Why We Run

Ink and a big horn.

Rosie has left the gate

Van 2 here. Taylor shot out of the starting gate at 12:20 and knowing him, won't stop for another 7.97 miles. We cheered him briefly and have been riding the course, marveling At the length of the legs, the steepness of the hills, and the hotness of the day, and smirking because we don't have to run it. Our time will come around 5:30. In the meantime we are going to a vet to get ear medicine for our mascot Lotti. Then lunch!

It is the warmest, most beautiful start day we've had. We are noticing all kinds of beautiful scenic features that in all past years have been obscured by clouds and/or driving rain.

Decorating the Vans

The Rosie Ruiz Fan Club has convened its 2012 session in Lincoln, New Hampshire at the Indian Head Resort Hotel.  We all arrived by 10:00 pm Thursday night and some of us got a good night's sleep.  Others of us slept on the pull out couches.  We awoke to a beautifully sunny morning today and are now busy decorating the vans.  Our start time is 12:20 this afternoon.  We could finish any time from 3:30 Saturday afternoon to 6:30 Saturday evening.  Stay tuned for updates from the road as time and internet access allow.

Welcome Rosie to Cannon Mountain or Close

We are not up at the mountain yet.  As of now we are still at the hotel where we camped out last night.  Three rooms 12 people I think you get the idea.

My van stopped for dinner at the Woodstock Station.  Us along with a boatload of other race teams!  Needless to say all of the bigger tables were taken so we split into two tables of 4.  We went there because it received 4 stars on Yelp and dinner was pretty good.

Once at the hotel I unveiled Nancy's surprise gift to the team.  She discovered these light up glow rings.  I think she may have found a way for us to finally identify our runners at night!  Now Joe, he did not seem so psyched to wear a tween girl's party gift while running.   But I think he was just grumpy from driving up and nearly getting a speeding ticket for his troubles.  Fortunately, the cop seemed to conclude that a group heading up for a race like this must all be nitwits and who can expect nitwits to know local speed limits!  So Joe got a warning!  Let us hear it for nitwits in large groups doing silly things!

Getting Ready to Go!

The adventure starts today!  Well, the adventure of packing.  Let me see what will I forget this year . . .  Last year it was my Garmin and anything warm to wear at night.  This year thanks to a last minute email from Nance, our teammate from last year who alas cannot make it this year, I will actually have long pants and a sweatshirt for the night!  Thanks Nancy!

To some degree I get to play team supply wagon.  Yours truly has the Gatorade, water, power outlets for the Green Line (van 1 to the uninitiated).  I am also in possession of a top secret equipment the team will be trying out for the first time this year.  This too is thanks to Nancy who discovered it and ordered it for the team.  This time from the whole team thank you Nancy!  Well the rest of them will thank you once they see what it is!

Race Weather Looks Good - A Sign of the Apocolapse?

I cannot believe it but the current forecast for this year's Reach the Beach Relay does not include torrential downpours!  In fact, it looks like we will have really nice running weather.  If it is sunny without any rain for the whole race it will be a first in my four years of running it.  I am going to go check for prophecies as to what this may mean.

Thanks to our 2011 teammate Nancy we have some surprise equipment for this year's race!  No doubt we will get lots of pictures showing it off.  Now if you are on the 2012 team make sure you are all healthy for the race start so you can see what the surprise is!

Two Weeks From Right Now...

Reach the Beach is my Christmas.  I look forward to it with the same flavor of giddy anticipation that December 25th used to have when I was a kid.  If all goes well, this will be my fifth Reach The Beach-New Hampshire---making me a member of the 1000 Mile Club.  In all four previous runnings I have been a proud member of the Rosie Ruiz Fan Club.  Many runners know who Rosie Ruiz is and they get a kick out of our team name.  If you do not know Ms. Ruiz, click here to find out more.

This year Team Rosie has eleven veterans and one virgin.  (See partial team photo below) We have assured the virgin that it might really hurt the first time, but that there is no possible way he will get pregnant.  I had a good run today straight up the 500-foot hill I have started working into my usual run and I am ready!  Two weeks from RIGHT NOW Van Two will be getting ready for its first legs and I will be practically crawling out of my skin with excitement.  I cannot wait...

Look for our vans decked out in the "T" logo of the MBTA Subway system.  And remember, why run when you can ride?