Mercedes Birmingham Half/Full Marathon

See the flowers and the churches on the race course in the previous 2 posts.

All pictures are clickable to enlarge.

If you want to run a half or full marathon where the organizers and the volunteers know what they are doing, consider this one!!
The expo did not disappoint. Sign in for the races went smoothly.

The children's race on Saturday morning was popular.







Because I remember
growing up in the 50's,
I am delighted to see
girls encouraged to run.




On race morning we parked in a ramp
right at the start/finish.




The course took us from downtown and back into downtown for a delightful view of the city.





We ran by parks..

And more parks...


Mother and daughter had brought their blankets.. and when I aimed the camera at them, they did proud the meaning of enthusiastic spectators!!

Running through various neighborhoods is to experience more of the city.









A grand old house reflected in the side of a new building.



Kids and dogs are great spectators.



In praise of volunteers.. and they were fabulous in Birminham!





Left: technical finisher's shirt

Runners wearing whatever they choose to wear.. check out the pink tutu!

A marathon finisher and her daughter, view the waterfall from just in front of the fountain.


The finish for marathoners... just a slight uphill.. but a fantatic finish at the city park.


Sweet Pea and I ran the half this time.. and were so pleased with the course: once around for the half; twice around for the full... a beautiful course. If we had been running the marathon we would have been happy to run it twice.

For another review of the Birmingham Marathon, see "Don's Make It a Masterpiece" blog.

Birmingham Marathon - Churches on the Race Course

Church archectecture ... old or new, any denomination ... interesting and fascinating!
The Birmingham Marathon race course was rich in variety ... a marvelous tour of the city. Thanks to all who made it possible.

Coming in the next post.. a little about our running of the race... I promise!

NOTE: Previous 2 posts are also pictures from Birmingham.

February Flowers in Birmingham

Future posts:
Birmingham Marathon/Half Marathon
Birmingham churches on the marathon race course
Paducah ice storm

Birmingham, an 1100 mile drive south from St. Paul, was about to burst into spring, and the flowers were starting to appear last weekend.

Birmingham Half/Full Marathon

Details later

First Week of February

Yesterday was a spectacular day! Don's blood tests came out better than last month. He will be posting results on his Myeloma Hope blog ... probably tomorrow.

Sweet Pea and I celebrated the 10 year anniversary of our first Weight Watchers meeting...
In April/May we each will celebrate our 7th anniversary of reaching goal.

Sunset picture by Sweet Pea.
We think this may be a female redpoll. She was flocking with the goldfinches (in their drab winter coats).... except she was quite territorial.

Sweet Pea got all dressed up for running in 40 degree weather at 3:00 this afternoon. I can almost believe spring will come eventually.

Two questions have come to our attention recently.
1. What can I do about my high triglycerides?
2. What is so bad about high-fructose corn syrup?

Today I found both in an extensive article in Life Extension magazine, March 2009, page 90.
This sentence ties the two questions together....

"When high-fructose corn syrup is consumed, blood sugar goes directly to the liver instead of to muscle and fat cells. The liver utilizes the sugar to produce triglycerides."

And a PS to runners: Don't assume that all packaged post-race foods are free of high-fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated fat.

Over last weekend I had a rotten cold, but like most colds, it is fading away. Looking forward to better days! The worst of the cold winter is past.

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)

.

MDRA Annual Meeting

A good day!
MDRA (MN running club) annual meeting today.
Don was one of only 3 men who had run all 13 races of a Grand Prix series last year.. and was awarded a nice MDRA red jacket.

I won, in the door prize drawing, entry fee for Fargo Marathon. I told them we were doing the 50 states.. and had already done that one. So they offered me entry fee for the Victory Race on Labor Day. Good.

Then Don won, in the door prize drawing, entry fee for Grandma's Marathon. As he was coming up to get the certificate... They jokingly asked Don if he had already done MN. He said, Yes, and he was going to run Grandma's !!!!

There weren't a lot of prizes.. we did well. A good day.

This isn't much of a picture.. but there's our guy: A Winner! Should have taken one when he tried on the new red prize jacket.

Shirley at Zoom Ya Ya Marathon

Shirleyperly (see sidebar) flew up from Florida to run the Zoom Ya Ya Marathon at the indoor track at St. Olaf in Northfield. Minnesota is her 41st state.

Shirley was great to watch, smiling, waving. Running negative splits she finished looking strong and speedy.
Snowy Minnesota countryside view from the indoor track.
Marathon was run on the upper track. Some of the time,on the track below, we ran.. and then walked, while shouting cheers to the runners above. Across the space, in front of the windows, you can see the time-keepers... a lap counter from the women's track department for each runner.
Here we are with Shirley, Zoom Ya Ya Marthon finisher!

SEE ALSO:
http://minnesotadon.blogspot.com/

http://humbletriathlete.blogspot.com/