19000+ Steps

That’s how much I walked today. The majority of those came with the 15K (9+ miles) River Run this morning. I was accompanied by my lovely daughter Christy who kept the pace up and my spirits too throughout the walk. It was a cold windy day with wind gusts reaching 30 -40 mph. The wind was especially brutal on the final mile when the walkers were passing over the Hart Bridge on the final mile of the race. We were running against the wind.

Apart from the discomfort of the long walk and today the cold wind, the race is an enjoyable event. People line the route for the whole 9 miles cheering on the runners and walkers. The route goes through downtown, some very nice neighborhoods and crosses the St John’s river on 2 large bridges. In the neighborhoods people come out in their yards and cheer. Some put out speakers with lively music. Others are cooking out. There was one house that was making waffles for walkers. We saw one walker get handed a beer by one of the picnickers. There were lots of people on the side with their dogs. Interspersed along the route were live bands playing good walking music.

Early in the race, on the first bridge, we caught up to a girl who was racing in a wheel chair. The bridge was steel grating and caused her chair to bounce and vibrate. She was yelling at her legs because they kept slipping off the footrests. It helped to put our sore legs into perspective. At least we can feel and control our legs. You have to give credit to someone who would push a wheel chair 9 miles.

I had on a Florida Gators shirt, Christy did too. I passed a little 4 year-old girl who was cheering on the runners. I thanked her for cheering as I passed her. She looked up and said “Go Gators”. They start the indoctrination young here.

There are water stations about every mile on the route where you can grab a paper cup of water as you go. After you drink you just drop the cup. The wind was blowing cups all over the place. I had visions of the police handing out littering tickets to the 15,000 race participants.

The finish line this year was inside the stadium with the finishers displayed on the jumbotron. The only problem was noone remembered to look at the jumbotron.

The reason we know how many steps we took is that Christy and I were wearing pedometers. Christy is having a competition at work for the group that takes the most steps. Today she made a big contribution.

Tim and Karen actually ran the race. Last year Karen walked with Christy and me and Sophia was just a bump in her belly.

We all felt better this year after the race. Last year I got pretty stiff. This year everyone tried to train better. I think only Christy was better prepared this year than last. The rest of us had one thing or another hinder our training.

Tim and Karen had to take their drum line to Orlando today after they got back from the race. Between that and the fact that Daylight Savings Time kicks in tonight they’re not getting to bed until 2AM. We are not going to early Mass tomorrow.

Penny had a lot of Sophie time this weekend. She took care of the kid while we were all off running around.

Tomorrow Penny and I head back home.