State #23, May 18, 2013: South Dakota, Watertown

Run #24 (DC plus 23 States)
Love Your Kidneys 5K/10K Run
This is a fun run to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation.
My Scheduled Sioux Falls, South Dakota 5K was cancelled , and I was very fortunate to find this event.
We checked in at the zoo.

Some organized stretching

That is Nancy, champion marathoner, physical therapist, and she agreed to pace me for a while on the 5K run.

We boarded a trolley bus to go to the start line near the City Park area.
The man in the blue (can't remember his name) is also a champion marathoner. Fortunately for me, he is in a younger age group, except this is a fun run without age groups.

At the start -- 17 running and walking on the fun run today.

And we are off. That is 11-year old Elise in front of us. After about a mile, I yelled to her, "I'm going to catch you."
Elise responded, "No you're not."

Passing the country club.

After 2 miles, my pacers went ahead.

Not too far to the finish.

Elise bringing it home.

At the finish...the oldest and youngest running the 5K today.

Back to the zoo for refreshments.

This is Nancy's tennis doubles partner, Pat. Pat knows stuff.

Watertown was a wonderful event, full of talented, kind, friendly people.

23 States and DC Completed (blue).

Scheduled for May, June, and July (red).

Scheduled After July (grey).

State #22, May 17, 2013: North Dakota, Fargo,

Run #23 (DC and 22 States)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Fargo 5K (Part of the Sheels Fargo Marathon events)
Lots of marathoners (I am still a 5K guy) on the plane from Dallas to Fargo. These 4 guys have run over 150 marathons between them. The guy to my right ran the Boston Marathon and was about 100 yards from the first bomb.

The marathon is Saturday, but I and about 7500 runners will tackle the 5K Friday evening.
This is Ashley checking me in.

Which, along with the Expo, is at the Fargodome.

Where I found my Tutu ladies.

Thousands at the start.

And we are off...

I am running the sidewalks.

They are puzzled that I am running on their lawn taking their picture.

Heading to the finish.

26:55, 580th out of 7598 (about half of those were walkers). 7th out of 114 in my age group.
With me is Dan from Connecticut. He found my blog recently and contacted me, telling me that he too was going to be running in Fargo. He also has a goal to run all the states. I think North Dakota was his 7th. It was great meeting him.
All the runners got a medal.

Lots of good hearty people in Fargo.

22 States and DC Completed (blue).

Scheduled for May (red).

State #21, May 12, 2013: Maryland, National Harbor

Run #22 (DC and 21 States)
Her 5K -- supporting research and a cure for Hyperemesis Gravidarum
At beautiful National Harbor, Maryland

Greeted by Miss Prince George's County

Lots of wind

We are running on a path by the harbor

And we are off. It is an out and back.

Going out -- a scenic course.

Coming back

The finish line...

A little Jet Terry
Photo finish

12th overall out of about 100 (half were walkers) and 1st in age group.
Their official time was 23:14, but my Garmin GPS showed just 2.88 miles instead of a 5Ks 3.1.

My 1st place award -- an envelope containing $40. That, and the $10 I won in Hope, Arkansas, bring my 2013 winnings to $50.

Happy Mother's Day
There is a Peeps Store at National Harbor

21 States and DC Completed (blue).

Scheduled for May (red).

Run #21, May 11, 2013: Washington D.C.

Run #21
Washington D.C.: Komen 5K Race for the Cure (the biggest 5K in the USA with over 40,000 runners)


7:00 a.m. heading to the National Mall on the Metro Blue Line

This way to the 5K

In the chute

And we are off...
Not much room to run

Over the hills...

and through the woods...

Almost to the finish

26:10, lots of bobbing and weaving. 6th out of 36 in my age group.

Lots of tutus

Pretty in Pink

and how bout these cheerleaders from a local high school
They were encouraging and cheering the whole time. I could hear them when I was a quarter of a mile away, and their chants got louder and louder. They were a great source of inspiration to finish the 5K and very kind to take a picture.

The DC Komen 5K was an extravaganza and raised a lot of money for The Cure. Glad we were here.

20 States and DC Completed (blue).

Scheduled for May (red).