Thank You Richmond

Thank you Richmond for allowing me to run down your tree lined streets and along your river. Thank you for the giant monuments of Civil War heroes and colorful brick row houses that marked my way up and down your boulevards and in and out of your neighborhoods. Thank you Richmond for the warm flat shot of coca cola at mile 22, for the cold wet face clothes at mile 24, for the Port-a-John that shone like a golden pyramid at mile 18. Thank you for humbling me at mile 16 when my feet caught fire and my legs crystalized into dead weight. Thank you for reminding me that marathons level the playing field for runners of all abilities and that my speed and ego won't help me when my energy's all gone. Thank you for emptying out your rain and lightening hours before the 8 am start and letting the sun break through the clouds as I reached the half-way mark. Thank you for the beer stand at mile 20 and for the free shot of Jim Bean at mile 21. Although I gagged at the thought of gulping down these things, I thank the caring men and women who were looking out for the most desperate of runners. Thank you Richmond for hosting my mom, dad, brothers , my brothers spouses, Mandy, Myles, and Adam and James who came to watch me pound the pavement for 3 hours and 31 minutes. Thank you Megan for having pity on me and jogging in the last half mile. Thank you Richmond for sharing a piece of sidewalk with me at the end of my not-so-gallant finish. Only you knew that I was just resting when the three police men came over to start CPR.

And lastly, thank you Bob for being there with me every step of the way. This one was for you.