Running, Reading, Reminiscing & Writing About It: Family, Friends and Destination Races

April was a crazy, busy, fun month that seemed to fly by. Every time I thought about sitting down to do a blog post it seemed like it was time to take off and do something else. I guess it really is true what they say that "time flies when you're having fun". More accurate is that "the older you get the faster time seems to go". Either way, I know that April came and went before I wrote a single post.

I did run one final race in March at the Modesto Marathon. I ran the 5k and was fortunate enough to win my age group. It was a nice day and the event was well run. The last time I did this event was in 2009 when I ran the half marathon and it was cold and rainy.

The first picture is a fellow Vietnam veteran who I first met at a race in Turlock. We are fairly close in pace and usually spend some time visiting before, after and sometimes during the race.

My first April race was a new one for me, The Lodi Easter Run. It was a nice event on a pretty course.

My next two races were more special because I was able to run them with family. I flew to St..Louis to run the GO St..Louis Half Marathon with my son in law Tom. This was our third time running the GO. We ran it in 2009 and 20012 so I guess it has become an every three year tradition. Tom and I have run a race together almost every spring and fall since that first one. This is the first time that the course crossed the Mississippi into Illinois. We crossed over on one bridge and returned on another. It was funny but the only ran that we had during the entire race was when we were in Illinois.

Before the race I was excited about getting to run across the Mississippi twice but the picture with the Clydesdale was an unexpected surprise. Stacie took our traditional post race picture.

Between races I ran on the trail system that Tom and Stacie are lucky enough to have right out their back door. The trails are pretty much rolling hills and even though part of them are along main roads there are some great open areas full of flowers, birds and other wildlife.

I also got a chance to catch up with Chase and Haley and their activities. Watching Chase play hockey was unreal. The last time I saw him on ice he was just learning to skate. It's obvious to see how much he enjoys playing the sport his daddy plays.

I also got to do two of my favorite things with Haley and Stacie when we went on a nature hike and when we visited local used book stores. I love how much both Haley and Chase love to read.

The second race I got to run was a 5k with Stacie. It has become tradition for us to race when I visit too and it is always fun.

Another highlight of the trip was getting to attend a Cardinals game with family. It was a fun day at a beautiful stadium. While Tom and Stacie both have their team loyalties elsewhere the whole family is supportive of the St. Louis teams. After all, Chase is a St.. Louis native!