Word of the Day: Social Running

45-minute drive from my hotel in Hiawatha KS.  Bestest experience!  Kind older couple bought & fully-renovated this spot, top-to-bottom.  2-nite stay.  Clean, QUIET.  Unpacked, got organized for an hour after a long hot shower then slept a solid 6 hours.  Highly recommended.  FANTASTIC!

Early a.m. truck-stop coffee.  Ready, ready to run.  Was in St Joseph 2 years ago with Sis.  Tornado hit our destination race in Brookings SD, so… we last-minute jumped into this run.  That day was super hot on an exposed path near the riverboat casino (they used an alternative route due to flooding). Today’s riverwalk course, right along the Missouri River.  Trees, shade, short hill, pedestrian bridge — all beside a Nature Center.  Would be the prettiest course on the Prairie.  Go Missouri!

Afternoon temp high 80’s — goal to run a Half, walk/run/jog a Half.  Stayed on target first 10k, felt good.  Met my one: Missy, a physician.  Wore a St Jude’s shirt.  My first Tennessee race was St Jude’s. Had chose Memphis for Graceland; left with forever memories of children standing outside the hospital @ Mile 9.  Missy began running as an outlet.  Mother of twin daughters; one a patient, brain cancer. Rest of our walk/jog… her story.  But WOW, folks — I was blessed ❤️

2nd Half got warm, crazy humid.  Buggy when ya hit shade.  Slower finish time than day prior but left pumped, inspired, FULL.  Never know what a person is going through, their personal walk.

Talk.  Smile.  Laugh.  Interact.  Life is meant to be lived.

Prairie Series – St Joseph MO