This was another good weekend. Weather during the race was similar to that in Columbus, though just a bit colder. Long sleeves and gloves felt good all the way. Julie was there again, being a very good supporter from the side. Though unfamiliar with the area, she found her way to several different spots along the course. I felt pretty good, though I could tell I had put a lot of miles in in the previous few weeks. (I am trying to reach my 2006 goal of logging 1600 miles and I needed to kick it up to be in a position to make it.) We were glad that Kendra and Kyle (a fellow Ohio boy) were able to join us from Omaha; we watched with joy as the Buckeyes beat 'that team from up north' to solidify their spot in the national championship game. I continue to be surprised that my time's get better with seemingly no additional effort. This has been a pleasant surprise as I guessed I would flatten out around 3:20. Enjoy the pictures below.
Start. Here we are, getting ready to cross the starting line. It was a brisk start to the race. Crazy, too, because we were marathon, half marathon, and 5K runners all starting together, running the same course for the first 3 miles. At that point we left the Coprorate Woods and headed on our way on a nice bike path.
Mile 18 or so. Still feeling good and just enjoying the route. Soon after this point I caught up with a woman wearing a marathon maniacs shirt. She pointed me toward the website of that club marathonmaniacs.com. I think I'd like to become a maniac, too - I qualify for the 4 star 'Iridium' level.
Mile 10. I'm just getting back onto the bike path after a couple mile stint on the road. Julie caught me here before I saw her - a nice surprise.
Steps from the finish line. Here I am, back in the corporate woods, closing in on the end. Again, glad to see the finish line; glad Julie was waiting there for me; glad to have another good run; glad to have the health and fitness to be able to do this; glad to be able to do this on behalf of men whose freedom has been compromised and are stuck in prison; and glad there is an organization like OVM and volunteers like those in M-2 who are willing to work at breaking down theirs and society's stereotypes toward the men incarcerated and build relationships with those men.
