At the starting line of yesterday‘s Peanut Run 5K, I noticed two little boys near the starting line. They must have been around 9 or 10. Cute little guys, and to make the scene just a little cuter.........they had a tiny puppy on a leash, it must have been a dash hound. (Get it?...DASH hound)

As we waited for the start, I mentioned to someone that I’ve been beaten by some pretty strange characters. A couple of years ago in the Savannah River Bridge 10K, Eddie Shelton and I lost to a guy dressed as Sponge Bob. Sponge Bob for crying out loud!!!! Do you know what Sponge Bob looks like?

Well the race started and the two little guys were running along the sidewalk. Cute. Did I mention that they were both wearing flip-flops? Still cute huh?

By now, I was being passed by the faster runners....like Debbie Gleason and her sister. As Debbie breezed past me, I mentioned that I already had my eyes set on those two little guys......on the sidewalk..............running in flip-flops.......tugging on a little dash hound (get it?). I’ll bet you I can beat those two guys I said with chuckle.

As I worked my way from 176th place to 175th place, I kind of forgot about the little guys. I was sure that they just ran a couple of blocks and were playing in the shade by now.

We made a couple of turns in downtown Brooklet and then ran out past a cemetery. There was a long straightaway and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Dog gone it! (get it?) There, about 200 yards ahead of me, were those two little boys. The puppy must have been dog tired (get it?) because one of the little boys was carrying him. I did say he must have been a dash hound, not a distance hound, remember? But they were still ahead of me. Did I mention, they were now carrying their flip-flops and running bare-foot?

We turned and approached the water table and another turn. I slowed from my 10:40 pace to lap (get it?) a cup of water. After the turn, there they were, now less than 150 yard ahead. Based on my years of racing experience, I knew I was closing in........you might say that I was really dogging (get it?) the three of them.

Another long straightaway and my words to Debbie and her sister kept ringing in my ears. I knew it was time to really put the pressure on, time to start my sprint; it was time to start scalding dogs. (get it?)

We made the last turn and I could see the guys, they were now only about 50 yards ahead and they were struggling. The guy on the right was really dogging it. (get it?)

I knew that catching them was going to be ruff (get it?), but I knew that I was up to the task.

The gap began to shrink, make no bones (get it?) about it, I’ve been in this position hundreds of times before, I was not about to paws (get it?) and let them get away.

Suddenly, I caught them. Hot dog. (get it?) Before I finished them off, I decided to talk to them just a minute. I found out that I had been tracking (get it?) Alex, Jordan and Bubbles. Bubbles was the puppy. They told me that they were only going to run a little bit, but they decided to go ahead and finish. Alex was concerned about finishing the race and asked me how far it was to the finish line. What to do? Should I leave the three of them on the porch.....or let them run with the big dog? (get it?)

Call me a soft puppy (get it?), but I decided to call off the dogs (get it?) right then and there.

I backed off my junkyard dog (get it?) win at all cost attitude and decided to just enjoy the last 600 yards with Alex, Jordan and Bubbles. We talked a bit as we approached the finish line, I warned the lads that they were about to hear a whole bunch of applause and cheers, but it would be for me and I hope that wouldn’t hurt their feelings. (Yeah right, like the people at the finish line are not going to cheer for two little children running with their puppy.) As we crossed the finish line, the cheers really made me feel good. So good that I forgot to check the clock for my time.

We crossed the finish line in this order. Bubbles was the lead dog (get it?), followed very closely by Alex, Jordan and then me. I could feel the energy from the crowd. I want to really thank the 3 or 4 people who were still there.

After the race the first thing I did was to take off my shoes...........my dogs were really barking. (get it?)

Can you teach an old dog (get it?) new tricks? I’d say yes. There was a time when I would have automatically turned on my finishing sprint and ran right past everyone in my path. If I had done that Saturday, I would have missed a great finish with my new friends. By the way, one of them happens to be man’s best friend. (get it?)

When people see my time for the Peanut Run, they will just assume that I’m a really slow runner. Okay, they are right on that one. But for those of you who read this account, you will know the rest of the story. Oh, I might have finished the race 10 or 20 seconds faster if I hadn’t slowed to talk to Alex and Jordan. But I would have missed a tremendous opportunity to run with a couple of little guys........running bare-foot and in flip-flops..........tugging along a little puppy.................finishing a 5K race.........and having a great time.

I didn’t get a trophy or any of the cash, but I did get some great memories. And I think I helped Alex and Jordan have a little bit of fun yesterday morning. As for me................in this 5K...............I guess that makes me..............well...........Top Dog! (get it?)

Thanks to Toby and Wayne for a great race, those guys really know how to put on the dog. (get it?)

At your next race, you might want to glance towards the group lining up at the back..........you might be surprised at some of the stories you find back where I run. And please.............if you ever see a couple of little boys running barefoot.............carrying or pulling a small puppy.............with a really big guy just behind them...........that will be us, Alex, Jordan, Bubbles and me. We’re doing exactly what we love to do, we’re running and not paying much attention to the clock; and loving every minute of it!

P.S. I met their father after the race, he was amazed that the boys actually finished the entire race. I assured Dad that I know they finished the 5K..........because they were ahead of me the entire 3.1 miles.

See Ya, Ray

One Lucky Dog - (get it?)