We took our first trip of the New Year, packed up the RV and drove over to Miami - a little over a 4 hour drive. Our purpose was to see Ina and Jeff run in the Miami Marathon. We met them at their hotel and had dinner with them on the Miracle Mile - a fancy store and restaurant strip in Coral Gables where their hotel was. We left them to get a good nights sleep and went back to our camper. We set the alarm for 3:45 AM so we could pick them up and get them to the race start in downtown Miami by 5:30. It's still very dark at that time in the morning but what a crowd - 25,000 runners were in the Marathon - it's still pitch black out or did I already mention that. The runners are placed in fenced in groups called Corrals - Ina was in Corral E which was right in front of us but we never saw her.
Then the race starts - first the handicapped, then the pros, and on and on for about a half an hour. Finally they are all out of the Corrals and you can actually see the start line.
Jeff ran a half marathon - 13.1 miles - sensible guy. I stood on the final turn for a half hour looking for him - never saw him - there were so many runners coming in it was unbelievable - but we did meet up at the H meeting area after he had finished. We all moved to a straight stretch and set up camp waiting for Ina. Who is that coming straight at us?
Yes, it is that famous Marathoner who has signed up for 50 Marathons in 50 states - This is number 2 and it was a breeze.
We didn't see her cross the finish line but the crowd in the bleachers were cheering her on - shouting Go, Ina, Go.
Well that's what we were going to shout thinking we could get right next to the finish line but we never got a chance to use them in Miami.
Polly had a whole cheer made up that she never used.
Only 48 more to go - we'll get to use them yet.
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