A rainy race

This morning I ran a 5K (3.1 mile) race on the campus of Michigan State University, entitled "Heart of a Spartan." The weather was far from ideal, with rain having moved into the area overnight and light rain persisting through the race, but the website advised that the race was still on, and on time, so we headed up at 7:30 for the hour-long drive. (Race at 9:10, with the need to pick up my race packet first.) Due to minor injuries and illnesses I've endured this year, I wasn't able to "cut it loose" the way I had hoped, and challenge my personal 5K record of 29:14. But, by my watch, I still managed to finish in a respectable 30:42 (a pace of slightly better than 10 minutes per mile).
As I had wanted from the age of 16 to earn the title "Dr. Borton" and to become a college choral director, it was enjoyable, while I ran, to let my mind drift back over the experiences that contributed to that (including the first-class training I received with Charles Smith) and to realize that here, indeed, was the place where I did get to become Dr. Borton (with my 1988 Doctor of Musical Arts degree). And on my iPod, I enjoyed listening to hymn arrangements by the Christian group Selah (appropriate to a Sunday morning run), as I had yesterday while walking. Then afterward, it was a great joy to have Michelle find me, and see Christy and Reggie, who had come, even bringing my granddaughter Isabelle, who was sleeping contentedly.