Torraine Lake (Arkansas)
100 marathons, 100 miler AND somehow someway a cross-country trek with my best bud Ro. Called it out on the reboot video in March — all talk? Heck no, life’s meant to be lived. Even the poorly planned parts. LOL> 8 Prairie 50Ks, Colfax Marathon, Texas Triple o’er Memorial Day… just a 10-day window ’til my next 50K start in Delaware.
Wagon HO, East Coast we GO! 2 suitcases, 6 pair of trail/road shoes, bag of dog food & whole lotta treats. Overnight stops planned with Mom, Bro & Sis. Ro’s first hotel stays.
Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania & Delaware. Prepped with a travel carrier & white-noise machine. Like a cold-water swim — no gettin’ used to change, just jump in. HAHA!
Whole lotta miles, whole lotta… truck stops, rest areas, patches of roadside grass. 30-minute breaks when Pup got green but... a week later, SUCCESS!
Transport coordinated for Ro in Delaware. He’d travel on to New England; I’d start an 11-day run series. Reunited in Maine. Lobstah roll & East Coast squirrels await! 🦀
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- groomed & READY
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- HOTEL patrol
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- Mom & Ro ❤️
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- Sis’ SUMMER
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- lights OUT
Colorado to Delaware
Riverboat REGALIA
Happy May Day!
Welcome to all the new subscribers from my podcast interview a few weeks back. It’s been a fun new energy! And while my blog re-boot has had an immediate ‘rewirement’ focus & 100 marathon/100-miler target… for all the folks following pre-pandemic, today addressing the blog’s second highest # of comments.
Where’s Ro? What happened to your dog?
Rowan is a couple years older but happy, healthy & active ❤️
He thanks all his fans for reaching out & asking — LOL>
Pup is now 12 years old (October birthday). Sleeps bit more, hikes few miles less (was never a runner), lot fewer teeth, still a HUGE appetite (both of us bloated during home isolation), continues to protect our neighborhood from squirrels/rabbits/prairie dogs — and also a CANCER SURVIVOR!
When I marathon-travel, Ro generally stays across the street at a local kennel (Divine Canine) — his ‘home away from home’. He’s a regular there & well-loved by staff. We used the Rover app frequently pre-pandemic but like a lotta things after that period… life changed, new norms created, new folks enter your life.
BIG things on the horizon?
End-of-month we plan to drive cross-country & spend the summer with family in New England, returning Colorado-home early August. Not sure the logistics but we’re 100% committed. It’s gonna happen. New travel carrier purchased. Ro’s first East Coast adventure awaits! Yankee squirrels be warned!
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- Mount Sniktau
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- BEST bud ❤️
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- BOW TIE gent
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- Spring SNOW ❄️
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- Christmas ’22
Rowan O’Roark 2024
Digging rewirement.
Bro called during last week’s Appalachia journey & asked if I could travel to Kansas City, attend a show with my Mom & Sis (& keep it quiet). Middle of week, Wednesday? Hmm… no work constraints, just a matter of reserving a kennel spot for Ro. Absolutely!
Weekend marathon in New England — could reschedule departing flight from St Louis (instead of Denver) & spend a day with Sis. Rewirement getting better & better 🙂
Show was a big hit –‘though I think we could have better tempered the surprise. Every 30 minutes another child randomly appeared. Seemed more like a family intervention as we all gathered around Mom in the hotel lobby. LOL> Honestly just amazed I could keep my mouth shut. I’m not great with secrets — & Bro did an incredible job with this one!
Morning miles with Sis, family breakfast goodbye, 4 hours highway to St Louis.
Meanwhile… Nor’easter caused my marathon to be cancelled & hurricane-winds forecasted for my Colorado home. Should’ve stayed in Kansas City! LOL> Lost minimal food during our 42-hour power outage — thanks Mom for prayers — used time to formalize upcoming week’s training block & catch-up on sleep.
Bear Peak hike (altitude training), NCAR hill repeats, a SOLAR eclipse — then 5 hours Friday to Fruita, on Colorado’s Western Slope.
Trail day tomorrow. 10-day break from marathoning, ready ready ready to run.
Desert RATS 50K (Racing Across The Sand), an UTMB qualifier.
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- FAMILY outing in KC
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- morning miles w Sis
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- 42 hours darkness
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- training block RESUMES
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- BALD eagle
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- Bear Peak climb
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- NCAR hill repeats
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- DOGS ONLY patio
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- ECLIPSE Day 2024
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- Desert RATS registration
KC to Fruita
