My Favorite Running Partner

Saturdays during the summer are a big social occasion in our Running Club, when the morning group and the afternoon group and the anytime-I-can-go group all try to meet at 9:00 a.m. at Founders Park.  Whether we actually meet at the Park or not, it is good to see old friends out on the road somewhere, even if only passing them in the opposite direction, running partners we have been running with for years, many of them so much faster than I am these days that all I can do is have a quick chat about recent races and upcoming plans and then watch them disappear with the "A" group up the road.  I felt good Saturday, much better than last week when I ran those hill sprints the day before.  On the final mile of my ten-mile run I still felt strong, and I even picked up the pace a little, reminding me of those long-ago days in marathon training when I liked to speed up in the final mile to goal marathon pace.  It is a confidence-builder, knowing you can still hit that goal after 12 or 16 or even 20 miles.

Monday's run went well, too, six miles of hills with Vicki including Big Bearpen again, so hot and humid that I was able to squeeze sweat from my shirt when I finished.  I think I am beginning to experience the benefits of those weekly hill sprints and a renewed consistency to my training.

Today was the Fourth of July in Highlands, and people were already beginning to come into Town for all of the activities of the day:  the Rotary Barbeque at Founders Park (where loudspeakers were  playing patriotic music), the games and events at the Ball Park on Hickory Street, and the highly-anticipated fireworks tonight; people were setting up chairs all over Town in their favorite viewing locations.

Bob was just completing his run when I arrived at the Park, and there were some other runners out (visitors probably) and plenty of walkers, families with red-white-and-blue-shirted children, and somebody had placed a small American flag at every mailbox on roads close to downtown.  I had not made arrangements to run with anyone, but to my great delight, my favorite running partner showed up:  my wife Martha, who has suffered some setbacks in recent weeks including most recently a bout of antibiotics for chest congestion.  It was so good to see her dressed out, feeling healthy, eager to go!  We ran up Lower Lake Road to the end and then back again, in the cool shade past rhododendron and venerable rock walls where we have run for many years.  And then at the top of Sixth Street, she wanted to do some of those hill sprints she has been hearing about.  What a great day to be out in Highlands, a place so attractive to visitors that they will drive here from miles away, a place where we are so fortunate to live, running with my favorite running partner!

This blog will go on vacation for a few days because my FRP and I will be going on a trip to Snowbird Mountain Lodge in Robbinsville to celebrate out 38th Anniversary.  It is a beautiful place, one that holds special memories for us, and although we are not planning on running, we are planning on canoeing on Lake Santeetlah and hiking in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and simply enjoying the satisfying goodness of having someone to go the long journey with us!

There is a little trail that starts at the parking lot and winds its way out to an overlook, and there suspended from an almost Oriental frame hangs a huge bell.  Our tradition is to walk out there and ring that gong, once for every year we have been loving each other.

Happy Anniversary, Martha!