Cheryl and Julie Run the Hot Cocoa Classic and Marshmallow Mile.

Early Rise with Color! 

the Runners are Zombies!

So many pictures.  So little time or energy to blog about things.   I'll do my best to stay awake long enough to post this while I still have the Free WiFi here at the hotel...   So let's get started.

Killing time with Photos.

Epic Running is the Background!

Insanely early rise and shine here in the East Coast time zone. ( An hour earlier than we are used to.)  Neither Cheryl nor I got much sleep after that long drive from Iowa...But we managed to wake up and get to Jule's and Mike's house.   Thankfully,   they did the driving.

Staying warm near the fire. 

The challenge ahead of them. 

Poor Mike...  Had to work the day before and probably got as much sleep as we did, but still managed to drive us the two hours to Ann Arbor for the race.   Hats Off!

Julie and Cheryl at the Start.

Cheryl observes the route.

The weather was cold, but not crazy cold.   We stood in the Chalet where the fire and heat kept us warm until the sun finally rose above the horizon.   We killed time taking pics by the posters and scoping out the mountain the Ladies were going to climb.  It looked like it would be a paved trail for at least a small portion of the race.   But the grass was slippery and the lower areas still muddy.   There might still be risks involved.

Coming down the Hill.

The look to be in High Spirits.

As the one mile run... up the hill and down.   Cheryl and Julie tried to stay together the entire race.   It was a bit of a chore, but they managed to climb and descend the "large hill" remaining close enough together to allow Mike and myself to get a few pictures.    They both crossed the finish line together.

And then the rules changed...

Crossing the Finish together. 

The finisher's medal for the 1 mile hill run was a marshmallow man on a cloud of cream.   Kinda small, but it is only one part of the "real  medal that awaits.

Cheryl preps for the 5K. 

The Little Mallow Man Medal.

 Cheryl had slowed slightly so she could cross the finish like with Julie... and not kill her sister in the process.

She dashes by.

She is off with the Front runners.

For the 5 K, though,   the rules changed.    Cheryl was "frozen" running at Julie's pace and decided to strike out on her own.    She moved to the front of the pack and tried ot generate that runner's heat early for this race.  Nothing held her back this time.

Third female finisher. 1st in Masters.

She finishes Victorious!

She finished third female over all and number one in her age group and in the "Senior" division.   She might have actually won it if she had not been so cautious on the "rough" areas. 

She shows off the new medal.

Looks like a boring cup of cocoa.

Her medal had magnets that allowed the Marshmallow man to stick to the top of the mug.   How cool is that?

But then!   Add in the Mallo Man!

Julie crossed the finish.

Julie came in later.    She got her medal and we all raced to see what Cheryl had won as an "old fast person".    She won a Mug.    Something to enjoy with her tea and Mushroom hot chocolate.

Both Sisters look happy. 

Showing off her Bling.

There were treats and hot cocao in the warm up area.   Mike and I sat and listened as Julie and Cheryl each told their stories.    We pretended to care, as any loving husband should do.   I think we can all agree that standing in the cold is not as much fun as running the thing....  But that is love for you.

Fall color in Michigan,  still awesome!

Time to Chug H2O

So then we hung out on the ride home, took a tour of their house, and later met up and Cheryl's parents.  It was nice catching up with the fam after several months,  but now it is late and we are all pretty exhausted.   After I post this, I probably will hit the hay and prepare for the long ride back home to Iowa.   Home and Iowa in the same sentance.    At one time that seemed foreign, but now sounds like a warm bed after a month of sleepless nights.    I can hardly wait.  I'm sure Hiro will be happy for our return as well.   We shall see.