Rainy Days and Mondays ...

Happy Tuesday! But what a wet and gloomy Tuesday it is. But I think we're still in a precipitation deficit for the year, so it's probably just as well that it rains. We got our house watertight again yesterday evening, getting some Tyvek up and taped. The new door is in (yeah!) and I got one coat of red paint on it. It's a bit more of a shocking red than I wanted. I wanted more of a brick red/cranberry color. Oh well, at least the door will be protected. I've learned all kinds of stuff about construction in the last couple of days: red Tyvek tape is super sticky and can almost take the skin off your fingers, how to install a new lockset and mortise the strike plate, expanding foam insulation (aerosol can) is a really fun thing, pneumatic nailers are VERY noisy, ...

I still do not know the fate of our little chipmunk friend. I came downstairs on Sunday and opened the office door and he was sitting on Ted's office chair. He quickly scurried away. We had the window open so that he could jump out, but he hadn't chosen that option yet. I didn't want the window open (screen off) all night, so I closed it. Came down Monday and morning and the bugger had gotten up on the window sill and started knawing at the window sash. So now we have 5 spots where he tried to chew his way out of the house. Fabulous. Something ELSE gone awry. Still don't know if he's/she's alive or dead, in or out.

Yesterday I got an email from my son who's studying in Spain and is on holiday in London, etc. It starts out "Mom, I don't want to worry you, but ..." Well, with that as an opening, would I worry?? OF COURSE I WOULD!! It turns out he got to visit a hospital in London (and he informed me that Michael Moore was right in Sicko, that health care is free in Europe) and he is now on antibiotics and eye drops for pinkeye and an ear infection. He said that London seemed 'cool' from the little bit he'd seen outside the hospital. When it rains, IT POURS!!

One little bit of good news. I kept track of mileage and gas on Friday going up to the expo and I got 44.24 mpg on my Honda Civic. ;-)

Enough about me and my woes. From my little bit of research, the following people qualified for the Boston Marathon at TCM on Sunday: Pete Gilman, Ron Giles, Eric Woodford (10 minute P.R.), Cailie Fura, Scott Helt, Hiro Kita, Tom Woo, Melissa Schultz, Terry Pruszynski, Randy McKeeman (he's already signed up!), Tom Williamson (5 minute P.R.) Julie Vander Schaaf and Lin Gentling. WAY TO GO RUNNERS! You're awesome. Congratulations.

Youth runners (K-8): The KLM one mile run is on Thursday at Century H.S. following the high school cross country meet. It's free! And a great way to introduce youth to cross country. The first 50 registered get a free T-shirt.

There's still time (until November 1) for nominations for RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) awards. The process is very easy this year. Just an online form to fill out. Awards include: Spirit of the RRCA, Journalism, Outstanding Volunteer, Road Race of the Year, ... Please consider nominating some of our volunteers/race directors that make running in Rochester a great experience.

A full report and photos on Henry Walker and Michael O'Connor's roller ski from St. Paul to Duluth over the weekend is available on the RASC website . Those two are really endurance athletes.

Here's a beautiful photo from Chris O'Brien running the Crazy Horse Half Marathon in SD.

Due to some unfortunate miscommunication from race staff, it turns out that Chris wasn't the only one in her family who covered the half marathon distance that day. Read all about it in the next issue of RTC News!

Kevin Torgerson, pictured below far right, ran TCM as part of a symbolic Torch Run for Special Olympics. Also pictured below holding the torch is 2006 RTC annual banquet guest speaker and special Olympian Jimmy Chalmers. They were doing cadence along the way as well, and Jimmy was also providing motivational phrases for the runners. Kevin said it's the most fun he's ever had during a marathon. Read all about it in the next issue of RTC News!

Also coming in December, stories from Randy McKeeman and Tom Williamson on their outstanding runs at TCM.

Ron Giles, avid hunter ...


(that's his family room!) has been telling me for a couple of weeks that he had something he wanted to show me. Finally made it over late this afternoon.
Wow. A T-shirt quilt made by his mom, made out of significant race T-shirts from his running career. It's wonderful and such a keepsake, full of so many memories for Ron. Mrs. Giles did a beautiful job.

That's it for today. I'm at Running Room tomorrow 1-4:30. Stop by and say howdie!

Thought for the day: "Change your thoughts and change your world." --Norman Vincent Peale