Dexter-Ann Arbor Run

The Dexter-Ann Arbor Run, held about this time each year, is a big highlight for local runners. It consists of 3 runs: (1) a 5K (3.1 miles), which I did in 2008; (2) a 10K, which I did last year; and (3) a half-marathon (13.1 miles), along scenic Huron River Drive which connects Dexter and Ann Arbor. Last year I had hoped to run the half-marathon, but I caught a very heavy cold shortly before the race, and had to cut back to the 10K, which I ran in a personal record 59:39. This year I had again hoped to do the half-marathon, but numerous minor health issues have set me back quite a bit in recent months, so I settled on a repeat of the 10K. I had resolved to do my best, but was pretty sure I could not touch last year's time - and, in fact, I finished this morning (by my watch) in 1:05:17. On the way there, the cool temperatures, cloudy skies, wind, and light rain had me thinking dark thoughts; but the rain stopped, and bits of sunshine even hit us. It was an out-and-back course, which had both positive and negative aspects. Good was that it made it quite easy to judge one's progress, and coming back, I got to travel terrain I had already run, which I always like. But the bad was that on the way out, I encountered returning runners before I had even quite reached the 20-minute mark; and on the way back, I had not gone more than a mile before I encountered WALKERS. Oh well! Finally, about 45 minutes in, I heard, at my left shoulder, a hearty, friendly, "Good job, Borton!" It was my (30-year-old) friend from church, Joanne Keeling. We had a brief conversation: A: "How are you?" J: "Fine ... and you?" A: "TIRED!" J: (smiling) "Well, you're doing it, and that's the main thing!" As she blew on by me, I thought, briefly, "What the heck am I doing out here, at age 53?" But the answer quickly came back, "The best you can, Fool! Keep going!"