I have always been a silver lining kind of girl, so I was not overly discouraged today when my nagging tendonitis kept me from racing in the Red Dress Run.  Like so many other volunteers, I woke up at 5AM this morning in order to arrive in Elizabeth Park by 6:15AM.  From 6:30 to 8:30, I had the great pleasure of working with two fine young people in their twenties.  First of all, Stacie recently began racing and decided to volunteer at today’s run for women’s heart health.  Stacie holds a degree in Theater Management and currently works for world-renown theater, Harford Stage as their business manager.  Stacie prepares and negotiates the contracts that bring the countries finest thespians to Hartford.  Here I am with Stacie who has been a life-long athlete as a dancer and collegiate color-guard member, but who recently decided to add running to her list of athletic accomplishments. We had fun greeting the runners as they arrived via shuttle buses, and making sure they picked up their race bibs in time. Stacie and I both enjoyed the tutus, dresses, prom jewelry and other costumes worn by the many “fastinistas” present at today’s race. A “fastinista” is a serious athlete who cares as much about her appearance as her finishing time. Today we were so fortunate to see so many amazing women possessing both beauty and beautiful character.