Rocking Five Miles With A Blogging Buddy

Lately my cup of blogging friendship has been overflowing.  Last week I met up with Deena and Carrie in San Antonio, and on Saturday I was so excited to walk an 8K with Susan from the most -- of every moment as part of the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon.

Susan is my very first blogging buddy, and we were able to meet for coffee last year.  Since then we've kept in touch through email and phone calls, and when she asked if I'd like to walk the 8K with her, I jumped at the chance.

T had registered to run his first 1/2 Marathon, so we arrived in Seattle bright and early to find parking and get warmed up.  The first runners were to start at 7am, with "corrals" leaving every 1-2 minutes.  We left T in corral nine with instructions to stay hydrated, and headed back to number 30 where the, um, slower folks were gathering.

The Space Needle blasted the starting fireworks, and we were off!

Actually, we weren't quite off yet.  It took another 50 minutes for our corral to be released at the starting line, but Susan and I were so busy talking, we didn't mind.

We walked and chatted, and chatted and walked some more.  The company was excellent and the views were beautiful!

Every mile or so there was a water station and a band playing rock music to keep everyone energized.

At about the nine mile mark for the 1/2 marathoners, our paths met up with them.  Susan commented that it would be neat if we saw T running, and just then, we did.  It was kind of like a story problem from middle school algebra:  if T leaves at 7:10 am to run 13 miles at 6.87 minute pace, and Susan and Lana leave at 7:50am to walk 5 miles at 15 minute pace, what are the odds that they will meet at the nine mile mark of the marathon?  Or something like that - math wasn't my strongest subject.

I imagine that with 17,000 runners, the odds weren't very good, but nonetheless, there he was.  We hooted and hollered and he gave us a quick wave as he ran past.

The 75 minutes flew by, and soon we were crossing the finish line, very proud of our efforts. We even got medals!

We found our families, and I was able to meet Susan's husband, sister, brother-in-law and beautiful daughter (who also ran 13.1 miles - you go, girl)!  

T's final time was 91 minutes - not bad for his first 1/2 marathon!

It was a wonderful morning, and I'm so thankful that I was able to spend it with Susan.  I know I sound like a broken record, but meeting bloggers and forming friendships is such a blessing.  And when they're as kind and interesting as Susan, it's a double blessing.  My turn to visit you next!