The Smith's: May 2009

If anyone out there is wondering what I've been up to, here's the basic breakdown:

organize 10K race
sometimes workout
school
organize 10K race
sleep
organize 10K race
school
sleep
organize 10K race

I'm sure you get the idea. The 10K is finally over, and I feel really good about it. That is, I feel really good it is over. Unfortunately, I didn't run this year because I dislocated my knee several, several weeks ago. And...I still can't run on it.

So, the day before the race, I'm doing the usual race director "stuff": making and receiving calls to/from the (angry) Utah Highway Patrol, Utah Department of Transportation, and the Kanab City Police Department in an effort to smooth some misunderstandings over (that, for the record, were not technically my fault). In addition, I'm trying to register the procrastinators for the race while listening to them complain when I tell them I'm out of medium shirts. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I'm sick of my phone ringing. And all I REALLY want to do is spend a relaxing night with Latimer before he leaves on the river the next day. So, as all this is whirling around me, I wonder, "WHY THE HELL AM I DOING THIS?

Fast forward to the next day: Beautiful, windy day at the newly renovated Kanab City Park...the finish line for the race. Volunteer shuttle drivers are there: on time, with smiles. Mom, Mary, and Jimmy show up with the post-race feast of food, donated by the local grocer. Oranges, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, bananas, apples, and more are cut up and prepared thanks to Mom and a few of my Earth Science girls who wanted extra credit. Another saint shows up and sets out the unique sandstone trophies. Then Beau and Jeff come to set up the sound system. Gil, a 74-year-old runner and volunteer, works on getting the finish line banner and cones set up. My volunteers for the aid stations and finish line show up (again, Earth Science students seeking extra credit). Things are coming together.

I head up to the starting line at Moqui Cave, a touristy shop roughly five miles outside of town, with the stopwatch to start the race. There's over 200 runners ready to "toe the line". Mr. Highway Patrol shoots his gun, I click the stopwatch, and the runners take off. Part of me wants to be out on the road with them, but it's also really interesting to be where I'm at. I jump in a borrowed truck and wind my way down the road towards the finish line, slowly though, so I can call out words of encouragement to my neighbors, friends, students, and family while enjoying the vermilion cliffs and gently flowing Kanab Creek.

Now the finish line. I make some final touches to the food and trophies. I watch as the runners cross over the line. There are so many people helping me with so many little things. Many runners and spectators approach me with comments on the race...most of the comments are positive. There haven't been too many glitches today. Eventually, everyone crosses the line and the awards ceremony begins under the pavilion. The runners are enjoying their feast and stretching out on the lawn looking tired but content. I think about the people and businesses who support this run by giving their money, time, and talents, and I think about all the people who had to work together to pull if off. It gives me a sense of pride for the community I am a part of. As I look over the happy crowd, they seem to answer my question from the day before. Now, I know why the hell it's worth it.