January Review

Today we ran on the indoor track... again! Each of us put in 3 hours .. our long run in training for Don to do a marathon and Sweet Pea and me to do a half.
Mostly the weather has been pretty crappy... below zero for days at a time.. and whenever it warmed up just a little we were blessed with another dump of snow and ice.
But on just a couple of mornings we had frosty trees (see below) that sparkled in the sun.

ShirleyPerly came here from Florida to run the Zoom Ya Ya Marathon on the indoor track at St. Olaf in Northfield. She is one energized, cheerful fabulous athlete. Watching her run.. enjoying her cheering us back... was an inspiring highlight.

Don was one of only 3 recognized for running all 13 Grand Prix races. The day before the final one, we drove all the way back from the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and Half Marathon the day before.

Below are the 5K runners, bundled up in sub-zero temps to run the St. Paul Winter Carnival race. (It is harder to run when you are dressed in all the thermal stuff you own.) The half marathon was cut in half, due to the temps.
That's us, all 3 of us ... behind this camera, up in the warm sky-way. Ha.

We thought the cup for registered runners was especially fitting this year. Yes, we did register, just in case it was warm enough to run, and in order to get our cups.

Oh yes, and my 70th birthday was this month. Don, the Sweetie, arranged for a lot of friends to send e-mail greetings. It feels pretty good to be alive. It feels pretty good that Don is still alive! My Dad had died of leukemia when my Mom turned 70. Those were difficult times for her.
I still get age group awards in marathons and have pretty good health. I am blessed and I cherish life.

And yes, and January 20, 2009:
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA

(We survived... barely... the Bush)

.