While I was back home in Thunder Bay I had the opportunity to run the Thunder Bay 10 Mile Road Race. This 76 year old race was a regular event my parents took part in during their running days. Most years my parents can be found volunteering at the finish line chute. But this year they were excited to take on a cheering role as I conquered the same 10 miles they both had done so many years ago.
It was a nice treat that the race coincided with the weekend I was in town. The whole family had converged on Thunder Bay to celebrate my Mummo’s 80th birthday. It was two weeks after the Vancouver Marathon so 10 miles was about what my body needed. I planned to take it easy. No need to push it so soon after my last race.
The weather was ridiculous this weekend. Snow in mid-May is very odd, even for Thunder Bay. But the running gods smiled and gave us a beautiful sunny but nicely cool day to race in.
My parents, Melinda, my sister and her husband all came out to cheer me on and it was so neat running in my home town. The course started in the heart of Fort William and we ran to the harbour in Port Arthur and back.
Running Past the Sleeping Giant
I was figuring I’d run the race in an hour and a half. My official time ended up being 1:27:08. Not bad. In the finish chute I was greated by my mom’s good friend Denise who was volunteering.
It was really neat being able to race in my home town at the biggest local running event taking those same steps my parents had done so many years ago.
