Constructing Vibram Five Fingers at the Little Fort aid station – duct tape version!
Well, I think we have finally discovered what will bring the WUSsies out in droves.
a) 100+ degree heat
b) promises of a purply toenail
c) Bobby Gill [I guess that’s kind of the same thing as a)]
One might have thought that the CPBG patrons might have been nonplussed to be sharing their roof deck with 15 sweaty runners (although we were kind enough to follow Aaron’s lead and wring the puddles of sweat out of our shirts before entering, much to the delight of a certain 11-year old boy passing on the sidewalk (Mommy, can we have pizza EVERY Tuesday night??). Instead, some kind ladies at a neighboring table shared with us their entire cake — Farewell, boss Richard!
Such an outpouring of WUSsies deserves some kind of commemoration. We were graced by the presence of a record number of women:
Marjon (long-awaited since Eagle Run!), Jamie (Horton’s former employee, visiting DC for the summer), Sabrina (we’re looking forward to some lessons in non-practical theology), Anna (getting back into training for Beer Mile redemption), Mackenzie (will be working on email word choice — although her endorsement may have played a key role in WUSsie turnout), Kirstin (best dressed, as always), Boots (one of our scarce and prized female WUS regulars), and myself (tolerated only because I’m the only one who knows the damn trails out there).
The ladies begrudgingly tolerated the men only because they carried our beer money and water (or in the case of Randy sprinted back to the WUS house to retrieve the beer money):
Randy (Amy and Marjon’s friend visiting from Portland (really missing the Portland weather)), Bobby (I can’t run because my biceps are too big) Gill, JLD (tolerated because he always brings females), Ryon (tolerated because he always has some entertaining new piece of gear [this time it was a wet rag tied around his neck]), Aaron (who’s greatest contribution to the run may be the squeal he always elicits from Kirstin — well, the impersonations aren’t shabby either), Tom (who doesn’t seem to mind the squeals Aaron elicits from Kirstin), Joe (I’m still waiting to see the day Joe gets pissed about something), Art (who stole my seat but fortunately not my beer).
Noticeably absent:
Keith: perhaps tired of being my waterboy
Brian: sad sad sad 🙁 🙁 still not running
Sean A: hot Match date!
If the Matchgirl doesn't call back, we all know why.
No, I don't think that helps, Seanie.
Sean B: probably couldn’t find his heart monitor
Doug: I can’t think of anything disparaging to say about Doug but he wanted his absence to be noted
My purple toe from Holy Cowans Gap, an insane 50k designed by Alisa Springman and Sue Malone in Southern PA (blog on that is forthcoming):
Now I'm a trail runner!
Tara, Martha, Meira, Greg, & Tom
Greg Luna, Tom Cali, Meira Minard, Tara Murray, and I, with the spectator support of Eric & Wendy, Greg’s dogs Alberto and Tecalli, and chickens Esther, Amy, and Emily, completed what will be forever remembered as the most scenic Beer Mile ever, and perhaps the least competitive.
Luna's personally crafted Beer Mile course includes views of Mt Nittany
Indeed, no one actually completed the Beer Mile. We all ran 4 laps, but Greg had 3 beers and Tom, Meira, and Tara each had 2. I announced from the get-go that my noontime stomach fun (recovery has been slow from Kerry’s Death March) would prevent me from imbibing any beer, but that I promised to get just as entertainingly drunk off of the Wild Turkey and Ginger Ale that Eric & Wendy provided.
Tara masters the Martha-style drinking pose.
Greg's Beer Mile course began with a killer hill -- even harder going up barefoot
I definitely lived up to that promise, and by the 4th lap I was doing cartwheels, round-offs, summersaults, stealing course cones, pinching cheeks….
Next time I should wear shorts under my skirt
Nails the landing but the medal is revoked for public drunkenness
…and playing with a dog chewy toy that greatly resembled something else – what were you thinking when you bought that, Greg?
Happy doggy
Greg provided fabulous Layer 3 shirt prizes to the ‘winners’ — my cartoon butt also got a good Booty-Pop there.
Meira shows her Booty-Pop too
After reminiscing with Justine at Kerry’s Death March about our human pony shows, I couldn’t resist Greg’s dog jump:
Off course.....
Layer 3 Martha Mile shirts were given to the victors:
Greg: best designed Beer Mile course ever
Tara: best Martha impression during a Beer Mile
Martha: most drunk
Tom also got a prize:
Very Happy Doggy -- but watch that left foot there, Alberto!
If you had to pick a Disney character that best represented Mario, it would definitely be Sleepy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Happy Birthday, Chef!
Twenty enthusiastic runners came out for Kerry’s Death March May 21st. Not pictured – Martha, who is hiding behind Brian – and Doug, who is taking the picture. For a few more pics, go here.
