A Day at Drake

A day of sun, a blue oval, and some fantastic performances, I can't think of a much better way to spend a beautiful 80 degree Friday!

O! The memories came flooding back! Running the 100m, 200m, high jump, and anchoring the 4X400 meter relay. I felt like it was yesterday. Our small town high school girls track team took runner-up at the state meet in 1987. Years prior these feet also had repeat visits in the 100, 200, and various other relays. A 3rd place and 5th place finish in the 100 meters at the Drake Relays as a junior and senior and a few other visits as a college athlete.

I LOVE the blue oval!

As one gals shirt said today,
'We practice on black, so we can WIN on blue!'

The blue oval is the BEST track I have EVER been on. It springs and propels you faster and faster as you round it's curves and fly down it's straight aways. Thank goodness for the guard rail, cause I just wanted to trade my flip flops for a pair of spikes, my nearly 40 year old body for a 20 some, walking shorts for bun huggers and just RUN!

25+ years ago when I was about 11, on a trip to Des Moines, my father and I tried to get into Drake Stadium. The closest we got was peering through the locked gates straining to get a glimpse of the blue OVAL. His exact words that day were, 'Someday YOU are going to run on that track and what a sight it will be.'

As we left Drake Stadium, he leaned in for a hug and reminded me, the last time I hugged you here we stood right in the middle of the field. You had just brought home a victory in the 4X 400 meter relay, clinching the state title.

You see, my dad would ALWAYS stand at the 200m mark of EVERY 400m race. I could always count on him in the quietness of the back stretch on those cold, rainy, Iowa track meets when all I could hear was my feet on the track and his voice in the distance, calling out 25, 26, 27, 28, pick it up, go get em.

That warm May day in 1987 was no different. After I finished up embracing and celebrating with my teammates, I watched my father make his way over the guard rail, down on the track, and across the field. Tears in his eyes and arms stretched out wide, he hugged me with all his might saying, 'You did it! And what a sight it was! I am so proud of you.'

So may be we have past the baton on? Only time will tell. But regardless of what the future holds, a warm sunny day, an oval, and some good old fashion running will always bring a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.

Anything is possible with some hard work, a little sweat, faith, passion, and perseverance!

I loved my Day at Drake!

Thanks DAD!