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Showing posts from September, 2012

the Bird in Hand 1/2 Marathon - unofficial version

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Officially, the Bird in Hand 1/2 marathon was held on September 8th.  I was registered to run with Kseniya but because my friend Enid died, I cancelled my trip.   Kseniya and her friend actually ran the race, through scenic Amish country in humid, rural hilly Pennsylvania.  This is what the route looked like on the official race day.  You gotta give the Amish women and men credit for running in dresses and long pants. Another view of race day - they did have cloud cover but it was very humid Kseniya at the end of the race - looking beautiful and not at all tired When I visited her in PA last week, Kseniya asked me if I wanted to run the route of this 1/2 marathon.  This sounded like a good idea even though it meant driving about an hour to Bird in Hand.  She had written down the route and we decided to go for it.    We didn't get started till about 1230 and it was a warm day with little cloud cover - but not as warm and humid as the original race day.   I am usually

Enid's tribute

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--> My friend Enid died on September 1.  She really didn't want to I don't think.  Before she died, she asked me to speak at her funeral.  It was an honor to remember my good friend.   My comments are below. My friend Enid, holding Desmond a few years ago.  I have very few pictures of her - she didn't like getting her picture taken A few weeks ago I was visiting my friend Enid. She had cancer and knew her days were numbered and she was writing her obituary – the one you probably read. While she didn't tell me this is what she was doing, I figured it out because she had a newspaper open to the obit page and was busy with a yellow legal pad, which she quickly put away when I came into her room. Yes, she knew she was dying but didn't dwell on it while I was there...just tried to be positive, asking me about my grandson and what I had been doing.  Just a few months ago when I looked out my window I would see her in her yard, caring for her fl

not your ordinary run - but not a run of the mill run either

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I was all set for a 20 miler with my friend Suzanne.  I left my house in the near dawn hours - 620 AM - to meet Suzanne at our usual place.  I felt pretty good since I remembered to load up on ibuprofen the night before.  Before leaving,  I had my granola bar and coffee and took care of potty business.  My bottle was filled with Gatorade and I had a bag full of jelly beans.   I was in it for the long haul...at least I thought so. I passed a few other people out there and met up with Suzanne.  She had been having some achilles problems and had on her black compression socks.  She looked doubtful but was ready to give it a try - going slow...which for her is going at my pace.  We started out and the next thing I know, I was heading for the ground - my only thought was "boom" which is what my grandson Desmond says any time something or someone falls, has fallen or is about to. Me and sweet little Des.  I sure miss him - he added so much joy to our lives this summer  My ri