Spectating

What to do if you can't run a race? Go watch. Saturday BQ2 and his brother picked me up at the local grocery store, because the wife sold me out to the doc and I'm still not supposed to drive. Gorgeous day for a race. Cool morning, warming to maybe low 50's by noon. Picture post card sky, brilliant blues with occasional clouds for effect.

The race was the Frostbite half marathon at Cedars of Lebanon State Park. They changed the course this year so the runners wouldn't be running down highway 231 with the traffic in the last miles. The new course was entirely within the state park, some of the same rolling hills and basically an out and back figure eight. The great thing about the state park series race is the entry fee. Six bucks gets you a long sleeve technical shirt, a great course, chip timed and age group awards. Unique to the state park series races are the grand masters and senior masters awards. BQ1 talked with Tomas and the premise of the races is to break even. Hadn't realized they've been going for 30 years.

Surprised when we arrived that we had to park out by the swimming pool, a little over 3/10 of a mile away. Seemed like a mile to me. Worked out well, we were right at the one mile mark. In the past I've been able to park on the same stretch of road as the finish. This is also were the packet pickup, awards and finish line grub is located. I've only raced here twice, BQ1 had a streak going of 5 races. Kinda strange for us both to be spectating.

Nothing better to humble, than to spend time with someone who has just had open heart surgery. Amazed that after only two weeks, BQ1 was out and in great spirits. I had to really be careful to try and not whine or be my typical grouchy self. We positioned ourselves just past the one mile mark at the top of a little rise. There was a slight bend in the road and from our vantage point we could watch the runners on the way out. On the way back, they would be at mile 12.