We arrived on the campus of the University of Toledo and instantly we could tell the expo was packed. We walked in and were immediately met by two volunteers asking us questions and directing us where we needed to go. We headed right over to the info booth to meet the other ambassadors, volunteers and to get our instructions for the afternoon. When the shift change happened, Mandy and I decided to relieve the "greeters" that welcomed us. For racers to pick up their packets they needed their race bib numbers, so we were asking them if they new their numbers yet. The ones that did we directed into the expo area and the ones that didn't we directed them over to the tables where the Racejoy app table was set up so they could look up their bib numbers.
During our shift I saw a few people I recognize from other events around Toledo, my best friend's cousin who was running her first half marathon, but what really did it for me was when a reader stop to say hello. This was the first time a reader of my blog has ever said something to me in person, and to hear someone who is fighting the same battle as I am say "I read your blog all the time and you are such an inspiration" just totally floored me. In that moment I was consumed with such emotion I could hardly say anything and to be honest I can't remember exactly what was said, so if I didn't say it I wanted to say congrats on the weight loss and let him know that I really appreciated him saying hello. What you have accomplished is amazing and you should be so proud! Keep up the hard work and now I'll add, hope you had a great race on Sunday. He had told me that he has lost over 185 pounds and thanked me for writing my blog. Sorry I didn't get a picture with him, I wasn't really thinking clearly at that moment.
***Warning, quick side note***
I started this blog with the intentions of paying it forward for those that need the inspiration that I needed and got while I was loosing the weight. In the digital age when people write to me or comment on Facebook it means a lot to me, but for the first time it truly became real to me when I shook the guys hand. Nothing means more to me than knowing that I am able to help someone like the Fat to Finish Line crew did for me.
***Ok, back to our regularly scheduled program***
As the afternoon went on Mandy and I were getting a little tired and slap happy. You start to go a little crazy when you say pretty much the same thing over and over for 4 straight hours, "hello, are you here for packet pick up? Do you know your bib number yet? Great the entrance to the expo is right this way! or No, you'll need that to pick up your packet, so step over to these tables here where they can help you look that up." When our shift ended we went to pick up our packets, look around at all the expo had to offer and then make our way to Perrysburg for dinner.
We were going out to dinner with my friend Katie, who writes the blog Runs for Cookies, her husband Jerry and twenty or so of her friends and family who were running on 5-person relay teams together. Katie's sister made reservations at a regionally known Italian restaurant chain call Biaggi's. They have restaurants in 10 states, with most of their locations in Illinois. I can't speak to other people's experiences, but mine and Mandy's was pretty darn good. They had warm bread with olive oil to dip the bread in for snacking, which we gobbled up because we were starving. For our main course I got spaghetti and meatballs which was wonderful and Mandy got lasagna and said she loved it. It was so great catching up with everyone and nothing is better than getting to talk Star Wars, comic book movies, tv shows and RedWings hockey with Jerry.
It was getting late and the dogs had been alone almost all day so we wanted to get home and play with them so we could get them tired out before bed, so we said our goodbyes and headed home. Mandy and I got our clothes laid out and I got all my tech gear ready for the morning. Thankfully the dogs settled down and we were able to get to bed at a decent time, considering we had to be up at 4:30am so we could be out the door by 5:15am. Wow, can you believe I use to hate getting up early and could sleep till one in the afternoon like it was no big deal.
The exciting conclusion of Running in the Fat lane's
2015 Glass City Marathon Race Recap, next time!
Same fat time, same fat channel!
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