Even when it’s a “long weekend”, it still doesn’t seem that long.  It was kind of that way for me too.  But none the less, still a productive weekend with time to rest as well. 
Three of the five days that the Polk County Fair was going on in Fertile, MN – I was in attendance.  The first two days for work, helping to promote the events on one of the stations I work for (106.5 FM KRJB) with my co worker Sean.  We make it a fun experience for everyone listening (or so we’ve been told) which helps to attract some people that are out in radio land listening throughout the day to know what exactly is going on from that point on and into the next few days at the fair.  One of the things we promoted was a 5K run that was to be held the Saturday morning of the fair, which I would participate in. 
One thing I shouldn’t have done, as I could feel the effects of it more than a regular end to a race: eat the fair food.  It tastes great!  It’s hard to resist, and that ended up being the case for me.  I gave in to the temptation.  The fair only comes once a year…what the heck, might as well let loose, right?  The thing I won’t tell you is what I ate.  Let’s just say, there was about 10-15 different vendors that got my business.  That’s right, DIFFERENT vendors…I tried a little bit of everything.  90% of it probably not good for a runner in training.  One example: cheese curds.  Man they were good!  One thing I did eat though that isn’t projected as a healthy food but I still do eat a fair amount of this even during my training when I travel…pizza.  This was a wood fired pizza in a fire place that they slid into the pit and it cooked up in less than five minutes.  It was awesome. 
Alright, enough about the food, it’s making me hungry!  
Saturday morning arrival to the fairgrounds was around 8:00am.  The race officially started a little after 9:00am that morning in Fertile, MN with around 150 signed up to run/walk.  It was a great time and awesome weather for it.  I honestly would have liked it ten degrees cooler as it got a little warm towards the end, but regardless a great day for everyone to enjoy following the run.  At this run I did something I had never done before.  I paced a friend to help her achieve her goal.  I was almost nervous going into it, but I trained the way I needed to that week to prep myself for this and had faith that I would help her get to that level.  I was starting to get to the panic mode that used to sneak up on my mind before runs when I first started doing half marathons in 2007.  That happened for a couple days during my training on Monday & Tuesday, then I just finally told myself to quit thinking so much and just run.  It worked.   Just shut up and run, that’s what we did Saturday morning right from the start.  The only time I talked to Jeanna during the race was right at the end, to push her to the finish.  I wasn’t going to say anything at all, just push the tempo around the last corner and she’d follow right beside me but just incase, I wanted to make sure she finished before one other person.   There was a girl that was told “you’re in 2nd right now” with about a mile remaining.  Yes, I heard it, so I started scheming.  Never said ‘you’re going to beat that girl to the finish line’ or picked up the pace to get in front of her.  I saw a similar tactic done in Duluth by the marathon champion, staying right behind the person in front of him then kicking it down within the last block or two…making the runner in front think more.   Not that this was for a big championship or anything, but second place among all women participating, I figured Jeanna would like that.  We came around the final turn which was probably half a block remaining and I told her to get going and go as hard as she could.  With that, not only did she beat her goal time (by 1:06 in fact) she also did beat that girl by .6 seconds to take second place in the women’s division!   I’ve set five PR’s personally this year which is a great feeling each and every time.  Another thing I found out was very satisfying was seeing someone else not only accomplish a goal but also defeat someone in their division right at the finish line.  All I did was run and told her to keep up with me.  That was enough by the looks of it. 
Following that race and getting to chat with a few other people, including a guy that served over seas and is a friend of mine from Fertile, Paul Reese, I took off to go relax for the day.  I actually came back later that night to attend the Baja race in the grand stands that my co worker Sean was racing in.  So he was “running” at the fair too.  But he used wheels instead.  It was fun to watch.
With it being Independence Day weekend, it only seemed right to bring Old Glory somewhere Monday morning to attend a race.  There was one in Moorhead, MN that I was able to take part in and this happened to be my one, and only for this year, 10K event.  6.2 miles of running through some heat and humidity which isn’t always the most fun, but the event itself was very well organized and fun to be part of.  Driving up to the location where we started and finished, for about ¾ of a mile both sides of the street were lined with little American flags.  I don’t know how many, but there had to be a hundred or so.  It was awesome!  That was one of my favorite parts of the race actually.  Seeing that four times…right when we started, then we looped around through the finish and went the same round one more time, so the 10K’ers went by them four times.  Another sunny day and nice out, especially for the lake goers, but for running not the best day to be out for a jog.  As you can imagine, there were some patriotic people at this run, being it was on the 4th of July.  Some women were wearing red, white & blue shorts; a couple guys in similar colors with hats or shirts resembling the stars and stripes; then my favorite group: five guys who had U S A ! painted on their chests, all running together.  One with the U, one with the S, one had the A and the guy farthest right had the !.  I know, that’s only four…the fifth guy had USA painted on his chest all the way across while carrying two flags (1’ x 2’ I think); one in each hand.  Every time we crossed paths he’d put the flag in the hand closest to me in his opposite hand with the other one and give me five.  It was pretty cool and made the race more fun for everyone involved.  There will be a picture of these guys with me on this site soon! 
After the race, it was time to mingle again talking to many different people who ran and spectators as well.  That’s my other favorite part of all these events.  You can run anytime you want, but you can’t meet the people I do every day.  It’s what really makes each one special.  Two friends who I’ve met through running from this area were there running too.  Megan & Lindsey found me before the race and after too.  Lindsey is officially labeled as my towel girl now.  She brought me a snow man towel to help cool me down.  It didn’t actually make me feel cool, but I can always pretend. 
Following all the fun in Moorhead, it was time to head home, shower up and relax out at a lake place about a half hour from Mahnomen with a family that had invited me out for the day so I took them up on their offer.  It was a great day with great friends, food and riding on the pontoon during a beautiful 4th of July afternoon.  I can’t swim, so seeing a big body of water around me while cruising around the lake can be a little intimidating at times, but there were plenty of people who could swim in that pontoon.  I wasn’t worried at all.
I hope your weekend was a great one too.   If you’re going to be down at the Warrior Dash July 23rd in Hastings, MN – let me know!  I’ll be down there as well taking in all of the new and exciting environment they will have to offer in a three mile obstacle course with a bunch of crazy people!  Until next time, work hard, train hard but take some time to kick back and relax too, it’s always needed no matter what your routine is.