Out on the horizon, we could see through our binoculars that freighter we have been watching for several days - the one that flashes an orange beacon at night - anchored out there either waiting to come into harbor or preparing to cross the ocean again.
We bundled up and drove across the causeway for the 8:00 a.m. start. This is the third year I have run this race and it has been clear, cold, and windy every time - 28 degrees at the start, straight into the wind. It is indeed a no-frills race, and the first and last part of it are on sidewalks (hazardous with cracks) that wind around some trees along Arendell Street. But then it turns into a quiet residential neighborhood that parallels the main road, and it is flat and straight to a turn-around, then back again. Martha got the jump early, and I stayed just a little behind her until the turn-around. Then she really took off, her easily-visible tights finally disappearing around the corner. I am so proud of her!
This race was a lot of fun despite its minimal organization. The winner of the youngest age group was an eight-year-old girl who finished just ahead of Martha, who finished a minute-and-a-half ahead of me. We found ourselves directly in front of Sarah Williams, the Associate Pastor at the Methodist church we have been visiting. Martha recognized her, but she did not know us. "Is Powell preaching on James in the morning?" I asked, and she seemed surprised. She stayed with me most of the race, chattering happily to a friend, and finally dropped back. There were plenty of children, some in strollers - that $45 per family entry fee encouraged whole families to come out - and a good contingent of senior runners. I was surprised to find myself placing first, in the upper end of a ten-year 60-69 age group, despite finishing so far behind Martha. In fact, awards were only given to first place finishers, and they consisted of two tickets to the Chocolate Festival.
Martha was squeezed out of first by someone faster than she was, but placing in races is often unfair; if we had all been in a single-gender age group, I would have finished behind them both. It was a good race, and we both ran the best we could. "Why are you doing this?" a young woman with a video camera was asking at the start of the race. "We don't know!" some of us said. But we did know. It was to test ourselves, against other runners and against the elements and mostly against ourselves. And this day we had passed the test.
After returning and cleaning up, it was time for a celebratory lunch at one of our favorite places, The Ruddy Duck in Morehead City. They have the best clear, Hatteras-style chowder.
This fellow watched us from his perch in the Harbor Channel, where he was looking for his own lunch. The water shimmered in the light and it was warm enough to sit out on a bench behind the restaurant for awhile after lunch, soaking up the sun.
Where to next? Those coveted Chocolate Festival tickets were burning a hole in my pocket, so that's where we headed. But we did not stay long, and the only thing I bought was a cup of coffee. There were many well-fed chocolate lovers thronging the civic center, though, and when we were there the chocolate-pudding-eating contest was just starting.
Those rules were hilarious!
- Hands must remain behind backs at all times
- No sharing your portion with other contestants
- No talking with your mouth full
- Only one winner per heat
- No returns allowed
Needless to say we did not participate in this gluttonous contest. Instead we swung by Friendly Market for non-chocolate provisions - it was packed with people preparing to watch the Super Bowl tomorrow. And now we are back at the condo, preparing to enjoy grapes and cheese and Friendly Market food. It has been a good day!
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