Bob, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Man - Sun., Dec. 7, 2014

If you think you've had a tough day, you could be like Bob, out running the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon today. That's 26.2 miles on hard concrete or asphalt. Think of the pounding your feet and knees take. Ouch!

Bob has been running marathons for eight years and has run about 34 of them. He started running marathons in Honolulu, Hawaii, in honor of memories of his dad running marathons. To train, he joined a Team in Training group in Washington state when we lived in the Tacoma area.

Bob finishing his first marathon in Honolulu, Hawaii (2006)

Finisher's tent (feels good to sit down!)

Finisher's T-shirt

Bob by fish mosaic at Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu (2006)

Over the years, Bob has run in many different locations either training for marathons or running in them. His favorite training runs were done along rivers in Austria and Germany.

In early 2007 we moved to Makakilo on Oahu, Hawaii. Bob joined a running group called Runner's HI. He ran with them religiously and we became part of the Runner's HI ohana (family). During the five years we lived in Hawaii, we traveled to Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai on numerous occasions where Bob completed marathons with his friends. He loves the sound of the ocean and tropical scenery.

Runner's HI ohana, Honolulu, Hawaii (Bob and I in back row)

Big Island marathon in 2008. (6 hrs, 33 min., 21 secs)

Eugene, Oregon marathon

Bob finishing the Eugene marathon

Kauai marathon registration display

Setting up for Kauai marathon first aid - Bob hamming it up.

Not only does Bob like to run marathons...he became a Marathon Maniac. In order to become a Marathon Maniac, you have to complete one of the levels. I think Bob has made it to the Silver Level, but you can go up even more levels to the Titanium Level. Me, I think they're crazy. But to each their own. I'll stick to walking, thank you.

Some of the Marathon Maniacs of Hawaii

Hilo Marathon finish, March 2009

Dinner at Cafe Pesto in Hilo, HI - March 2009

Kona, HI Marathon finisher (2009)

Maui Oceanfront Marathon - January 2009

Maui Oceanfront Marathon - January 2009

Kauai Marathon - Sept. 2010

Back to today's marathon. Estimate is that 25,000 people entered the marathon in one of its forms: Kid's Race, 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, Bike Ride, Wheelchair Race. About 3,500    signed up for the full marathon and 14,000 signed up for the half marathon. All 50 states were represented and people came from 13 countries. Twenty-six live bands performed along the route.

The race went past Travelers World RV Resort...twice. What a wonderful group of people at Travelers World. We had many people out cheering for Bob at both places as he passed the park. Bob said it means so much to him to have that much support. He was so pleased. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer for him and give him High 5's!

Here are some photos from today's San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon...

Betty Ann, Marlene, Rod, Jocelyne, Newt, Steve and ?

A group of Rock 'n' Roll Marathon runners

Travelers World RV Resort is on the marathon route.

Pretty stylish ladies!

Terry cheering on the runners.

Pam, Bob E., Brenda, Ralph, Terry, Jocelyne, Lincoln and Chloe

Superwoman

Bob crossing the San Antonio River bridge

Bob coming up on Travelers World

Loved this girl and her sign!

Bob with 4-1/2 miles left to go.

Soon he'll be crossing the finish line. The end.

Bob finished the marathon (26.2 miles) in 6 hours, 35 minutes, 34 seconds! Way to go, Bob. Yayyyyy!

Bob with his bling

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon medal.

Now for some Papa John's Pizza and beer!

Hot Half Marathon, Bob Suffers - Sun., Nov. 17

After our wonderful cool temperatures earlier in the week, today turned out to be quite warm...to the tune of 88 degrees and high humidity. This weather is not conducive to running marathons or half marathons.

One time when Bob ran a full marathon in Kona, Hawaii (very hot, no shade), he passed out at the side of the road and mobile medics rehydrated and cooled him. He could not finish that marathon.

I called Bob 4-1/2 hours after his approximate start time and there was no answer. He didn't call for quite a while. Because the full marathon passed very close by our RV park, I kept hearing ambulances. Even though the half marathon didn't pass by here, hearing the sirens made me wonder if Bob was okay. If you know me, you know I worry. 

He finally called while I was walking at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Wetlands. (He hadn't taken his phone with him.) Apparently toward the end of the race, Bob was really dragging. After crossing the finish line he had to go to the medical tent for very low blood pressure and dehydration. He was treated with IV fluids and ice packs to his head. They kept him for a while. He was told by medics that quite a few people needed medical care today because of the high temperature and high humidity. Scary stuff. Three years ago, someone died on this course. After relaxing all afternoon, he is fine now.

Around 12:30 p.m. I headed over to Mitchell Lake Audubon Wetlands for a 10K Volksmarch. When I started out, it was hot, but there was a little breeze blowing. However, by the time I walked down the hill and into the trees, no more breeze. It felt almost as hot as a summer day and it was miserable. Not to mention that  spiders must have hatched because I kept walking through single-strand webs. Ugh! I hate spiders.

Today, the ducks were out in force! It's the first time I've seen so many ducks in the polders.

Hundreds of ducks in East Polder.

Explanation of polders.

Northern shrike

American avocet and ducks

Northern shoveler

Blue-winged teal

Cinnamon teal

American avocets eating

Two turtles

Spider with butterfly (?)

Checkered white butterflies mating.

Checkered white butterflies

Checkered white butterflies

When I looked up the above butterflies online, the description said they can only be found in Raleigh, NC. I beg to differ because these two were at the Mitchell Lake Wetlands Audubon Center in San Antonio, TX!!

Turtles on the opposite shore.

Great egrets and American white pelicans.

Snowy egrets

Black-necked stilt and two American avocets

Just plain hot trail.

Weird-looking beetle

Northern shoveler - adult male

Northern shoveler - adult breeding female

Ducks and American avocets

Ducks with small shorebirds.

I was very happy to finish this walk and hop into my car and blast the air conditioner on my way home!

As promised here is a photo of my hair. It's very blonde and very short. She chopped off my sideburns which I wasn't happy about. (Are they called sideburns on a woman??)

Cheesy selfie, but you can see my hair.

Tonight Bob took me out for dessert at Olive Garden as a pre-birthday celebration. I had Black Tie Mousse Cake and he had Chocolate Mousse Seven-Layer Cake. Very decadent.

Tomorrow, I am going to see "12 Years A Slave" with Sharon from our RV park. She's as much a movie buff as I am, so we'll probably be seeing lots of movies together.

Enjoy your week before Thanksgiving. Safe travels everyone.