DEBBIE’S BOOTS HAVE BEEN WALKING UP A STORM PREPARING FOR THE FORT DESOTO HALLOWEEN HALF MARATHON. OUR HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN IN FULL RACE MODE WITH 7 PM BEDTIMES, NO TV AND LOTS OF RACE FOCUSED BEHAVIOR. DEBBIE HAS BEEN WALKING BIG MILES TO PREPARE FOR A GREAT EFFORT. IT ALL PAID OFF WITH AN ALMOST PR TIME.
THE RACE WAS UNIQUE IN THAT COSTUMES WERE ENCOURAGED. WE FIGURED THAT WHO COULD BOTHER TO GET ALL DECKED OUT FOR A 7 AM START ? WE KNEW WE WOULD BE IN THE RUNNING FOR A COSTUME PRIZE WITH OUR FESTIVE GARB.
WE WENT ALL OUT WITH OUR CUSTOM HALLOWEEN BANDANNAS THAT HAD SKULLS AND GHOSTS AND SPIDER WEBS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD BEST COSTUME NAILED UNTIL WE SAW THE INCREDIBLE DISPLAY AT THE START LINE.
ZOMBIES, GHOULS, FRENCH MAIDS, SUPER HEROES, CARTOON CHARACTERS…THEY WERE ALL AT THE LINE.
IT IS MY SAD DUTY TO REPORT THAT SNOW WHITE KICKED OUR BUTT AND EVEN MORE SADLY A YOUNG LADY DRESSED AS A REFRIGERATOR (IT WAS RUNNING- GET IT ?) COMPLETE WITH DOORS, HANDLES AND PICTURES OF FOOD INSIDE WAS NOT EVEN IN OUR SIGHT AFTER THE FIRST MILE. WHEN WERE YOU EVER BEATEN BY A FRIDGE WHEN YOU GAVE IT YOUR ALL ?
INSTEAD OF EXTRA CLOTHING DISCARDS ON THE ROADSIDE THERE WERE PIECES OF COSTUMES, FEATHERS FROM BOAS, AND EVEN A SUPER HERO’S CAPE.
SPEAKING OF THE FIRST MILE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I WALKED THE WHOLE RACE WITH DEBBIE. THERE WAS A LOT OF BEGGING ON MY PART THE FIRST MILE FOR A MORE MODERATE PACE. I GAVE UP BECAUSE TALKING WAS IMPOSSIBLE. WE WERE BURNING UP THE PATH, WALKING SUB 14 MIN MILES.
WE DID MEET TWO GREAT GALS FROM CELEBRATION FLA. KIMBERLY L AND THE BIRTHDAY GIRL NATALIE B. THEY WERE CELEBRATING (!) A 31ST BIRTHDAY BY DOING A FIRST HALF MARATHON. THAT IS MY IDEA OF A GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTY. CONTINUED SUCCESS TO BOTH GIRLS ON THEIR ROAD RACE CAREERS.
THERE WERE GREAT VIEWS OF THE PARK, THE WATER, THE SUNSHINE BRIDGE, AND THE OLD HISTORIC FORT DESOTO INCLUDING SOME BIG CANNONS.
THERE ARE NO PHOTOS OF THE COURSE BECAUSE DEBBIE REQUESTED A SERIOUS DAY AND FRANKLY THERE WAS NO STOPPING THE GIRL FOR ANYTHING FOR 13 MILES. WE GOT A NICE MEDAL WITH A DANCING STARFISH DRESSED AS A WITCH. BOO !
I WILL ENJOY RETURNING TO MY CASUAL TOURIST PACE WITH PHOTO STOPS WHEN I GO TO MASSACHUSETTS AND RUN WITH THE PILGRIMS AT PLYMOUTH ROCK.
WE WENT TO THE BEST BREAKFAST PLACE ON THE PLANET CALLED SKYWAY JACKS. THEY DO BREAKFAST RIGHT AND IT LOOKS LIKE A PLACE WHERE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE GET SOME GREAT FOOD FOR NO FRILLS. KIND OF A CROSS BETWEEN A DIVE BAR AND GRANDMA’S KITCHEN.
DEB WILL RETURN TO THE ROADS FOR ANOTHER HALF AT MT. DORA IN DECEMBER. I HAVE BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION TO RUN INSTEAD OF WALK SO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY CAN STAND DOWN. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH EPSOM SALTS IN THE WORLD TO KEEP UP WITH DEBBIE’S WALKING MOJO.
IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT DAY TO MOVE FORWARD ON YOUR OWN POWER OUTSIDE.
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU-
BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER,
BE WELL AND GET OUT AND PLAY.
NW
.
Nanadventure 