Fort Smith Marathon

Published February 10, 2019

Rain. 100% in the forecast. 100% marathon morning.

Team 4 Layer Delight

4 Layer Delight PROUD in Fort Smith’s inaugural Marathon. Started strong/stayed focused, even ran a bonus leg – tandem with my Bro. Seven miles, lotta distance for a guy who didn’t train. Fast FORWARD 2019. Bro now OWNS a gym. Still not a runner but can dead-lift THREE of me. No exaggeration, crazy strong & competes regionally. FAMILY RELAY return! this time, running 26 miles with Team 4 Layer Delight!

Lined up, ready to run. Me, Bro & bro’s gimp foot. FAMILY run day, no excuses. Little Bro’s got TWO feet (tiny guilt later when I saw the X-ray) 😊 Sis? Not ‘til leg 2 – all HILLS – but with a scenic view of the [Arkansas] River Valley. Rain DOWNPOUR.

Marathon Start. Random laps downtown, scenic run down Free Ferry. BIG beautiful homes – ran this same section in 2015. Up Albert Pike, past Williamsburg Kitchen, 2 miles more to Southside. Home of the Rebels, when I attended. Bro dragged his bum foot the last mile – but NO walk, steady pace entire leg. AWESOME job Bro!

Velcro wristband handoff. First time seeing Sis since November’s Nashville Marathon. She’d run the next TWO stations. Nephew’s plane to Arkansas grounded for weather. Quarter-inch ICE in Columbia, Missouri. His grandparents would retrieve/return him home to St Louis. We missed ya Jack! Team missed your strong YOUNG legs.

Relay Leg 2 – by far, most scenic. Up down, up down. Never straight UP but hill count more than fingers on two Amish hands (they’ve got extras). Glove switch at Leg 3. NOT. Bro went home for a shower. Truth. Knew something was up. Called & didn’t hear background RAIN (tricky tricky). 100 years later, same punk little brother. LOL>

Rain reprieve ‘til the final wristband switch. Warm DRY gloves & a kiss from Mom. Energized all 26 miles today. And Sis? Ran ANOTHER leg. 3 of 4 folks, that’s 20 miles! Conversation now ‘bout the Greco’s Spring BEACH vacation. Dominican Republic 🌞

Back on Garrison last 2 miles, finishing in historic Downtown. Block from Miss Laura’s (former brothel), ‘cross from Judge Parker’s Courthouse (the Hanging Judge). Fort Smith is HOME. Cringed passed rival, Northside High (still Southside Rebel PROUD).

Voices from the side lines, FINISH straight ahead. LOVE LOVE my Arkansas FAMILY ❤️

How many can brag ‘bout marathoning with BOTH SIBLINGS!