Still Running

A 5K race last Saturday, sponsored by Orthopaedic Sports.
race course on a new section of Gateway in North St. Paul.
Below ... an egret finding breakfast as we ran by.

Lewis & Clark Marathon That Wasn't

Fifteen minutes before marathon race time, I stepped out of the car into dark. 35 mile an hour wind... horizontal rain... pelted through my shirt. Less than a minute later, in a porta potty line, I was drenched to the skin... to the tips of my toes, and I said, "I can't do this."

When Hurricane Andrew hit landfall less than a hundred miles west of New Orleans, we stood on the sidewalk in front of our hotel and leaned into the strong misty wind.
That was nothing like the band of Hurricane IKE that struck St. Charles, Missouri last Sunday morning. This was too much like really being in the hurricane.

We sat in the car near the start line for over an hour before race time, watching the horizontal wind-driven rain beating on cars around us.. in the dark... by the light of the parking lot lights. Volunteers and runners scurried past, their jackets, ponchos, garbage bags whipping in the wind. Even then, I couldn't imagine how insane it would feel to be trying to run in it.

Today the race directors sent out this: (Read about the flooding of the course, the other difficulties in allowing the marathon to go on...)

http://www.fleetfeetstl.com/lewisandclarkmarathon/index.html

Remember Chicago... last October... we ran .. and then they canceled the race??!!
Well, here we go again: lots of stories, bragging rights.. but no official marathon time.

Well, yes, I have been out in wind and rain before... I detasseled corn in Iowa in hard rain, when I was a teenager.
We Three all ran around Bald Eagle Lake (White Bear Lake, MN) .. a 10K in 40 degree rain.... But...
How can I tell you? ... This was a hurricane!

The IKE storm band dumped on our marathon before moving on to Ohio...Note the dark red over St. Louis/ St. Charles area on the radar.

But who knows... maybe we will go to the Lewis & Clark Marathon again next year.. and get Missouri... for our 50 states goal.

A Lot Going On

Running running running.

An occasional race.

A whole lot of family stuff.

Some home fix-up.

Eating Weight Watcher's core foods: lean protein, vegetables, fruit, breakfast oatmeal, a few nuts (no oil added), and a little chunk of dark chocolate.

Hoping for a new federal administration.

Enjoying a little cooler weather.