Jingle Bell Run - More Tunnels!

Lyndi, Me, Claudia

I worry about Kansas City. So far I’ve run in two races through tunnels under the city. I have visions of the whole place falling down into the trenches just like in the movie “Paint Your Wagon”. Though I didn’t realize it was an underground race until I was on my way to the big city I’m always glad for the chance to participate in a new interesting venue.

Claudia brought this run to my attention and of course I jumped at the opportunity to support the Jingle Bell Run for the Arthritis Foundation. I recruited my daughter and the the three of us met on Sunday to run/walk our way through the tunnels.

If you have never seen been in one of these old limestone mines it is something to see. First off, they are huge! You don’t feel like you are underground at all. The walking surface is paved and the place is very well lit. This was Claudia’s first time in the tunnels and was a little apprehensive but soon settled into enjoy the ride. It really is more like running in a shopping mall than anything else. The only downside to this

We are all on the Light side of the Force today.

run is how incredibly hot and stuffy it got back away from the entrance. The temperature difference had to be at least 20 degrees, going from 60 to 80 in the space of a few short turns.

This run had a little bit of everything and was a real party atmosphere. DJ blasting, Star Wars characters, unlimited Krispy Kreme Donuts, after run pizza, photo booths, just about everything to make it a fun day for runners and support crew alike.

We started running for the first minute. That was about it. We walked and talked the entire rest of the two-loop course. The miles and time fly by when you spend it with wonderful friends and before you know it we were done and receiving our finisher medals. I have no idea of our time and I really don’t care. I’m glad Claudia hung back with us because I know how hard it is to hold back when you are a real runner. My daughter Lyndi and I are mostly walkers so for us it was perfect.

We hugged and grabbed some pizza and donuts and headed home. Another run in the books and another tunnel run to add to the list of unusual venues. As far as I know Kansas City is the only area that hosts not one, but two tunnel runs. Let’s hope the place doesn’t fall down any time soon!

Into the Tunnels we go!

Love doing events with my daughter!

Pumpkin Pie and Humble Pie

I’m slow and I know it. But sometimes I can’t help the competitive spirit that jumps out from time to time. A perfect example was at the Satanta Pumpkin Run last Saturday. It’s a run to help stock the food pantry at the local church and awards finishers with pumpkin pie, hot cocoa, and a neat mug. But my pumpkin pie was served with a dose of humble pie. Let me explain.

Emory

In our area there is a group of runners known as South West Fun Time Runners, or SWFTR for short. I’m a proud lifetime member and although there are really no formal activities the group does own a clock and takes it to area events for timing purposes. The group mainstays are Marc and Emory. Marc is a good runner in his 60s and has battled through cancer in the past few years. He’s a great guy and it’s always good to see him at a race. Emory is, well, how shall I put this, a character. Think Duck Dynasty and you have a good picture of what he looks like. He’s in his 50s and has lived a hard life but loves to run despite bad knees, bad back, and lots of other health issues. He’s got a strange running style to say the least and is slowing down with each year. He’s run all over the country and just enjoys being part of the action. And when Emory was at a race there was at least one person I knew I could beat.

Until this race.

Humble Pumpkin Pie

It was a really cold morning and I had my plan all set in my head: walk 2:15 - run :45 - repeat. I knew I was in trouble when the pack pulled out from the start, and Emory jumped out to a block lead in no time. He was walking but he walks at a pretty good clip. I was sure I would catch him on the run segments of my plan, but no, I didn’t make up much ground because my walk is much slower than his. At the end of the first mile I was still about a good block behind him.

The second mile didn’t get any better. I was keeping to my plan and feeling good, but wasn’t gaining any ground on Emory. As we started the third mile I was having to face the possibility that I might not beat him and I was not happy. It’s kind of been a joke to myself that the day Emory beats me is the day I hang up my sneakers. Could this be the day? God, I hoped not.

Then Emory started to slow. He was walking a little slower and I was able to catch him with about ¾ of a mile to go. We stayed together for a few intervals, me pulling slightly ahead on my run but him catching up to me on the walk. We talked and visited and he admitted that he walks much faster than he runs and was just going to stick with that strategy. Hey, it was working for him pretty well as far as I could see. Near the end of the race I was pulling a little more ahead and did end up beating him by about 20 yards.

Always making new friends!

I barely beat Emory. That’s a hard sentence to say to myself. But the truth is I have been feeling better and my run intervals have been getting longer. I know I can’t train hard and don’t really want to anyway. I shaved 45  off my time from the Legacy Run. I just didn’t think of myself in the same category as Emory.

But that category isn’t so bad. We both have worked our way through physical problems and we refuse to quit! That’s not a bad thing at all. We’ll both keep showing up at events and enjoy the ride as much as we can. So I guess if Emory beats me next time I’ll just chalk it up to “S**t happens” and go on to the next race with a little more humility and determination to keep moving, no matter what life throws at me.

They treat their runners right!

I let my Hubby have the pumpkin pie (his favorite) and I enjoyed the hot cocoa. The humble pie was bittersweet but the company of people at the event was wonderful. What more can a person ask for on a cold Saturday morning.

Leave a Legacy Run - a Return to Running (sort of)

Who do you run for? In the Legacy Spirit 5K this past week I ran for my dad and brother, both who were taken by cancer. This annual run supports the local cancer center and their work providing support to patients and their families. This year there were almost 700 entrants making it the largest event in western Kansas by far.

For my dad and brother, both taken by cancer.

My knee has been feeling so much better now that I’m only working it once a week. That seems to be the limit of my joints ability to function without too much discomfort. With that in mind, I made a plan to add some running into my 5K walk. The plan was to walk 2:30 seconds and then run for :30. That seemed doable. The goal was to finish without trashing my knee, not to meet a specific pace or beat a certain time.

The morning was typical October crisp, meaning it was downright nippy at 45 degrees. At least the wind was not blowing so we didn’t have to worry about wind chill. I met my friends before the run and we compared our race plans. Of course, Amber being Amber, decided to run even though she isn’t cleared by her doctor. Stacy is recently back to running after surgery, and Claudia (Yes, Claudia!!) was going to try the 10K even though she is battling a few medical issues of her own. Wow! We are a sad sack bunch of runners!

It was crowded at the start and hard to find a clear path to run but I zigged and zagged my way to the clear. My first two walk/run segments went well and my knee felt pretty good with hardly any limp at all. Another lady ran up to me and said “It looks like you have a plan, do you mind if I stick with you?” That’s what these events are about. Meeting new friends and sharing the ride. So I shared my plan and she was onboard. That also meant I had to STICK TO THE PLAN!

Claudia, Amber, Staci, and I. Love these girls!

My new friend Pat and I exchanged information during the walk sections and kept up a nice pace during the run. Before we knew it we turned the corner for the last three blocks to the finish. I never once looked at our pace or the overall time, just the minutes of running and walking. I felt fantastic! I wasn’t tired and my knee didn’t ache. Pat and I hugged and congratulated ourselves on finishing in style. My time, it turns out, was the fastest for me in over a year and a half. What a pleasant surprise!

While this run is dedicated to those fighting cancer, I mark this as my anniversary of my diagnosis and start of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Four years ago I used this race as my declaration of defiance against this disease and my determination to keep moving no matter what. I may have had to adjust my activities, but I think I have succeeded at thumbing my nose at my disease and following my vow to change the meaning of RA from Rheumatoid Arthritis to Run Anyway. It hasn't always been easy, but I am moving, and that's winning the battle!

Kate, Amber, and I sparkle in our Tiaras!

A Funny Thing Happened During Triathlon Season…

It’s been a long busy six months with lots of ups and down, aches and pains, and good news and bad. But the most unexpected outcome of all was after competing in a five week long series of triathlons my troublesome knees is actually feeling better than it has in months.

Flash back to the end of January when I did the GroundHog run with my daughter and granddaughters. My knee was in agony at that time and showed no sign of getting better. At my next rheumatology appointment in February I begged for a steroid shot to get me through. I couldn’t bend or straighten my knee and when I stood on my right leg it felt like the joint was filled with razor wire. The shot relieved the pain and I slowly tried to strengthen my muscles. All was well for about six weeks, then the pain returned. I finally was able to see my orthopedist in May and received another steroid shot. Blessed relief! I was able to ride Kandango in June and was looking forward to ramping up my triathlon practice in preparation for the intense five week long season through the month of August, a full year after my initial surgery for a torn meniscus.

Racing for a Cure - Always! (Love my
blinged out equipment bucket!)

That’s were my plans went off the tracks. The steroid shot wore off after only 4 weeks, a sure sign that this method of coping would not last much longer. By the first of July the pain was back and all the ice baths in the world were not going to help. I couldn’t sleep because of the pain, I couldn’t stand for very long, and getting up from the floor was out of the question. I resorted to using a cane to get around the house at night. My physical therapist and I started working on pain management techniques and range of motion exercises. Our goal was to help me get to the next steroid shot that I couldn’t get before the end of August. I was riding and swimming almost every day but walking only sparingly.

Starting the last weekend in July and continuing each weekend until Labor Day was my triathlon season consisting of four out of five races in the Triple Threat Tri Series and finishi

ng with the Tiara Tri in El Dorado. After missing all of last year I didn’t want to miss this year as well. But the therapy wasn’t working and the pain was starting to wear me down. No sleep made me grumpy and hurting all the time was sucking the life out of me. I had no idea how I was going to get through the next month. I was counting down the days until my next shot like a steroid junky.

The first race was the Arkansas Trails Triathlon. It features a perimeter swim around the Big Pool and a four mile trail run along the river. I finished surprisingly well. That translates to “I didn’t pass out along the way.” The morning was cool with a light rain but we managed. The most dramatic thing to happen was my goggles cracking in two at the bridge of my nose at the beginning of the swim so I had to back stroke most of the way. I managed to finish 2nd in my age group - only 2 of us! - but was still happy with my pace. I felt pretty good after the race and was surprised that I wasn’t sore or walking with a limp. Seems my knees handled the stress pretty well.

Finishing with a smile.

I started back to work the next day and with the hectic pace of getting the school year off and running I wasn’t able to ride and swim but once that week. The next race was the Lagoonathon in Dodge City at the Longbranch Lagoon water park. It was another cold dreary morning but we swam, rode, and ran anyway. The other lady in my age group, Traci W. took first overall so I was bumped up to 1st in the old lady division. Woo Hoo! Again, I felt pretty good after the race and noticed that my knee didn’t hurt as bad even a few days later. Hmmmmm. Maybe I was on to something.

The third race was the Holcomb Triathlon. This one will be remembered as the race where Traci crashed going around a corner and ended up in the hospital. She is an expert cyclist but just happened to catch some gravel as she was leaning into the turn. That’s all it took to send her to the hospital with a few fractures and lots of scrapes and bruises. I hurriedly packed up after the race and went to the hospital to sit with her until her husband could get there. He was at his own race 200 miles away. But again, I noticed that I didn’t hurt as much, not even at night. I could bend my knee more and could stand without pain.

With the hectic pace of my job and grandkids I didn’t even manage a short ride the next week. I would have to count on my previous training to get me through.The fourth race was the Cimarron Reverse Triathlon, where you do the disciplines in reverse order: run-bike-swim. I actually like this format and bettered my pace in both the run (walk for me) and the swim. And again, I didn’t hurt. The range of motion in my knee was getting much better and although it wasn’t 100% it was considerably better. So much better in fact that I didn’t think I’d need the steroid injection at all! Even by the middle to end of the week I was still feeling OK.

That brings me to the Tiara Tri. This was the 4th year I had done this race and love the “women only” aspect and the crown they put on your head at the end is a neat plus for me. Amber M., who is recovering from her own foot surgery, and Kate H. were doing the race with me. We had so much fun talking and laughing. Amber has never swam in a lake before so I know what anxiety she was feeling. Plus, her orthopedist told her she was not supposed to run. We were going to walk this thing together and finish with a tiara and a smile.

Kate was amazing as always and smashed the bike ride. Amber has been really practicing her swim and cruised through the water with ease. I struggled in the water but had a pretty good ride, passing lots of slower riders. I knew I had to really push the ride since I was walking the rest of the event. I saw Kate near the front of the pack on the out and back run. She looked strong and smooth. Then I saw Amber. She was running! I called out to her and said, “Hey, no running!” Her response? “I’m not running, I’m jogging!” Somehow that made sense to her. I just shook my head and kept walking.

3rd place in my age group!

When all was said and done, Kate finished 16th over all but with more entries in her age division than any other she was 6th in her group. Amber, who turned in a blazing time for someone who hasn’t run a step in over 8 months, finished 4th in her age group. Her long transitions made the difference between placing and not.  I finished with a better pace than expected but ended up 61st out of 69 overall. Not too impressive. BUT, because there were only 4 in my age division and the fastest placed 3rd overall, I was bumped up to 3rd. Woo Hoo! Truth be told, of the 4 in my division the top two placed 3rd and 5th overall! Not too shabby for older gals. The bottom two finished within 2 minutes so I wasn’t so far behind 2nd place. That makes me feel a lot better.

And again, my knee feels pretty darn good. I have an appointment with my ortho later in the week but I don’t feel I need a steroid shot at all. Am I feeling better because I’m only working out once, sometimes twice a week? Is it the combination of swim-bike-run that is working to make my knee better? Have I just been pushing too hard? That’s what we’ll be discussing at my appointment. I’m going with a combination of all three. I’m just thankful the pain is manageable and my mobility is returning. I still can’t run, but day to day activities are much more enjoyable.

My triathlon season is over and I’m so glad we have so many opportunities to compete in our area. The Triple Threat Series brings all the SW Kansas triathletes closer together. The Tiara Tri will always be my favorite, not just for the crown, but for the fun and joy of sharing the event with my good friends. That’s what puts the sparkle in the tiara.

Groundhog Run, Family Style

My fellow Groundhogs!

Running hasn’t been my thing lately. After knee surgery for a torn meniscus in August I just haven’t gotten back into the groove. My good knee is not happy and my bad knee is still not back to normal so running has turned into walking, which has turned into not much motivation at all. I needed a way to jump start my routine and get me moving again.

What better way to get things moving then to sign up for a race, and raise some money for the Arthritis National Research Foundation through the Racing For A Cure team. I knew just the run I needed to do. For the fourth consecutive year I participated in the TLC Groundhog Run in an underground mine/storage facility and designated that as my fundraising event for the year. To make the most of my day since I would be walking most of the route I invited my daughter Lyndi and granddaughters Grace and Tara to keep me company.

Two to three times a week I hopped on the treadmill, going a little further each time. The goal was to not stress my knees as they slowly recovered but to still build some strength and endurance. By race day I was confident I could do the walk without aggravating my tendons and joints.

As race day neared two friends also planned to make the trip into the tunnels. Stacey K. and Kate H. were joining me for the trip to Kansas City. Life always has a way of messing with the best laid plans and Stacey had to pull out at the last minute for a family emergency. So Kate and I picked up Lyndi, Grace, and Tara and headed to Kansas City.

It’s always fun when my running friends get together. Throw two rambunctious girls in the mix and the

So proud of these two sweethearts!

fun really begins. Grace is 10 years old and has completed one other 5K run. Tara is 7 and really had no idea what she was getting into and no concept of how long it would take to walk 3 miles. We planned to walk the entire route but Tara and Grace started out running ahead, then waiting for us to catch up. That lasted about one mile. Then they started to tucker out. Tara offered to just sit down and wait for us to come back to get her, which wasn’t an option since we were in a mine with no way to get back to her. Grace developed a side stitch and was none too happy to have to walk her way through that pain. But they didn’t give up. They kept on going. When we rounded the last corner and heard the music playing at the finish line they knew they had made it. We were some of the last to finish the 5K but that doesn’t matter to me. We finished as a family and the girls learned that they can do more than they think they can, even finishing a long long walk when they would have rather stopped.

I learned that spending time on physical activities is the best medicine for curing lack of motivation. It’s gotten me moving again and looking forward to the next challenge. I still have to let me knees heal so I can’t get too crazy but I am ready to tackle a little more distance. When my knees are better I’ll start throwing in some running intervals. It may take a long time, but I’ll get there if I just keep going.

A totally unique place to run. 

As for Kate, she tackled the 10K and smashed her personal best by over 2 minutes! I like to remind her that not so many years ago she told me she couldn’t run well. She is another inspirational person to me because she never lets the belief that she can’t do something stop her from doing it anyway! I am so blessed to be surrounded by positive people who lift me up and drag me to a better place.

My fundraising efforts were also a success as I raised almost $1,000 for the ANRF. May they use the money to fund the scientist or doctor that will find a cure or better treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis. My granddaughters are already talking about doing another 5K. The family that runs together, finished together!

Kandango K2r

What an adventure! I biked, laughed, made new friends, and learned some life lessons along the highways of central Kansas. I learned it’s a small world, there are some wonderful people in that world, and sometimes you have to let the world go on while you sit this one out. 

I ALMOST had the flashiest jersey that day.

Kandango K2r is a three and a half day ride starting in Hays and ending in the little town of Brookville. It passes by  typical Kansas farm ground,  lots of beautiful churches, and along some of the lesser traveled highways in the area. Small towns dot the route and buses and trucks carry gear to the next overnight stop on the tour.  It sounded like a great time so Kate, Amber, and I signed up and started making plans. Maybe actually training on my bike should have been one of them. 

I’ve not been comfortable in the saddle for some time so I bought a new seat thinking that would help. It did, but not much. Long rides of over 20 miles were not fun and my, shall we say, lady parts were really not happy. I thought more miles would toughen me up so I just kept riding, but the longest ride I managed was only 38 miles. Oh well, that would have to do. I would rely on adrenaline and good company to get me through.

The ride started with meeting at the end town of Brookville and leaving my car there so it would be there for me on the last day. From that point we were to load our gear on a bus and ride to Hays. Kate and some of her friends she rides with were to meet there and Amber was meeting us in Hays. While I waited for Kate I met some wonderful ladies and we started the get-to-know-you process. I truly believe it’s a small world and there is a connection between everyone. It’s the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon phenomenon.  Mary, Cindy, Margaret, and another Patty were so friendly. Soon Kate and her friends Ann and Barbara showed up. Two new friends to add to the mix. Soon the Sandstone Saloon (home base for the ride) was packed with people and chaos was the rule as we loaded bikes and bags and grabbed a quick lunch before heading to Hays. Truly one of the best parts of going to any event like this is meeting so many nice people. 

At Hays we got stowed in the hotel and passed up the first half day ride because Kate and I had done

The churches were beautiful.

this particular route before and we wanted to save our energy for the next day’s 58 mile ride. PLUS the wind was blowing at 20 mph and it was 90 degrees and I’m a pretty big wimp. Those who did the ride said it was brutal but the tailwind back into town was great.

Amber, Kate, Ann and I met at 7:00am for the Friday ride. The forecast of hot and windy wasn’t welcome but it is what it is and you make the best of things. There was a lot of confusion about what color string to tie on your bags to get them to the right destination. After getting three different answers I opted for a brown string. It’s a simple system but somehow it got very complicated. We took a lot of pictures and then climbed on our bikes and headed out. Amber and I had already decided to take all the shortcuts we could because neither of us was properly prepared for this ride. Amber is a runner and bikes just enough to get by in a triathlon. 

The miles flew by and we stopped and looked at the churches in the area. Breakfast was in Victoria and somehow riding makes food taste amazing! The next leg of the route was 11 miles out and back, straight into the wind. We hadn’t planned on doing this but seeing everyone else head that direction made me think we could do it too. I was wrong. After peddling what seemed like hours I told Amber I was ready to stop and head back to Victoria. When we turned around I couldn’t believe how close we still were to town! We had only gone 3 miles! Pathetic. But we turned around and enjoyed a too brief tailwind ride back to Victoria.

Most of the ride was crosswind so the rest was relatively easy and we arrived in Russell in time for a late lunch. Amber and I camped out at a Subway shop and cooled off and relaxed. Kate and Ann were doing the route that I wimped out on so they would be doing 16 more miles then us. We found them as they pulled into the hotel and we went to Sonic to get slushy cold drinks and relax. Then the fun began. 

Before and after with Amber!

When we got to the hotel Kate and I had no luggage. Figures. The confusion about the color of string to use sent our bags elsewhere. I called the emergency number and Shannon “Marshal Taco” came to help us and a few others look for our bags. We piled into the car and soon found out that Shannon and I have a few mutual friends. It’s that small world thing again. We found some of the bags at the other hotel and mine at the campground. My bike pump was AWOL but I somehow knew it would show up eventually. Then it was back to the hotel to clean up for the BBQ that evening. By “evening” I mean 5:00. Most cyclists go to bed early so they can ride at the crack of dawn and miss some of the heat and wind later in the day. Everyone was still in good spirits and looking forward to the next day. It was scheduled for 79 miles but if you didn’t take the extra loop it would be more like 62. There was a century option but because of the high heat and wind they were discouraging anyone from going that distance. We made our plans and picked up Kirsten, a solo rider we had met earlier in the day. It was off to bed and an early alarm so we could head out at 6:00am. 

By the time we hit the road it was 6:20. Kate, Amber, Ann, Barbara, Kirsten and I started out with

On the road before sunrise.

Cindy, Margaret, Mary, and the other Patty riding just behind us. We had fun along the way riding beside different people, visiting and passing the time. The miles started piling up and my discomfort in the saddle started ratcheting up as well. I had to stand up quite a bit and took every chance to get off my bike. I was not having a good time and cringed every time I had to put my bottom back on the saddle.

Then the road got bad. I mean really bad. As in it looked like they spread out the new asphalt but didn’t bother to smooth it down.  A rocky gravel road might have been smoother. Ten miles of this pounding had me in tears. I couldn’t stand up to peddle the entire way and sitting was agony. Add some hills, high winds, and rising heat and I was failing fast. We made it to Ellsworth. Looking at the map I knew we had 26 miles to go, and 20 of them would be over very tough big rolling hills. My heart sank. This day was going to suck. 

Barbra, Kirsten, Kate, Ann, Amber, and I at Kanopolis.

The next stop was Kanopolis and a really good Mexican food restaurant. We sat and cooled off and prepared ourselves for the final 20 miles of big hills complete with one lane road construction just to make it interesting. I warned the girls that I was going to be slow, stopping at the top of every hill. And then, like a sign from God, one of the buses pulled up outside the restaurant. It reminded me of the story about the devout man drowning in a lake. A rowboat came along and the men asked him if he needed help. The drowning man replied that God would save him and waved them away. As he stood at the gates of heaven he asked God “Why didn’t you save me?”  God replied “I sent men in a rowboat, what more did you need?”  I looked at Kirsten, who was struggling like me and said maybe we could take the bus back. The other Patty heard me and the three of us knew we were to get on that bus.

It was at once the easiest and hardest decision to make. I’ve never given up on a race or ride because of my physical abilities. Mechanical difficulty, yes, but never because I just couldn’t do what was in front of me. It wasn’t even my RA that was holding me back. My body joints felt as good as I could hope for. But I could not put my seat back in that saddle for another mile. I felt bad leaving the group. I wanted to finish this challenge. Quitting doesn’t sit well with me at all. But I know the difference between aches and pain and this was pain. I had to stop.

Patty, Kirsten and I got on the bus with several other people and headed down the road to Brookville.

Celebrating with a (root) beer.

We looked ahead at the road we would not be riding and knew we had made the right decision. It hurt deep inside and it was all I could do to not let the tears fall. For the first time in my life I wasn’t going to finish.

We three waited at the Sandstone Saloon for the rest to finish and prayed they would make it safely. As they rolled in and celebrated their accomplishment I was happy for them but dying inside. Failure is new to me and it doesn’t sit well in my stomach. 

There is no hotel at Brookville so buses again shuttled riders to the next overnight stop, Salina. The last ride was 44 miles from Salina back to Brookville in a roundabout route.  Since my car was in Brookville I drove to Salina and would leave for home from there the next morning. Amber and I had already decided we were not riding Sunday so missing that ride didn’t bother me. I totaled 86 miles for the two days but will always remember that I’m 20 miles short of where I should have been. But the blood on my chamois let me know I made the right decision. 

Cindy, Margaret, Amber, Ann, Kate, Kirsten, Mary, Patty, Patty, and Barbara

This ride will be remembered for a long time. I met so many wonderful people, many of whom I now call friends. I learned that sometimes the road gets rough and you just have to make the best of it. I’ve learned that my body isn’t entirely mine to control and when it says stop, I must stop.  I learned that God does work in mysterious ways. That bus was like the rowboat to the drowning man. Divine intervention at its best! Until next time, happy riding.

My friend, Wonder Woman!

Bolder Boulder 2016 - A Wild Whirlwind Weekend with Wonder Woman

Amber M. texted me on Friday - “I was just running along out in the country and TORNADO!!” That was the wild start to a fun filled, action packed, unforgettable weekend adventure at the Bolder Boulder 10K Memorial Day run in Boulder, Colorado.  

We left for Boulder at noon on Sunday riding in my Mustang and talking a mile a minute. We were to meet Amber’s cousins in Denver then head on to Boulder. They were all very welcoming and we learned that several of the cousins were planning to participate in the run the next morning. We made plans to meet up and hit the road.

Thanks to my trusty navigation system we arrived exactly where we needed to and checked into the hotel. Imagine our surprise when we entered our hotel room to find the previous occupants had not left yet. Back down to the desk to get a different room, this one unoccupied, and off to bed for the night. Our wave didn’t start until 8:00 and we were just a block from the starting line so there was no need for an early wakeup call.

Trampoline champion.

Bolder Boulder 10K is one of the premier 10K races in the nation with over 50,000 participants and divisions for runners from elite down to walking, military, and a special wheelchair division. Lots of runners wear costumes and Amber transformed into Wonder Woman. She is considerably faster than me but since she had just run a half marathon the week before (Wonder Woman is perfect for her!) she opted to start with me and let me set the pace. I warned her in advance that I was going to take my time and enjoy the day. The bugle called us to the starting line and we were off.  My first chance for fun was less than a half mile into the run. How could I resist the opportunity to jump on a trampoline? I didn’t even try. I just got in line and bounced my way to the other side, feeling like a kid again and loving it!

Anything for a donut.

Next up, slip-n-slide! Amber got good and wet and we were off and running again. But what was that up ahead? Donuts! I have been known to walk 10 miles for donuts (my long walks on weekends to the donut shop) so I had to have one. Let’s just say it wasn’t a fresh Daylight Donut but I appreciated the thought.

The neighborhoods really go all out and there is music and snacks and activities all along the route. I took my turn at a slip-n-slide, Amber jammed with Elvis, and we both got a chance to wiggle and jiggle with the belly dancers. We passed up jumping into the swimming pool and some of the more unusual treats (marshmallows and grapes tossed at you and cotton candy seemed a little too risky) but I did snag some bacon and Amber did a Jello Shot with a group of fellow superheroes.

Belly Dancing!

I was having a ball and even running some but the altitude was getting to me and I couldn’t catch my breath. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it. With just over a mile to go Amber pulled a little ahead and when she turned to look for me I waved her on. She took off like a shot and blasted through the last mile like that tornado from a few days ago was right on her tail. I tried to conserve my energy so I could run the final lap around Folsom Field. When all was said and done I had run the 10K in 1:37:48, but that doesn’t take away from all the fun and memories I’ll have of this fun unique experience.

After pizza and a pop (beer was available but not my thing) we wandered around until Amber’s cousins finished and met them in the stands. Probably the most frustrating part of the run was trying to get to the buses, then trying to figure out where to get off. Turns out we missed the stop we needed and had a 1.5 mile walk to the hotel ahead of us. That should have been an omen for the rest of the day.

We missed checkout time at the hotel so decided to skip the real shower and just hose ourselves off

Slip sliding away.

a little. We were out of the room in 10 minutes flat. I didn’t look too spiffy but I don’t think spending an hour trying to get pretty would have made much difference. We headed back to Denver to meet my sister Sandra and her friend Kara, both members of my Running Friends group. My navigation system took us right to the front door and we had a lovely lunch. I love it when members of our group meet in person.

It was time to head home but this time Navigation and I had a disagreement about which way to go. I wanted to stay south of Denver and my car wanted me to go north up to the interstate again. I have no idea what happened but we spent the next half an hour looping around shopping plazas and making u-turns in parking lots. At one point I could swear we were headed south when we were actually headed back north again. It took forever to get on the road and I was getting frustrated. We were going to get home much later than planned and it was all my fault. Stupid navigation system.

When we were finally on the road out of the city we both felt our

Always having fun and always smiling.

muscles tightening up. That’s the hazard of driving long distances after a race. Amber banged her knee on the slip-n-slide and I just hurt in general after a race. We talked and talked and didn’t really check the weather until we we were ready to head south. That’s when we noticed the dark menacing clouds coming up on us fast. We popped up the weather apps on our phones and the radar looked pretty scary. Should we wait it out? Take a different highway? Make a run for it? A few quick calls to our hubbies and they left the decision up to us. I had the Mustang and I really didn’t want to get any hail damage but to go the long way around would add almost an hour to our trip and we really wanted to get home. I thought I could get to the next town ahead of the storm but we would have to book it. 

My hands clinched the steering wheel, my foot mashed the gas and we headed down the highway. It makes you feel a little uneasy when there is absolutely no one else on the highway except you and the storm chasers. The wind was blowing tumbleweeds across the road and the Mustang was flying. Now my arms and hands were as tense as the rest of my body. We made it to the next town and made the turn and hauled tail to get ahead of the storm. We were getting regular updates on our phones but I still didn’t breath easier until we were out from under the storm clouds. It was good to get home and pry my fingers off the wheel.

We were home again in less than 36 hours from start to finish. A whirlwind trip complete with running, fun, friends, and storms. A wild run to get away from a tornado started the weekend and we finish with a mad dash to outrun a storm. Bolder Boulder will stand out as an amazing race but the entire weekend was a whirlwind of activity. Sandra, thanks for having us for lunch and thanks Amber, for hanging back with me for the fun and sharing a wild weekend I’ll never forget.