4 July 2013

The tip of Mount Marathon is near the hand
at the top left of this photo

Favorite meal of the year.

In January, I paid my dues and placed my name in the raffle for a chance to run the Mount Marathon 5K on July 4th in Seward, AK. It's where I have celebrated the last three Independence Days (read FunSunandSalmon for my first) and where I, perhaps unrealistically, hope to spend every July 4th henceforth.
It was a struggle, getting everything/everyone together for Seward. But it happened. Of course, it rained on our drive from Anchorage, it rained on our sleepy tents, it rained on our sputtering fire, and it rained on our steaming plates of halibut, carried delicately and proudly through the enthusiastic booths and crowd.
I did not win a place in the dangerously thrilling 5K 3,000 feet up Mount Marathon and 3,000 feet back to main street. As we watched the runners dash eagerly towards the base of the mountain and then labor with blood and dirt through the cheers crowding the finish, my desire and eagerness to try again for a chance to run with these…heros, these men and women who dare to exchange blood with rock and mountain, returned with an increasing heedless resolve.

Mom was here for a month. Our camping trip to Seward was the last thing we did together before she boarded her plane to Dallas.