Back in the Lou

I returned to St. Louis last weekend to participate in the Go St. Louis! weekend o' activities. Team Pfeiffer had a strong showing in the two day's worth of events with my SIL, Martha, leading us off on Saturday morning with a 5K. Beth, Erika and I headed over to Forest Park early that morning, equipped with fresh coffees, and ready to cheer her on. Settling on a strategy of catching her at the half way mark and then cutting across the course to see her finish, we moved into position. Along the way we were stopped by the dudes running the one (and only) water stop for the 5K - they needed some extra hands and wondered if we wouldn't mind setting our caffeinated bevvies down for a bit to help out. Sure, why not!

So instead of merely cheering Martha on as she ran by, we were able to provide her some mid-race refreshment. Her face showed something for sure... I don't know if it was surprise in seeing us there or Erika first wanting to high-five her before handing over a cup of water. Either way she continued on and had a strong finish. Yay Martha!!!

After she finished we spent some time hanging out near the finish line where several of the armed forces were out offering a variety of demos.



top to bottom: Ellie getting her thrills on the curb balance beam style. My big bro, SIL and nephew, Brendan. Bren operating the Navy Seal's bomb detection robot. Bren giving the robot one more look before reluctantly leaving the area.

That robot is soooo up this alley!

Soon enough Sunday rolled around and momma, was it ever a wet one! After eating a bit, slipping on some stylish disposable rain ponchos, Dad dropped myself, Beth, Tim, Erika and Monika off downtown near the race start. Team Pfeiffer was in full effect. We hydrated a bit more, checked our baggage, hit the porta potties, greeted some friends and then lined up. National anthem, shedding the ponchos and we're off. Knowing we were both severely under trained, Tim & I are ready to stick together once again, get this race done and start afresh with our training. Little bro is good like that. We picked up the pace some and then backed off, trying to delay the inevitable time in the race when our legs would poop out. See, that's what happens when you train like you're on a roller coaster -- ups, downs, and feeling slightly sick.

Not much more to say about the race - it hurt. I believe we both determined that it was mile 9.5 when the legs were just gone. We hung in there, encouraged one another and got ourselves over the finish line. It was not pretty. The rain was totally fine while running but after stopping it got cold FAST. I'd run a PW (personal worst), was completely and totally freezing, turning blue and thinking that we might have to take public transport home. And yet I was happy. Happy to be surrounded by 4 of my 6 sibs, happy to be finished and happy to wipe the slate clean and get my running back to a consistent state. Next up for Team Pfeiffer, San Francisco!