I’m currently sitting on the Amtrak Cascades train riding south from Vancouver, BC to Seattle. The views have been stunning!! We did the reverse route from Seattle to Vancouver a few days back at sunset, and it was breathtaking.
We boarded this morning around 6:30am. Some guy who boarded shortly after chose the row next to us, and immediately started gobbling some Chinese food and orange soda. It kinda felt like a power move, and I respect it.
We traveled to Vancouver to catch up with an old friend and support him while he ran the Seawheeze half marathon. I think this was only my second organized race that I’ve been near. I signed up for and ran a 5k once, which was pretty fun, but this event was at a completely different level. I think there were 10,000 runners signed up!
I’m not sure if it was the perfect weather (high 70s and sunny with a sea breeze the entire time we were there), the inclusiveness of the running community, the general vibe of Vancouver, or some combination of all 3, but there was a palpable magic in the atmosphere. Everywhere we went, we were making new best friends! I’ve already forgotten their names and faces, but not their energies.
I spotted a lot of happy tears on race day (and almost shed some myself), and I’ve been trying to nail down where all these emotions have their roots. No doubt there’s a certain release that comes from working towards a big goal and finally accomplishing it. But I want to focus more on the warm fuzzies that come from being seen and supported.
Deep down, I think we all have a desperate need to be intimately perceived by those we love. We want to feel that someone we love also loves us in return. And we crave something tangible we can hold onto as a demonstration of that love, something more than just words. This is exactly what I saw and felt on race day. So many people traveled across the world to communicate their support in a way that words can’t convey. I didn’t even run the half marathon, but I got to participate in this communal channeling of love, and it was very worth it.
Anyway, I think I might have to sign up for a 10k now…
Photo dump:
