Marathon

I went out onto the front stoop this morning at about 7:30 (shortly after sunrise) to pick up the Sunday newspaper. The trees across the field are what I suppose is near peak. That isn't the reason I took this picture though.Draw your own conclusions about the significance of that white stuff. I believe it would not be characterized as a "killing" frost as the temperature was still upper 30s.

But by about 1pm the GRider and I headed down into the city to see what we could see about the marathon. Along the way we detoured through the Fairgrounds. Here she is at the east end of the Grandstand.Some might find it interesting to compare her costume with what she wore on her last outing just last Wednesday, merely five days ago.

For those keeping track, the official data was EG:55 CB:54 WG:64. It was about 54 officially.

But we were warm enough, very comfortable so the ride continued down into the city. We entered onto the marathon route at about the 19.5 mile point of the foot race. It was about 1:30 by the time we got there so officially the race was over, the roadblocks were down, there were only a few stragglers still walking, apparently determined to reach the end even though nearly 6 hours had already passed since the race start at 8am.

I checked later and discovered that the course officially closed at 2:15. This meant that as we rode along Summit Avenue we overtook the race at around the 23 mile mark of the foot race. We first passed police cars which were stopping at each corner to have roadblocks removed and to reopen those streets for traffic. Eventually we passed the official race vehicle at the end of the race and then we even passed a few runners. Well, people in a slow jog at least.

Eventually officials approached us and booted us off the course, random bicyclists apparently not being allowed. So be it but there were so few contestants out there at that point that we weren't really bothering anyone.

We rode down towards the Capital on other streets but automobile traffic was heavy down there and we turned away without seeing any more of the foot race finish. We did see quite a few people in running clothes with finisher's medals on their way back to their automobiles. Many of them were in a great deal of pain, walking with exaggerated limps and facial grimaces.

Running is hard.

We rode on home. It was a pretty day, if a bit nippy. Here is another tree in the neighborhood, another maple.I like orange. October is here.