Hood to Coast - Where's the Beach?

Look how happy we are. Look how clean we are. We stayed pretty happy but we sure didn't stay clean. This is the gang from Van # 1 from left - Janice, Bernd, Amy, Elle, Alex and Shannon. Amazing what 26 hours together can do.

Hood to Coast Fun

Janice tattoo
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

Janice getting a 197.0 tattoo at the start up at Timberline Lodge. 197.0 representing the miles we were about to embark upon. Janice ran 7:49 mile splits on her first leg! What a stud!

Hood to Coast Triumph

Barlow Road Gang
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

We had a nearly perfect Hood to Coast run with the St. Vincent Harriers. Obviously the one imperfection from the weekend was the lame team name - gotta work on that for next year.

But the whole weekend went great - we finished in 26:28:42 about an hour faster than we had predicted. There were no injuries, no missed exchanges and everyone had a great time. We even got to meet a very cute puppy!

So what's not to love - running until you hurt, more gatorade injested than humanly possible, no sleep, sweaty stinky van air for 26 hours and a puppy!

I will write more in a bit but here is some of our team - from left Theresa our incredible driver - she was Danica Patrick and then some; Bernd Cooper - Our Ironman Leg #5; Alex "Thank you for volunteering" Jackson; Shannon - insane enough to run leg #1; and Elle - Shannon's daughter who ran faster than any 17 year old should be allowed to run.

Not pictured - Janice - our leader and who got us into this craziness - Janice this is what we do while you are out running - we stand around waiting for direction.

Oia Street Scene

Oia Street Scene
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

Some day soon I would like to walk down this street again. At 7:00 am on my way to get some warm croissants from the old Greek lady who after 4 days has still not smiled at me or said kali mera (good morning). I want to bring the croissants back to our litle pensione on the edge of the cliff in Oia and watch the caiques go out for the day's fishing, and watch the sun rise over this beautiful volcanic crater called Thira.

Yes some day.

Happy Birthday Colleen!

Metz group photo
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

Happy Birthday to Colleen!

Our buddy Steve to the far left is recovering from a horrible bike meets car incident - so please send all your healing thoughts his way. His son to the far right is headed to college in about one week!

Our world is officially upside down in more ways than one.

Go Ducks!!

IMG_0269
Originally uploaded by thistleamy5

New camera - same cute little Duck fan!

Bob Lakey - 1931-2008

It has been a sad month since our finish. On July 19 - Bob Lakey - Janice's father passed. The most profound moment during our marathon weekend was going to visit Bob. He could not speak much and he was weak. But the way his eyes lit up and sparkled so when he saw Janice - the way he held her hand so tightly - the tremendous amount of love that passed between them as they held hands - is something I will never forget. He was a great man, a loving husband and an even better dad.

I See You Dancing Father

No sooner downstairs after the night’s rest
And in the door
Then you started to dance a step in the middle of the kitchen floor.

And as you danced
You whistled.
You made your own music
Always in tune with yourself.

Well, nearly always, anyway.
And whenever I think of you

I go back beyond the old man
Mind and body broken
To find the unbroken man.
It is the moment before the dance begins,

Your lips are enjoying themselves
Whistling an air.
Whatever happens or cannot happen
In the time I have to spare
I see you dancing, father.
---Brendan Kennelly