OBX Marathon North Carolina

I loved the beach.

OBX Sunday

Sweet Pea and I ran the first 15 miles of the marathon... the best 15!
Through neighborhoods, shade, plus about 2 miles on a dirt road (very hilly) in woods (shade). Late Saturday when we drove the course, that wooded road seemed deserted and a little threatening. When we ran it in the race the next morning, it was not nearly as scary in the middle of the day.. with a couple of groups of spectators plus a water stop.... delightful shade.

Water stops were still working when we came along, spectators far more plentiful than we expected. We weren't last. A course officials assured us that we were keeping the pace to make the bridge.

When we got out on the highway with no shade Sweet Pea and I were both "done"! I want to stop, she said. I was not eager to blast our skin in blazing sun at this latitude even after fall solstice.
We got a lovely ride over a couple more long amazing bridges to the finish where Don had just finished (Good job Don!)

My knee is still fragile, but I think I quit in time.
Also, because of my knee Sweet Pea and I had not managed to get in a long run in training. Good reasons to know when to quit.

Early this morning we got to ride the shuttle (school) bus to the start with Don and have the hour together before the start.

We have no medal, no "time" but we are delighted.
We ran an unofficial half marathon.. Plus!
And had very good day.
Don got his 24th state and had a fun time running, chatting with other runners and taking a huge number of pictures with his phone camera.

Be sure to check out Don's
Make It a Masterpiece entry.

Trail Robbery

On the afternoon of October 27, when we were on Gateway Trail, a couple of young men robbed a Maplewood man who was walking there.
A man on a bicycle stopped, phoned police, stayed until police came.

The item in the St. Paul Pioneer Press did not indicate where on the 18 mile trail the incident occurred. Perhaps it was in the urban end of the trail, but it intrudes on our pleasure of the trail.

Beautiful Day on the Gateway Trail

Yesterday... a 15 mph breeze and temp in the mid-50's.
Sweet Pea and I logged 9 miles.

When rainful almost wasn't at all in September, the media said we would have a mostly yellow and not very colorful fall. This month rain has showed up some, and this week the oaks have come through in grand fashion.

Most wooly caterpillers made it across the trail.

In some places deep in leaves, even the trail was colorful.

A new friendly traveler on the trail

A sliver of harvest moon as we neared our car.

Really swell half marathon finisher's medals from the Denver races on October 18

Remembering Denver

The parks, the fall color... a lovely half marathon

Good memories of Denver, the race, the drive out and back ...
make energy for the workouts at the community center, now that winter seems to have struck Minnesota!

Denver Half Marathon

That's Sweet Pea on the right ... far right, at the side of the first picture. In the second picture I don't know the identity of the runners.
Snow on the Rockies! Fabulous experience to look out over the parks, past the buildings and see SNOW on the mountains ... especially on a record hot day.
Denver high temp on Sunday tied the all time record of 84 degrees.
My knee is holding up. I taped it according to my therapist's instructions.
Sweet Pea was slowed down by some calf pain that should be less if she tries other shoes.
We had a great run, a great trip to Denver.
And the Denver Marathon awards fabulous finisher's medals!

Be sure not to miss the Denver Marathon report on Make It a Masterpiece.

Columbus Day 3 inch Snow

Same tree pictured in the previous post.. but 2 days later.

I ran for 30 seconds yesterday, and my knee felt magically totally normal for the first time since I crashed it in a race nearly 6 months ago. It DIDN'T hurt, and I am so ready to run.

We drove through the snow to get some groceries this morning... and there were rows and rows of Christmas lights and decorations. What month is this again?

Snow Ready or Not

Ah, but in the afternoon the sun came out.

74th Wedding Anniversary

A family gathering for Don's parents' 74th.
Thanks to the bakery woman at Mount Royal Fine Foods in Duluth for a lovely job on the cake decorating.

Moon Over TCM

Spectacular full moon over Minneapolis as runners gathered at the Metrodome for the Twin Cities Marathon


We had the delicious opportunity to drive Runner Dude to the start in Minneapolis and pick him up at the finish in downtown St. Paul. While he was running the marathon, we ran 5 miles on Gateway Trail (yes, of course my knee hurts) and made a couple of stops at home. Sweet Pea brought him a hot latte.
Afterward we made him blueberry pancakes (Pamela's gluten free pancake mix) with an egg fried in macadamia oil on the side.

Journey of the Knee

Today, my little half hour with the manual therapist went well.

Through this whole 5 month odyssey with knee injury, this is the first person who expressed interest my actual running. As I ran on a treadmill, she pointed out several accommodations I am making because of the pain. I am hopeful that I can run more efficiently and with less pain.

The first sports doctor I saw seemed to me to be angry and his referral to a therapist was strictly to assign exercises.
The current referral is for a manual therapist which, by title does imply something more. The hands on therapy is theraputic and instructive.

Two days ago in the 5K race, the pain that bothered most was some IT band pain. Today's session may help. Too bad I can't get another appointment for a month.

Hope springs eternal. I love the walk/running I do with Sweet Pea, and don't want to give it up.

Thanks for all the good comments and caring.


It is apple time in the yard of some family members.