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Posted by Mary on August 31, 2007, 9:22 am The first was the GCI Ultra, which was actually at the end of July, but it seemed to start a chain reaction of really good times. This inaugural edition was a lot of fun to plan, and I want to (again) congratulate all who participated... CONGRATULATIONS!!! I enjoyed shouting your names into the mic every time you passed by the scoring table, as well as a supplying vocals after the real music was moved to the awards ceremony and after party. Speaking of the after party, how many races give away free lobsters and all the beer you can drink afterwards? I've never seen ultra runners do keg stands after a race before in my life! Only on Cranberry... :) The following weekend we were on the road to Beach 2 Beacon and the Rockland 10K. Since very few of our team made it into the actual race (B2B), we debuted the first ever Crow Zone! We were stationed at about 9K on the B2B course, and we made quite a ruckus with people holding dozens of signs and blowing crow calls (thanks to LL Bean!) Our team spent the rest of the day at the Beach, and I got VERY sunburned on my legs (and face, and arms, and everything else), which I neglected to put sunscreen on because I thought they could use "a little sun." The next morning we were on the road again to Rockland, I had one of the nastiest sunburns EVER! I wasn't planning on racing as I hadn't been training, so I wasn't too worried about the warm weather, but at only 5K I was finding the heat on my sunburn a little difficult to tolerate. Seasquatch got a few steps ahead of me, and suddenly I found myself doing what I do best, which is puke. (There wasn't really anything to actually puke up, so it was ore of the 5K dry-heave dance.) I think Ron Paquette ran by me and told me to shake it off... I walked and ran the rest of it, and as I was rounding the corner at the finish, I saw Patrick, Ned, and Seasquatch cheering me on, and Patrick jumped in with me saying that I could out kick him no-problem, but all I could say was "I'M GOING TO PUKE!" And barley made it thru the finish shoot before I puked up the water I drank. The guys poured water on me, and I recovered pretty quick. A race official got an EMT, but by the time they came over, I was already joking around with everyone, and thanked them for their concern. I guess we all have to have a nasty day and a lesson learned: If you're fair skinned with red hair and freckles, WEAR SUNSCREEN!!! Let's see... the weekend after that was the MUD FESTIVAL!!! I sort of feel like the mud festival was more of a "Vegas" deal: What happens at the Mud Festival, stays at the Mud Festival. All I can say is that it was a whole hell of a lot of fun, and if you missed it, it sucks to be you! And then there was this past weekend's fun! First was the NEH 5-Miler, which we helped to organize for the second year in a row. Again, I haven't been training with any consistency, so I was more than happy to run 5 miles with company, as opposed to 'race'. Bob and I ran the first half together which was good and helped me to keep my own pace down, after that I was feeling okay, so I stepped it up a little, and finished much stronger than I did down at Rockland. After we got our stuff together, Ned, Patrick, Gary, and I all loaded up and headed for Quebec City. It was a fun, yet uneventful drive up, we got Gary's bib and found some dinner at a great old tavern. The next morning Gary got up early to head to the start of the Marathon. The guys and I slept a bit longer and got up and headed over to the finish. I noticed immediately that it was warm. REALLY warm, and they air was pretty heavy. I know that heat doesn't really affect Gary, but everyone can have bad days. I also knew that the course markings (kilos) counted down, which is weird. BUT, Gary is pretty much the kind if getting it done, so although I noticed these things, it didn't worry me. The guys ran out to me him at about 10K or so, and I hung around the finish, and before I new it, the clock read 2:58 and high change, and I saw a gold hat and black singlet & shorts, and very slobbery face -- it was Gary, and he was about to notch number 48 (sub-3) in 2:59 and change! So cool! (I missed 45, 46, and 47) We spent the rest of the day at a street cafe, eating and drinking before heading back on the road, for a fun, and less uneventful drive back to the Island. And to rop off the month, Gary and I were asked to appear with Dave Price yesterday in Frenchman Bay, in kayaks! I had never been in a kayak before, so why not make my inaugural appearance on national television? Laugh! (Apparently, according to Peter Beckett, Dave Price is one of People Magazine's top bachelors, if I had only know! Laugh!!!) My cell phone had so many missed calls yesterday, and although I don't really watch the Early Show, apparently a lot of other people do! Here's to a great August, and even better September! CAW! CAW! CAW!
Message modified by board administrator August 31, 2007, 9:23 am
I can't believe that the month has come to an end -- I've had such a blast! We've had so many fun weekends! 
Me, and Dave Price | Photo Courtesy MDIslander
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