5K Walk / Run
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Saturday was perfect---cool, crisp at first, brilliantly sunny, spectacular, warming up as the day progressed. At 8:15 am, Linda, Penny, Rezie and I met in the lobby of the not-so-charming Holiday Inn. We drove the short distance to the college and found our way to the sign-in area in the Alt Building (For Dr. Pauline Alt). We were told that 130 people had pre-registered. We did not get a final count, but more were signing up as we four got our numbers to attach to the fronts of our tee shirts, and the complimentary long-sleeved tee with all the advertisers names. (I chose not to take one, envisioning yet one more thing I might never wear requiring a place to store.)
Bonne joined us. She got her number and she and Linda, the serious pros, went out to warm up. Rezie wanted to wait for one of her sisters, who was planning to walk with us, and I needed coffee and something to eat. Penny kindly offered to return to the hotel because the only thing in sight at the registration desk was donuts with a layer of icing. Somehow a bagel and cream cheese seemed more virtuous.
When Penny and I returned to the sign-up area, Diane Redding had arrived and I pulled out our Team '65 Ids. Mind you, these were quite stunning---squares of 330-count, white Hawthorn sheeting that I could no longer keep in service because of one impervious spot, painted with red house paint with the Team '65 "logo." Our numbers were pinned to the fronts of our shirts and the "logos" to the back of our shirts. In the midst of pinning these on, we heard that the crowd was at the starting line, so we ran out and down to the corner of Connecticut and I do not remember the street! As we came out of the building, Linda and Bonne were rounding the block in full form.
After a welcome and a prayer, we were off!! Down Connecticut Ave to Porter, right on Porter toward the Lake and the Peace Bridge. Linda and Penny were off like shots, I soon lost any sight of them. Bonne was race-walking and before I knew it I could see only her red tee, black backpack and long legs, a colorful speck that disappeared completely after we headed around another corner into the Park by the Lake. Rezie and her sister seemed to be walking and talking amiably, almost lolligagging, but they also soon disappeared. I had started walking with Diane and continued to do so, moving out ahead of her, then waiting for her to catch up--not that I would have gone that far ahead, because at the one mile mark the bottom of my left foot, with a spur, was beginning to hurt badly, and my right toes were completely numb in a new pair of running shoes that were not broken in. By mile two I had stopped to untie the right shoe and my toes were greatly relieved but I looked pretty lame as I walked along, so to speak. By mile 2.5 I retied the shoe and told Diane I would not come in last if it killed me and I had to come in under an hour--(there were still quite a few people behind us, but all the parents (and GRANDPARENTS) pushing their kiddie carriages had walked on by long since!) For the last half mile I walked faster and faster and Diane valiently kept not too far behind, catching up every now and then by running a bit. About a block from the finish line, I called to Diane this is it, and I sprinted, catching sight of the rest of Team 65 yelling GO Maryanne Go as I ran to the finish line---and the sign flashed 57 minutes and 16 seconds!
I caught up with the rest of the team and learned that Linda had clocked in at 21 minutes and some change, Penny at 31 minutes and some change and Bonne (WALKING!!) at 37 minutes and some change. Bonne was the first walker in! We took photos of all of us with our Team 65 logos now on in the front. Soon they began to call the winners in each of the age catgories, beginning with females and males under 14 and moving on up. At one point, I said to Bonne and Linda--it is taking a LONG time to get up to our age category (60 to 64). Bonne chuckled and said It took us a long time to get here!!
While listening to the times announced for the women in first place in all age categories except the 35 to 40 and under, it became apparent that Linda's clocked time was better than all of them! Our excitement increased as each category was called (although later, when they announced the over 80 category, I was chagrined to hear that the woman winning in that category came in 15 minutes less than I did!!) Something to work toward, right?
Then they announced the 60 to 64 age category---First Place Trophy, Linda Yarr; second place, blue ribbon, Penny Russell; third place, red ribbon, Bonne Mogelescu. NO one was shouting or laughing at any point in the prior or later announcements longer or lourder than we who cheered for each of our grand winners! A clean sweep!! Hip Hip Hooray for Team 65 and these fabulous, youthful beautiful women. And cheers to those of us who went along for the walk. It was a beautiful, gorgeous, perfect morning, and I'd do it again!!
---Maryanne