Stranded at Kennedy

As predicted, my Mum and Chelle turned out superstar performances at the More Half Marathon last Sunday. Individually they achieved remarkable 81 and 78 AG%s respectively and together they came in 11 of 2572 teams. It was another year of freezing my ample tooshie off while cheering from the sidelines, but it was worth it to see Chelle speed her way to another PR, and my mum whip the ass of thousands of women decades younger than her. What really made the morning though, was watching Susan Loken and Jody Hawkins near the finish line grab each others hands in apparent premature victory celebration, only to be pipped to he post by Caitlin Tormey. I couldn't believe the pair of them didn't take a second to glance behind them to see Tormey hot on their tail, and that they were so oblivious to the screams of the bemused finish line crowd.

This morning on my run to work, I approached the Queensborough Bridge and noticed a familiar tall, lean blond figure running up ahead. Fellow Hellgater Kate - like most - has an unmistakable gait. Going east to west over the bridge, there's quite a long incline to the apex. I decided I would try to catch Kate before we got too far. I closed the gap quite quickly and my head filled with proud thoughts about how much fitter I'd become. Kate is a very talented runner; I never could usually match her stride. It wasn't until I caught up with her that I remembered she is four months pregnant, doh! It was perhaps not that great of an achievement after all, especially considering I then struggled somewhat to stick with her the remainder of the bridge.

That was my third run I squeezed in so far this week (it's Thursday evening as I type.) I am now killing hours waiting for my very delayed American Airlines flight to London. I would have hoped they'd offer free wireless in the terminal as compensation, but it seems they want $14.95 from me for that convenience. So god knows when I'll actually get to publish this post.

I diligently packed my sneakers and shorts, and am very much looking forward to some runs along the Thames or around some of the many huge green parks while I'm in The Big Smoke.
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update:

It is near midnight on Sunday 13th GMT and I am in Twickenham, finally blogging. I'm having a ridiculously fab time here in London. We watched the marathon this morning down at Tower Bridge. I was struck by two things - 1) how much more subdued the spectating crowds are here, compared to the US, and 2) how many more charity and/or costumed-dressed runners there are here. My running friends and I resolved with certainty to run this race one year soon!

I ran yesterday along the Thames in Central London near my friend's house in Borough, and tomorrow I run along the same river all the way down here. I'm in heaven.