December has arrived and with it...lots of changes. The weather, my employment situation and also relationships with various friends and confidants. Sure, they always come and go over the span of a lifetime, a decade or even a few short months. A recent study concluded that the average person keeps a close friend for seven years. Hmm. Well, OK, I can see that happening. This has happened to us all and while I prefer to keep life long friends, for some of us this is just not possible with constant moving around the country. But, the last six years have been really stable for me and I can count many who have been there for me and remain so. Some others, not as much. As December begins, I start a new chapter in my life with some challenges and also some very positive vistas on the horizon. I shall do my best to remain vigilant and happy!!!!
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Last Sunday was the final race of the year for these legs. The Hot Buttered Run 5K is a race I have enjoyed for three years now and it seems to only get better as time goes on. After working hard the last three months on my 5K speeds and trying to lower them enough to do well, I was hoping for a morning with good weather and no problems with the sciatica and the arthritis. It was for sure a cold one at 30°!! But, the sun was out and the course was ready for us. There were 546 runners in this race and I knew I had stiff competition as there were 21 in my age group and some I knew as faster than I was. but I was determined to get out of the gate quickly and maintain that first mile. I had few go past me, and of those who did, only one was in my age bracket.
At the 1.8 mile I passed him and never looked back. At the end I sprinted with a 16 yr old to the finish, beating him. But, as he was chip timed as faster, I lost a place by one. Didn't bother me as I ran well enough to take Masters. This was the second I had ever earned, though the first, over three years ago, was a small race and the leader had an injury. So I never felt that win as a real one. THIS...this is a win I really am happy about and will look back on proudly!!
Darhl, Shari and me in the morning sunlight!!
This was a photo Ann captured of that sprint at the end of the race. What fun to put on the jets at the end!!! She was a great photographer and is doing so well at shooting the races!!
I simply LOVE the races and my running family!!!
So kudos to Brian Davis and Energy Events for another great
year of running events and fun!! Looking forward to 2015 to be even better!!!
As mentioned above, the last few months have been a roller coaster of events. First, my Ford Escort "Tilly" died on me and had to be scrapped. Then, my job at Lingonberries Market came to end. Actually, that was this week, so a bit later than last month. These events sure added to the ups and downs of the season and now, I sit poised on the edge of December. This is usually a busy month for me with so many things happening. But, this year is different as a change of situations, relationships and circumstances has leaped into the mixture. This will give me time to pause, to reflect and to look to what I might now do with my time and life. One thing is for certain: I will still take each day as it comes, enjoying, no, savouring every bite and experience I can. As December will be a month of no work, time will be made to relax a wee bit and plan for the future. In January, I will have come to some decisions and then will blog here about them. For now, the shakuhachi practice as well as reading of books I meant to cover over the summer, will be done. Perhaps more blogging!
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Nice job Jim! I was super happy to have a 7th place in our age group. You're much faster than I, and I felt I ran well for me, including with a double achilles injury as well as my arthritis in full bloom due to the cold and wet.
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