Tammy - I saw and talked with Scary Clown Dude.  He and a couple of friends were sitting near me on the bus to the starting line.  I realized who he was once I figured out they were talking about the relay.  Of course, once the start horn sounded, I never saw them again. 

Tet - The water level of the creek crossing varies, depending on the amount of rain we've had, and the race start/date varies to coincide with low tide.  This is the deepest I've seen it in the 5 or 6 times I've run the race.  The finish line is another 2 1/2 miles down the beach. It's like a beautiful dance in hell.  The view is stunning, but it takes FOREVER to get to the finish line.  And when you finally see it in the distance, you know it's still another 10-15 minutes away (at least for me).

As we were crossing, the lady in front of me (probably late 60's, early 70's) stepped in a low spot, instantly lost her footing and went in up to her neck, but never let go of the rope or her water bottle.  It was a few tense moments as the Coasties worked with her to get her feet back under her.  Her comment was, "THIS has never happened to me before."  She was very calm about the whole thing.  After we got across, she and I were running together most of the rest of the way and she said in her 35 years of running the race, that's the first time she's lost her footing.  If she'd lost her grip on the rope and got past the rope crew, there was another rescue swimmer a few feet away, as well as plenty of other rescue folks staying near the water.

Beautiful pics, Tramps.  It looks very quiet and serene.

Love the squirrels!

 

I'd be one of the folks carrying their shoes. I don't like running with wet feet.

Yes, but then you have wet, soggy feet, covered with sand, that you have to get back into the shoes and socks.  Or if you left the socks on, wet soggy socks.  Plus walking across the rocky bottom shoeless.  Not sure which option is worse.

Marj - wish I was there!

Enke - looks like fun!

Tramps - I use safari and photoshop - maybe they don't sync as well.  occasionally i can't see photos the first time, but later they show up - not sure why.

fatozzig - you're crazy going in water that deep - definitely shows what a wimp i am.  i hate those races when you can see the finish line, but it's no where near -

boston/ massachusetts doesn't have happy hour, but fort lauderdale does and we're enjoying it!  all the places have different rules, but we've found a couple we've really enjoyed both the food and the wine - and dinner gets cooked much later!

marj

5 completed on the tm. Apparently the sun came out to play while I was working and I missed it.

nice x-skiing enke.

looks/sounds like C/R and flats could've joined you.

Kind of off the beaten track though?

up at the cabin?

be careful.

.

Thanks C-R. I went over to the library

for a little better screen view of the carrying shoes.

Not many socks showing but, if it's like most triathletes

\who seem to wear shoes after the swim

<<<(ed note: that would be everyone except him)>>>,

it's so hard to put socks on wet feet that most triathletes

do the bike and run sine socks.  Maybe trail/beach runners

ford with socks and run wet thereafter.  Neither way makes

much sense when it's lots easier, .. . and, especially on a beach,

fun without.

.

Little breeze this afternoon making it seem colder than 43^o

plus some sprinkles dampening plans to add on to this morning's

0.5 miles.  Hope 0.5-miles makes Jay's list.  Sprinkles or not,

I'll do better tomorrow, . . . unless it's "showers,"

"rain," etc.,  whatever is worse than sprinkles.

Coastwalker, being out in the stars sounds nice.

Tramps, that's a beautiful creature.

Leslie, the river crossing looks fun.

Enke, Nice pictures.

Flats, UGH.

2.7 miles. We didn't get out until well after sunset.  It was OK, however, a tree kept following us.