Well, it’s been several days since the active weekend my family had last weekend. The good news? Not only has my body recovered after a couple of very sore days from Sunday’s half marathon, but I am still feeling the runner’s high from the awesome experience I shared with my fellow runners and the Cincinnati community!
If you haven’t tackled something like this before, it really is something to consider for your bucket list! Don’t be swayed into thinking you’re not an athlete and couldn’t do something like this – there are people of all shapes, sizes and ages and we are all athletes in our shared endeavor! I am truly not a morning person, so seeing the sunrise at the starting line at 6:15 was memorable enough! Beyond the personal accomplishment that each feels out on the course, equally powerful is the community support that is there every step of the way. From the spirited senior citizens at the retirement center across the river to the 7th street crowd to the Gospel group with bubbles near the Incline House to the Walnut Hills football team with the festive balloon arch and the high-fiving eagle mascot… there was hardly a moment on the course when someone wasn’t cheering. And the signs that people hold up are hilarious. There are many and being on the lookout for them helps pass the time and keeps a smile on your face. When you cross the finish line, you’re so happy you want to cry and you realize that anything is possible if we’re all striving towards a common goal and supporting each other every step of the way! So consider running, walking, volunteering, or simply spectating next year. You’ll be hooked!
We were also downtown on Saturday to see my daughter run the 5k with her school’s runners’ club. This was a personal milestone for our family… I thought back to many years ago when we signed her up for the piglet races (very short sprint races for toddlers and young kids). Then there were the years that she rode in a stroller while one of us ran the 5k. Then the Kids’ Mile a few years ago and finally the 5K last year… our first official race together as mother and daughter. What was different this year? I was saving my energy for the half the next morning so for the first time ever we turned our 10 year old loose at the start and said, “See you at the finish!”
The bottom line? There are many, many events to take part in on this very special weekend. (I didn’t even mention the 10k or the pig relay!) There truly is something for everyone! Save the first weekend of May on your calendar in 2016 to find out what everyone is squealing about!
(images courtesy Flying Pig)