The Worldwide Run for Sherry Arnold

God is our refuge and strength,
   an ever-present help in trouble.

--Psalm 46:1 (referenced on the bracelet we all got at the run today)

It was a cold (in the teens) but beautiful day at the Boulder Reservoir when our group gathered for the run for Sherry Arnold.

Here's the group photo I borrowed from Beth's site. I'm in the back in the green beanie, two people over from the tall guy in the dark beanie. Looks like about 30 people to me.....

We'd had more snow overnight, so the Boulder Reservoir and Coot Lake, along with the mountains to the west and the trails we would run, were veiled in fluffy white powder. It was as if the world had been made pure again, a fitting venue for our efforts to honor a good soul taken untimely from her family and friends. I greeted Beth, who handed me a pink memorial bracelet to wear during the run.

Since it was so cold, we all stood around stamping for only a little bit before Beth said a few words about Sherry and then asked for a moment of silence. You almost hear the stray flakes of snow drifting down from the persistent clouds.

A reporter from Channel 2 showed up and filmed us as we took off. Soon we were strung out in a long line.

Sherry's runners in Boulder coming down a hill!

The loop around Boulder Reservoir is about five miles. I'm not sure how many people ran all the way around, but despite the inauspicious weather early on, it turned out to be a lovely run for me. I don't usually stop to take photos even on casual runs, but I did on this one. The snow-covered surface of the water threw back glittering shards of light when the sun finally emerged. On the dam on the Reservoir's far side, I actually got warm enough that I removed my gloves.

Also on the dam I passed Beth. The TV reporter had waylaid her, so she wasn't able to catch the group and was going in the opposite direction. We high-fived. When I got back to the starting point, I stopped for a quick pit stop and then soldiered off on a second loop. I had to run for an hour and 45 minutes according to my plan, and it felt fitting to dedicate the first long run of my new training program to Sherry.

The trail

After I finished, the parking lot was empty. I may have been the last of the Boulder runners for Sherry out there that morning. My hair was frozen and the gloves had come back on, but I felt peaceful and satisfied.

Not a beauty queen, but a happy runner with frosty hair.

I stopped at Starbucks and got a hot chocolate, and also bought a drink for the person in the car behind me. All days should be days for gestures like that, but it seemed especially important today.

My running is usually a solitary activity for me. But today I was part of something bigger. I felt strong, like I was gliding through that snow and that perfect clean air. Like an angel was guiding my feet.