Hood to Coast Update - Part 1

Just getting to Hood to Coast has been an experience. My original flight was supposed to take off at 6:00 AM but at 2:30 AM, I got a text that woke me up, from Southwest telling me my flight was cancelled. I felt so defeated! Never leaving the bed, I got online and searched for a new flight to get me there as close to my previous arrival time of 11:30 as possible. I thought I was doomed for sure.. Turns out I found a flight that left a half hour later, but got me there an hour earlier. SERIOUSLY! I'm taking that as a good sign!

The first leg of my trip, I sat next to a couple that were obviously about retirement age but you wouldn't know it by watching them interact. They were holding hands and talking like they just met.

I had to talk to them...I had to know their story. Turns out they were headed out west to their oldest son's wedding (1 of 9 kids!!!). They were, in fact, retired but had been married 45 years. That so far was an amazing story.

THEN, I find out that she was a telephone operator. Not sure if everyone knows this (youngsters out there might not) but if you hit "0" on your phone you'll get an operator who will help you locate the number you're looking for. That's how we use to have to do it before smart phones.

Anyway, she told me stories of the people who would call her..

Suicidal people looking to get talked off the edge...no joke. She's an unsung hero in my book. She said she probably had about 2 dozen of those calls.

Drunks looking for the number to the local strip club

People just looking to talk

I left that flight completely blown away. And reminded what marriage is all about. I'd love to hug my hubby right now but it will have to wait till Sunday.



The second leg of my trip, I picked up the Spirit magazine and started flipping through the pages. And had one of those experiences that happens when randomly the content you find coincides with your life at that very moment.

I read two articles.

First was from John Bingham. If you don't know him. Check him out. When I first started running, his books reminded me that we aren't all olympic runners and that some of us just waddle on, which is fine with me. Anyway, he had written a story recollecting his first marathon and the emotions that go along with pushing through the "wall" and finishing. It reminded me of my first marathon.

I'm imagining that there will be similar experiences during this relay and it just helped me get mentally prepared not to mention excited.

The second article was about a para-olympian Oksana Masters and how she became a great row despite her condition. I don't think you can read enough inspiring stories like these.

They left such an impression on me that I actually wrote an email to the staff at Spirit giving them a pat on the back.

The race hasn't even begun. I haven't even touched down in Seattle but I'm already grateful for the experiences.

Here's just a fun view from the plane!


MORE TO COME!!!

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