At mile 9, Brian looked over and winked, “Happy anniversary, hon.” IT WASN’T UNTIL this spring that I considered getting back into running. Joyce Heismeyer, now of Wichita, was my inspiration to try a 10K in June. I barely had a chance to feel satisfied with crossing the finish line before Joyce said the half-marathon was next. “Maybe for you,” I thought.
It was a welcome pick-me-up. By then the fun of the half-marathon was beginning to wear thin.
Still, we did it, along with 4,600 others who ran in a variety of races around downtown Wichita, including the 26.2-mile marathon.
And yes, it was fun. Rock n’ roll bands were stationed along the course. Neighbors still in their robes nursing hot coffee came out to cheer the steady stream of early morning runners.
In one neighborhood two little girls had a lemonade stand and worked every bit as hard as those manning the fuel stations along the course. Other kids would line along the streets holding out their hands to give you a slap-slap-slap of high fives.
“You’re looking good!” “Great pace!” “Keep up the good work!” were welcome words of encouragement as the miles wore on.
Others had wry senses of humor as they held signs that read, “Toenails are for sissies.” or “Run like UR naked.”
The sheer volume of the crowd provided constant entertainment and welcome distractions. Two women wore shocking pink wigs. A man ran in striped leotards equipped with a tail. Many had T-shirts that bore inspirational sayings. At our pace, you had plenty of time to read the fine print.
It also felt good to know somewhere in that vast crowd – we never spotted each other were fellow Iolans Nicolle Hoepker and Jason Franklin pounding the pavement.
Before long, Brian and I were out on the rail trail Saturday mornings building up our distances from that six-mile foundation.
Training for the longer distance was the first time Brian and I had run together. Usually, we do our own thing. He has seven marathons under his belt; I had two half-marathons from more than 20 years ago. Needless to say, he could leave me in the dust at any point.
But that wasn’t the point, as his companionship of now six years has so aptly proved.
Not exactly romantic, but run was fun
