#31 Running for Home

The most interesting part about this Fifty 5Ks challenge is that I get to discover new places and meet people who I would have never otherwise met.  Our paths would never have crossed.

Number 31 was held in Kentucky.  Jo and I arrived late.  We got lost.  Now, in fairness, we were in Kentucky and that is not my strong suit.  I had looked up a map of the park to get an idea of the course and found this:


I was a little concerned that this was the actual route for the race.  So with a little trepidation, we pull into the parking lot, and get our numbers and they send us up the hill to the start.  They assure us that the course is marked.  Just follow the people.  Okay.  Easy enough. 

The route meanders through the park which sits on the southern edge of the Cincinnati airport. There are several memorials to various plane crashes.  I look to the sky. Clear...with no planes raining down.  Okay, we are good to go.

The pack of participants is long gone.  We abandon our bags of stuff by a tree and head off.  The course is marked and we do manage to find the group. Lots of strollers and little kids. I mean, kids are everywhere...in all shapes and sizes.  We can catch them. We pass several sets of strollers and are feeling pretty good about the walk. (I know, a shallow victory.) Even starting late, we won't be last, and that is a good thing. 

This 5K benefited Running for Home, a group that provides financial grants to Kentucky families in the process of international adoption.  At first I thought, wow...that's a pretty specific, small group of people.  Then, after listening to their stories, I discovered the lengthy, logistical odyssey that is international adoption. After the race we got to meet the recipients of past grants as well as this years recipients. You can read more about them on their website:  http://www.runningforhome.org/

I heard stories of waiting.  Waiting to be matched with a child and waiting for travel.  Submitting original paperwork followed up by re-submitting paperwork, struggling with the visas, the travel, the adoption agencies, changes in the adoptive children's availability, more travel, paperwork, having to leave their children behind and coming back later to get them. Changes in rules and regulations that re-start the process anew.  And the waiting. The interminable waiting.   I really felt for these people who were clearly testing the limits of the patience spectrum.

We got to meet a boy, whom I will refer to as Mr. Smiles.  He was grinning from ear to ear. His family was a grant recipient in 2012 and he finally made it to his new home this past June.  (Yes, six weeks ago.)  Two years is a long time to wait for a forever family.  No wonder he is smiling.  

Did I mention there are lots of kids?  Big kids, little kids, kids in strollers and baby carriers.  Kids skipping and running, laughing and chasing each other.  This was really inspiring  to watch and take part in.  

Clearly, the waiting was worth it.