Part 3 - It's the journey not the destination or forced march

     I have no real idea of what I was expecting to be honest.  I mean I knew it wasn't going to be a totally paved path.  Kind of like a high school gym track.  We stood in the grassy, knobby place preparing to start.  The grass had been cut, could tell by the amount of it on my sneakers.

     We started and the going was a tad rough.  The surface far from flat, kind of like walking in sand at the beach.  Actually that is precisly what I'd cal it.  It was tough going but I kept up for a bit with my people.  I'd say after the second turn I was really feeling like I couldn't do this.  Not so much physically, just more the humidity and the way I was dressed.  I was allready considering abandoning the walk all together.  Fortune tossed me a line.

     A man said he'd twisted his ankle and didn't think he could continue.  I thought aha here is my opportunity, I'll offer to walk back with him and just leave.  Naturally he changed his mind and continued.  And most likely finished before me.  I'd lost the origional pack I was with.  I was in the middle of the walkers.  There was a woman with another dog, not sure what it was.  Man it pulled her way past me.

     At some point after another turn, time was really slowing down now, we did come to a paved area.  It was nice, made some of my progress back.  I wasn't trying to beat anyone, just didn't want to come in dead last.  Naturally that ended and it was back to  the grassy rough terrain.  It was really kind of miserable.  Rain kept misting terribly.  I was at the point now where I just couldn't turn back so onward ever onward.

     I did stop a few times just to relax, of course losing my position.  By the halfway mark, we passed a clock, it had been 30 min.  Kept wondering how long this would continue.  Feeling very betrayed by my treadmill.  I'd listen to snippets of conversation from others around me.  One of the annoying this was the fact I had to walk head down so I could see where I was stepping.  I felt a mess.

     A dirt path emerged, some how I got the idea frome someone that we had to do this course 3 times.  This idea bouyed my spirits.  I'd just do 1 single solitary lap and that was to be that.  I was looking forward to it.  But that was not to be the case at all.

     At some point, there was a spot where some of the people were handing out waters.  I grabbed 2.  I was now at the lead of the strollers.  Oddly enough there were a few parents with kiddies in strollers.  Irked me at myself, the fact that they passed me by so easily.

     At some turns there were white vehicles, for the volunteers and staffers.  I kept wondering if it was a saftey measure for people having trouble or who couldn't finish the race.  I eventually gave up the idea of asking to be let out. 

     I cannot tell you in honesty that it was very scenic.  Being cloudy and rainy and muggy.  Also that I spent so much of the walk watching the ground.  There were a few more paved surfaces and dirt roads.  Yes this would be a grueling forced 5k for charity.  I wasn't so much breathing heavily as much as damp and hot.  I'd saftey pinned my number to my hoodie and ripped off a corner just so I could open my hoody for air. 

     We came to an area by the highway.  This would be about the 3/4 mark.  I was looking for the opportunity to just leave the herd and waslk back to my car on the pavement.  No such luck.  This was private land so it was fenced off.  Also there was a house with a dog.  Grueling, if I haven't made myself clear.  Now the cruel part. 

     We had turned to an area where you could see pavement and almost the end of the race.  But no, as the volunteers said it wasn't the path.  The path lead to another field, where like an 'S' pattern you came around to that area, ugh.  I was now in the middle of the strollers.

     After the 'S' there was one more straight away then a right to the finish line.  I truly had enough.  It was no longer raining now, the ground was a lot more even so I was haggardly walking with my head up.  I was among the back pack of the strollers.  And behind the strollers was a white car with people that were glad the race was over, the volunteers.  I forced myself to rally.  I did not want to be last, I deserved that much dignity.  I wasn't, I was however in the last couple of dozen people to finish in over an hour.

     Back to the barn area, there seemed to be food.  They were handing out room temperature bottles of water.  I took one.  I didn't stay for any of the after festivities.  I just wanted out.  Trudged back to my car, saw the people with the first dog.  A few other people, who'd had the forethought to bring fresh clothing.  I got to my car and left.

     I wasn't tired, more like exhilirated and happy that I did it and didn't just quit.  I pulled out and made a right towards home I hoped.  By the way I had made a right into the winery, foreshadowing ooooo.

     Oh no dear reader.  This just ends that installment, there's more to come I assure you.