Getting crazy in South Dakota

I've completed a race in my 28th state with the Run Crazy Horse half marathon in Crazy Horse, South Dakota.
It was a great trip that included lots of sight seeing in the Black Hills of South Dakota, as well as lots of farm land as I drove across the state to get to the race.
I flew into Omaha, Nebr., where my aunt lives and she and I drove across South Dakota to get to where the race was being held. Don't try this at home, kids!
What a long, dull drive, punctuated by billboards hawking Wall Drugs in Wall, S.D., and the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. We did stop in Wall for a break from driving. We did not stop in Mitchell, even though I kind of wanted to see the cheezy Corn Palace. Oh well. Gotta save something for the next trip, right?
We stayed at the Lodge at Palmer Gulch and found out the wifi was really weak and there was no cell service in the gulch where the hotel was located. So, another trip where I was off the grid for the most part.

In trouble before lunch

The closest town to where we stayed was Hill City, and we wandered there for breakfast the first full day, then shopped a little bit. We were there after the "season" had ended and a lot of restaurants and shops were already closed for the season, not to reopen until May. Did find this little touristy "jail." Since we were practically the only ones along the sidewalks, I could take my picture in it right away. I imagine in July and August folks line up for this fun photo.
We headed to Crazy Horse Memorial later that morning and afternoon.

Crazy Horse Memorial

Scale replica

Me with the scale replica

Dimensions

Bronze statue of the finished carving

My parents have been to the memorial twice now and my mother talks about the progress being made, but you can certainly see it will be years before it is finished. It is being privately funded, which I'm sure slows the process. Not sure that I will see it complete in my lifetime!
You are allowed to take some of the blast rock from the site and Rose found a really pretty, small rock that I took. There were much larger ones you could take but warned the TSA would not let you carry them in a carry on. Rose promises to bring me my Crazy Horse rock when she visits early next year.
Saturday morning we went back to Hill City for packet pick up, then headed to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It was a glorious day there, topping out at 70 degrees!

Mount Rushmore

Aunt Rose and me

Me and the presidents

Look at that blue sky! 

Selfie with the presidents

Aspen adding color

View from between some boulders 

Along the Presidential Walk

Still along the walk 

Me and Rose

Along the walk

Final view from along the walk

The presidential walk is a circular trail that goes in front of the visitor's center. Certainly there were lots of rocks from the blast zone there, too, but I was done collecting rocks. ha ha.
We had a late lunch in Custer and then found ourselves boxed in by the homecoming parade. It was a true taste of Midwest Americana. Floats with high school kids going by, throwing candy to the little kids lined up along Main Street (where we were parked and so boxed in). It was fun to see and experience. We did a little shopping in Custer as well.
We headed up to Deadwood after lunch just to see what we could see. We toured the Historic Adams House and then the Adams Museum. The house was OK, but I'd say if you were going to do one or the other, choose the museum. A lot more history of the Deadwood area there.
The next morning was race morning! And it was COLD and SNOWING.

At the start with flurries

 This was a point-to-point marathon and half marathon. The marathoners went toward Custer after we left the Crazy Horse area. The half marathoners turned left and headed for Hill City, where the finish for both races was.

Along the gravel road toward the memorial

Getting closer

Better view of the face

Selfie with Crazy Horse

Never Forget Your Dreams

Near the entrance

Along the George S. Mickelson Trail

 Most of this race was along the George S. Mickelson Trail, named for a former South Dakota governor. Where we were, it borders a national forest and the aspen trees were aglow with their fall colors.

Aspens in fall

A little stream through the trail

Along the Mickelson Trail

Getting close to Hill City

 I saw these horses near the end of the race, probably around mile 11 or 12. The trail cut through fenced pasture land on either side. These two horses were to my right, and a third horse was in a fenced pasture to the left. The white horse on the left really wanted to be with his friends on the right and began to run and whinny and then the other two ran, so I was running right along with them. The white horse on the left (not shown) clearly wanted to jump the fence and I thought it was going to. Would have been a little crazy if it had and jumped the fence with the runners around!

Finished!

 Not my best time. But I had a great time. I can honestly say it's the first half marathon I've ever run in the snow. The flurries were off and on, but back on at the end, when it was changing to sleet. The marathon winners passed me as I was coming toward the finish. That was exciting. I think both the male and female finishers set new course records. That's what cold temps will do for you!

How every half marathon should end

Snow coming down

 The snow really got heavier later in the day.

Selfie in the snow

View from the balcony at the hotel

 I never did get any photos of all  the deer we saw on the property of the hotel and campground. The accommodations had a lot of land because of the campground area and we'd see lots of deer in the early morning and at dusk. We'd see them out in the fields in the evening as we drove to dinner as well. Made me nervous since I didn't want one to jump in front of the car!

Leaving the Black Hills

 When we left the Black Hills Monday morning, the roads had no snow on them, since it was 70 degrees on Saturday, but the trees and mountains had a beautiful dusting.

Snow in the hills

Rose

I had such a fun trip with my Aunt Rose. We hadn't vacationed together since Ireland in 2008 and before that in 1986 in Santa Cruz, Calif. I'm already talking to her about a race in Iowa. I'd like to fly into Omaha again and have a short vacation with her while getting a race complete in Iowa.
There's nothing crazy about that.

Finishing on the 50

Are you ready for some football?
How about a race that finishes on the 50-yard line of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium? Yes, please!
This is the old "Rise Up and Run 5K," now hosted at the new home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United teams.
It was an early, early start since parking around the football stadium is always kind of dicey. I parked at a lot a bit farther away, knowing it wouldn't be as crowded as the one nearest the start line. So, I got a nice view of the new stadium all lit up at night.

All lit up

Mercedes-Benz pre-dawn

Me and Dana ready to run

My friend Dana met me for this one, which doubled the number of participants from last year. I think the new stadium had a lot to do with it. The race, which is put on by the Atlanta Track Club, benefits MADD.

Go!

Finished on the 50!

 We finished up on the 50-yard line, and I wish I had gotten my phone out a little earlier as we entered the stadium. We can onto the field through the tunnel that the Atlanta Falcons use to enter the field on game days.

Finisher!

Falcon statue

Selfie with the statue

Another one to add to the medal rack

The route was a little changed from last year, but no better or worse. Still hilly. But the finish was fantastic. I'll be ready for some football (running) again next year.

Walking Miles in Milwaukee

Who knew late September in Milwaukee would turn out to be a scorcher?!
When I signed up for the Komen Race for the Cure 5K in Milwaukee, to get a race complete in Wisconsin, I was more worried that I'd need to dig out some colder weather gear. Nope. Milwaukee set a record high of 95 one day while I was there. I was melting!
Still, I had a great time in "The Good Land."
I got there late Thursday afternoon with my friend Susan. We were all set for our annual  girls' weekend once we found the liquor store. ;)

Hello, Wisconsin!

Girls weekend is started

Who drinks wine in a beer state? Well, I do!

Susan got it right

Our first full day in Milwaukee we found a great little coffee shop nearby, where I got a cup of Milwaukee love.

I heart coffee

We wandered around near the hotel looking for some postcards to purchase and a visitor's center for more info on what was close by. Turns out, the manned visitor's center was just inside the Wisconsin Center, the convention center across from our hotel. Milwaukee really does have some great public art. This is called The Vortex, but we deemed it a unicorn horn, an upside down tornado, and a Christmas tree.

The Vortex

Inside the Wisconsin Center, there was even a bit of public art: The Security Guard. It's a wax replica of the artist's father!

The Security Guard

With lots of information in hand, we found a hop-on, hop-off tour bus, which was great. Our first stop was the Milwaukee Art Museum, which has really stunning architecture.

The Milwaukee Art Museum

More public art outside the museum

Next stop on the tour bus was the Milwaukee Public Market, which is a lot like Redding Station in Philadelphia. There are restaurants, specialty retail shops, etc. We found a wine shop in there that had a much better selection than the little liquor store near the hotel. The "mascot" of the public market is a rooster, which become public art on the second level of the space.

The public market's rooster

We had a pretty forgettable dinner at an Irish pub, but then found our way to the Milwaukee River Walk. Despite the 95 degree record-breaking heat of that Friday, the river area had a lovely breeze. There is so much public art along the river walk. My camera didn't do any of it justice in the low light, but there is Rosie the duck.

Milwaukee River Walk

Rosie the duck

Saturday, Susan and I headed back to the Public Market for breakfast. Cafe Benelux in the Third Ward was terrific. I had the breakfast of champions, obviously: rose with the quinoa skillet. The skillet had quinoa, butternut squash, portobello mushrooms, scallions and a fried egg, and some sort of sauce on top that I can't remember, but it was all so good. I would have licked the skillet if I had not been out in public.

My kind of breakfast

 We just happened to be in Milwaukee the weekend of Doors Open Milwaukee, when historic buildings and spaces that aren't normally open to the public are. Susan and I got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Milwaukee Public Radio station in the Historic Third Ward. Then we walked back to the hotel along the river walk again and came across the Bronz Fonz in the daylight. We saw him last night but my photos in the low light were awful. Here, you can see how creepy he looks! ha ha.

Susan and I with "the Bronz Fonz"

 I'm sure not many younger folks remember the TV sitcom "Lavern and Shirley." I loved it. What young girl didn't have a crush on Henry Winkler as "The Fonz" in the show? The show was set in Milwaukee, hence the Bronz Fonz.
And what would a trip to Wisconsin be if I didn't try the cheese curds? So, that was ordered up for an appetizer at lunch.

When in Wisconsin, have the cheese curds

 I got a little something for all three of us girls for the weekend. Found these funny pins at a store in the public market.

Yes, we are!

 Patti finally arrived and we found a great seafood restaurant right along the river walk for dinner. Pier 106 was fabulous.

Susan, me and Patti

 Sunday morning was just as warm as the rest of the weekend, but we got to the Komen walk thanks to our hotel's shuttle bus and got ready for the 5K.

Patti, me and  Susan before the race

At the start

The Kohl's Climb

It was so blasted hot for that 5K and nothing like a long hill at about mile 2. But we made it! I forgot to take a photo of our wilted selves at the finish.

Drone shot from the race

A rose from the finish

As a breast cancer survivor, I got a rose at the finish line. I managed to get it through the TSA security checkpoint and all the way home in one piece!

I had a great time in Milwaukee and the weekend made for great memories. 

Running those meaningful miles

After a crazy week, with no power for two days and just general upheaval thanks to Tropical Storm Irma, I ran one of my favorite 5Ks in Atlanta, the Back on My Feet Meaningful Miles 5K.
This race used to be a four miler, but is now a 5K. It still retains that crazy hill on North Avenue near the Historic Fourth Ward Park, though.
I ran this race with my friend Angela, and somehow managed to forget to take our picture either before or after the race!
So no smiling faces of accomplishment. Oh well.
This race benefits Back on My Feet Atlanta, which helps homeless men and women through the discipline of running. It is always a joy to see folks come out and celebrate human endeavor and achievement.
It makes for some very meaningful miles.

Oh, the Humana-ty 5K

I've run a lot of Rock N Roll Marathon series races (all half marathons, thank you very much) and I like the support the race organizers give. I think it might be pretty pricey compared to other races, but there is good support.
So imagine my delight when a FREE 5K came to Atlanta courtesy of the Rock N Roll series. Sign me up!
Actually, it was $5, because that was a donation to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, but still. Essentially a free race.
Saturday morning was beautiful.  Slightly cool, but very sunny. Fall running is just around the corner in Atlanta. And look, we started and finished right near the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

At the start

Along the course

Near the finish

We didn't get a race T-shirt with this one, but we did get a very nice finisher's medal.

Finished!

Very nice finisher's medal

I'm sort of sad there is only one or two more Rock N Roll races I would consider, since I still need Arizona and Virginia. There is the Phoenix and Virginia Beach Rock N Roll races that I could run. But that's about it, unless they add some states. And lately they haven't added U.S. states, they've abandoned them. They have added more international races, but I'm not there yet. Let me get those 50 states in and then I'll consider a race in Paris or Rome!