A LITTLE STORY ABOUT DELAWARE

DECEMBER MEANS DELAWARE. IT WAS OFF TO REHOBOTH BEACH FOR STATE NUMBER 35.  I TRAVELED THRU BALTIMORE FOR THIS RACE THAT WENT ALONG THE BEACH AND THRU THE WOODS. THE RACE  HAD GOOD BUZZ, AND IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. 

ARRIVING IN BALTIMORE IT WAS CHILLY AND GREY, I WAS  VERY HOMESICK FOR FLA ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.  IT WAS A WINDING ALMOST 3 HR DRIVE TO REHOBOTH.  CROSSING THE VERY LONG BAY BRIDGE OVER THE CHESAPEAKE MADE ME APPRECIATE GOOD  CIVIL ENGINEERS. IT WAS SO LONG AND SO HIGH.

THIS WAS A FOLKSY,  SMALL TOWN RACE WHICH I ADORE.   THE RACE SHIRT WAS A KEEPER.   A NEON GREEN BROOKS SHIRT WHICH WILL KEEP THE CRAZY SENIOR DRIVERS ON THEIR TOES I HOPE.  THERE WAS A CUTE PASTA DINNER THAT I SHARED WITH MY NEW BEST AIRPORT AND MANIAC BUDDY TIM N FROM HUNTSVILLE AL (ROCKET CITY).  REHOBOTH IS ADORABLE WITH CUTE SHOPS DECORATED FOR THE HOLIDAYS SMACK ON THE OCEAN WITH A BOARDWALK ALL UNTOUCHED BY SANDY- WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE. 

I PASSED ON THE FAMOUS DOGFISH MICROBREWERY THAT APPARENTLY HAS SOME MIGHTY TASTY STUFF ACCORDING TO THE OTHER RACERS FROM BRADENTON. 

RACE DAY WAS PERFECT- LOW 50’S WITH CLOUDS AND A SLIGHT MIST. WRANGLED UP THE MANIACS AND WE TOOK SOME PHOTOS

ALWAYS GOOD TO CONNECT WITH THE CREW AND MEET NEW FOLKS. CRAZY LYLE R DROVE ALL THE WAY FROM TULSA. THE MAN LOVES TO DRIVE. IT WAS STATE 47 FOR HIM.  CHERYL B. MY PAL FROM THE VEGAS STRIP IS RUNNING GREAT AND HALF WAY THRU HER STATES. GO CHERYL.

LAST MONTHS ACHES ARE GONE BUT NEW ONES APPEARED AND IT WAS LOOKING LIKE THIS MIGHT BE A TOTAL WALKING DAY- THERE WAS A GENEROUS  7 HR LIMIT. AFTER A FEW MILES THE ADVIL KICKED IN AND I GOT A NICE GALLOWAY GOING.   THE SCENERY WAS TERRIFIC. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE RUN. I DID MANAGE TO GO OFF COURSE A BIT TO STAY TRUE TO MY INDIAN NAME GIRL WHO MISSES ARROWS. THERE WERE NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE BACK IN THE “WE ARE PICKING UP THE CONES NOW AND GOING HOME ‘ GROUP. I DECIDED TO TRY TO KEEP SOME OTHER RUNNERS IN SIGHT SO I DID NOT END UP IN NEW JERSEY BY CHANCE. 

WE RAN THRU A PARK ON THE OCEAN WITH BUNKERS, CANNONS AND BARRACKS FROM WW 2.  WELL WHO APPEARS JUST AFTER THE GREAT OCEAN OVERLOOK ? CHUCK AND BILL FROM THE BRADENTON RUNNING CLUB.   YES WHEN YOU LIVE IN FLA GLOVES ARE NEEDED AT 53′ !! THEY INFORMED  ME OF THE REMARKABLE EXPERIENCES THEY HAD WITH THE DOGFISH BREWS AND WERE ANXIOUS TO HEAD  BACK THERE ASAP.  SINCE IT HURT MORE TO WALK THAN RUN I DECIDED TO GET ‘ER DONE AND  SADLY LEFT THE LAUGHS AND GREAT CONVERSATION BEHIND. I CONTINUED TO COMMISERATE WITH THE OTHER SOULS UP THE ROAD -THEY ALL SEEMED TO HAVE SOME TROUBLE GOING ON WITH A REPLACED JOINT OR TWO. SIGH.

OH LOOKY HERE- TIME FOR A T REX AND RUN IT ALL THE WAY IN. TOO BAD THERE WAS NO ONE AROUND TO SHARE THE FUN -THAT MAY HAVE BEEN  UNDERWEAR ON THE SIGN , THINGS GET NUTTY OUT THERE.

THIS RACE SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK A WEEK,  BUT THE SCENERY WAS FAB. THE FINISH LINE WAS A BLESSING IN ALL WAYS AS WERE THE BLUEBERRY PANCAKES, PULLED BBQ PORK AND MAC AND CHEESE AT THE END.  I COMBINED THEM ALL AND NOTHING EVER TASTED SOOOO GOOD.

THE MEDAL HAS A LITTLE LIFE PRESERVER ON IT. SO CUTE.

I GREETED TIM N, BILL, CHUCK, CHERYL AND SOME OTHER GREAT MANIACS AND DECLINED THE ADULT BEVERAGES TO DRIVE THE 3 HRS BACK TO BALTIMORE BEFORE MY LEG MADE A COMPLETE MUTINY WITH A GAS PEDAL.

DELAWARE  WAS DELIGHTFUL,  MARYLAND WAS ALSO GREAT.  AND I WOULD DO THIS RACE EVERY YEAR IN A PERFECT WORLD. 

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED SO FAR ?

 PEOPLE ARE SO KIND EVERYWHERE, THERE ARE SAINTS EVERYWHERE WHO WORK VERY HARD FOR VERY LITTLE TO PUT ON MARATHON RACES,  GOOD HEALTH IS A BLESSING TO NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED.
ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN  DO THE EXTRAORDINARY, MANIACS ARE MANIACS AND ENTHUSIASM IS  ALWAYS INFECTIOUS.  THERE ARE EVERYDAY FOLKS WHO JUST PUT ON THEIR SHOES EVERYDAY AND SAY IT IS POSSIBLE AND I WILL TRY.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT OF LOVE OF A SUPPORTIVE SPOUSE, FINANCIAL POSSIBILITIES AND DETERMINATION TO FINISH THIS QUEST.

SORRY  SO WEEPY I AM ON ADVIL AND ICE OVERLOAD.
NEXT STOP: PEANUT ISLAND NEW YEAR’S EVE FOR THE 50K ULTRA –WE HOPE.

MY NEW MOTTO