November 2008

Our girls: friends since kindergarten

Run to Feed the Hungry

“Because I thought it would be fun,” my 19-year-old daughter explained when our friends asked why she organized our group to participate in Sacramento’s 15th annual “Run to Feed the Hungry” on Thanksgiving Day. Direct. Simple. Honest—that’s my Haley.

Early morning on Thanksgiving Day finds us at the light rail station distributing t-shirts, entry numbers and orange tags for running shoes. Among us are three mothers who’ve been friends since our children were in pre-school, our three daughters—now young women, our sons and their friends. First stop: Sacramento State University for a pre-Run, hot chocolate and donut tailgating party.

Our motley crew

The excitement of being part of this feel-good event shows on our faces. Smiles, laughter and happy chatter fill the crisp autumn morning. Haley’s father lights a match to the propane stove and soon we are warming our hands with a cup of Kristen’s peppermint hot chocolate —reveling in the luxury of this simple, thoughtful gift. Haley’s aunt and uncle from Santa Rosa arrive and everyone is raring to go.

Before we join the over 28,000 participants, we snap a group picture. Dressed in the Run-to-Feed-the-Hungry standard issue, (army green, long-sleeved t-shirts), the photo captures the moment for a future remember when, time of reflection. As we gather on the grass knoll above the parking lot, we smile for the camera—not knowing it will be the last time we will all be together that day.

The starting line for the race is more three-ring circus than Olympiad. Since we were at the end of the line, it was comical that the more earnest athletes finished before we even began. The winner of the 5K run clocked in at a little over 14 minutes. Our eventual time was one hour, 33 minutes. Since there were so many participants, it took us 45 minutes to walk the first mile.

Adrenalin-pumping songs like Van Halen’s “Jump” and Black-Eyed Peas, “Let’s Get it Started” blasted from the loud speakers. In line were runners with silly turkey hats, children in strollers, and girls with helium balloons holding up their pigtails. Sprinkled throughout the Run in costume were a penguin, a few turkeys, the River Cats mascot and even an overweight Elvis impersonator singing “We’re caught in a trap…we can’t walk out...”

We saw at least four groups of musicians playing guitars, drums and keyboards. Two garage bands brought their rockin’ tunes to the sidewalk—contributing to the day’s festivities. Our scattered group of friends walked together at times linking arms, other times mingling—enjoying this moving cocktail party. Every so often I found myself alone, happy and grateful to be part of something much bigger than myself.

My friend: ready to cross the finish line

The end of the Run was certainly more about the journey than the destination. Julie and I crossed the finish line feigning extreme fatigue—when in reality we had not even broken a sweat. We were giddy with our collective goodwill. The Run, we were later told, earned more than $750,000, with the proceeds benefiting the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.

The most memorable part of the day for me was Haley’s initiative to round up our motley crew of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and long-time friends. Mark Twain said: “The heart is the real fountain of youth. While that remains young the waterbury of time must stand still.” On that crisp, late-November morning we were all young at heart, led by an enthusiastic youth, motivated not by the illusion of grandeur, but simply by fun.

Thanks Haley, y’done good, kid.