Marshall Mangler 50k
This was not an easy race. Which is good, I didn’t want it to be. I truly felt blessed to be ABLE to run this race. To know that even though it would be hard, I would get to the finish line. I knew that there was a good chance I’d come home bruised, dirty, or cold, and I did—all three. I count my blessings, because today, I ran for my mother-in-law, Thelma (Thel). Heaven only knows if she has weeks, days, or just hours left, but Thel’s ticket to heaven has been purchased…we are just awaiting the departure date. This beautiful woman was once a power walker. It was not uncommon to see her around her neighborhood or along the path at Niawanda Park. She was active until she couldn’t be. Advanced dementia is a horrible disease. Thel’s conversation skills during the past few years are akin to one of those amusement park rides. You know, the kind where you sit in a cart on a track. The cart passes a switch that activates something in the ride. When Thel would see