Genie’s First Race ~ TheThanksgiving Gobble Wobble 5K

Walked My Race ~ Smile on Face  

"Keep your dreams alive.  Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hardwork, determination, and dedication.  Remember all things are possible for those who believe."

~Gail Divers                                        

After years of sitting on the sidelines waiting for Buddy to complete his races, I decided it was time for me to at least walk in one for the fun of it. Every Thanksgiving Day, Lexington has the Gobble Wobble 5K thru the streets of old Lexington. It was a crisp 50 degrees when it al began.

There were around 375 people registered for the race today, but most of us walked. The runners flew by us on they way to the finish line by the time we got to the top of the first hill.

#325 and #326 

My head was so cold that I put on one of those funky round thingies Bud gets at the races in his goodie bag and one of his hats. This was taken by a friend just before the race began.

Of course, Buddy had to have his picture taken with the Turkey...

Then we were off up one of the many hills I got to huff and puff on.

When we went by the Lexington Fire Department, they had a huge American flag hanging from the top of one of its tall ladders. Now, only in Lexington would you see something like this. It was great.

 Washington and Lee University Blue Bikes
Check Out ~ Lock Up


I saw some beautiful color along the route.

In the distance is the steeple of the old Robert E. Lee Episcopal Church. 

Ann Smith School where Buddy attended 1st-3rd Grades.
Now it is a frat house at Washington and Lee
Thank goodness they saved this beautiful historic building.

Main Street with Virginia Military Institute on hill in the far distance.

After walking and huffing and puffing up and down all over the city, we finally hit our last hill. In front of us are 2 of the volunteers just behind the end-of-the-race police car. He had to tell Bud and me two different times to move over to the far right so the cars could get by...that they has reopened the streets. Shucks...there were still people behind us trying to finish and not trip on the jagged sidewalks.

Burr Datz...aka Santa
Burr was a volunteer standing at the last turn to cheer us on to the finish.
I taught his daughter, and she was a leader in one of my first student groups
that I took to England. He kept yelling...”Genie, Genie”...telling me I could make it. In turn I teased him saying he looked like the race Santa to me.

Please note John Anderson of Crozet Running...I wore my loud pink shoes you sold me.

They are so good. You definitely hit the nail on the head for me that day. I am convinced they saved my back.FINALLY, I made it. What a relief! My first race...but to really be honest...my first walk. 

And Buddy was a real sport to walk along with me.

We really did have a good time. Lots of dogs and strollers, screaming babies, and poop bags. 

It all added to the family atmosphere. We just might do it again :-)

 This is the proof. We made it. Woo Hoo!

And my rotten back survived. Walked carefully, with heel down first 

and then rolling my foot forward and it really did work.

I came home in far better shape that I would have thought I would have.

No medal. No ribbon. Just the knowledge that I did it and actually had a good time.

“There are victories of the soul and spirit.

Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.”

~Elie Wiesel

This post is linked with Scenic Weekends and Six Word Saturday.

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