Indian Summer 5K/10K.

It was another day in paradise at the Res Sunday morning. With the limited publicity this event had ahead of time, I expected a small turnout and was surprised to see the number of folks who actually showed up. More than anything, though, I was surprised at the amount of planning and preparation that had gone into the festivities.

A great raffle had been set up as part of the fundraising for the EXPAND program and the Orphans of Aids Fund, and a professional radio announcer had come in to spin tunes and keep the atmosphere alive with fun and energy.

The 5K run was an out and back to just short of the north end of the dam, well-marked and staffed with cheerful and cheering volunteers. Watching the hot air balloons in the east and the waterskiers to the west and under the watchful gaze of the Indian Peaks in the distance, I felt like I was just floating through the run.

More buoying than all of that, though, was the thought of making my own small contribution to the EXPAND program, the people in our Parks and Recreation Department who make it such a success, and the individuals and families whose lives are so much richer because of this success.

Thanks to Valentina and Carlos for letting me know of this run. I also enjoyed hanging out with other folks from the city, including Noreen Walsh, who dashed through the 10K at her goal of an 8-minute mile pace. Alison Langlois and a some friends ran the 10K as part of their marathon training program--she'd run to the reservoir, and was about to leave to run the rest of her training run when I saw her. And Jen Huston and Colleen Fitzgerald from Parks & Rec were working the registration tents.

In all a splendid way to spend a couple of hours under the Maxwell Parrish skies of a Colorado Sunday.