1st Double

On the weekend of October 20/21 we headed to Kansas City for the 1st marathon of the double, got into KC on Friday afternoon after many stops along the way. Ran the marathon on Saturday, ate lunch with my wife's cousin and family from MO, and then booked it up to Des Moines to pickup my race packet.

We made it in after the expo closed, but they were allowing runners to pickup packets during the pasta dinner so that was no problem (other then a security guard who claimed he would have to charge me $15 to park for 10 minutes, no thanks, I will park on the street thank you very much). After that we grabbed a late dinner and hit our hotel. Next day we were up bright and early for the marathon and found a cool little coffee shop close to race start to hang out in till the race started (why don't more restaurants open early during a marathon? Seems like a lot of potential customers to ignore). Anyway, I ran the race and only ended up with a small blister on my small toe and annoying pain in my left foot, don't know what that was all about. Des Moines is much nicer city then I remembered it being, it really was very nice.

Right after the race I found a YMCA that let me shower for no charge (love that) and then we headed for home (via Chicago). Spend Monday in Chicago doing Chicago things (eating deep dish pizza, standing in line for Garretts popcorn, shopping etc.) 1,650 miles later we were back home.

I didn't realize till I was done that I got a new Marathon Maniac level for doing a double, I am now 4 star or Iridium.

2*

Got my 2nd Marathon Maniac star back in Feb., forgot to post it.

Canton marathon coming up Sunday, marathon starts @ 6 AM, hoping the temps stay cool, for summer running (and this weekend if I need it) I ordered a cool-off bandana - http://www.zombierunner.com/store/brands/cool_off/product152.html., hope it helps.

Louisville in the bag, It was a decent kind of small marathon, that is if you don't count the half which was huge. The full was around 2,100 marathon finishers (about the size of the Georgia marathon the year I ran it), but the half was over 12,000 plus the relay which made it pretty crowded up till the half split. Ran with another maniac by the name Patricia Cyr from St. Louis from about mile 11 to the end. Quite a lot of maniacs and 50 staters there as well.

We ran through Churchill Downs which was pretty neat, saw quite a few horses out practicing on the track.

I was amazed today as I ran the Athen's marathon, I had probably the easiest marathon of my life as far as how I felt. I ran about 10 minutes slower then last week (ORRRC marathon in Xenia, OH), and I felt much better then normal towards the end. I think it's because I ran the 1st part slower then normal and picked up more speed later. Also got to meet Larry Macon, if you don't know who he is Google him.

I also am not feeling near as much soreness this evening.

Spring marathon schedule starting to lineup, definite marathons are Ohio River Road Runners club in Xenia, and Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY. Also looking at Cleveland & Canton for May & June. Gonna try and get 12 in 12 months now.