Bethel Half Marathon

October 8 we ran the Bethel Half Marathon and 5-K  This well-established race takes place in the Bethel Community, through gently-rolling countryside east of Waynesville, at the peak of the leaf season, and is always a joy to run.  Five runners from our Club took part in the events this year and all had good races.  Skip Taylor ran the5-K and took second place in his age group.  In the Half Marathon, Martha and I toed the line with Vicki Heller and Jim Askew, and then watched Jim take the lead at the four-mile mark, where he remained until the final two mile when I finally reeled him in, just barely.  This 75-year-old was running his first Half Marathon since 1996 and was in the same age group as I was since for some reason they stopped things at "60 and over."  Knowing Jim, he probably played in a tennis tournament later in the day – what an inspiration to the rest of us!  Vicki and Martha ran great races, too, both setting new PRs and taking 1st and 2nd place.  I was particularly proud of Martha's smart race and even splits; her final mile was as fast as her 3rd or 4th mile.  I did the same, running back-to-back 8:39s on miles 12 and 13, listening to Jim behind me the whole way!  This reminds me of that Half Marathon in Tybee Island a couple of years ago when I found myself catching and passing a 10-year-old girl.  Beating a 10-year-old and a 75-year-old may be hollow victories, but we all just do the best we can and are thankful for crossing the finish line!