Category Archives: Running

Drizzly Sunday Run

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I managed to sneak out of the house this morning although nobody was really happy about it to meet up with the Frankfort Running Club.  I knew that I wanted to run at least 8 and it had been pouring rain + high winds during the night; however, we experienced a bit of a break this morning.  For me, it’s just best to get a run out of the way before the excuses start to accumulate early.   

I was very pleased to pull in and see lots of warm bodies people to keep me company.  Meet the Frankfort Running Club – Sunday Crew.   From left to right:  Susan, Dave, Diane, Angela, Don, Brian, Kate, Suzanne, Kelly, & Nicole.

We got lucky again with the weather, another 40 degree day.  We had a little drizzle too but certainly nothing like I would normally expect for November, just enough to screw up blur the photos.

We ran Old Plank Trail heading west.

The group members for today averaged between 6 and 8 miles at varying paces.  A very reasonable group for all types of runners.  I would strongly encourage even newer runners to have the guts give it a shot with this group because they are very diverse, not too INTENSE low key and really friendly.   Susan & Don here as they bailed called it at the six mile mark:

The seven mile group coming back at me with a quick bluring pace, plus the drizzle was starting to get serious at this point, run fast and get back to your cars!After this group passed me, I took a few more photos finished up.  I ran 8.06 miles in 1:19.18 with loads of stops for photos, road crossings and time to chat with those at the front and the back.  I never stop my watch while we are out there because I am too blonde would forget to restart it.  So  once we leave the initial parking lot, I just let it roll, the time isn’t too important to me anyhow.  I’m mostly out there for the experience. 

Great day.  Great run. 

“Run”way Fashion:  It was all about Athleta today unless we count my Hot Chocolate windbreaker.  Ironically, Athleta is also having a sale.  If you log onto their website and shop, use the HUGECYBER coupon code for 30% off thru Cyber Monday.  Today I was wearing the Hopkinton Top & the Reflective Workout Tight.

 

Happy Running,                                                                                                               Amanda – TooTallFritz

Black Friday Waterfall Glen Run {2011}

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Today was as close to perfect as I could have gotten without sitting on a beach, under an umbrella, in the tropics sipping on poison.   Somehow a run with one partner turned into a run of nine AWESOME women who spent hard-earned calories running rather than $$ shopping in the Black Friday madness.   Meet our Waterfall Glen Black Friday Crew from Top Left:  Me, Jen, Judy, Susan, Maggie;  Bottom Left:  Laura, Angela, Kelly & Suzanne. 

These women hauled their asses out of bed came this morning to run in the name of health, wellness, fitness and friendship.  A 9.5 mile run thru the rolling hills of Waterfall Glen’s Forest Preserve isn’t exactly how many women would like to spend the largest shopping day of the year but that is what runners do, we run.  We run on our birthdays, on holidays, on breaks at work, and in the snow, sleet and rain……WE RUN. 

If I had to hazard a guess, there are probably a few ladies Susan & Jen who came today who don’t consider themselves runners.  Let me break it to you gently Susan & Jen, if you showed up today for a 9.5 mile run in the woods on Black Friday…..YOU. ARE. A. RUNNER.  

A pictorial account of what we saw while running on this glorious day!

I promised I wouldn’t take any photos of anyone’s ass but I lied that was hard since I was bringing up the rear.   The guarantee today was that NOBODY would get left behind and I welcomed the opportunity to run the back since I am exhausted and love to take lots of pics I needed a break but still wanted to be part of the fun.

 Hey Jen, can you stop running and sit on this bench for a photo?

Hey Jen, can you stop running AGAIN to take a photo of me?

Almost done, we WILL make it…….And where the HELL was Big Bertha?  I think we totally missed it while talking, stopping for a billion photos and just enjoying the view and being out in the beautiful weather!

Thanks to these fast dudes who I believe lapped us a couple of times were kind enough to take a few photos of our entire group once we all made it back.  Thanks, Brian & Rick!

All in all a wonderful run.  I hope “the crew” members had a recovery drink in their car!  I use the AdvoCare Post Workout Recovery drink so that I can go back out tomorrow or hopefully Sunday with the FRC if hubby doesn’t kill me for another morning run during our mini vacay and do it all again, and so that I can get up and down the stairs, and so that I can pig out on Thanksgiving leftovers when I get home since I already had the necessary recovery nutrients. I need the ease and convenience of a recovery drink because it requires less thinking and counting my nutrients…..sometimes my brain doesn’t want to work too well after a good run.

Perfect day:  Morning Run in PERFECT WEATHER (40 degrees + sun) with friends, Thanksgiving Leftovers, 3 hour nap with the kiddos, then chores and cuddling with my little man.  Some days, life is better than others.  Thanks again to the Waterfall Glen Black Friday Crew and my wonderful hubby who didn’t even bitch watched the lil ones this morning for me.

How did Black Friday work out for you?  What is your perfect day?

We head out to Indiana tomorrow for Thanksgiving #2 with the Fritz Clan, so enjoy your weekend and I’ll catch up with all of you later cuz I’ll be eating more awesome food and hanging out with my loved ones! 

Many Blessings,                                                                                                                       Amanda – TooTallFritz

Misfit Thanksgiving 2011

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It has become an annual tradition to host Thanksgiving for my little family, my in-laws and a few friends.  I secretly call us The Misfits consider us to be a diverse group, we all are part of larger families but it seems that due to distance, the addition of spouses/children, and jackass family members busy schedules we all seem to be solo on some major holidays.  I have always dreamed of this HUGE family with lots of people, screaming kids and absolute chaos but it never seems to work out for everyone to get together at one time, on one day, in one place…….enter my Misfits. 

Websters may define family as: 1)  a group of individuals living under one roof; and 2)  a group of persons of common ancestry.  However, Ms. TooTall knows that family is what you make it, should be about the people you love and those who are there for you thru thick-n-thin.  And I am very happy for my family of Misfits!

If you happen to also be homeless for the holidays, feel free to come on over.  I guarantee the stuffing will be cold, the floors will be dirty and there WILL BE screaming children and stinky barking dogs…..but you’re welcome to join us for the festivities!   Wasn’t lying about the nasty dirty floors…..this kid had a bath this morning!  I really should be embarrassed but I’m NOT busy living life rather than cleaning my house. 

My thing about Holidays and Family is tradition.  Although, I am somewhat non-traditional when it comes to many things, there are also other things which I am crazy psycho paticular about and like to do every year.  For many years now, I have been participating in the Running For Kicks 4 mile Turkey Trot in Palos humongous Hills on Thanksgiving morning.  It’s certainly not an easy race and I clawed my way up several hills  was far from my best today but was still happy to be out there doing what I love with so many people I love!  Kristina H., Nicki T. & myself fresh off a kill with red eyes. 
Nicki says she now needs to re-evaluate our friendship since I pressured convinced her to run this crazy, hilly race.  HeHeHeHeHe……she’ll be back next year!
 
A couple of folks from the Frankfort Running Club:  Julie B., Little Joe B. and Brian P.      
Note to self……start races far behind Brian P. and Little Joe cuz they kick ass float uphill and make Ms. TooTall look like she is standing still run really fast.  Once results posted I stalked looked up their times….Brian – 30:10, Joe – 31:34, Me – 31:55….Julie held back with me to push me up the hills make me feel better.
 
Overall it was an awesome day running, cooking, and I really enjoyed hanging out with my Misfits.  I hope all of you had a blessed and joyous day regardless of how you spent it.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 
How did you spend Thanksgiving Day 2011?  Did you workout, run a Turkey Trot or just chill with the family?
 
Happy Thanksgiving,                                                                                                     Amanda – TooTallFritz
 
 

Baby Steps……

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The response to yesterday’s post on my achieving the 1000 mile goal was that some thought I was crazy were overwhelmed by the idea of running 1000 miles.  As in all goals that a person attempts to achieve, break down the hopeless MAJOR undertaking into small parts or baby steps.  If one were to train for a half or a full marathon they should might look at a Hal Higdon training program that breaks down the training week by week so that the thought of running 13.1 or 26.2 doesn’t scare the shit out of them seem so daunting.  I never think about the “end game”, only what I have to run to get thru this week.  And let me just say that anything over 16 miles makes me wanna cry like a baby, I CAN’T think about 26.2 or I’ll never get out the door to hit the start line.

When I considered the 1000 miles as a goal, I broke it down into small pieces.  1)  Run 19.2 miles a week or 2) Squeeze in 83.3 miles per month.  This makes it much more manageable and very doable on those terms.  1000 miles does sound CRAZY and the 2000 that Frogger is running is certifiably insane but if you take it down a notch, look at what needs to happen for just today, or just this week, then you will be able to manage anything.

Remember, baby steps will carry you through any process from inception to completion.  You CAN do it!

Amanda – TooTallFritz

1000 miles – Check!

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I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions to be broken but rather focus on a goal that I can work toward during the year which forces me to make a conscious, continued effort to maintain fitness.  This year, my goal was to run 1000 miles, prompted by another blogger, Tall Mom on the Run.  Tall Mom created a challenge to others to “move” 1000 miles throughout the year.  For me, this meant running.  She published a shared spreadsheet and all those involved in the challenge added in their mileage at their leisure. 

I am happy to say that I bumped past my 1000 miles on Saturday’s run.   I was so close all week but with the flu and Mr. Michael’s poor sleeping habits it was hard to get in those last few miles.  To be honest, it has been a struggle all year to rack up miles, and focus on fitness, due to injuries and Mr. Michael.  I never could have reached my goal without some major support at home from hubby and him doing baby duty on the only morning he would have a chance to “sleep in”.  So I am very thankful for his help and the fact that he didn’t bitch too much frequently helps with Michael so I can squeeze fitness into our very busy life.  Thanks, Mick!

Attaining the 2011 goal makes me reflect a lot on where I want to go for 2012.   When one is part of a family, they must also consider others and the sacrifice that they too will make to “help” YOU achieve a goal.  So I do not take goals lightly, it is a serious thing for me and I hope that it is for you too.  I frequently put what I want to achieve on the back burner in order to pick something that is realistic and doable for all of us.  For example, I really want to do an IronwoMan but I know that at this point in our lives, it would be impossible to TRAIN for that type of committment and also LIVE life and PARTICIPATE in the family and WORK a full-time job.  So alas, this isn’t the year, and quite possibly there won’t be time for IwoM training until the lil man is considerably older and can make his own breakfast more independent.  However, my bike has sat on the trainer for several years now and it will be coming off this spring.  I will be going back to triathlon and may possibly just stick to the International distance to keep the peace the training requirements in the manageable range.  So you can look for me and my beautiful bike on the TRI circuit again next year.

And I’ll be probably be wearing my Team TOUGH CHIK jersey.   

Check out the intro to Team Tough Chik and join me and lots of other ladies who will be racing under that name this year……running, biking, TRI-ing. 

Make it Happen!                                                                                                                Amanda – TooTallFritz                                                                            amanda@tootallfritz.com

Another windy run…..

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It’s another windy day in the country.   We are having  25+ mph winds with gusts up to 40 mph……or so weatherbug says.  I’m a “big” girl and was blown all over the road today.  It won’t be getting better for a long time so I need to stop being a wuss buckle down a bit as I’m apparently too soft from running the trails all summer with the protection of the trees.  And since I was running my roads today there won’t be lots of beautiful pics but I did stop and take some anyhow. 

The beginning of the run heads south and the wind was coming almost full on from the south so I only made it about three miles before bailing on to my friend Nicki’s road just in case I needed a ride blew away. 

Then I looped around Nicki’s house again in case I changed my mind for safety reasons.

Due to our location which is out in the middle of NOWHERE very rural but also accessible to some major roads, we have a lot of blind bridges, turns and overpasses.  This makes running any amount of distance almost impossible without eventually approaching one of these dangerous intersections.  Of course, I could always run in a circle around a 4 or 6 mile “section” but basically, I can’t run past my house (or my car) more than one time or I  whimp out go inside and cut the run short.

So I manged to get it in today but it wasn’t easy.  I used some time management skills that backfired.  Hate it when a good plan goes bad.  How do you manage to get it all in…..kids, house, life, work, and “hobby”?  Let me know cuz some days I struggle!

10.2 miles – 1:39.49 – Do I get a wind handicap?  Multiple stops for photos, stepped off road 1x for two large pieces of farm equipment that took up entire road, stopped 2x for busy road crossings, and stopped 1x on busy road to get further off edge as I thought I was going to die get hit.

“Run”way Fashion – last year’s Athleta Hopkinton Top, Hot Choc WIND BREAKER, and Skirt Sport tights.

Run Happy…..You never know what kind of shit will hit the fan when you step back into the house reality.

Amanda – TooTallFritz

Step Outside the Box

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As the sun sank from the sky last night, I was just arriving at the Grainery in Frankfort to meet up with friends for a run.  Fortunately, I was a few minutes early so was able to run around like an idiot and grab a few photos.  The first was looking west on Old Plank toward the Grainery  thru the power lines.

Then I ran east on the trail to grab a few photos within a short distance of the parking lot as the sunlight was fading. 

The life around the pond seems to be dying with the autumn.  I think winter is heading our way, like it or not.

I was really amazed at how differently everything looked in low light.  I normally run in the dark or as the sun is coming up and this was a nice change.  I look forward to comparing similar photos in the winter, spring and summer.   I must say one of my favorite things so far about blogging is that I am now making a better effort to document my surroundings by photographing some of the beautiful sites that I take for granted on a daily basis.  God is good.

At this point, the light was fading fast and I jogged back to await the arrival of a few Frankfort Running Club ladies.  Note to the earring wearing crowd, don’t wear french wires while running in low 30 degree temps……ears get cold from the inside out. 

Susan D. and Maggie W. soon arrived and I quickly ushered them into the bathroom light for a quick photo.

After the ladies so kindly obliged my abnoxious photo request, we ran off into the dark.  I just recovered from the stomach flu so the plan was to be short and slow.  I must say this was a perfect run.  I really enjoyed the added dynamic which Maggie brought and I hope that she comes back!  Work & life are crazy, the holidays are coming, then the flu and not that you care but it’s total pandemonium which is on Aby’s spelling list this week  at home with a male, second born, toddler/child in the house.  Chaos reigns.  This run was a great stress reliever that was much-needed and I was thankful to have been along for the “ride”.  In all aspects it was easy, fun, brought about a new friendship and was filled with conversation about living life, making goals, accountability, future endeavors and stepping outside the box of your personal comfort zone.  

I challenge you to try something new……join a running group, train for a triathlon, hike the Grand Canyon, learn to snow ski, register for a road race, just pick something different and MAKE IT HAPPEN.  Muster the confidence to attempt something that a younger, more immature you would have never had the guts courage to try.  Time is of the essence.  Where do you plan to go next?  

Nike+ GPS Stats – 3.96 miles – 36:46 (9:18 pace)                                                                 Garmin GPS Stats – 4.00 miles – 36:46 (9:09 pace) 

“Run”way Fashion – I got a super “one day deal” from SkirtSports on this Happy Hour V-Neck long sleeve.  LOVE.  Can I wear this every day?  Go to the SkirtSports page to sign up for their email deals or check them out on Facebook!

Step outside of “your” box……soon,                                                                                Amanda – TooTallFritz                                                                                 amanda@tootallfritz.com

Chicago’s Perfect 10 (2011) – GUEST Race Review

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There’s a new race in town and since I don’t have a money tree in my back yard time to run them all, I was thankful that I had an “eye” at the race in a runner named Diane F. (& Company) from the Frankfort Running Club.   This was an inaugural race so there wasn’t much press on it, in fact, I haven’t even heard much about it in the days post-race.  The Perfect 10 did start and finish at one of Chicago’s most family friendly attractions, Navy Pier, so I’m very interested to see how it went just in case I can suck my family into attending one race next year.  Thanks to Diane F. for taking the time to compile this report and send some photos cuz the visual is almost more important than the words.

Race Review by Diane F. – Frankfort Running Club

The Good:      

  • Weather was AWESOME!
  • Start was fast!  I couldn’t even tell you where the start was as we had JUST enough time to get to Navy Pier, potty, and get to the start line (and take a pre-race photo).
  • Ran along Navy Pier (gorgeous) and lakefront (past Grant Park, behind Shedd Aquarium, past Soldier Field and down to about 31st St.)
  • Miles were CLEARLY marked and each mile marker ALSO had a clock!
  • LOTS of water stations (I think there were 4)
  • Music at, I think, 2 water stations
  • Packet pick up was easy
  •  Shirts are cool
  • Medals are AWESOME!
  • Results were posted to the website quickly.
     
     The Bad: 
  • Not enough post race food!  (only water and banana)
  • Not enough camera people!  (only 2 and they were about 10 ft from each other)
  • 10K and 10 milers started at the same time (though they were supposed to start 10K after 10M, but I think because of the time change they had to do all together) So it made for a kinda cramped area along the path (though it was short-lived) 

 It was a PERFECT day and race.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and would definitely do it again and recommend it to anyone else. 

 

Awesome job, Diane F.!  Thanks for taking the time to articulate your thoughts on the very first Chicago Perfect 10!  If I may be presumptuous read between the lines, it sounds like you had a great race, had fun with your friends, Perfect 10 had a good start and did lots of things right but possibly has a small post-race food budget few kinks to work out for next year. I advise ALL race directors to bring on the food or go to Indiana to see how races feed people post-race.  Runners like to eat, in fact you can ask my hubby most run to eat.

Anyone else run the Perfect 10 this weekend?  Share your thoughts with us in the comments section! 

Happy Running & EATING!                                                                                                      Amanda – TooTallFritz                                                                                 amanda@tootallfritz.com

13.1 Valpo (2011) Race Review……and Wind Gust alert

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The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.               John Bingham

Yesterday was one of those days that if you hauled your ass out of bed got out to run, you are a winner in my book.  The wind had been howling out here in NoWheresVille since Saturday and by Sunday morning we were under a wind advisory aka….hope you have a big ass ate a lot of Halloween Candy so you didn’t blow away.  I specifically registered for 13.1 Valpo to chase the elusive 1:50 dream goal.  I ran a 1:53 in September in a very injured state and knew was pretty sure I had this in the bag.  However, I shouldn’t have been so cocky a person can never predict performance since each race, and the conditions, is distinctly different…… even if you think you know what to expect. 

The Valparaiso wind factor was approximately 26 mph with gusts up to 36 mph. (Update:  I was told below in the comments that the wind was even stronger and hitting 45-50mph and gusting to 55mph at times.)  Had we been running a city race, this wouldn’t have been as much of an issue because the large skyscrapers provide a great wind break.  However, if you have been to Valpo, you already know there really isn’t a “city”, but lots of corn fields and we run past all of them, on tar & chipped, sloped country roads.  You might ask why I would choose this event for a PR and that is because I have run enough races to know that the fewer people there are to dodge on course and at water stops the faster the finish.  I have also ran a lot of miles on my own tar & chipped, sloped country roads so am somewhat of an expert in country running.  I was familiar with this race, knew the course, and was happy with last year’s set up or lack there of.  This may be a small country race but the Fleet Feet Schererville Team sponsors it so there is adequate water, port-o-pots, and on course support without it being overwhelming.  You won’t find support at every mile here but more spread out to every 2 or 3 miles. They don’t have fancy clocks at every mile but instead exuberant volunteers calling out the time.  David M. (aka:  Frogger) was calling splits and encouragement at mile 9!And nothing beats the post race spread at a Hoosier ran event.  So happy to be Hoosier born on days like this……

I really came for the chili!  LOVE!

I can’t possibly lie since TH Timing already published my finish, this race was rough for me.  I never really felt bad but also never got into a grove either, then we can add in the wind which literally pushed me from side to side multiples times.  I felt like I was crawling in spots and several times a foot in the upswing would kick the opposite ankle cuz the wind was so strong it would push my foot in mid air/stride.  I also made a stupid rookie mistake early on and started with my jacket knowing the temps were good but the wind had me scared nervous and shaking with  fear cold.  So I was busy repinning my bib to my shirt and  taking off my jacket in the second mile.  The early splits which I usually see are in the late 7, early 8 range and well, there just weren’t any many of those.  The first half was okay, if there was any tail wind it was here but I hit the 7 mile at 1 hr and knew I was screwed not going to be make 1:50 or anything close.  I typically take a dive in the later miles, plus I knew we were preparing to run directly into the wind.  The good part about being slow letting so many people pass me was that I met some new runners.  People talk to you when you wear your heart on your sleeve have your name on your shirt.   Thanks Bob H. at RaceExpressions for another great shirt!

I ran with Mitzi T. around the 5th mile.  She is coach to the Speedy Cat J. who was 2nd overall female with a 1:35.  Here is an “after” photo with Cat, Hubby Eric, & Coach Mitzi.  Ms. Mitzi has both a brother and son named Fritz so my shirt caught her eye!  Thanks for talking with me for a bit before flying by to your phenomenal finish!  Great job Cat & Mitzi!

I also had the pleasure to meet another crazy blogger, Nick Q. from quirken.com.  Nick was kind enough to chat me up for a bit in the 7th mile and offer me a wind break once we dove into the wind in the 8th mile but alas I couldn’t hang.  Great race, Nick and thanks for slowing the pace  hanging with me for a bit!

All in all, it was a great race.  I would definitely run again and am happy with the race and overall support and post-race event.  We certainly can’t control the weather but I would certainly like to try just have to deal with what Mother Nature gives us with a positive attitude and a few prayers for a swift finish.  Today that finish just took a bit longer……2:02:25…….but I still got one of these…….

Today I was thankful this race was a 13.1 and not a 26.2…….that was my main focus in the last half.  Some days you just need to keep moving toward the finish and focus on the fact that you are doing something that most would never even think to attempt. 

Happy Running,                                                                                                            Amanda – TooTallFritz                                                                                  amanda@tootallfritz.com

Breaking the Rules….or So I Thought

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I have a few unwritten rules that I use for running and specifically racing.  As I get older more mature, my body is less forgiving of the required daily demands; therefore, rest days are a welcome relief must.  My biggest, unwritten rule is that I don’t run the day before race day.  Or at least, I haven’t EVER planned to run pre-race day until today.  You might ask what prompted me to consider breaking tradition?

It was Mel D. from Running for Kicks in Palos.             

Although there are a couple local running stores, I only use two.  Running for Kicks in Palos or if I’m heading to Indiana, Fleet Feet Schererville.  The majority of time I go to Running for Kicks for the same reason as 95% of their other customs……..Mel, Gail and a whole crew of RUNNERS who are waiting to help you and make your next run better than the last.  You walk into the store and I promise, it’s a family affair.   I can say this because I rarely go unless I am dragging 3/4 of my little family, which includes a little shit man who is trying to climb the walls.  The Running For Kicks staff never bats an eye regardless of how they really feel his antics.

Today Running for Kicks partnered with Saucony to host a trail run where you could try out the new Saucony trail shoes and then for 1 hour after the run, you could    1) win one of three pair of Saucony Trail  Shoes being raffled off and   2) get a 20% discount on any Saucony shoes/merchandise.  This is huge for me because I run in Saucony exclusively, except for 5K racing, and each pair of my shoes start at $100.  So by attending this event, I would have automatically been guaranteed a $20 shoe savings…..which for my cheap ass me was reason enough to secure a sitter, and “break the rules”. 

This fun run and shoes savings never happened for me today because my little man got the flu last night and we all know what that does to the house and the family.   For most of us, running is a hobby and that means it will always take a backseat to the family.  There was no way I was going to leave him with somebody else while he was sick regardless of my own plans/desires.  He seems fine now so back to running talk with lots of laundry, carpet shampooing, and bed changing  fun in between.

Did you attend the Running For Kicks/Saucony Trail Run?  Did you win the FREE shoes?  Have you ever participated in a similar event?  If you attended, or were lucky enough to win the shoes, let me know!  I’ll see you at the next event or maybe 13.1 Valpo if I’m not puking tomorrow. 

Update:  Gail R. let me steal a few of her photos!!  Here are the three winners, Joe W., Kelly W.  and George B.  congrats to all three of you!

Happy Running!                                                                                                                     Amanda – TooTallFritz