Jacqueline Post, 2013 Coeur d’Alene Marathon overall women’s champion

I belong to a running club that had a bunch of entrants in the Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5K today in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I spent the morning cheering, taking pictures, and wondering if it’d be shabby to eat and drink refreshments intended for the runners.

I was very surprised that the women’s overall champion was someone I knew. Jacqueline Post of Spokane Valley, Washington, finished first in 3:17:26.4. I was very happy for her and offered my congratulations as she rested and received precautionary treatment after the race.

Jacqueline and I are members of the Flying Irish Running Club. After returning home, I remembered that a couple years ago, I often finished ahead of Jacqueline on our group runs. If she’s a marathon champion, yet I could finish ahead of her, that makes me a champion.

Realizing I deserved recognition, I made myself an award for outstanding performance.

I presented the above award to myself. It was very moving, and the words difficult to find as I gave an acceptance speech.

My award brought tears to my eyes.

It’s so satisfying to be recognized for great work. At the end of the evening I put my award in storage until my next outstanding performance.