Tikkabik

The Falmouth Road Race is an annual event that draws runners from all around the world. Each year we help out by volunteering as representatives of our kids' preschool. They receive some sort of honorarium for the help, which is great, because the preschool is a co-op and parents are supposed to do whatever they can to help out and make ends meet.

Anyway, today (Sunday) was that day. We got down there about fifteen minutes before the race started and cleaned up the main road where all the runners assemble at the starting line. We and our kids were armed with gloves and trash bags, and grabbed every piece to litter strewn on the side of the road.

Some of what the runners toss aside is quite remarkable. Amidst endless water bottles and energy drink containers, wrappers of energy bars and other assorted detritus, we found a few sweaters, sweatshirts and t-shirts that runners had balled up and tossed the second the starting shot was sounded.

This year was an easy cleanup -- the race started at 10 and we were on our way home by 11. Woods Hole in Falmouth is where the race starts -- one of our favorite spots anywhere on Cape Cod, and one that we bring just about anyone who pays us a visit. The weather was gorgeous, too. It's sunny and in the 70s with a light, pleasant breeze. A perfect day to be outside, cheering and clapping for the thousands of runners that make up the Falmouth Road Race.