Yes. She said yes!
It still feels like a dream. It’s been more than two weeks since I proposed and more than a week since she said yes.
Truth be told, I asked her dozens of times. Sometimes more than once a day. But only once did I present a ring. She knew all along I was serious, but the ring took it to a new level. She wasn’t expecting that yet. “Bewildered” is how she described her feeling at the moment. Then she put off giving me an answer. But when she did, boy, was it memorable!
I had joked with my friend and co-worker Jay about Susan accepting my proposal at the finish of the Run Galesburg Run Half Marathon on June 1. I had no idea she’d do just that. She’s not a public person. So I was stunned when I finally saw the big white sign — held proudly by my smiling daughter Amanda — after I crossed the finish line. It took me a while to see it. As I crossed the line in PR time, I saw Susan smiling at me and I ran straight to her.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. This all started with a run. My second half marathon. That adds up to a full marathon over two years, so I think I’m good on that count — no need to do a full 26.2 miles in one day. Right?
Well, as with last year’s RGR Half Marathon, I did not train properly for the effort. Oh, I did a couple longer runs than my usual 3-5 miles, but I’ve not been building my endurance and stamina nor working on my pace. For at least one stretch in recent memory I didn’t run for a whole month. Most of the rest of the time I would run once, maybe twice a week. Insufficient training for a 13.1-mile run in the heat and humidity of Illinois.
I was, however, determined. Two weeks before the run I did 9 miles one day and 4 the next. Thursday before the race I did 4 miles just to make sure my legs still worked. Oh, and I’ve mostly given up my patellar strap. I think it’s been a crutch and, while necessary at times, I think the more I run without it the stronger my patellar tendon becomes.
Saturday night found me more tense and nervous than usual before a race. In fact, I’m not usually too wound up before race day. I had trouble sleeping. I worried I would have to use the toilet along the route. I fretted about walking part of the distance.
Sunday morning, I couldn’t eat. We gathered our supplies — water, iPod, towel, race bib, sunscreen — and headed to town. As I fiddled with my accoutrements, pinning my bib to the front of my shirt and adjusting my iPod armband, Susan headed over to the volunteer signup to receive her assignment. She returned to the car with a big smile.
“Guess where I’m gonna be?” she chimed. “I’m at the finish line!”
I was happy because I wanted to see her there at the end. I didn’t want to have to wave to her along the course as I slogged by. I wanted to collapse into her arms, if collapsing were to be my finish. She was happy because it worked right into her plan.
So we made our way back to race central and I hooked up with my teammates from Team Asha for a pre-race photo. I managed to eat half a banana. I contemplated hitting the porta-potties, but decided the line was too long. I’d have to risk a poo on the run. (I want to say “Turd on the Run” because it’s a Rolling Stones song, but that would be unseemly.)
I lined up with D2 and D3 — Amanda and a newly redheaded Molly — who were doing the 5K and we awaited the starting gun. At the crack of the pistol, I was off. Actually, though not the throng of runners crowded into the starting blocks of a huge race like the Bix 7, there were nearly 1,000 crammed into the block of Simmons Street between Kellogg and Prairie, so we started out walking. But as we approached the starting line, I hopped a couple of times and took off on my own. Moll says I elbowed her as I passed. Sorry, baby. It wasn’t personal.
For me the run was mostly uneventful. In town the course is partially shaded and comfortable. Outside of town the roads open up and the sun beat down. It got hot. It was humid. My water belt was bouncing and became annoying, so I unbuckled it and tossed it aside at Aid Station 3. My too-large Team Asha shirt I had made more comfortable by cutting the sleeves out. That allowed my armband to rub my left side, leaving a nasty sore that is still healing.
I did walk at least half a dozen times for short stretches. It actually felt worse to walk, so I returned to my running pace in short order each time. As I crossed Main Street in mile 13, my right calf knotted like a fist and I thought I was done. Fortunately it cleared in a few steps and I continued. As I rounded the last corner from Seminary to Simmons Street, I turned on my afterburners and finished with a burst of speed, driven first by a girl running neck-and-neck with me, then by the sight of Susan at the finish line — the only ponytail I had an eye for that day (first time ever).
I beat the runner girl and got the finish girl. She was beaming as I approached, and shouting something. I staggered toward her and the words finally registered: “Look at your daughter.” I gazed around in a daze. Suze pointed to her right. There stood a smiling Amanda, holding a white posterboard with “SAYS YES” in big blue letters.
I was stunned. Elated. Incredulous. Overjoyed. I started shouting, “Yes! Yes!” I grabbed Suze and squeezed her tightly. “Really? Yes?” I asked. She assured me it was no joke. I kissed her — in the photo she is noticeably grossed out, given my sweaty condition — and nearly knocked her over as my legs wobbled wearily under me.
She helped me to a shady spot under a nearby tree and plied me with water, Gatorade and bananas. Amanda stood by, proudly displaying the sign, which I finally realized didn’t simply read, “SAYS YES,” but had a subject and an object, though it lacked a preposition. At the top was glued a box of Raisinets (representing Susan) and at the bottom, Goobers (me). Goober, Goob (from “Meet the Robinsons”) is her nickname for me. And as anyone of a certain age will recall, Goobers and Raisinets go together. Of course Raisinets are my favorite movie snack.
Everyone knew what was going on but me. As soon as the runners left the start, Suze spread the word and enlisted the aid of other race volunteers. They tracked my progress on the course. Sue Dickinson rounded up a Sharpie so Suze could write YES on the back of my finisher’s medal, on which she hung the ring I’d given her the week before. Photographers Steve Davis and Kent Kriegshauser and their cronies were informed and they swarmed us afterward, preserving the moment. Moll shot video with Susan’s iPhone. It was amazing.
As I basked in my glory and giddiness, Suze smiled down on me and asked, “Can I have my ring?” I hadn’t noticed it on the medal. And I was too shaky to unclasp the medal from the ribbon to extract the ring — she did that. I was able to slip it on her finger and she leaned down for another kiss, less grossed-out this time because my sweaty torso wasn’t pressed against her.
After a brutal but beneficial stretching on the trainer table by one Melissa Engebretson, I joined Suze for a few free brews at the beer tent. We were congratulated repeatedly. I called family to share the news. Facebook was blowing up with photos, comments and likes. Suze updated her profile with a life event: “Got engaged to Rob Buck.” That opened up the floodgates. And this is the woman who doesn’t post much on Facebook because, “I don’t want people to know my s***”?
Stunned indeed.
Today's Stats (June 1, 2014)
Temp: 87 degrees F
Distance: 13.1 miles
Weekly Total: 16.95 miles
Treasure: Santa Claus decoration.
Time: 2:29:38 (2013 time: 2:33:48)
Pace: 11:26
Split: 1:09:45
Split Pace: 10:39
Overall: 134
Men 40-49: 19/21
Sex: 69/81
iPod Playlist (Shuffle):
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
The Ghost Song - The Doors
18 Wheeler - Pink
Put Your Lights On - Santana (Feat. Everlast)
Clarity - John Mayer
Bitch - Meredith Brooks
Drop Dead Legs - Van Halen
Trip Through Your Wires - U2
Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
And It Stoned Me - Van Morrison
Wine Snacks (live banter) - Ryan Adams
Wouldn’t It Be Good - Nik Kershaw
Waitin’ On A Sunny Day - Bruce Springsteen
Push - Matchbox Twenty
The Woods - The Call
Happiness - The Fray
Valley Road - James McMurtry
Clarity - John Mayer
Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears for Fears
Push (Acoustic Version) Avril Lavigne
I Just Want To See His Face - The Rolling Stones
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own - U2
Bad Woman Blues - Trampled Under Foot
We Will Not Be Lovers - The Waterboys
Back To You - John Mayer
First Cut Is The Deepest (Country Version) - Sheryl Crow
Saint Mary Of The Woods - James McMurtry
The Stranger - Billy Joel
Stars Tonight - Lady Antebellum
God Trying To Get Your Attention - Keb’ Mo’
The Star Spangled Banner - U2
Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
Empty Sky - Bruce Springsteen
Who Needs Sleep? - Barenaked Ladies
Wishing It Was - Santana (Feat. Eagle Eye Cherry)
Roll With The Changes - REO Speedwagon
