Race Time

Most Saturday's are sleep in days for us.  Today we were up early.  First, we had to take the van in to have the power steering looked at and our appointment was at 6:30.  AM people!  A frigging M!  On a Saturday!  What can I say it's what we could get.  After dropping the van off we grabbed the kids to be at Cook Park by 8:30 in order to help with the Catalyst Challenge 5K/10K run.  This was a first for us.

First I have to say that the weather was a total blessing.  It's October in Oregon so the forecast was for rain on and off all day.  We showed up the same time the blue sky did.  It was awesome.  We donned our race shirts and folded up our hoodies and put them aside.

We've participated a couple times in charity walks and fundraisers but never a run.  It is way more official and serious than a charity walk.  These runners take it very serious.  Some more than others but they were into it nonetheless.

Our role was to help at the end of the race by collecting the runners tags after they finished the run. A guy was set up with his three laptops and a printer to track and post the results and we stood off to the side to wait for the runners to come in.  As they came in we gathered the tags and put them in order on a tether.  I guess this was to help the time keeper verify the order later but I'm not really sure. Some runners knew what we needed some we didn't and would have to chase them down.  Others had tore off the tag or left them elsewhere.  So much for verification.  All in all it was interesting to see and be part of the process.

The weather throughout the race was awesome.  Everyone was just loving it.  Towards the end we got word there was only a couple people left on the course we began to tear down the equipment.  Right then a couple sprinkles came down.  The second to the last runner came in and a few more drops came down.  We moved the electronics under cover.  Then the rain started and the last runner came in.  We grabbed her tag and BAM!  Thunder and lighting.  It was spectacular.  The change from the earlier blue skies to this massive rain was amazing.  We stood under the shelter debating if we should walk through it or wait.

As we debated I hear Alex calling me as he was running down the path.  Leave it to the eight year old to get the most out of the rain.  He and his buddy were soaked and loving it.

We decided to not wait it out.  We grabbed our things and booked it to the main area.  Not long after we get there the rain lets up.  So were a little wet - we had a good time, met some great people and helped a good cause.  Kathi has been inspired to train to do a run next year.  I think I might join her.