Running for Your Life: Open Letter to Candidate Ryan (aka Kvelling over Katalina Kate!)

My daughter Kate on Saturday (Sept. 29) ran her first big race, Candidate Ryan: the Catalina Island Conservancy Half Marathon.

She is some kind of running mate, my girl!

Not only did Kate manage to finish in what the event announcer shouted out as the best style of the finishers to that point in the race, but she chose as her first competitive long-distance race what is regarded as one of the most difficult halfs in America!

(Don’t concern yourself, Candidate Ryan, allow me to supply the facts: your reputation on race facts and ignorance of all things California – aka Obama Nation – is a matter of public record.)

In Kate’s first half-marathon she finished under three hours, at 2:59:44, 127th out of 196 finishers, the 54th woman to cross the line!

But don’t despair, Candidate Ryan. You too can show your stuff! Next September, not being an election year, please join Kate and me for a run up the mountain. At Catalina, it’s nine miles straight up and three-ish back to sea level. Kate has invited me to join her and the last weekend in September is already penned into my calendar.

Given your he-man workout regimen this race should be a snap for you, Candidate Ryan. Oh, and don’t worry about your personal record, go ahead and claim the fastest time in your age group. No one will be paying the least bit of attention to anything you say or do at this time next year.

Running for Your Life: So OC, You Still Running?