OUC 5K: With a Little Help From My Friends....

Since I didn't run the recent OUC race, I had time to meet new friends while cheering for the runners and learn about new ways to give back to the running community.  Great fun!!

My first new friend of the day was Billie R, a local teacher and volunteer for Girls on the Run, a non-profit prevention program for girls in 3rd through 8th grades that's sponsored locally by Track Shack, my favorite running store. The girls are matched up with an adult volunteer running buddy who runs with them, first training for 12 weeks, and culminating in a race at the end of each season, spring and fall. 

On this day, the girls were running their end-of-season 5K... and they were awesome! Billie and I chatted on the sidelines as the girls started their race. Then, when I moved over to the corner that would become my perch for the marathon cheering, I got to see the girls as they neared the finish line. They were so cute - and so determined!  Girl Power, baby!  I'm looking forward to volunteering in the spring season.  :-)

While Billie and I were chatting, I also noticed a young man out of the corner of my eye - really, I noticed his shirt:  Free your toes.  I loved that!  Then, he was gone - running his race.  Later, I would run into him again...

"How are your toes?" I asked when I saw him over on the corner much later.  (He was cooling down, hanging out, waiting for a friend.)  He looked up:  "Oh, great!" he said, and then pointed at his feet. Then it made sense:  Vibrams.  (I didn't know that's what they were. I had read about Vibrams, but had not seen them yet.  He was kind enough to tell me all about them. "Love them. Better than any expensive running shoes I've owned (he mentioned a few brands, which I'm ommitting). Yes, a bit challenging on the brick roads." 

My newest friend's name was Sean, and he was kind enough to allow me to photograph his feet, with particular attention to his rainbow socks, which he personally noted. :-) 

As the cheering went on for the marathon runners that morning, I also met an enthusiastic group of young ladies who had just run their first 5K, and they were very proud. Here they are... Hi, guys! Way to rock your race!

It was another great day to make new running friends, young and .... younger! :-)

Looking for a way to Pay it Forward in the New Year?

How about supporting a young lady in your own community through Girls on the Run, 'educating and preparing girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.'

Happy running, friends.....

Robin