Thanks for the Great Race!

I can't begin to tell you how blessed I feel that we have this team of runners which has such a great time doing the TIR. Maeve, who could be on any number of faster teams, likes our non-competitive nature. Yet we all know there is a racing streak in each of us. I love the way Jonathan leaves it all out on the course, and his dad too. Thank you, Steve, for waiting until race weekend for the ultimate stress test of your healing heel. How about Holly? Most improved! I think Holly and the rest of us all took to heart what was required to meet our goal of sub 30 hours. I figured the greatest improvement in pace had to come from us mid-packers, but was amazed to see even Alan, Maeve and Jonathan tightening up their lines. And thanks to the newcomers Arturo and David, who learned on the job how this works. It was great having your contributions!

Thanks to Liz (let it go, that you got turned around on the trail, in the dark; you're one of our most reliable runners and this team would not be complete without you), to Dorian and Fred, to Marie. I think it was only Dorian and I who saw Fred come in racing another runner, spilling his guts in the spirit of team and competition. Wow! And then to see everyone with such a good spirit of sportsmanship, congratulating the runners around them, both from our team and others. I think we've got it right in terms of chemistry and I'm counting on all of you being back next year. Imagine it: a little over three years ago, few of us knew each other and now we have friendships which come into full blossom each time we reconvene. I hope that is as meaningful to you as it is to me.

Brenda, the Wrunner Wrangler, thank you for all you do for the team. You might not log even a mile, but this team would be lost without you. I know I wouldn't have the time to manage the details like you do and I'm not sure I would have your patience when your brother keeps asking you to do the impossible. "Let's just look at one more rotation," I say. You say "no mas" and then you surprise me with the next solution.

And bless everyone for the tough assignments so well accomplished. Most of you knew we were battling several sets of special scheduling needs and everyone took their leg assignments mostly without a whimper. This is a tough process and Brenda and I both thank you for rolling with the sometimes unconventional punches. Believe us when we say it was the only way and that it was all for the good of the team. Thank goodness for Fred's well made argument for the Sealy motel stopover and for the fact Fred, Dorian, Maeve, Jon and Marie were willing to double up on some legs within one active cycle of each van. This beyond the call of duty was what enabled it all to fall into place. Now, next year let's hope there will be fewer hoops we have to jump through. It would be great to have everyone with us from start to finish, though I have a feeling Maeve's track meet will probably always be something we will just have to live with. Thank you, Maeve, for the compressed 4 legs you ran for the team.

It was all worth it. We realized our sub 30 hour goal with a finish of 29 hours, 42 minutes, 48 seconds. That's an 8:48 pace. Congratulations to everyone for a weekend well run.

BTW.....I will be calculating our total expenses over the next several days and will communicate the final divisions by week's end. Oh! Also check out the post I wrote to my iExerciseRadio blog. Click on the link on the right side, or browse to iexerciseradio.blogspot.com.