This is exciting because not getting in would have entailed finding a much-less-palatable Plan B race. Houston was my first marathon, way back in 1997, and I know the course. It's flat, fast and (usually at that time of year) nice and cool. I also lived there for seven years, four of them when I was in college at Rice University and another three working after that. I have lots of friends in town, some family too, and this will hopefully mean that even though Dan won't be able to come I'll have some people cheering for me.
Two other awesome factors: my friend Kathy also got in--this will be her second marathon (she's running Portland in October)--and the Olympic Trials Marathon is the day before the general race. So we'll have lots of inspiration from watching some of the people on this list vie to make the team that will run in London later next year.
A BQ there would sure be a nice 39th birthday present for me! Anyone else out there running Houston in January?
Last Thoughts on the Reunion
In the end, my high school reunion was a mixed bag. It was great to see people I've kept in fairly good touch with (in particular, my friends Angela, Scott, and Chris and their spouses), and to touch base with some other friends (Amy, Brian, Mike, Alice, Meghan, Laura and others) whom I hadn't seen in a very long time. But I sort of wish that we had all just gone together to a winery on our own. The music at most of the events was too loud (c'mon, we didn't come to dance or over-drink; we came to talk; it's not lame--that's the way it is when you're renewing old ties).
One positive thing I took away from the weekend (besides my 14-mile run!): it's much more interesting to talk about other people than it is to obsess about yourself. My mom has been trying to drill this in me for years, and I'm still learning.
Part of me wanted this to be like a big "so there" to a bunch of people I'm still mad at after all these years (as in, "hey, look at me, I'm thin, fit, *faster* than I was in high school...and I have cute kids, a great husband, a job I like and I live in one of the most beautiful places in the country"). But (gasp) nobody really cared. And you know what? I'm OK with that. I don't have to say "so there" to anyone. Living well is the best revenge, if any of us need revenge at all. And I'm happy to say that the people who might have a few "so theres" for me all seem to be living quite well, too, thank you very much.
