market, marathon, celebrity & mojitos (weekend entry #2)
i wandered from the farmer's market to the downtown pedestrian mall, w/ coffee in hand. yesterday was c-ville's marathon, so i joined a crowd that had gathered ~ � mile from the finish-line to watch and cheer on the runners. it was the 1st time i'd seen a marathon live, so that was fun. many runners wore ipods, and i wondered what they were listening to... this american life? (it was saturday morning after all!). or something w/ a beat to make them run faster? a few runners looked spaced-out. some grimaced and hobbled along w/ leg cramps, but surprisingly, i dare say a majority were grinning. some even said "thank you" when we cheered them on. it was perfect running weather! mix a gorgeous day w/ a last-leg adrenaline rush. add in the knowledge you've just run 26 miles, and yeah: i guess there's reason to smile! i also know from doing shorter races that it's so cool and energizing when people�total strangers�come just to watch and cheer.
this was the marathon's 3rd running. the 1st one, in 2003, was run entirely through the wineries just outside the city. but some runners complained that the beautiful, winding course was too hilly. so it was moved partly into the city (which is still hilly but not as bad, and also pretty). part of the course still goes through local wine country and past the horse farms, near sissy spacek's home. did you know i spotted ms. spacek at the grocery store in 2002? no, it wasn't whole foods. it was here. she looks the same in person as on-screen. she's tiny, too�my height!
tonight involved drinks and dinner at the biltmore w/ the girls (cindy and daisy). for the first time this spring, it was warm enough to sit out on the patio sipping mojitos. i can't think of a better way to wrap up a good weekend and get ready for a week of 80-degree weather. there's more to say but it's bedtime, so i'll stop here.
