"Life is for participating, not for spectating." - Kathrine Switzer

 This week, I got to do two of my favorite things, camping and running. 

We headed down to Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday afternoon so I could participate in the National Senior Games. The Senior Games are like the Olympics for people over the age of 50. 

I found a wonderful county park to camp in that was just 15 minutes from the running venue. 

It was right on the Des Moines River. 

The National Senior Games are a two-week event. I was scheduled to run on Thursday, and Rick is going to compete in Archery next week. On Wednesday we went to pick up our credentials for the games. 

It is great to see and be around all the superb athletes who are 50 and older. It was so fun chatting with everyone and hearing their stories. Everyone is elated to be there and compete. 

Thursday was race day for me. I was very excited. To participate in the games, you have to qualify the year before. Last August, when I ran the qualifying race, I ran with a time of 32:24. I was very disappointed in my time. I had not been training and knew I could do a lot better. 

 

So jump ahead to this year. I was determined to do better and knew I needed to start training. I joined RVR Race Team and have run several races since then. The support and training I have received from the team has made me a better runner. 

It was so HUMID running. And the beginning of the race was a huge hill. I was so glad I had been training in the awful heat and humidity, and even happier that I had been doing some hill workouts. 

Finishing up strong. 

All of my training paid off today. I was able to shave 6:12 off of my qualifying time from last year! It has been years since I have been able to run at this pace. I am ecstatic. Runners' High is a real thing 😊

But what really inspires me to keep going is watching the last-place finisher, a 90-year-old man, cross the finish line. You could see the accomplishment and determination on his face. He was all smiles. I aspire to be that person when I am 90 years old. 

On to the next race....

Sharon 

"The willow does not weep. She hangs, she sways, she hums along to the earths breath." -Sarah Maria-

 

This is my willow tree. I love her; she is my favorite tree. She brings me so much joy watching her dance in the wind. I often sit on the patio and just watch her. It is peaceful. 

We even buried Morgan under her. 

In June, after a big windstorm, she cracked! There had been a small crack on the back side of her, but it had gotten longer and now went all the way through her trunk. Every time we had a big wind, the crack grew. 

We thought we were going to have to cut her down before she blew over and took several other trees out with her. I was so upset. I did some research and had hopes that we could have it bolted together and save her. I found an arborist who was willing to come over and give me some advice. I was so happy when he told me she could be saved! He suggested that we cut the damaged part of the trunk off. He said if we bolted her, we had a 50/50 chance that it would work. Because the crack was so far down, we had a better chance if we cut the broken part off. He said willow trees are very resilient trees. She might look lopsided for a while, but would grow back to her full glory soon enough. 

So with the help of our wonderful neighbor and Rick, they cut half of her away.

She doesn't look too bad with her trim job 😌

Most mornings, Otis and I take a walk out to my willow. I talk to her and wish her well. I say a little prayer to Mother Earth and ask her to look over her for me and help her grow. We say hello to Morgan, and Otis chases the bunnies away from the hostas we planted near her grave. 

This week, on one of my morning visits, I noticed new growth on her! Mother Earth has decided to grant me some grace and let me enjoy her a little more. 

Perhaps one day, another young couple will find love beneath her sweeping branches, just as my mom and dad once did under their beloved willow tree.

Thank Mother Nature for all she does...

Sharon