A return to an old friend

It's been three years since I've run the Charles Harris 10K.
And this morning, I wasn't so sure it wouldn't be four years before I ran it again. Winter weather in Atlanta (meaning ice in the forecast) threatened to cancel the race this morning, but temps above freezing and the rain holding off until just after the race ended meant we were on this morning!
I looked up my race time three years ago, and I was two minutes slower this morning, which was disappointing. This is such a flat, net downhill race, that I was hoping to do better.
I felt really good until about mile 4 and then I seemed to lose steam. I ate an energy gel, which helped a little bit, but I got to mile 6 of this 6.2 and wanted to walk. My right IT band was angry!
This race and I have a bit of a history.
I remember the first year I ran it with my running buddy Jessica. It was 37 degrees and we complained about that! Ha! Now, I consider 37 degrees BALMY during the winter.
This year's start was 33, by the way.
Then there was the 2006 race.
I was diagnosed with cancer 9 years ago tomorrow. That year, in 2006, the Charles Harris 10K was three days after I was diagnosed, and I decided to run the race anyway, even though I hadn't slept in three days. (Cancer diagnosis should completely come with anti-anxiety medication!)
Dear God, it poured down rain that year, at 45 degrees, the whole way. Not a sprinkle, but a downpour.
At that time, several friends ran it with me (I should mention I have absolutely AWESOME friends) and we had my traditional breakfast afterward. It made a really bad time so much more tolerable.
This year, as I ran, I thought back only briefly to that time. Honestly, cancer thoughts, thankfully, are fewer and fewer.
I won't say cancer thoughts (and fears of recurrence) don't come out from time to time.
The blessing is, those thoughts are fewer.
So here's to the Charles Harris 10K! It was good to return to an old friend, even one with which I've had a checkered past.

Drumming and running

Monday was Martin Luther King Day here in the United States, and for the third year it was the MLK Day 5K in Atlanta.
This year's race was much bigger than last year and much colder!
It was 34 degrees at the start. This race is part cross country, part road race. I dislike the cross-country part because I'm not very good at trail running, probably because I just don't do enough of it.
I ran this race with my co-worker and friend Ellie and her boyfriend Dave, whom I met at the race. Both Ellie and I went to the University of Missouri, and Ellie wore her Mizzou hat. She's lucky I didn't steal it!! I want one!

Dave, Ellie and me before the race

What I love about this race is there is a drum line that is part of the race. This year there were LOTS of drum line participants. The first year and last year, there were really only drum lines at the start and finish. This year, there was motivation all along the way. This race has really grown every year.

Motivating drum line

Keeping us going

Strong support

 I can see that my January races are going to be marked by really cold temperatures. I've got two races this weekend and I don't think either start will be above freezing temperatures.
It has been so cold the past few days, that I saw this near my office as I was walking to lunch yesterday:

Frozen fountain

The fountain really was pretty all frozen, but you'd think someone would have thought to turn it off, if only to ensure no pipes froze or burst!

I'll try to remember the volunteer drummers as I race this weekend, hearing the rhythm in my head to keep my legs turning.