It all started so innocently.
The plan was to ride for 1.5 hours and follow it with an 8-mile negative split run. We opted to ride indoors as the forecast was grim - and we hoped to see our friends begin the 10k.
Indoor cycling was a great way to wake up - 1.5 hours at tempo will do that to you at 6:00 a.m. on a dreary Saturday. After cycling, our group was a bit disorganized since some people were running the 10K - and some of us weren't. Rick and I decided to run down to the Y and back. We figured we could take in some of the race - cheer on our friends and even catch a glimpse at some of the elite 10Kers.
How terribly awry it all went.
We started off down Monument Avenue. It was incredible to be able to run right down the middle of the road without a worry about traffic. We checked out some of the amazing tailgates set up along the route. I'm thinking that to live on Monument, one must be a professional tailgater. Seriously.
Anyway, along we trotted past some of the familiar sites: Maury, Ashe, the Boulevard intersection, Lee. As we ran closer to the VCU area, we spotted small people in yellow shirts. Most were accompanied by an adult.
Me to Rick: "Looks like the kids race."
Rick to me: " What makes you say that?" - yes, that was a sarcastic response.
We kept right on trucking - smack into the middle of the yellow wave of little guys. We did our best to stay off to the side - and even cheered on some of the children (as we so cruelly passed them - with an evil laugh - wait, that's not true.) Suddenly, we realized that we were part of something far more important than us.
Yes - we spotted the Brightroom photographers. Up above us on some kind of crane thing - snapping away with their enormous, and possibly dangerous, cameras.
And there we were - in the way, completely ruining triumphant pictures of small children as they participated in the one-mile race. Nice.
Rick turned to me, and said "How did we get into this mess?"
Me: "I don't know. Let's blame it on Mark. And, let's run back on Grace."
We figured we would anonymously shuffle down the finishers chute (despite towering over the other participants) and get the heck out of there.
Not quite.
Who should be there at the finish line but the one and only Cyndi D! Totally and completely busted. She even found video on the internet that captured the moment. Darn her technological skillz!
In case you are wondering, the finish line area is almost as secure as Reagan National Airport. We had to wade our way (with the small children) to the exit.
Yup - we followed the signs for the 5-7 year olds.
Apparently, I did not learn everything I need to know in kindergarten - or even in teaching kindergarten.
2 comments:
This is going to become a classic in the race report files!
And create a whole new meaning to "bringing out the kid in you."
:)
Seriously, I was so bummed that I wasn't able to run but seeing you and Rick frantically trying to find an exit out of the march of the little people totally turned my mood around!! Yeah, I realize you had to endure the experience in order for me to see the joy in the day -- but, hey, God works in mysterious ways. And, apparently, it's all revolves around me. ;)
Just love SQ!!!
C
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