17-Oct-2010 (Status Indeterminate)
Team Challenge went to a10k event in StL, as a rehearsal to what would happen at the half marathon in December. While they were there they set up an information table well outside of the event area, in the middle of a small park near the starting line.
Before the start of the race they were approached by a woman in her mid thirties, athletically fit, with blonde hair. She asked if she could store her jacket under the Team Challenge table. They warned her that they couldn't guarantee that they would be there when she returned, and she said that was understood. She laid her jacket under the table and walked towards the starting line.
The start time drew near and the Team Challenge members left the table and made for the starting line as they were running in the event, and VC stayed behind to man the table. The race started and within 6 minutes all 5,000 participants had funneled through the start gate and ran off into the distance. The crowd that remained ceased to cheer and started to disperse. The park grew near silent.
VC was now alone in the park. Occasionally a supporter of a runner or homeless person would meander through the park, but for the most part it was just him and the trees. About 45 minutes after the start of the race the blonde runner came back.
"I beleive I left something here." she said to him as she approached. She immediately started rooting through the stuff under the table looking for her jacket. She added: "you have a lot of people stuff here." referring to his Team Challenge teammates stuff. VC still hasn't said anything. She found her jacket, stood up and was about to walk away when VC asked if she made a good time. "oh yeaaah." she said without giving any details. That ended their interaction.
She glanced down at the table and spotted the bowls of candy placed around the displays and packets of info about Team Challenge. She says out loud: "if you dont mind." and immediately dives into the candy bowl without making eye contact or pausing for a response. She quickly got her swag and walked off.
VC looked perplexed. I asked him and he recounted: "In addition to [the blonde runner] I talked to 5 homeless people who stopped at the table, as they were walking through the park. Of those 5 people, 4 of them asked for candy. And by asked I mean they said something to the effect of: 'can I get some candy' or 'you giving out candy?' with upward inflection at the end, and then waited for a response. They asked and then waited for a response..." he paused a beat. "I told them yes and brought the bowls to them so that they could take some candy. They all took about 3 or 4 fun sized candies and thanked me." a beat. "Of the 4 who took candy, 2 of them donated money to Team Challenge."
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