The Banana Runs

Last Saturday The Banana successfully finished her second half marathon (she ran last year too). Around Mile 9 (or so) the person in front of her fell, and she ended up having to leap over that person and rolled her ankle, but she was able to keep going. She came home with a taped up ankle from the medical tent at the end of the race and a bit of a limp, but in good spirits.

Peanut Maximus and I drove down to spectate, and even the Devious Snail got up early to join us! What a dedicated brother! Peanut Maximus watched from the stroller, and the Devious Snail brought a book to read. Aumnee and her mom joined us before Aumnee had to go to work at the ice cream shop, so we had quite a little cheering squad by the time The Banana strolled by! We had a sign that said, “Yay Banana!” Peanut Maximus had a great time ringing the cowbell that came in The Banana’s runner registration pack, and we also brought a tambourine to shake.

Just down from us was a man playing the tuba to cheer the runners on, and that was delightful. A tuba just works so well at a marathon. He played everything from famous tunes like “Oh Susannah” to “Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman”. It was a humid, sweaty run for the runners that morning, so I think the Christmas tunes were a perfect distraction.

We stayed for all the half marathon runners, all the wheel chair racers, and the first full marathon runners, and then Peanut Maximus was getting antsy so we packed up and headed back home. We especially cheered for the wheel chair racers. I can’t imagine doing that with my arms for 26 miles. Paralympic and adaptive athletes just amaze me.