it's all too beautiful...

the twin cities marathon was all too beautiful. the lakes shimmered, the leaves dropped gently in the breeze, and the september light glowed and flickered through the trees.

after running hard a few hours, of course, everything looks and feels beautiful. about 300,000 friends and family show up along the route most years, but i counted many more this fine day. i kept watching the light playing off their hair -- from blond wisps on toddlers, to thick black braids on summit avenue, to rich red locks dancing atop a black leather jacket in uptown.

the music improved again this year, with more live bands (what i got, plus the minnversity rouser), drum groups and hipster solo accordianists(!), plus recordings with strong local flavor (i will dare). on flavor, i could smell something sweet and good for many footfalls before finally rounding a bend to find an open-doored bakery. i saw more department pals than ever today and even shouted a "love ya, dad" to uggen senior just before the finish line.

aside from the affective well-being, the performance was ok too. my worthy gubernatorial adversary apparently took a pass this year, but new challenges arise. i bumped shoulders with michal kobialka, chair of the minnversity's department of theatre and dance, just before alan page's tuba concerto at mile 2.5. i had no idea professor kobialka was a runner, but he notched a strong 3:32 this year. i'm glad to find a new runnin' buddy to hang with at the chairs' meetings, but i just sorta assumed i'd be the fastest chair in the college of liberal arts. ah well, a fellow can dream...

i finished at 3:40, which was cool with me. after a record-slow/record-hot madcity this spring, i feared a permanent decline. but 3:40 is about the median time for my 16-or-so marathons, permitting me to retain some cherished delusions. if i just drop a few pounds and train a bit, i can best my p.r., qualify for boston, and take home a silver in beijing. too beautiful.