Today: Running in secret.
[tweetmeme source=”elizabethev” only_single=false] Every once in a while, I run a race by myself. Last year it was the Feed the Need 5k in Hingham’s Wompatuck State Forest. I showed up bright and early, stood like a leper by my lonesome at the starting line with no watch, no music, and no friends… and ran one of the best races of my life. It felt good to get out and run against myself, to see what I could do when left to my own devices.
I planned to run Feed the Need alone again this year, but the course is just so beautiful, it didn’t seem right to keep it to myself. I gchatted my sister (it was during the workday, we’re not robots) and convinced her to join me. The race raises money and collects food for food pantries on the South Shore. The entry fee is 25 non-perishable food items or $20. The past few years, I’ve forked over the cash, but this year I hit up the cabinets instead. It felt really good to donate over 50 food items between to two of us, for families who are having trouble putting food on the table.
I was running with a bit of a busted right foot (why do I seem to always be marking the 8 foot man during soccer games?), which may not have been the best idea, but hey. Any day you get to run is a good day. My sister bolted to the front of the pack, and I spent much of the course trying to catch up to her… and/or avoid bring passed by the 89 year old man having an asthma attack.
The course is extremely hilly, and follows a paved loop through the state forest. After spending so many miles in the city, it was a really nice change of scenery. I cranked the Michael Jackson (sha mon) and kept a steady pace. I was happy to see Andi Babes waiting at the finish, and even happier to have not run this one alone.
Also On Tap for Today:
- Enjoying this gorgeous weather with a walk around the Common and Beacon Hill
- Getting ready for Clark‘s birthday!
- Ooh! How to tell when bread was baked!
What do you do in secret? (Warning: it won’t be a secret anymore, but share anyway.)
Comments (5)
It All Changes
April 10, 2011 at 6:54 pm
This is such a good race. I love the idea of running in secret but also doing things to help others while running. Just be careful to not bust your foot worse.
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April 10, 2011 at 7:31 pm
[…] Today: Running in secret. « […]
Stephanie
April 10, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Yay! Awesome cause! I think I need to go for some of those runs. Running with people sounds good 🙂 And running FOR people sounds even better!
Michelle
April 10, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Love this! I dance in secret… more than you know.
Sha mon.
easylifestyles
April 11, 2011 at 2:30 am
Another great post. Thanks for sharing this. Spending time with my family is something that truly makes me happy in life. I enjoy reading your blog very much.
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