Six weeks earlier, Laura and I had plans to attend the Barbados Marathon. My Mom passed away the day before we were set to leave. My mom was the coolest. She lived 81 great years. In her last few years when she was confined to a wheelchair but still coherent she’d want to participate in our family relays – in her wheelchair of course. She was game for any and everything. She would have loved Barbados – especially the kids and swimming in the ocean. 

As part of our Cruise To Run – Give Back program,we had a shoe collection for the local kids. We had noticed than too many of the kids the past two years were running the 5K in bare feet and not because they wanted to. They had no running shoes. This time around, more than 200 pairs of new running shoes were collected and half of those were given to the kids in Bridgetown. Not only was it like Christmas for the locals – it was fun for the cruisers who helped the kids find the perfect fit for them amongst the big pile of shoes.

The Barbados 5K, first of three races during the week, is always a hot one but this time the prevailing winds worked in their favor until the last 1k anyway. Like a local said,”That’s not the sun (son) – that’s the Father!” When the Barbadians say it is hot, you know it is. I served as race announcer and  I heard many amazing stories before and after the race. Sue Butts of North Carolina lost 140 pounds and was returning to running after a stroke 4 years ago. Barbados was her welcome back race. Ronnie Levy from Philadelphia had heart surgery 6 months earlier. She ran a 44:13. Colorado’s Tom White was on crutches in Barbados last year – two months after surgery to amputate his leg. This year on his new cheetah leg, he ran a sub-21 and fourth in his age division.