slowly but surely

Vermont City Marathon....what a great day. A Holiday in my book. Always bitter sweet when you cannot get out there and run like you want to , but it was a great day anyway. A month ago I did not think I would see a 5 mile run anytime soon. But over the month my injury got better and the miles slowly but surely, increased. I managed to get up to a 9 mile long run last weekend. So when marathon weekend hit I was ready for a 10 miler.

I took the plunge about 2 weeks ago and decided to join a relay team and run just a leg. I have not run on a relay team since about 1998. But, atleast I could participate. I was slated to run leg 4; A 5.5 mile run. I would take it nice and slow. Just enjoy being part of the great event.

The day of the marathon was really ideal running weather. Cool, overcast, rainy but not down pours. Hard "waiting" weather if you are on a relay team, but nice running weather. I waited for my turn. I think I was probably blue when I started.

What fun to put on a number and go.....I have not done it a ton, but it is so fun. I am still very new in this running sport. I hesitate putting on numbers when I am injured, because once I do, and once I am on the course, I naturally push it. Very dangerous if you are recovering. The only time I did not push it was, ironically, in Boston. I was injured and I had a plan to NOT push it. I planned to stop every 5 miles and that is what I did.

Anyway....I ran along, passing folks, everything feeling great. I came upon one gal that lives in my neighborhood. Nice nice woman. I slowed down and ran with her for a bit. I then took off after a couple miles. Then I heard a voice from behind me. It was Greg. "Dr. Sharp". I back tracked and stayed with him. What fun. He probably saved me from going all out and racing against my inner self. I come up with goals spur of the moment and I am sure I would have re-injured myself. Greg and I ran to the finish together. He is so funny. This is his 3rd marathon this month! Very very impressive, yet he calls himself a slacker. He kept trying to get me to "allow" him to walk. He did not need to walk. he is very strong. I think he smiled the whole way. I do think that he was tired, but he did not convince me that he could not push through. Anyone that smiles that much is not in that much pain. He finished in 4:15. Very very good. And...I was happy to have run 11 miles...and not have pushed it...and to have been part of the marathon.

I just hope that I did not annoy Greg too much. Those last few miles are hard in a marathon....and i can only imagine that it is only harder when it is your 3rd that month!!!!!

Congrats Greg! Maybe I can pace you at the VT 100 one day if you can allow yourself a pacer. :-)