  I LOVE YOU!!!