Salem, Oregon's
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Willamette Valley Road Runners (WVRR)
www.WVRoadrunners.org.

WEDDING !!

A black top hat? A transparent white veil? Some garb to wear on a run! eh! A first annual wedding day run? We’ll see.

Well, once upon a time, in far off Port Townsend Washington, such a run took place. With scenery reminiscent of An Officer and a Gentleman, the run began early on the Saturday morning of Tom Boettger and Joyce Crosse’s wedding day. We runners all posed magnificently in front of the small white chapel at Fort Warden State Park for the pre-run photographs, then lined up, someone shouted "GO!" and with the usual frantic flail of the beginning of any race, we were off, Joyce in her running gear and veil, and Tom with his black top hat, both smiling and laughing while they ran along.

As with most events, a few speedsters ran quickly to the front and then to the turn-around, the Fort Warden lighthouse. On their way they passed the rows of impeccably maintained officer and enlisted quarters, separated by a large grass parade ground. They had run down a hill by a campground, and on to the sand near the turn around. At that point everyone seemed to realize that this was a different sort of run instead of a race and all stopped to observe the stunning views, to take pictures, and to talk to Joyce and Tom.

The return was up the hills we’d run down, of course, with a somewhat slower pace dictated by those who wanted to prolong the experience and enjoy the day. We returned, disbanded, most returning to the pursuit of preparing a perfect wedding.

For Joyce and Tom, this run was an outstanding finale to a long-range courtship, which began in when they met while vacationing in Mexico. They survived months of great distance dating between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oregon and decided to marry. The process of enabling Tom to immigrate to the United States was an ordeal in its own right, with final immigration permissions coming in just a week or so before the ceremony. Without those legal governmental authorizations, there could be no wedding. Needless to say, the correct things happened, finalizing the courtship in much the same manner as a sprint to the finish line, where you barely edge out your competitor in the last few feet.

The wedding was beautiful, with every detail planned and executed to perfection. The real thrill was to see Tom and Joyce married. Most selfishly, for many of us, we have a new Strider, a new running partner and have Joyce back from all those long weekends in Canada. We’re all training for the Newport Marathon. All of you need to come to the Governor’s Cup on weekends and meet and run with Tom and Joyce as they are certainly a new Strider family.

Burke Schmidt