A friend of mine was talking to me about a triathlon he did last week. His overall performance was so-so in his mind. He finished 6th in his age group. He was coming off a calf injury. In the end though, he told me this was a half ironman he would remember, because of how much fun he had during it. He enjoyed talking to fellow triathletes, and the whole atmosphere.
The races we tend to remember are not always the one we got a PR, or did our worst. They are the ones that surprise you. There are moments in a race which stand out, and make them memorable.
Here are the moments which stand out for me during my running career:
- Finishing the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, next to last, but three wonderful kids(friends of mine) running with me at the end.
- Running through the tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium, and coming out onto the field.
- The moments I have called my sister Anne during a marathon for encouragement.
- Seeing Mark smiling at me at countless race finish lines.
- Running with Mark at the Indy Mini Marathon.
- Thanksgiving Day Races.
- Running in the 2006 Gay Games.
- Running with Kris at the Geist Half Marathon.
- Happy to see Marshall half way through my first marathon.
- The woman in the dreaded Chicago Marathon who tapped me on the shoulder and recognized me as the guy who sold her a jacket at the running store.
There are many more, but those are the ones which come to mind. The point is not one of those moments involved a finish time. Of course I remember those too.
Charlie
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