Salt Lake Marathons

This morning before I even got out of bed, the runners for the Salt Lake Marathon and Half-Marathon crossed the starting line. It brought back memories of the first Salt Lake Marathon to run thru the heart of Holladay. It was 2004 and Jay and I had lived in our condo for about 7 months. A few days before the race, the sponsors or some one connected to the marathon left a goodie bag on our door. My boss, Pat, would call it swag. All I can remember is the long tube noise makers and the chip bag clip, which we still use. I remember seeing quite a few neighbors watch the marathon that year. But the next year, it wasn't such a big event. No swag on the doors and not as many neighbors watching. I did see Dave Rasmussen, a former co-worker in 2005, because as he passed by, he asked where I was working at. I told him the University of Utah, which probably didn't settle too well with him, since he was (and probably still is) a big BYU fan. In 2006, the marathon was moved to June, but in 2007, it was moved back to April, where it has stayed ever since. I don't know when the half-marathon was added, but Mark and Darren ran it in 2008 or maybe it was 2007. Crystal, their younger sister, ran her first marathon in 2009. Jay and I drove to 2700 South. I tried to get a picture of her, but my cellphone and camera was not cooperating. But she was smiling and waved at some friends and me as ran by. Last year, Jay and I drove back to 2700. Crystal's sister-in-law spotted me, but Crystal didn't even notice me. Not even when I called out her name. A train wreck could have happen in front of her and she would not even noticed. She was so focused that she wasn't smiling. But she was fixing her pony tail as she approached me. Our condo was doing clean up this year, so I didn't check out the half-marathon. But I did notice a former neighbor when I took a peak at marathon running past the corner up the street. I only saw the back of her, so I didn't take out my cellphone. Even though, I didn't cheer the runners on, I wonder if Dave Rasmussen ran the race again. And who knows, maybe next year, my camera and I will be out there cheering on the runners. (Picture on the left was taken in 2005. The picture on the right is Crystal in 2010 running her second half-marathon.)