Lucky.
That’s really the only way to describe the circumstances of this race. It is no accident that it was the Kirkland Shamrock Run, a 5K that is in honor of the luckiest holiday ever: St. Patrick’s Day! Why was I so lucky, you ask?
Well, it happened the morning after my son went on a sleepover with my mom and dad, leaving just the three of us at home. This was perfect because the friend I was supposed to run the race with decided that Hawaii sounded more fun than running in the gray, Washington rain (who wouldn’t?), allowing Bradley and Gigi to take their bib numbers and run in the race instead of them! We were lucky to get freebie tickets and I was lucky to get to run with my loves! What is luckier and better than that?!
My friend, who reported a sunburn after only driving to the hotel in Hawaii today, told me that there was a little hill at the beginning, but then it was a fairly downhill run on the way home. I was ok with that, but we overheard other people during the run complaining about the new race route because it was so hilly! Bradley and I both commented that it seemed like the first 4K’s were pretty much up hills and the last K was downhill. That said, it was beautiful to run through such pretty neighborhoods, and as I crested the final hill, I could see the Seattle skyline across Lake Washington and had it been sunny it would have been gorgeous! As it was, I was just glad to be running with the overcast sky and light drizzle. It was refreshing and I felt alive, today. It was a good race.
The best part of a race is always that last leg and the moments right after. We got actual finishing medals, bananas and all the usual after race swag. But mostly I felt alive, satisfied, full of love and happiness. I felt lucky in love and life and PROUD of my daughter, husband and me, too. Life is amazing.