October 2004 Archives

I haven't mentioned the Illinois Valley Relay race that the Meramec Maniacs ran last Saturday. That's five of us to the right, waiting for our sixth team member to finish her first leg in the 60s mile of hills and chutes and camel backs that started and ended in Winchester, Illinois. We ran the early miles of the race in rain and wind, but the middle and latter miles in the sun and wind. I don't know how it's possible, but it seemed the wind was in our face no matter the direction we were running. I like to say hills exist to run over, but it's simply unfair when the wind is like an arm pushing you downhill as you struggle up.

This is the second year the Meramec Maniacs have run the Illinois Valley Relay. Last year we would have come in last place--we are, after all, as you can see, we're much older than the average relay team--had it not been for our handicap, which placed us in front of a couple of other teams. This year we again finished third from last, in a total time of 10 hours, 5 minutes, 50 seconds, for an average of 9:37 a mile. That's actually a pretty good time for a bunch of older runners. Not one of us was unable to finish our legs, and we all finished without a heart attack.

The IVR is a great race, at a great time of year, with a beautiful course through the west central Illinois countryside. Lots of vistas; fields of corn, soybeans, and winter wheat; and blazing autumn woods. The maniacs will be there again next year.

The yearly Poco gathering this year at Wildwood Resort was a special occasion. Rusty and Mary were married today at noon. In attendance were Poco fans from numerous states, even from other countries; members of Rusty and Mary's families; and a dog. Some people arrived as early as Thursday and were already well into the festivities when I pulled into the rustic resort Friday afternoon with two cases of wedding champagne. It's funny that I delivered it. My wife is the Poco Nut. I like the music, too, especially when Rusty plays the steel guitar, but what I like most about this yearly gathering is the people. Except for a crazy cowboy Friday night and a woman who preferred jail to a motel--"Look at me," she said. "Do I look crazy?"--everyone there was friendly. Many of us know one another from the previous years at Wildwood. So all in all the wedding was an intimate occasion. Rusty and Mary looked wonderful, the sun warmed up the morning chill, the sky was blue, and the champagne was cold.