The course itself was much different than I've done before: in addition to pavement, there was loose gravel, thick muddy wet grass, wooden creaky bridges, and super-dry slippery dirt (on hills.) Since the route doubled-back on itself, there were markings to show which direction to go if it was the first loop, and which if it was the second. I misinterpreted the "1" of "1st loop" to mean "1st mile!" so was excited a bit prematurely, then couldn't believe it when it seemed like forever until someone said, "Almost the second mile!"

I walked several times throughout the course, but tried to run within what seemed like a minute. (I'm definitely intrigued about getting a watch that keeps track of intervals, elevation data, and other things like that.) I had hoped to sprint once the finish line was in sight, but it was on slippery, muddy, wet, thick, tall grass, so my last .1 mile was slogging, not even jogging.

I was pleased that my time was less than Disney, but feel my effort at Disney was better. The Disney course was much easier, though, so I wonder if I could have run the whole course Sunday had it been all level and dry.

One funny observation I made was that my age group was essentially the weakest. I was 9th in the 30-39 group, but had my age been anything else, I would have been way at the bottom. Yes, even the 60+ group had some hard-core women in it. The majority of the people running were students on the cross country teams for whom the race was meant to benefit. (The race was for all student athletics in a local school district.) Their parents, coaches, and past students also ran. So in that respect, the race was self-selected for "actual runners" or at least "people who care about high school sports." In the case of the parents, I think most ended up in the 40-49 or above age brackets, which meant that there were more competitors there. (I'll be past 40 when my kids are in high school, after all.) There was a bus driver there (who introduced himself to me at the starting line) and some folks that looked like they run any local race. So it was a different crowd than Disney, but just as fun.

This coming Sunday, I'm running a 10K. I already know going into it that I'll be walking some of the intervals, so in some ways it is less pressure even though it is greater distance. Also, in this case the 30-39 age group is going to blow everyone away. Since I know I have no hope of being at the top, I don't have to worry about anything else but staying alive. As a bonus, the "hard part" of the 10K is the trail I run at least twice a week. It is brutal, but familiar. The rest of the course for Sunday is flat.

Meanwhile, I had one of those "ironic moments" today. This is related to running... stay with me here through this awkward segue... Recall how I the Presidential Fitness Medal was always just a run out of my grasp? And how once during summer school, I signed up for drama, but it turned out to be a combo drama-sports class taught by the P.E. instructor from "real school?"

OK.

So today both boys started an after-school program at our church that combines both religious education with plenty of crafts, recreation, and fun. I volunteered to be a parent helper at dinner this evening. We had a picnic-style meal today, which meant we all sat on the ground. I was table #2, and I sat down. Sure, my knees creaked a little, but I didn't mind. Over at table #1, I saw a familiar face - familiar, but aged 30 years. It was the P.E. teacher who I had for "drama-sports" for summer school. The P.E. teacher who shook her head each time I was just a tad too short of reaching Presidential.

She's a nice woman, so I don't mean any ill will, but believe me, I smiled a little inside when she laughed about finding a way to sit down on the ground. After years of not quite being good enough, I was the one "succeeding" at sitting on the ground, while her older body wasn't as cooperative. It was a good reminder to me that no matter what happens - how terrific a shape we might be in our youth - our bodies age and become less capable. Our priorities shift. (After all, she's decided to spend her Wednesday evenings with a bunch of kindergarteners!) Oh, and Spliggle is one of her charges. That is the most delicious coincidence of all -- that my highly athletic little boy has my old P.E. teacher as one of his mentors!

Perhaps another day I'll re-introduce myself (I doubt she recognized me) and perhaps tell her that I've turned out OK in terms of P.E. -- I'm definitely trying to "expand my horizons." After all, I could have never imagined I'd take up running as an adult! At some point I'll be able to tell her the whole "I've never gotten a medal" story with a wink.