Washington State Permit local hero Cathy Cooper and daughter Hollie, in Olympia
Picture me (Matt) over 2 years ago, as we were beginning our marathon journey to set up our run route through America. Yes, you read correctly, we originally were set to run south 1st through Washington State and go around that way. Luckily for us, as we mentioned many months ago, we had the gift of someone saying, “why don’t you go the other way”.
So you know the history. But before the big direction change, we thought we should tee up Washington 1st seeing as we thought we would hit it early in the tour. This was why I found myself speaking with Cathy Cooper, State Transportation and Permits official. She was so friendly and helpful as she gathered the scope of our intended run tour and reason for my asking, “where would be a good and safe place to run ma’am?”
Luckily for me, Cathy was dialed in like nobody’s business and really got what we were planning to do, as it is a cause close to her heart. She lives completely off the grid in a little town just south of Port Angeles and was (as she put it) really keen to follow us along.
So here were, almost 2 years later, breaking bread at Cathy’s daughter, Holly and her husband, Grgor’s and their two amazing girls house in Olympia, just 2 nights ago! Holly contacted the R41P team about a month ago, saying who she was and how much they wanted us to swing through Olympia if at all possible and present to her school, McLane Elementary.
We were booked solid with over distance over distance run days and at first, sadly declined, as we thought there was no way we could get to Olympia to do another presentation with such a tight time line. Well, Holly pulled the ol’ “did you know my Mom is Cathy Cooper” trick and when we realized it was THEE Cathy Cooper, from way long ago routing conversations, we jumped into overdrive, ran extra extra and are thankful to say, ran into Olympia and were greeted (like old friends, as always) by Cathy, Gregor and the kids and their dog and treated to a feast on their patio, complete with warm sunshine and organic beer and fresh Columbia Salmon!
The next morning we were run into Mclean School by 450 incredibly pumped pint-sized eco peeps and peep-ets to do one of our final presentations here in America! They sang us a song for Earth day and to welcome us into their school, where they compost, recycle and are leading by example with stewardship practices, worthy of some serious press!
Never think someone you speak with (2 years previous) can’t help you on your journey, as Cathy Cooper was a shining example almost 2 ½ years ago. And the gifts keep coming by way of another amazing experience with the KIDS, Holly and family and everyone in Olympia who made our too short a stop, magical!
Wow! You two, Matt and Steph (and team ), are living proof
that what you do in the past, does effect the future.
In your case, a good thing 2.5 years ago proves a return of
goodness in the present.
I am stoKed for your return thru Victoria into Vancouver –
may even visit you there for your homecoming. Let’s keep our
( or my ) fingers crossed!
Keith,
Mad hatter’s Running Club Member who ran you into our city
of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Comment by Keith — Sunday, April 26, 2009 @ 1:39 pm