09/21/2022:

few years ago, I found an interesting race in Indiana in August. For whatever reason, it didn't work out. Then again, I thought about it but Covid hit. Then this year, I thought about it once again. I suggested it to people and the response I got was interesting. Jamey said maybe but probably only if Raina would go. The Freds said definite maybe. Wife said yes. Whoa...

Some time later, Jamey was a no. Mikey and Matet were yes to do the trail marathon while Elizabeth was on for the 1/4 marathon. Nice!

Plan for us was to fly there Friday night after she finished work and run the race Saturday. Chill out Saturday. Sunday was to go to the zoo or something and then early AM flight Monday. The date worked well for her because it was the last day of the summer session at her school. Monday she was on vacation so it worked... Daughter agreed to deal with the dogs. Matet also had the same thing in terms of her school so it really all worked out. Nice... I was at the YMCA working when Mikey hits me with Yes for Indiana and send me your flight and hotel info ASAP. Long story short, Same exact flight there and back but different hotels. Both hotels tho were near the airport so literally 7 minutes away. I told him not to get a car and we would go together to save some money.

Friday rolls around and I'm packed. Elizabeth was mostly packed. She got home, fed the dogs and Jessie and I walked them while she finished packing. Donald came and picked us up and drove us to LGA. At LGA, I get a text from Mikey, "I see you!". I thought perhaps through the windows as we walking down a hall that had a parallel hall next to us but suddenly I decide to look back and there in the distance is Mikey. He ordered food and coffee and had to walk far to get it.

By the way, just a note: My bags usually never get searched but due to Elizabeth's powder detergent, they looked through my bag and took a sample. They also asked if I have wipes in there. This is after the security conveyor belt broke after Elizabeth had gone through the body scan and I was stuck on the other side trying to make things work. I ended up grabbing stuff off and using a different conveyor.

We sat together until it was time to get on the plane. Flight was fine and the good news was that we landed early. This was nice as we had a longish walk at the airport to the car and that took a looooong time. Finally dropped them off and then to our hotel. Our hotel was Meh but overall ok. I woke up early to get ready and because Elizabeth was there and I didn't want to wake her up, I used the bathroom as my base. I still used it as a bathroom but also sat on the floor with my breakfast and played on the phone and read until it was time to wake her up. She didn't sleep that well so that sucked. I can sleep anywhere.

We picked them up and went to race site. We got there in the dark, very very early. I would think we would get the closest parking lots but it turns out that once that parking lot was full, the closer to race start would fill up. Whatever... It was chilly and I was very happy for my gloves.

Walked over to indoor plumbing and that was a relief. Took the little blue pill and talked to people. Always gotta make friends.

Met this nice woman from Kansas named Rachel Hancock and we talked a little.

The Beaver Chase had a few different races going on and since it was a new venue for them, not a lot of detail as to what to expect. They had a quarter marathon (2 loops), a half marathon (4 loops), a full marathon (8 loops), a relay race and virtual garbage too which I won't talk about.

Each loop was approximately 3.275 miles long and featured 3 ups and 3 downs. It was all trail. There was the start/finish aid station and another aid station that you see twice. You would leave the start and meander a little until a bridge. Right before the bridge was the second aid station that only had water and gatoraide. You cross the bridge and then went up a tough dirt hill. Once up there, a meandering path until you go back down that hill and to the bridge. Cross the bridge, hydrate and make a left down another small hill. Make the left turn (will come back to this left turn later) and again a little meandering until you get to "the bridge". A famous, not sure why, bridge which was kinda bouncy and another climb, a nasty single track twisty downhill and later another climb to the parking lot where we were parked and eventually to the finish which featured salty snack options and again water and gatoraide. That's one loop. In terms of the hills, if I remember correctly, the difficulty level was like this. For the ups, the first was the hardest, then the third and then the second. For the downs, the second was the hardest followed by the first and then the third.

We started. I figured I would see Elizabeth here and there. She had the option to stay or leave. Matet would beat me as usual these days and Mikey was the wildcard here. At the Pajama Romp, he suddenly announced that he is spectating after 18ish miles which was weird.

I like trails and I decided that I'm feeling ok and I never have a problem with getting chicked but if Matet wanted to beat me, then she would have to work at it. For these 8 loops, I would see her around the same area every single time!!! Very unnerving.

We ran and ran. Elizabeth did fine but remember "that turn"? She missed it on the first loop. Apparently, a few others also missed it. So after she finished her race, she went for another loop but decided to do it backwards. She did some backwards loops at the Pajama Romp but that was NOT a trail race. People were shocked to see her go backwards. She thought it might also help her IT Band but still, it was awesome to see.

I gotta go back to the results and check names because they are escaping me but I ran a little with a dude who was doing the half. Kelly McGovern and I did 2 loops together. He has Chicago coming up I believe and so it was a good training run for him. I was sad to see him leave.

Remember that first long dirt climb? Somewhere after that, I would always see Matet. She didn't see me tho. She was laser focused on finishing. I was on the lookout for her. I had a feeling that she lost steam on the downhills and so I made sure to push them.

I then met with a guy whose name I think was Paul. He apparently had just done 20K Vert the previous weekend. JEEZ! Later, he told me that maybe that was a stupid idea of him but the following weekend he is definitly doing it again. Wow...

I liked talking to him. Taught me some southern idioms.

Also met a dude who was running the relay with his brother. They would switch off every loop so that they can run hard every time. Nice. I also saw the winner who lapped me a few times...

On the last loop, as I finished crossing the bridge, I saw Mikey. He was finishing loop 7 while I was starting loop 8. He stopped me and said, "what are we going to do about dinner?". I answered, "EAT! Now stop talking and go finish!". He was totally out of it. Nonetheless, while I always love seeing Mikey, I had a feeling that he would see his wife and give my position away and I was worried.

I stopped to pee in the middle of the path and then caught these 3 teens. Apparently, when they signed up for the Marathon, no one noticed the word "trail" and so they were hurting. Talked to them and left. Not too far later, I sighted Matet and she was far closer than I wanted. It was the closest ever that she got to me actually and it freaked me out. NO WAY - NO HOW that in the last few miles, she would get me. She wants it then she's gonna have to fight. I took off. A cyclist came up and we talked. He was from the race people. Matet said that he almost ran her over. I pushed all the downs. I pushed the ups. I kept her away but spotted her again later which was not good. At this point, I knew the course and knew when and where to push. Out of sight, out of mind, so whenever we hit a turn, I took off hard. Finally, up the last hill and into the parking lot and to the finish. Matet was about 2 minutes later. We were talking and got worried about Mikey. I went down the hill to find him and escort him back. Took a little while until I found him.

We eventually left and back to the hotels.

We didn't meet them for dinner that night. I ended up driving all over trying to find food for Elizabeth and me and eventually, I got chinese food and then set Waze to the wrong place and ended up driving an extra 40 minutes. Awesome...

Still, we ate and all was good. We were going to go to sleep around 9. Over the bed, was a smoke alarm which emitted a blinding light every 20 seconds. This bothered us. Elizabeth was about to put a band aid over the light and the damn thing beeped and flashed. She didn't touch it yet but what?

I looked and ALL the alarms in the hallway were lighting up. And then the firefighters showed up... What do we do? I looked at their body language and they weren't in a hurry so I just watched from the window. They left 10-15 minutes later. I asked the next day and the front desk (AM shift) wasn't even told about it. She speculated that someone cooking set it off and no big deal. OK... By the way, all their staff, including the front desk, wore surgical clothes. It was strange.

Sunday, we woke up early and had no dogs to walk. We just chilled and watched tv. Eventually, we picked the Freds up, and had brunch and from there went to the zoo. The zoo was great and we had a great time. From there, we decided on Chic Fillet, but the guy who suggested it finally remembered that they were usually closed on Sundays. So pizza it is and back to the hotel. Early AM pickup and on a flight and eventually Uber home and walk the dogs.

A few things here... I enjoyed myself thoroughly. I had a mini vacation with Elizabeth. We went with friends. I got another state. All is good. Elizabeth, Matet and Mikey had some complaints tho and I will chronicle them here with my thoughts.

Complaint	My take on it
Not one of us got Medals. They ran out. Worse, they gave one to a person who finished AFTER Elizabeth but not to her.	They screwed up. Yup! They had sent an email that they have extra, meanwhile nada. They did send an apology email later explaing what happened and sent us the medals. Still sucked in the moment.
Elizabeth and a few other runners missed a turn.	Most people didn't so I don't think it was the race organizers fault so much. They could have had more signs - true.
Out of the 4 of us, my name was the only name announced at the finish. They actually got it right too. Elizabeth was really annoyed about that in terms of the Freds. Not so much about herself. She thought anyone who does a marathon, should get their name called out.	I agree tho I really don't care about my name as it is usually gets so mangled.
Lastly, she thought they should have bananas at the finish or at least something a little healthy rather than the garbage they had.	I agree. By the way, their gatoraide was mixed BAD! It was terrible. All I had was water.

Still, I enjoyed myself even though the only wildlife I saw was 1 squirell (twice).