Dry Runs and Lost Children

The past 2 Saturdays have started with me running miles and miles in the rain.  I was so pleased when I woke up this Saturday morning and saw the sun!  I ran 5.5 miles.  It was a bit sticky but otherwise a pleasant run.  My running partner for the day was a lady named Glenda.  For some reason, I was really struggling in the last mile of the run.  Normally at that point, I'm OK mentally because I know that I'm almost finished.  It was surprising to me to have such a mental challenge.  I was grateful when Glenda continually encouraged me to keep going.  I love running with people!

Sunday I decided to meet the 5K training group. My plan called for a recovery run and I figured it would be better to do that run with a group.  My daughter, Ryann, decided to come with me.  The running group broke into smaller groups...the runners and the run/walkers.  Ryann went with the run/walkers and I joined the runners.  I had a very nice, easy run around Centennial Lake.  The loop is about 2.2 miles.  When I finished, the running coach, Meghan, told me that Ryann had kept going when the other run/walkers turned back.  So I figured I would run the opposite way until I met her and we could finish together.

So I'm running, and running, and running.  After a mile in the opposite direction, I know Ryann either took a side path and is lost or she turned back the other way.  I was praying that she turned back, but at every offshoot from the main path, I screamed her name.  After going another half mile, I started to run FAST.  I kept saying, please be at the end, please be at the end, please be at the end.

I came around the final turn and could see where the running group gathered.  I saw Ryann standing with Meghan.  I started crying.  Meghan yelled "I have her!"  I could only throw up my hands and whisper "yay, thank you".  She then yells "are you OK?"  I gave her a weak thumbs up.  Finally I got to them and hugged Ryann and thanked Meghan. 

At that point, knowing she was safe, I realized how fast I had run that second lap...and I was exhausted...but thankful that she was OK.  What a day!