Hi and happy weekend! And for those in the U.S., Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Today was the Spring Lake 5 miler in Spring Lake New Jersey. I signed up for it last year but due to injury couldn’t run and spectated instead. I had so much fun I decided to go spectate again this year. So at 5:45am Duncan and I were on the road headed down to get a good parking spot. We met up with Lisa and her cousin Bill and his wife and later on the rest of the crew and chit chatted for the hour before the race began.

the runners

cutest, most well behaved spectator doodle

I love being at the start of a race where you actually get to see the runners take off at the sound of the horn.

The very front of the pack

Bill is the UPS driver for the town of Spring Lake so all the stores in town know him by name. He’s sort of famous. Anyway, when I mentioned where I would be standing (at the halfway point) Bill told me and his wife to go stand by the Life is Good store because there is a young man named Shaun who loves watching the race and give out high fives to all the runners over there. I had no idea just how well known Shaun is in the community but I soon came to discover that.

This is just a sampling of the high-fives happening. I think I counted at least 100 people

Waiting for our friends to run by

He was so funny. He refused to get on the curb. Luckily he didn’t get trampled over.

Bill, Shaun and there’s Lisa to the right!

What a sight! This guy was so happy but the runners were even happier to see HIM! I could hear them shouting his name and crossing from the other side of the course just to come give him a high five or a hug. So my camera was out and primed just as Lisa and Bill arrived. I caught Bill’s hug to Shaun and it was such a special moment.

Somehow I spotted Miss Elvia…actually I think she saw me and called my name. The sun was blinding but I snapped this pic and was so happy hours later when I saw I actually got her.

I dig this license

Lisa and Jorge!

This little vignette really captures so much for this weekend.

I’m hoping next year I’ll finally be able to run it. But I won’t be missing out on races completely this weekend because I just decided I’m going to register for our local 4 mile Memorial Day race here on Staten Island on Monday morning. It’s a super flat course and I’m probably ready to go from 3 miles to 4 for my long run (HA!). So what the heck. I’m pretty stoked. It’ll be my first race in a month. (it feel like so much longer!).

Do you have anything fun going on this weekend?

I’m going on a sailboat tomorrow. I haven’t been on one in about 25 years! I’m hoping I don’t get seasick =)

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