by Dr. Steve Gander |
January 26, 2010
Getting to the Baton Rouge Beach Marathon last month was an adventure. Once I got to the event, all was well. The race organizers were incredibly personable. They went out of their way to make sure that everyone was well taken care of and got enough food at the pre-race expo the night before the event.
The temperature at the start of the race was in the low 30’s and reached the high 40’s by the finish. We started in the dim early morning at 7:00 AM. Soon the day was clear and sunny – and thankfully with the help of my Transitions lenses adjusting to a comfortable level of darkness and working to reduce glare, they kept my eyes from getting fatigued. The fall colors were still hanging around and reflected against the many miles of lakeshore on the course, which seemed to trigger some sort of brain chemistry that allowed me to forget how tired I was becoming.
I ran the bulk of the race with my new friend Soph. We spoke of a great variety of subjects that seemed monumental at the time. Fatigue does that. Over a couple of hours we struck up a friendship that I will value indefinitely, whether or not we meet again. I appreciate his kindness, his candor, his drive, and the peaceful way he deals with conflict. Not only that, the miles flew by as we visited.
During the run I had a minor problem with a calf muscle that I will share in the future. I’m not getting old. I just need to do more stretching – something critical for runners of all levels to keep in mind.
At the finish we were treated to alligator, gumbo, catfish, lots of other choices, and beverages. I can’t quite do it justice, but the food was tremendous. All the warm dishes you could want, seasoned to perfection in Louisiana style.
I am thankful that I ended up in Baton Rouge that day. I enjoyed getting to know Soph. The race was beautifully organized and the people were friendly and hospitable. My wife and I truly had another adventure – one that will remain vivid in my mind.
