How a “Lost Boy” in the Lake Winnipesaukee Relay Race was Found
Today, I have a personal story to share with you from a trip to New Hampshire.
If you’re a parent you’ll know the stomach churning depths of despair feeling you get when your child goes missing.
The mind plays terrible tricks and exaggerates the worst possible situation to the point where rational thinking and objectivity is nowhere on the same plane you are!
For about 30 minutes last weekend I experienced being a distraught father. Here’s what happened…
My 12-year-old son and I had been looking forward to running a road race together for a long time. A few weeks ago an opportunity to take part in the famous Lake Winnipesaukee Relay Road Race presented itself and we signed up.
The setting was stunning. Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire is beautiful in the fall, and the day of the race was perfect. A little cool to begin, but a sunny sky soon warmed the mercury to a 70-degree day.
My relay leg was switched which allowed me to see my son off on his leg and then take a shuttle bus to his exchange point and watch him finish and get some great pictures. His leg was through Wolfeboro, one of the most picturesque towns on Lake Winnipesaukee.
As we drove the course I watched the road with my nose pressed against the bus window for the tell-tale black T-shirt of my kid running along the edge of the road.
As we went past one-mile I didn’t worry I hadn’t seen him – he’s a fast 12-year-old.
As we approached two miles and still no sign of him, I thought, wow, he’s really running well today.
During the next mile I saw runners I knew “there’s no way on this earth” he’s capable of catching and running past. My heart sank, and my stomach went into knots.
He’s lost, or something worse.
The final mile on the bus was agonizing. What happened? Did he go off course? Is he safe? Does he feel abandoned? How could I let this happen to my son? And to be honest, a whole bunch of other stuff going through my mind you don’t want to know about.
At his exchange point another runner on my team, who’d already run his leg, found a race official eager to drive us back along the route to see if we could locate my son.
About a mile back down the course this lovely sight of a 12-year-old dark-haired boy wearing a black T-shirt and running towards the car greeted me. My son was found!
Well, to be honest, he was never “lost”, except in my own mind.
The car stopped and let me out so I could be “reunited” with my son. I ran with him for a while and he was just enjoying the day and running his own pace and feeling good… and totally oblivious to all my trumped-up anxieties during the last half-hour.
After he finished his leg – which he ran extraordinarily well – I gave him a huge hug, and explained what happened. He just gave me one of those 12-year-old’s Dad-you’re-so-uncool grins.
The remainder of the day was spent enjoying the spectacular scenery on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee as the race moved towards Moultonboro where my relay leg started, and then into the town of Meredith.
With my race leg completed, my son and I cheered on the team, while admiring the lake views from the road. The final leg from Meredith back to Funspot, near Weirs Beach, is rolling hills, and a chance to reflect on the last nine hours of the race.
Lake Winnipesaukee is one of the jewels of New Hampshire. Set in the foothills of the White Mountains, it is especially scenic this time of year in the fall, and still has plenty to offer for excitement.
In my case though, at least for last weekend – too much excitement!
If your plans are taking you out to the area then be sure to check out my special Lake Winnipesaukee web site page by clicking here.
Talk to you in a few days,
Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Vacations Online Guide
P.S. If you’re looking for fall foliage New England information click here.
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