Author's note: I should have posted about my Relay / First Day of Spring / Birthday run the weekend of the run. But I didn't. Then Monday happened: the mass shooting at our neighborhood King Soopers just a few blocks from our home, 10 people killed, an entire community devastated. Afterward, posting about my run seemed so inappropriate. But as I tried to work through my numbness from Monday's shooting, I realized how important it is for good to overcome evil, for light to shine through the shadows, and for moments of joy to peek through the curtain of sorrow. Thus I post about what was a very joyful first day of spring.
As noted in an earlier post, I had registered for CU's Relay for Life with the intention of running a COVID-safe solo "relay" on the first day of spring, circling a field near our house 16 times, once for each skin cancer surgery I have had. A two-foot snow storm earlier in the week left mounds of snow, ice, ice water, and mud on the path I had planned to run. Thus I concocted a Plan B and laid out a loop of just about the same distance right next door to the field I had planned to run on. I figured I would run the first loop around the field, 14 loops on the neighborhood loop, and the final loop around the field. In the end, that's just about what I did except I went onto the field path for the 12th loop just for grins.
The big surprise of the day was the appearance of several of my running buddies, joining in as the run progressed. And Paul, Barley, Kendall and Taz were on hand for many of the loops as well. This was the first time I had run with a "gang" since the pandemic started. What a treat! And I am pleased to say that my Relay efforts raised over $3000 for the American Cancer Society! This was a very good day - a beautiful morning and a very joyful run. Let's let the pictures tell the story:
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| Taz is thrilled - he's running with Randall and toward Amie two of his most favorite people on the planet! |
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| Ready to head out for the run |
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| More buddies arrive during the morning - left to right: Paul/Barley, Connie (you can tell by the shorts), me/Taz, Amie & Anita |
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| The Paul & Kendall cheering section! Can you believe it?! Kendall even brought pom poms! |
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| Had to get a picture of running buddies on the trail loop - it's such a beautiful venue. |
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| The obligatory selfie (left to right: me, Amie, Anita, Connie) |
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| Finishing lap number 16! |
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| All done! Time to celebrate! |
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| Post-run treats! Thank you all for such a successful and joyful Relay, First Day of Spring, and Birthday! |
Post-run back at the house, Kendall and Paul continued the birthday-portion of the celebration:
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| Kendall presents the cake (spice cake with peanut butter frosting - just like my mom used to make for me!) |
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| Kendall's gift to me: a puzzle using a photo of me and running buddies! What a delightful surprise!!! |
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| Our post-birthday-lunch walk and family selfie. |
Thank you all for being a part of my life.
