Meeting My Snuffleupigi - A Spectator's Report For The Freedom 10 Mile

"Are you nervous?" 
This from my best friend the morning of Sunday, November 4. Why would I be nervous? 
"Well you don't really know these people. . ." 
Ah, but I do. The thing about imaginary friends is that you know them better than people think you do. So, I set off on a mission to finally meet some of the 30s at the Freedom 10 Mile race in White Bear Lake, MN. 
On my way there, I realized that I had no way to contact any of these people - other than online and chances were good they weren't going to be online the 10 minutes before their race. But, I knew what people looked like - mostly and it was a beautiful day, so I had faith things would work out. And, they did. 
I walked around briefly, scanning for anyone familiar and almost immediately saw Brandy and Korbel: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00444.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
So now I know I am, in fact, in the right place. 
The runners lined up: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00445.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
And they were off. 
Here's what they ran around: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00448.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00450.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
(I was in fact there. . .thanks for the use of teh boBcam. . . <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">) 
Now I had about an hour of time. Korbel said that Baggio was intending an hour eight and the rest of them were thinking an hour twenty to two hours. 
Around an hour into the race I figure I better start paying attention. Then I realize I'm really not sure what Baggs looks like, but hopefully this man in the red shirt who kinda looks like Baggs' avatar might be him, and if not, then I have a picture of a total stranger. . . <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00453.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
It was him. 
Before I introduced myself to him I managed to see two women running who do provide additional proof (right Sage? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">) that MN women are HAWT! <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00454.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
I met up with Baggs and he then graciously agreed to help me find the others as they came across the finish line. Never let it be said that the man's heart wasn't in the right place. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> We both had a little trouble catchin' Korbel who blew through the course like it was nothin': <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00456.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Next in were Sage, Brandy and RFTL, although we (meaning Baggs and me) were focused on Brandy so we kinda missed Sage as she came through. I did however, manage to catch Brandy and RFTL though and BigGahoona came in with a smile on her face and her 30's Philly T on: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00458.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Now we're all in and the basic consensus is that there were supposed to have been 3 water stops, there were only 2. Mile 7 apparently was lost and there weren't just a couple of hills - the whole course was up and down. 
Still I am so impressed with these runners. Smiles on every face, pleased murmurings about pacing and what a perfect day for a race. Brandy: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00459.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> BigG: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00460.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> Sage & RFTL: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00461.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> The MN 30's Runners: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00462.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> The MN 30's Runners with me: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00463.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Finally, people had their water on board, some bagels were eaten and we made our way over to BigG's car - her trunk full of beer was closer than my trunkful of beer so I smuggled some bottles from my trunk over to her trunk and we hung out like teen-ager's in the park: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00464.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
So, I have to report that my imaginary friends are funnier, smarter, more attractive and certainly a hell of a lot faster than even I could imagine. And I'm a creative gal. 
Of course, it could have all been a dream: <img alt="" src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa41/McTortle/DSC00465.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

Meeting My Snuffleupigi - A Spectator's Report For The Freedom 10 Mile

Timr1

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