v. Arizona Wildcats

It was the first night home game this season. We were playing the Arizona Wildcats, who many would opine did not have a chance of putting up too many numbers. Dawg fans were giddy about this game. Even the moon was smiling down on this clear, crisp evening.

But then the Wildcats scored first. And it became a fight with the refs who were throwing flags left and right – four flags in one play – against the Huskies.

There was one play that was deemed incomplete even though C. Polk single handedly caught the ball, and planted three solid steps before hitting the turf.

 

We were on the brink of a riot.

Dawg fans were booing the refs.

We watched with agony as the clock counted down the first half of the game.

Suddenly, the cold became unbearable. My hands were freezing, so I stuffed them into my down puffer coat which had been in storage since last winter. And lo, I discovered this, folded and pressed by the last wash cycle. It was a sign. Just like the smiling moon.

Then the Huskies started getting first downs.

And we scored.

Ah, victory is sweet. I'll take a win any day!

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Dawg Dash

It was 7:37PM when I received the frantically enthusiastic call from Alfonsina. "There's a five-k and ten-k tomorrow morning. I'm signing you up, be ready for me to pick you up bright and early!" 

Josh overheard. And at the very last minute, just as the sun was peeking up from the eastern horizon, he texted me: "I'm in!"

What am I talking about? Clearly, being a post on my Huskies blog, it has to do with The Dawgs. This wasn't a game at which we would be spectators. This was a race in which we would challenge our personal best. This was the Dawg Dash, hosted by the UW Alumni Association to raise money for scholarships.

It was a Sunday morning. The student body might have still been alseep, dreaming of championships and acing midterms. The athletic venues were empty.

But Montlake was buzzing with eager runners. The Stone Bridge was where it was happening.

It isn't a proper DAWG dash without dogs. And there were plenty of canine runners amongst human legs.

That's the latest technology in timing chips. It's a tag with a computer chip. But today it wasn't my goal to beat my personal best. I just wanted to take in the atmosphere of the University of Washington on a balmy October morning.

Josh, on the other hand, had a time to beat.

The route took us through a deserted campus.

It was deja vu as we ran the last meters across the Stone Bridge to Husky Stadium.

We were running toward Husky Stadium...

But this time, it wasn't to see a football game.

It was to finish a five-k, or ten-k for Alfonsina, in what was the very last time this annual race will be in the stadium.

It was a record crowd of four thousand strong. Oh, Huskies be proud!

And for what may be the last time for us, we stood at the mouth of the Husky Tunnel to commemorate this event.

I, of course, had to run through the Tunnel. I had to see for myself how it felt to emerge from the Tunnel onto the field.

It was great!

This was one spur-of-the-moment event conjured up by Alfonsina that I relished.

 

One reason being this:

 

the feast after the effort.

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