From high noon on April 12 to high noon on April 13, the Old Guns, Young Ones, and Banditos traversed 200 miles of the state of South Kakalaki from Columbia to Charleston. We pistol whipped (most of) the competition – finishing 2nd of 48 in our division and 6th of 73 overall. We also won the title “Life of the After Party,” which the race organizers oddly forgot to include on thewebsite. Here’s a pictorial recap of our race:
We are a team with some serious style and serious attitude.We ride with pride. (Unfortunately a brief rain storm caused an early demise to the cowboy hat.)Hood ornaments are a must.Window paint is also crucial.Ready to ride.These little guys give us the nod of approval.We also had temp tats this race – further evidence of our awesome.Tear drop pistol = “In it to win it!”We even tatted the Race Director – think of it as leaving our brand.
Okay, enough of the prep work. It’s time to get down to business: the run.
There were some long hot stretches on Friday afternoon, but like true OGYOB we banded together to support each other.There was no stopping this team.“Exchange zone ahead!”By the 34 to 35 leg exchange, we were pros.Welcome to Charleston – Leg 35 is the bridgeThe FINISH!What “done” looks like.What “done” really looks like.
It was a great race. Everyone ran well and enjoyed the experience. We only had one miscommunication about exchange points, but a volunteer and quick thinking meant it only cost us about 30 seconds (which is nothing in relay time). We shared conversations and thoughts that only 24 hour van rides and sleepless or nearly sleepless nights can stimulate. We rang the cowbell for all Palmetto runners – loudly by day, quietly by night. We had signs, maracas, and bandanas. There were water pistols filled with water and other things… In short, it was tremendous, and I cannot wait to ride again.
OGYOB for life!
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A note on future relays:
With two relays under our collective sombreros, we are quickly becoming old hands. For instance, we know what food to bring (brownies and sesame noodles), which night gear is the best (reflective vests with integrated lights), and how to plan for stops along the way (call the state tourism agency). We are also developing the all-important list of criteria for picking our next challenge:
The relay must (or really ought to):
Start and end in places where we have family and friends
Have a good finishing location (beaches are a theme)
Have a kickin’ after party (how else will we defend our title?)
Thus, with these criteria in mind, OGYOB has elected to ride again in the Tuna Run, October 18-19, from Raleigh to Atlantic Beach. Be prepared for all things fishy as we school up.
Sometimes a girl just wants to write her blog. My sincere apologies for the long delay between posts, but I am learning to accept there are only so many hours in a day, and sleeping less is not a viable option. Now on to the post:
Two weekends ago, I traveled to Winston-Salem to run the Mistletoe Half Marathon. It was a beautiful weekend for a race, and I am happy to report that I placed third in my age group, 98/1100+ overall, and ran a PR (personal record/best). But what has me smiling most is remembering the sense of belonging and connection I felt while spending time with friends. In fact, the opportunity to reconnect is what convinced me to run the race.
I signed up shortly after the Old Guns and Young Ones (OGYO) were victorious at the Southern Odyssey Relay. I knew several of my teammates would participate in the Mistletoe, and I already missed their round-the-clock company. I must also give credit to OGYO Captain and All Around Superstar Paige, who sent me her Mistletoe training schedule and inspired me to create one of my own. But there is something more both the OGYO and Mistletoe participants share that holds an even greater gravity: our connection with Eagle’s Nest.
Before!
Whether they were campers, counselors, parents of campers, or camp staff, all had heard the mission “Experiential education for young people promoting the natural world and the betterment of human character” and had seen the transformative power of time on 43 Hart Road. My first summer there was as a counselor in 2010. I remember feeling uncertain where I would belong, but Eagle’s Nest-ers talk more about community than anyone else I know, and they are adept at creating a place for each individual to participate and to shine. With encouragement and friendship, they helped me to find my niche. Now two years later, I would like to report that my niche has become a second home. As a Nest-er, I share the values of connection, community, and leadership, and I believe the sense of home is universal for my teammates and racing compatriots. Our bond is exceptional and extends far beyond PRs and finish lines. Driving home from the Mistletoe, I smiled the whole way.
In the same way I have learned time limits us, I have also learned that as we walk (or run) down our respective paths, we look for the people and groups we can call “ours.” The Eagle’s Nest community is one of the most welcoming, supportive, and rewarding communities I have had the privilege to join, and if I am being deeply honest, the people of the community are more like extended family. So yes, the weekend was in part about a race, but in a much bigger sense, it was about a community I cherish.
They say home is where the dog is, and at this home, the dog is at the end of the bed.
It’s been a week already? How does time pass so quickly when I am home? Then again, when I think about all the fun I have been having, it seems I’ve been fitting quite a lot.
On Saturday evening, we RedBox-ed The Five-Year Engagement. It was okay, there were laugh out loud moments, and scratch your head “is this really happening?” moments. Still, the movie makes a point that sometimes you have to commit, to go forward, because waiting for perfect will turn into just waiting. The time is now. Oh, and please no one ever serve me a beverage in a cup made from deer hooves, thanks.
On Sunday evening, we went to see Skyfall, the newest James Bond movie. It was excellent. The movie opens with something of a music video for the Adele song by the same name as the movie. You realize later the video foreshadows the action of the movie. I applaud the person who thought to put that together.
After Skyfall, we watched the American Music Awards. It was a lot of Justin Bieber for someone who is not a fan. Then again, he dedicated the first award to the haters, so thanks Biebs! I enjoyed performances from Carly Rae, Taylor Swift (did you see that onstage costume change?), P!nk, Pitbull, and No Doubt. However, the best performance may go to Psy who brought everyone to their feet with his performance of “Gangnam Style.”
On Monday evening, we were back at the movies, this time to see The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I was caught off guard by the depth of the movie. I even cried. It was sweet and strange. The complexities of being in high school, learning who you are, and of trying to understand the experiences of your life came down upon me. If you need an education in how difficult growing up can be, here is your movie.
I did a lot of shopping. We live not even five miles from a Tanger Outlet complex spread over three shopping areas, with additional shopping opportunities scattered between and in downtown Rehobeth. Add that this is tax free Delaware, and I give you Shopping Heaven. New sweaters, new dresses, new tights, new slippers, new belt, new top, and my first foray into the world of headbands, inspired in part by Blair Waldorf. That was shopping day one.
“Blair’s Headbands: Always fashionable… always inspiring.” As posted on Gossip Girl on Thanksgiving “10 Reasons We’re Thankful for Gossip Girl”
Then there was a trip to the Christiana Mall which offers the Apple store, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Macy’s, and more. If only my closet was bigger… (and my wallet). At the Apple store, I made a big commitment to a new computer, a beautiful 15″ MacBook Pro with a super fast processor and a huge amount of memory. The keys have back lights, my internal speakers work, I have iCloud access, there are “launchpad” and “mission control” apps, and so much more I look forward to discovering.
Of course, Thanksgiving was spent with the family. A fraction of the group gathered at my Aunt Mary’s house in PA. Three of my cousins had opted to spend the holiday with the other half of their families, which means Christmas will be a full house. Still, it was the first time I had seen those present in months, and it was good to reconnect over a meal.
Friday came and was a beautiful day, too pretty to stay indoors, so despite my planned 5k on Saturday. I voted in favor of a family bike ride. We rode down the Breakwater Trail into Rehobeth and over the boardwalk there. Cruising on the boards, I looked out over the beach to the crashing waves and thought “how lucky I am to come home to the beach.” We paused for a slice of pizza and fries before pushing home to escape the dropping temperature.
Saturday morning I had to rise early (7 AM!) to defend my Age Group title at the Huffin’ and Puffin’ for Pumpkin Pie 5k. I persevered through gusting winds and chilly temperatures to earn my champion status once again. I was 23 of 478 and finished in 20:35, just four seconds slower than last year. Though while I was running, I thought my 2011 time was 20:36, oops! Mom came to cheer me on, then we went for a walk on the boardwalk. Again, looking out at the ocean I was reminded of how glad I am to come home to such a beautiful place and how hard it is to leave.
With my Victory Pie (age group winners receive a pie!)
The rest of Saturday went by too quickly, and now I am on my way home to Clemson. It was a great break and I can’t wait to be home again in less than four weeks!
