Certified Runner?

You know you're a certified official runner when you get a certificate in the mail form MasterCard. During our group run this morning, Javamom and I decided that spending money is what makes you a runner. OK, we're a bit punch drunk by this time. Another group run with Javamom, Pokey and a new addition - GGT. We ran up the canal to the gas station and back for 6 miles. Then GGT had to run (ha ha) and the three of us did another 2.5 miles in Tumbleweed park. My garmin's battery died in the parking lot, so no maps this time.

During our run, the Java Spot was found. Lisa, did not beg and plead to stop. Although she might have driven their afterwards.

Now Lisa had this great ideal to run off road to extend the distance. Which lead to the train tracks and a not so friendly trail. Pokey and I were so intent on keeping our eyes down on the wooden train ties that we didn't see Javamom, who found some flat dirt. See picture - Pokey on the tracks and Javamom running easy.

The price you pay for leading your running group astray.

Then I dropped Lisa and Karen off at their cars and thought I would add 2.5 miles on my run to make it a perfect 11 mile run. Back to the canal and I headed south on new (to me) trails. But, I forgot my bodyglide and my shorts were making me miserable at this point. I added about a mile onto the run. I thought about using the horse trough to take an ice bath, but I came to my senses before I did.

I thought this was cool. You push the button on the left and the trough fills with water for your horse.

All in all, I got 9.5 miles in. A little bit over 2 hours on my feet and a week away from my next half marathon.

OHH! I forgot to tell you about the bathroom. At around mile 8, we stopped so that Lisa could have a potty break. She went in and who should appear but 6 cute little cheerleaders cheering their cute little cheers at a very high level. All heading for the bathroom too. I told them if they kept the cheering up in the bathroom I would give them a buck. So, in they went cheering their cute little cheers while lisa was busy in the same bathroom. They even cheered "Go Lisa Go" which is quite appropriate giving that she was in the bathroom. The cheerleaders came out, all six of them and I couldn't just give them one dollar. I ended up giving them $6, so the math would be easy for them. After all, they are cheerleaders.

Funny thing is, Lisa was a cheer coach in her teaching days. I would have taken a picture, but I realized I was an old guy hanging outside a public restroom giving cute little cheerleaders money. As you would guess, I ran away before the cute little cheerleaders told their daddies about me.