BDay #25

What would happen to the power of Christian unity if Christmas and Easter were optional and flexible dates? The strength of tradition is in its consistency. So I'm religiously continuing with my birthday 5Ks.


I raced the inaugural Run for Babies 5k, named appropriately for my family situation, as the number of my half-siblings keeps growing. Having had a running-busy week, I didn't feel very fresh and ran just a 17:53, placing second overall. I've had so many 5Ks lately that it's really difficult to convince myself to try hard.

This 5k was an extremely typical local race: a couple of hundred people, none of them really fast, a half-empty course, and a $35 entrance fee.

Typical 5k audience.

The only unusual detail about the race is that top runners didn't get any prizes at all, not even a $10 gift certificate. Babies consumed all the money, I take it. This is the first year of this 5k, so it's forgivable.

They recognized many runners who raised funds, but not winners.

The race started and ended at the Heinz Field -- Pittsburgh Steelers home arena.  I'm sure this fact alone is accountable for at least 20% of runners: somehow it's really exciting to run near a big concrete circle.

A lame but widespread view on the Heinz Field from the parking lot.

Promotion tents is another very common feature of races.

More importantly, I'm 25. I'm feeling more in control, more relaxed, less miserable, and less heartless than a year ago. Thankfully, birthday 5ks are great anchors for memories.

Conclusion: this year's birthday 5k is an accurate representation of my routine racing experience.

Finally, a selfie (for documentation reasons only):

This is what I look like at 25 years old.