5k

So, up this Sunday morning at 5:30, for my first 5k!
Perfect weather--slight breeze, in the 60's, eucalyptus and palms and Aleppo pines at Reid Park crisp against the mountains and sky... April in Tucson is truly perfect...

Here's the cause. (click)

Here's the course. (click)

And, here's the t-shirt:

Since this was my first 5k, I didn't sign up for the competitive portion...

...but, still! It was fun to have an official starting line, finish line, and a midway point with volunteers clapping and handing out cups of water to the thousands of passing runners; felt all official and sporty...

My goal was to finish under half-an-hour. And I did: just over 26 minutes! (Experienced Runners out there--don't laugh, eh? acorns before oaks, 5k's before marathons...)

I didn't realize the event would make me pensive, but it did. Seeing all the people running/walking in honor or tribute to loved ones who have either survived or died from cancer--made me think of relatives and friends...and knowing that 75 percent of the funds raised from this event go to Southern Arizona cancer research is heartening...

I also thought of the fact that, growing up in GA, I didn't know a single person who did things like run 5k races or do bike tours. Tucson is nice that way--'positive peer pressure' to get outside and move around...

Several of the staff from the school where I work did the run as well; nice to get our minds off the continuing uncertainty of our employment...

Maybe next year I'll sign up for the competitive run; you get to wear a computer chip that tracks your time officially...

Now--time to do a bit of housecleaning (my wife is dusting as I type), and then this afternoon, taking a couple of kids we know to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum...