My trip to see the family-in-law for Thanksgiving was great in all fronts. I had a lot of time to sit by the cold and sunny beach to write and ponder. I had a chance to go shopping and to eat more than I should have. I also was blessed with a special date with the lovely "Woods Lady" aka maEcono.
Now, I have met this glorious runner before at a local OR race, but this was the first time that we really had a chance for our "runner's heart" to meet each other. I showed up for my date around 10 minutes late (some calls are just too precious to ignore ). Anyway, I ran to her house from my MIL's house (isn't it amazing that MaEcono lives only 3.5 miles from my MIL's house and that I had run up to the bottom of her driveway so many times over the years).
“ Run up my drive way”- said maEcono and running uuuuuuupppppppp her driveway I did. After a hug, a glass of water and a tour of her house to see her "runner's altar" we took off for a run in the woods. Now, for an ordinary runner this would be a frontier type of running...off her house her trail takes you to the heart of the woods. Lovely trees, shrubs and wild animals would be your companion on this run any time of the day.
Being a frontier lady myself, I was in my element and I loved this wild run every step of the way.
After a 20 or so minutes of walking on her steep trail that served us as a warm up course we encountered a rustic forest service road and then we started running, of course we chatted all along the whole way. I think Woods Lady should write a RR telling us her running story because her story could move anyone to start running. Anyway, her woods route is very inspiring, one can see a lake and the ocean from her path…yeah…one lucky runner she is. It took all my will power to leave the many lovely spots we saw to keep on running, but the effort was blessed with more lovely views, great terrain and a wonderful company. We talked a lot about our "running history", about you all and what you mean to us as “newbie runners”
We talked about our challenges as runners, about our dreams and our next steps. Most importantly we talked in length about what this RA running community means to our hearts.
We both hopped that many running friends will join us at the Newport, OR race in June…after all, MaEcono wants to meet many more of her RA running friends…
and...............
You would not want to disappoint her…
right?
"Champions are everywhere; all you need is to train them properly..." ~Arthur Lydiard
mariposai, thanks for posting about your meeting and run with Woods Lady. It's so neat that you two lovely ladies could get together and have such a nice run in a beautiful setting.
TomS
Tammy
Carolyn
I hammered down the trail, passing rocks and trees like they were standing still.
Mariposai, the pleasure was all mine. You make me blush. We did have a great time sharing running stories, and I loved showing you my hill and woods. Thank you for making time in your vacation to come and run with me. I am so happy you think my hills are "real hills" worth the name, and that you think my running place is pretty.
I'm sorry I didn't do a better job of taking your picture. Now, can I make this one of me my official RA picture? Can anyone tell me how to transfer it over to my home/log page? I'm not good at this sort of thing.
Yep, I'd love to see many of you at Newport, OR. on June 5th.
What a wonderful day you had together! Thanks for writing and posting the pictures!
Mariposai, you sure have been getting around lately. I'm very envious of all the places you've seen and RA peeps you've gotten to meet... and run with!
Leslie Living and Running Behind the Redwood Curtain -------------
Trail Runner Nation
Sally McCrae-Choose Strong
Bare Performance
Maniac 505
How fun, and what great pictures. I look forward to seeing everyone in Newport.
Dave
SteveP
MM#209 / JapanJoyful#803
thanks for takin' care of mariposai.
she does so much for everyone else, she deserves it from all of us too.
ps - uhmm, no particular reason but do you like oysters too?
pps - let me know when you find out how to do the avatar.
ppps - why do they call it an avatar?
"Enjoy yourself. Your younger days never come again." 100yo T. Igarashi to me in geta at top of Mt. Fuji (8/2/87)
avatar. Maybe it has something to do with flying. That is something like running, is it not?
Marathon Maniac #957
Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, "Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapenos."