viragette

Yesterday night I ran around Greenlake after dark. I’d do this alone, but did feel better to have a running partner who just happened to be a guy - because it can be dark in spots. I am not an impressive distance runner - my best average mile time in a 3+ mile race is 7 minutes 30 seconds - but, I can be a bit quicker in a sprint. The obligatory racing up various hills ensued, despite his recent bout of flu. At the end of our run, we couldn’t decide whether to race to the dock past the well-lit community center. After several fits and starts, he darted around me on the right, calling “sucker!” over his shoulder. I took off after him in total sprint mode, hands held flat like wedges and toes pointed in as big a stride as I could manage. I gained speed and whipped around several groups of sidewalk conversationalists and - zoomed past him. I could hear him laugh, “oh sh*t, you win.” A group of young women had turned to watch us. “She’s passing him!” “She’s winning, she’s winning!” The were hooting and laughing “You go girl, yeah!” I reached the imaginary finish line first, arms upraised in triumph and, turning, executed a clumsy bow to our audience. They continued to hoot and laugh with beautiful, high, clear soprano voices. I felt like supergirl to be outside, at night, laughing in triumph with those women.