Author's Note: This is dedicated to all my fellow runners out there, and especially to the great race committee at SLO!
*****
Racing Towards Love - Part 1 - A Chance Encounter
I was standing near the finish line, eating a banana, when I noticed her. She had a finisher's medal around her neck, and the bib color for the full, so she wasn't far behind me.
My time was 3:16:34, only six minutes off my PR. She must be pretty good. From the side, she was trim, as runners are, and about 5-6. Looked like a possible candidate. I ambled over and said, "Hi, did you have a good race?"
"Just ok. Are you giving me the eyeball for a reason?"
"What was your time?"
"3:26, what's it to ya?"
"I'm recruiting," I said boldly. I had learned through a lot of disappointments that the direct approach was best. They either were interested or they weren't.
"Oh?"
"Yes. Could I buy you lunch and tell you about it? I'm not into anything nasty."
She eyed me up and down and said, "Well, I don't know. I have to wait for my sister. She is doing her first Half."
I responded, "This might work. I have to wait for my brother, who is doing his first Half."
"What pace?" she asked.
"He planned for 10 even, but you never know the first time."
"That's right, you don't. Cheryl also planned on 10."
I looked at my watch and said, "That's fifteen minutes, if they are on pace. I can tell you about the study while we wait."
"Is this a pickup line?" She glanced up at me suspiciously.
"I'll tell you a secret if you don't spread it around."
"You are too much. Give."
"I'd really like to ask you for a date, but I'm recruiting runners for an important study on cardiac health."
Her eyes twinkled, "So you are going to examine my chest and my nonexistent boobs?"
"I'm not the doctor, but I'll examine anything you let me."
"Ooh, you are a bold devil." She looked at the finish clock for the Half, which showed 2:08. "We have to pay attention."
We hung on the rail, side by side. Her hip nudged mine. I looked down and she said, "You can have a date if you want. And maybe I'll volunteer for the study too."
My arm went around her and the body felt fine against me.
I saw Paul approaching, just behind a strong looking woman. "There's Cheryl, she is going to beat that guy if she hangs in there."
Paul was hurting but unhappy about the woman two feet ahead of him, with yards to go. He sucked it up and lunged forward. Their feet hit the timing mat at the same instant.
"That's your brother?" I nodded and she said, "No shit, a tie."
We waited for them to get through the finisher's line and grab some post-race goodies. They were talking together and laughing when Cheryl saw us and headed in our direction. Paul saw me and waved. As they ambled up, Cheryl asked, "How did you two connect? Paul and I didn't know each other five minutes ago."
The arm was around my waist. "He doesn't know my name but he's already asked me for a date."
We looked at each other. "Elise." "Brian."
Cheryl asked, "How close together did you finish?"
"Not close enough. He's a serious runner. 3:16."
I pulled her hair, "I think she is way up there in the women's race with 3:26."
Paul said, "Cheryl's accepted an invite for lunch and a swim at our place."
The two of them looked at us and we both laughed. Elise said, "This is the fastest pickup deal I've ever seen."
Paul went with Cheryl to follow Elise and me. She relaxed against the leather in my Miata and said, "I like your wheels."
"Graduation present from my grandmother. She's hip and said she was unhappy because I didn't have any girlfriends. Told me to get busy and attract women with this."
Elise laughed and said, "You caught me without the car! What will grandma say?"
"Are you seriously going on a date with me?"
"If we dress up and go to a good restaurant and I get to ride in this again."
I looked at her. "That's nice of you. If you hadn't suspected, I have a reputation for being a nerdy guy who studies too hard."
My folk's place is a few miles out of town on the edge of some vineyards. My father had purchased twenty acres quite a while back, and built their retirement home five years ago. My mother, with Hispanic helpers, had transformed the lot with quality landscaping. The flagstone patio had a fifty foot pool to one side, with an alcove for a spa. My brother and I were housesitting while the parents were in Spain on vacation.
Elise decided to help me with lunch while Paul and Cheryl swam. They had sluiced down in the outdoor shower and Cheryl decided she didn't need a suit in our private surroundings. So naturally, Paul didn't either. They both looked great. Elise said, "Good looking bodies. Not wrecked yet by marathon training."
She poked my ribs, which showed like hers did.
"Do you have some wine I could take them?"
I grabbed an open bottle from the fridge and found a tray and some glasses.
"You can't take anything to them with your clothes on."
That got me a stern look, and then a laugh. "You're right."
She looked terrific, and better yet, walked straight into my arms with a wet kiss.
"You are overdressed."
"I'll be out with the sandwiches in a sec, in the uniform of the day."
She took the tray. The view from the rear was as good as the one from the front. I told my cock no foolishness until later.