The Trouble With Trains... Cheryl Completes The 5 Mile Challenge. With Origami And Butterflies.

The Train is very long and Very slow!

So much to talk about today!  I should begin with the train.   A Very long, Very SLOW, Train managed to move my morning, pre-race stress level into overdrive!  As it taunted us and kept us a mere 1 block away from the race start line!  I could see the stadium in the dim morning light as the train slowly squealed by.

Is it Stopping????

  At one moment, we moved down the tracks trying to get around it...  Which we did not.  Eventually it DID manage to end and we were able to get to the parking lot, but not before wasting what seemed to be an eternity waiting for it to clear the tracks.   I heard that it actually STOPPED at one point!  People had to do the same thing I did to get around it.   Well, by that time, I was frazzled.

At the Stadium

Mascot Capture #1

But we did find a parking spot.   We could have parked closer, but I did not want to risk getting skunked. Cheryl always complains that I park too far from the start line if I don't get there early enough.  So, I simply can't win... Either I'm too early or I park too far away.   Such is the nature of the parking beast. 

Sun finally rises

Fall colors visible

Did I mention it was cold this morning?   Oh yes!  And I wore shorts and a light jacket.   And although Cheryl loves this weather to run in,  she still complains when we are waiting by the finish line because I insisted on an early arrival.  ( for parking.... Because... parking!)  She did not hesitate to rub it in my nose that I was cold.... ("I told you you would be cold... should have wore more clothes...." yadda yadda yadda.)

At the Start line.

But as the sun slowly rose and warmed things up a bit,  We linked up with  fellow runners Mike and Pam and chatted about our recent races and their strategies.  Runners usually have very little else to bring to conversations... Except running, running stories, previous running lessons and tactics, hydration, and nutrition.  No wonder runner have no friends...  Other than other runners. 

Well, that last part is more about self reflection. And was meant to be funny.  Even though I'm simply a spectator/support/pit crew,  I still think of myself as "part of the runner's world" and notice how other non-runners behave when runners talk about PR's and injuries and "hydration" and "Nutrition." (Most people call those things: Food and water. ) But I digress!  

Cheryl along river.

The race started!   5 Miles!  And then... It was all over.   5 Miles...   I barely had time to run back to the car, change my clothes, go to the bathroom again, and eventually cross the bridge to catch Cheryl running towards me.  Then I had to run back over the bridge.   Back to the car to put my goretex back,  go to the bathroom a third time, and catch her as she crossed the finish line.   It was all over so quickly!

Cheryl at the Finish

Pam comes in

 I missed Mike, but we all managed to catch Cheryl and Pam as each of them crossed the finish.   Again...  We ran over the bridge, missed Pam, and then crossed the bridge again, just in time to catch her finishing.   

Cheryl poses with the Zakoseks

Afterwards, they all posed for pictures.  To keep Pam and Mike anonymous,  I asked them to face the other way during the photo.  

Top three female finishers.

Cheryl came in 3rd over all.  She was right behind the front running females but just a few yards.  She could have won the race... if she had tried harder.  But she didn't.   Life is hard sometimes...  and then you lose a race.... and die. 

Mascot capture #2

Ghost peppers

But after the race was over,  Cheryl and I visited the Des Moines Farmer's Market.   Lots of stuff there with Music and food and produce.  There was this huge stack of Ghost Peppers!   They are very pretty, but I will never eat one. 

Onward TO AMES!

Origami in the Park

As if that was not enough for one day,   we continued our own version of a "marathon" by heading to Ames, Iowa.  To the Iowa State University Botanical Gardens.  Because for the last several months, they have been advertising the Origami in the Garden expo.   I had to see this before I died... so what better time to do it then now... while I'm still alive. 

Origami Cranes??

Origami Cranes?

First impression?   Rather disappointing.  First,  only three of the sculptures were made of actual folded paper.  Everything else outside was made of sculpted metal.   I did not sign up for a Shop Class!  Artisty in Welding!   I wanted Origami!  Folded Paper!  

Lafosse Squirrel

Origami Metal Works!

Second.  Paper cranes?   Really?   Paper crane this and paper crane that.   I know it is a traditional model, but it does not have to be the ONLY model you have to offer.   I was beginning to think they did not have much of any decent folders in the Metal Sculpting field as this basic model was the only thing they could pull off.   But.... eventually we found a few of the  more sculpted and challenging models.   Which were fun to find, even if they were made of metal. 

Lafosse Butterfly.

But what saved the event was the Butterfly Garden.  I'll spare you the millions of photos I took of the butters and just have a few action shots do most of the showing.  I have never been disappointed or depressed whenever I have visited a butterfly garden.

Unhatched Butterflies.

The Butters seem to be the best at calming nerves and righting various wrongs of the world.  Simply with their long lazy or short and darty flights. 

Eventually,  Cheryl and I made it back to our room for a nap and a quick message to The Zakoseks to set up a dinner date.   We had pizza at the casino and a good long chat.   All of the runners, along with myself, will be plenty "Carb Loaded" for the race tomorrow.  ( But at least those three will be able to run off the extra calories....  I'll just have to remain fully loaded! And chubs.) 

Wow that was a long day.  And this is a Long post!   After sorting through all of the pics, I realize I will have to trim many of the best ones.  And then there will be tomorrow!  The actual Half Marathon!  That means even MORE pics... and words.. and Long blog Posts.   This is becoming exhausting.   I didn't even get a pic of Cheryl's Finishers Medal!   (Maybe tomorrow with the Half Marathon one as well.)   I better sign off and get some sleep.   The Bed in our Hotel is made of Concrete and Cheryl and I tossed and turned all night long.  "Firm" mattresses are not really my thing.  A soft body like mine deserves the softest of mattresses... Like the  princess and the Pea story.   

Either way,  Big day tomorrow.  Early day tomorrow as well!  And hopefully... No Trains blocking us off from the race this time. Wish us luck.