KANSAS THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ

A FEW DAYS AFTER THE TRAGEDY IN BOSTON I WENT TO KANSAS TO RUN NUMBER 38.  

I DECIDED FEAR WAS NOT GOING TO WIN AND TO QUOTE THE T REX RUNNER:  

” WE WILL KEEP RUNNING-YOU HAVE MESSED WITH THE  WRONG GROUP OF PEOPLE-“

THERE WERE LOTS OF FOLKS AT THE EVENT WHO RAN BOSTON, THEY WERE RATTLED AND  GRATEFUL AND EVERYONE INVOLVED WAS CLOSE IN MIND AND HEART.

KANSAS FIRST OF ALL, NEAR KANSAS CITY IS NOT FLAT. ALSO THERE IS A KANSAS CITY MS AND KANSAS CITY KS. THIS WAS HELPFUL TO KNOW FOR  NAVIGATING.  THEY ARE NEXT TO EACH OTHER WITH THE MISSOURI RIVER (THE ONE LEWIS AND CLARK WENT UP)-  SORT OF  RUNNNING THRU THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO.  THE RACE WAS IN OLATHE KS WHICH MEANS BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN SHAWNEE.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEKEND WAS RUNNING WITH BAREFOOT EDDIE V- A TERRIFIC  GUY WHO  HAS JUST A FEW MORE STATES LEFT TO NUMBER  50 AND  HAS JUST RETURNED FROM RUNNING  ANTARCTICA.  THE MILES FLEW BY AND I TALKED HIS EAR OFF. WE SAW A FEW RUNNING  DOROTHY’S AND A WATER STOP WITH THE WHOLE  OZ CAST.

IT WAS CHILLY  36′-AT THE START BUT THE HOT AIR BALLOON AT DAWN WAS SO COOL WHO CARED ?  WE STARTED AT THE GARMIN WORLD HEADQUARTERS SO I AM PRETTY SURE THE COURSE WAS MEASURED CORRECTLY.

THE SECOND HALF OF THE RACE WAS ON A BIKE PATH ALONG A CREEK AND THERE WERE SPRING BUDS AND A FEW DAFFODILS. I GOT A LITTLE HOMESICK FOR SPRING. IT IS  JULY  WEATHER NOW IN FL.

AFTER THE RACE I WAS GRATEFUL TO NOT ACCOMPANY  EDDIE AND A FEW OTHER MANIACS ON  A 5.5 HOUR DRIVE TO CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA FOR A DOUBLE THE NEXT DAY. 

KANSAS CITY IS A GREAT CITY-THE NELSON ATKINS ART MUSEUM WAS TOP NOTCH.  I LOVED THE OLDENBURG BADMINTON BIRDIES, THEY  WERE SO COOL.  I LOVED THE PLACEMENT NEXT TO THE THINKER-PERFECT. A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THOSE BRIGHT MINDS FROM SHS BADMINTON TEAM.

INSIDE THE MUSEUM WAS EVERY GREAT PIECE OF ART NOT IN CHICAGO OR PARIS. REALLY.
I HAD A GREAT LUNCH AT THE MUSEUM CAFE NEXT TO A FOUNTAIN.  IT FELT SO ELEGANT.
I DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE PLAZA/FOUNTAIN AREA  DOWNTOWN MY LOSS.

 NEXT DESTINATION WAS A STAGECOACH STOP ON THE SANTA FE TRAIL.
 THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS SETTING UP THEIR PROM NEXT TO THE HORSE STALLS.

I LEARNED AT THE LITTLE PIONEER MUSEUM
THAT KS AND MO DID NOT GET ALONG IN 1861 WHEN KS BECAME A STATE. KS WAS PRO SLAVERY AND MO WAS NOT. THE KS PEOPLE WERE CALLED JAYHAWKS AND THE MO FOLKS BUSHWACKERS.  JOHN BROWN WHO STARTED THE REVOLT AT HARPER’S FERRY WAS FROM KANSAS.

AFTER PACKET PICK UP I CHATTED WITH A LADY WHO HAD JUST CROSSED THE LINE IN BOSTON WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED.  HER THREE KIDS WERE WAITING AT THE LINE VERY CLOSE TO THE EXPLOSION. SHE WAS SHAKEN, GRATEFUL AND POSITIVE ABOUT THE FUTURE. 
WHEN WE   WOKE UP ON SATURDAY( RACE DAY) FREEDOM HAD RETURNED AFTER THE BOSTON LOCKDOWN ON FRIDAY  FOR ALL AND WE FELT SAFE AGAIN.

WRANGLED THE MANIACS FOR THE PRE RACE PHOTO. I HAD INTENDED TO TAKE IT REALLY EASY FOR SEVERAL BORING REASONS – AFTER 8 MILE I HAD DONE VERY LITTLE GALLOWAY THEN I RESPECTED THE BEEPER AND DID MORE WALK BREAKS. EDDIE  APPROVED OF THE PLAN DECIDED WE WOULD GET UNDER 5:30 SO WE DID. THERE WAS GOOD FOOD AND PLENY OF BEER AT THE FINISH.

GOT A NICE MEDAL AND A GOOD PHOTO OP.  DINNER WAS A BBQ  DELIGHT CALLED BURNT ENDS. (PORK AND BEEF). SORRY ELLEN DE GENERES  AND MY BELOVED MICHIGAN MOLONEYS:  GOING VEGAN IS NOT IN THE CARDS AT THIS TIME.


NEXT STOP IS NJ SHORE THIS WEEKEND  WITH A ID/UT DOUBLE SCHEDULED  IN JUNE.  BE WELL MY FRIENDS, THANKS FOR READING THE BLOG AND KEEP CALM AND RUN ON.