Quick Thanks

Okay--I am back in Ithaca after a whirlwind trip to (and through) New Hampshire.  Just want to thank eleven great people for what was the best Reach the Beach yet for me.  Each year I think it can't get any better, but then it does.  I will try to write something more organized and thoughtful later, but for now just wanted to say thank you to all of Van One (the Green Line) for being so patient with us and so darn chipper and positive.  Bruce--thanks for filling the role of official photographer/videographer.  Also for being so calm all the time when our vans overlap somewhere.  You help keep things even.  Matt--thanks for being so on top of everything logistically and caring so much about all of us getting our much needed sleep.  You are good at keeping the BIG PICTURE in mind and it helps everything run more smoothly. It really is important.  Lisa--thanks for signing on for a second year even though you were cheated out of a leg last year.  It was so great to see you coming out of the darkness with a smile at the end of your second leg and then to see you sprint in at the end of your third leg--it was inspirational.  Judson, Karin, and Taylor--thank you for making such a huge sacrifice in terms of time and effort to even just make it to New Hampshire.  And then for being so genuinely kind and upbeat and accepting.  You are such an inspirational family.  I want to be like you.

And to my vanmates on the Orange Line:  thanks for making the 28 hours of Reach the Beach the most densely packed hours of my year, in terms of smiles and laughs per minute.  Being with you all makes even the pain of running when running is the very last thing you want to be doing acceptable.  Hell, more than acceptable--downright fun.  You make me want to be a better man.  (Okay, that last bit's not really true, but you DO make me want to be a faster runner--and a better friend.)  Thanks for another great ride, er, run.