Yo run gang,
May 22, 2013

Often in a race we are so caught up with our own experience that it's easy to forget that in every event we enter, we are surrounded by people that are accomplishing amazing personal goals, perhaps heroic feats! Finishing times and place don't tell much of a story, only the runner knows the effort it took to get to the starting line. They may have lost 100lbs or are running again after years of recovery from a near death accident or perhaps their run is a celebration, a return to a normal life after a struggle with loss and grief. Their run may be the culmination of the long road back from addiction or any personal struggle, we just don't know. That said, even if it's not life changing effort, perhaps just a personal best from putting in the training and reaping the reward from the effort, each runner has a story and we are playing a part in it as we race together. We never know when our words of encouragement or just a clap or cheer will bring a tear to an eye and joy to a heart. When we race, we are all in it together, on the home team, pushing each other to greatness!

Nice job, good work, you're awesome!

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner ... who never gets tired of clapping, cheering and kind words, even on days I don't deserve it.