On the Fourth of July, I ran another 5K race. It was the 9th annual
4th of July race in my town of Merrimack, NH and I have run every one
of them. I finished first male 65, second male 65-69, fifth male
60-69, and 305th of 690 runners. I ran the fastest I have run in the 9
races and the fastest 5K in over 11 years.

I'm beginning to get a complex though. Friends who ran with me for
most of the races for the past couple of years said to others
afterwards that I helped them to get a fast time. I feel like I'm
ready for a diet of lettuce and carrots. They are implying that I am a
"rabbit", someone who paces the other runners and then drops out
before the finish. I actually do finish, but I run out of gas near the
end and they leave me behind as they continue to the finish line alone.

In the afternoon Jackie & I marched in the town's parade with our
governor, our next U.S. senator, many floats, and marching bands. When
our children were young we took them to watch the parade. This was the
first time we marched in it. It was neat waving to the thousands
lining the parade route and seeing the smiling faces of all the
children. It really made me feel good about our town.

Shalom,
Chuck