Fall Training


Photos: Ken trail running, me with fall colors, Ken trying to swing over creek (didn't make it!), trail signs, more trail running

Training has slowed down, due to weather and darkness. We plan on doing our long bike rides on the weekends because it is getting dark too soon after work. Ken has intensified his running by running the trails at Shakertown. There are over 40 miles of trails. We trained there last fall as we prepared for the Tecumseh Trail Marathon in December of 2005. We are running this marathon again on Wed. October 25th but this event is special as it is one of DEAN KARNAZE’S marathons. Dean has set out on an historic endurance running event: To run 50 marathons, in each of the 50 US states, in 50 consecutive days. We will be running the 39th marathon with him. Well, Ken will be running with him. He can keep up. I have already told the race director that I will be slow and will be running way back and he said that was ok. Anyway, back to Dean – he says “the mission of this event is to encourage, motivate and inspire people of all ages to become active, make physical wellness an essential and enjoyable priority in their life and to promote healthy, active living across this great country.” Some of the money from these events will benefit KARNO KIDS which is a non-profit org. Their mission is twofold – first to support encourage and motivate fellow youth to get outside and become physically active. Second to respect and preserve the environment so that generations to come can enjoy the great outdoors and magnificent natural resources this country has to offer.
We will be staying the village of Nashville, Indiana, which is a great place for holiday shopping, with hundreds of unique craft, specialty & antique shops. There are artists in galleries and craft studios throughout Brown County Indiana. Brown County is known as the "artist colony of the midwest.
Ken has been running the trails for the last month and I have been NOT running the trails. I have been running around the Horse Park’s polo field and on the road and also have been a bit of a slug – so I do not feel very prepared for this marathon. Ken and I went to Shaker town this past Wed. after work and ran for about hour and a half. Weather was 70 degrees so it was really a nice evening.We had to cross the creek 7 times and it was so deep (usually it is only a trickle) that we got our feet wet. The mud on the trail was similar to a hog pen. But we saw deer, magnificent rock formations, an underground stream pouring out of a limestone rock, and leaves of many colors. We said the word “beautiful” many many times on our run as we viewed nature’s splendor. Then we went to Caitlin’s by the river and ate pulled pork, mashed tators and corn bread. Nice ending to a beautiful fall day.