Stacey 2.0

On May 3rd (hey, I've been busy!) I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Cinco de Miler race in Glendale - a 5k, 5 mile, and 1 mile "Sombrero Shuffle" taking place at Westgate.  I decided to opt out of running for once (read: not in the budget) and I wanted more volunteer experience in pursuit of my future job as race director.  I chose to be the person on the bike that leads the lead runners on the course, to make sure they know where to go and clear the way so that person can run their best possible race.  The race director needed one more volunteer for this job so I talked my father-in-law into it too as he's a pretty experienced cyclist.  I would lead the Sombrero Shuffle and 5k, he would lead the 5 mile race. Before any of the races began, we did get a map briefing of the various courses, but neither one of us had actually gone out to ride the route(s).  Now, I have been a participant in many races, but I have never been the lead runner in ...

I think I have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up.  In this case, "growing up" means finally figuring out what I should be doing in my career at age 32 (almost 33), post-college, post-MBA, and post-working-in-a-professional-capacity since about 2003. I want to be a race director.  A race director specifically for races you can do with your dog.   Yes, I am being serious. When I started training for my first 5k, I was training for a race I could do with Kano.  I would joke that if anything went wrong, at least he'd be there to drag me to the finish.  But honestly, it was one of the best things we've ever done together.  And there is a very strong possibility I might not have done it without him.  I just wasn't that into running at the time.  (Now I guess I kind of am.  I signed up for my first ultramarathon this summer - 6 hour race!  Not with Kano, though, unfortunately!)  Just like dogs that love the walk, Kan...