April 20, 2013
Shepherdstown, WV
wussies bring home the bling!
In keeping with Nelson family tradition, WUSsies dominated again at our annual This Race is For the Birds! Kerry and Doug joined Aaron, my parents, my brother + girls, and me in what has become our favorite running event of the year.
the looped trail race with multiple distance options
The course loops (4+ and 7+ mile options) go around the grounds of the US Fish and Wildlife Training Center, including a long trail section through the woods, a mowed path through some fields, and a short stretch of road. The highlight is running by the giant bald eagle nest, where after the race we spotted two chicks and a mega momma eagle watching her brood. As Kerry noted, this could become the New Eagle Run.
Fred’s 4+ mile race was successfully thwarted by a pair of determined two-year olds
The race is notably dominated by youngins (out of the top 5 finishers, Aaron and I were the only ones over 25). The guy who won the 7+ mile race was 16, and the kid (you can see him in the middle of the picture below) who won the 4+ mile was 11!
My goal became to beat the two dudes who wore track spikes (far left) [achieved by a mere 5 seconds]
Aaron blasts home to win his age group
Doug also won his age group (Kerry was just robbed by being at the tail end of the age distribution)
can’t let the spike dude get me!
Savannah clearly won the fashion contest
Bob won the hair contest
Poor Seanie spent the weekend at Georgetown Hospital, after fracturing three vertebrae in a plunge into the metro tracks at Woodley Park station during a seizure. In Sean’s honor we did a bug hunt for him at the post-race Lobsterfest V.
Seanie’s race was also successfully thwarted
Back at the house, Kim, Aaron’s parents, Cecile & Bernard, and Keith & Tracey joined us for Lobsterfest V: ‘homemade’ lobsters for all!
LOBSTERFEST V
The next day, Aaron and I joined my high school track coach Selena + family at the horse races in Berryville (where Selena’s family recently relocated). Sitting all day in the sun drinking bloody marys and slurping cocktail shrimp – yeah, I can handle that.
a different scene from the bird run
aaron luvs his ponies!
Aaron took a particular liking to the pony he named Professor Jaunty Socks
Just for the record – on first photo I was trying my best Aaron pose. Also, Kerry got second in her AG too. Awesome event and the lobster was good too. I hope Sean is feeling better. -Thx
Is Sean running with pins sticking out of his back yet?