Heading out on a Fall Running Road Tri

I left a couple days earlier than I originally planned so that I could spend a couple days with Ken and Kristy in Tijeras. I wanted to check out a course that I might run a half marathon on in April. I stayed the first night in Williams, Arizona where they had already had snow the night before. Then I stopped at El Malpais to get in a few miles for the Run The World Challenge. It was cold with a light rain but still pretty. 

We had perfect weather to hike the trail that I’m considering racing at Cedro Peak Trail Run in April. It’ll be a tough one but the plus is that there is a long time that the course is open because of the longer races. 

While at the Meunier’s I got started on a series on Netflix, Longmire. It was really good so I continued watching at Stacie’s and will finish all six seasons before I go back to California. 

When I left Tijeras I was taking an indirect route to Missouri because I wanted to run a race in Mississippi and knock out another state. I still haven’t made a 100% commitment to doing all 50 states but when I have an opportunity I’m going to take it. The race turned out to be really small town, no bibs, no times, no age groups, no results and no awards but it was a fun experience. 

The night before the race I went to a Blues Club owned by Morgan Freeman that Clarence told me to go to. Clarksdale, Mississippi was a town with an amazing Blues history. 

I got to Stacie’s for the rest of the weekend that included some celebrating for Haley’s Birthday and the only hockey game I would see of Chase’s this trip. A highlight for Haley was going to feed the llamas and alpacas at Rockwood Reservation. 

As I always do I took advantage of the many great places to run in St. Louis and Stacie, Tom and I did the GG St. Louis 10K. It was a cold morning and probably tougher for Stacie and Tom because they had a Halloween party the night before. I surprised myself by running 4 minutes faster than last year.