"From a different point of view."

The day after Thanksgiving, Virginina and I went to West Chester to watch our eldest son try to PR in a 5K(3.1 miles) the day after Thanksgiving. Now I did not join him this time for two reasons. 5 days earlier I was semi-hopping my way over the finish line at Philadelphia Marathon completing "3 marathons in 6 weeks" with a shot left hip. So after a very punishing visit with my buddy Chris, the Massage Therapist and Personal Trainer, pressured my hip back, rest was a very good idea. Second, it was the day after Thanksgiving which is one of my favorite holidays. Food, Football and Family. The Dad and Chef in me focusing the day on the 3 stages of meals-Breakfast, Football Munchies and Thanksgiving Feast.
Craig, my son running the race, started to line up I gave him words of advice. Not sure if it was the dad or personal trainer or both speaking. "You have not ran for two weeks and a big day of eating yesterday, just go out and have fun." A PR (personal record) the day after Thanksgiving is asking alot. Virginia and I bought a coffee and bagel then cheered on the runners. Now I run in races and not watch. But the coffee was hot and tasting great. The bagel-everything with low fat veg cream cream (I needed low-fat after what I ate yesterday) was toasted and warm. Hanging with my wife is one of my favorite things in life, so it felt different but I was happy. Then Craig went by his first lap looking strong. Craig's girl friend Amy soon past after him. Many of the runners were out there were very serious and focused, doing their very best. Many runners seemed to be just enjoy the event and the day. Many people ask me and my fellow group of running friends why we run the way we do. It is hard to answer but because "it's what we do" or because "we can". I am humbled by seeing what others do under much greater challenges. The older women who has been fighting cancer or loss of a loved one who never walked a mile all at once, completes her first 5K in honor of what's important to her. Instead of running for my new PR, I watch other's pass me by wondering, "Why are they running?" My buddy Rich M. ran the 5k after running one the day before and finished 15 seconds faster! He's like me, he runs because it's what he does.
Then Virginia sees Craig the second time, I check the clock. He IS on pace for a new PR. So the DAD in me starts screeming...GO, GO you can hit a new PR...GO! He was running with everything he had in him! Craig broke his old PR by over one minute!!! That is huge in a 5K. Very Proud Papa and surprised personal trainer! Also note; we went to the Chester County Running Store, who was kind enough to put on the event the day after Thanksgiving, to buy Craig new running shoes because he set a new PR on completely shot running shoes...my boy is awesome!