When I arrived at this Saturday's charity 5k I'd forgotten that it was sponsored by the Marines. Once my memory was jogged by the sight of the highway underpass chock-a-block full with very fit and serious looking young folks, I almost turned around and went home. No kidding, my stomach sank.

But I made myself linger a bit in the registration line, reasoning that the event was billed as a run/walk, so surely I'd spot some casual, not-so-serious people any minute.

Once I took a deep breath and purposely looked for people without buzz cuts and blue sweats, I did eventually see the horde of normal civilians milling all around me. I even went up to two women and asked them a bit anxiously if they were running or walking. I think I was just worried about being dead last, but once I was reassured that there were at least going to be some walkers behind me, I felt much calmer. Which was really vain of me, but there you have it.

The race was through a park. The marines ran in formation, singing cadence, which I'd never heard up close before. It was great to listen to -- that is, until the formation entirely outpaced me. Then a cadence group of recent army recruits caught up with me and I kept them in my sights for the rest of the race. I didn't like their cadences too much -- a bit too political for me, I suppose, since one of the cadences was all about Saddam Hussein and Iraq and blowing people to pieces. But I figured a 5k wasn't the venue to stop and have a discussion about the war.

There were also two women who kept my same pace a bit ahead of me. One was a lady in her 60s, dressed as an elf. She was great!

So I ran the whole way, and crossed the finish line in 35:02, a bit faster than I'd projected. I was pleased.

Later, as I sat at the bus stop waiting to go home, a homeless woman sat next to me, and I detected a rather unpleasant odor. When her bus came and she left, the odor didn't. That's when I realized I was the smelly, offensive one. Next time, I'll remember to run in clothes that have been more recently washed. The problem is that I'm insanely cheap, and I only have one set of workout clothes that I just wear over and over until laundry day. I suppose now that I'm running regularly I possibly just might justify the purchase of some more gear, especially if I'm going to do any more group running anytime soon.

Which I think I might do. The 5k was fun (the $20 entry fee was not, however) and it was energizing and encouraging to run with others. A local running club sponsored the race, so I may consider joining them next year. I can't say that I've quite been wholeheartedly bitten by the running bug, but that bug is definitely doing some nibbling.