Left to right: Ethel Cook, Kerry Wilson, Lori Herman, Brian DePolis, Keith Straw, Sylvie Laquerre, Terry Chaves, Sarah German, Milo German, Hannah German, Tom Chaves, Adam McMonagle, Robin McMonagle.
Recap of the Weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska - May 4th - May 6th, 2007
A lot of races and events this past weekend for Fast Tracks members.
One event was the Lincoln Half and Full Marathons where 13 Fast Trackers headed west to better understand the heritage of our hosts, Milo and Sarah German. Hannah German, fresh off of her sophomore year finals, also provided local commentary on the U of Nebraska's campus.
The weekend provided a lot of opportunity to appreciate the midwest with tours and visits and drives along the plains.
Friday night had us gathering at The Haymarket downtown for a mexican feast and an after dinner treat at Ivanna Cone while our contingent arriving from Omaha (ethel cook, sylvie laquerre, and kerry wilson) arrived.
We survived a Friday night and saturday morning thunder and lightning storm and collected our race packets and some running paraphanalia at a nice race expo. We followed that with a tour of the U of Nebraska campus and heard some good stories of the days when milo and sarah attended as well as some current ones
from hannah. What beautiful and unique architecture on campus that makes it a worthwhile tour.
Seward Nebraska was the location for our Saturday lunch as we learned of their unique 4th of July tradition of kidnapping (yes, kidnapping!) a traveler along Route 80 and having them be the grand marshal for the parade! Only in America ...
Our saturday night was filled with meeting the parents of Milo and Sarah along with a group of friends who were very interested in this "running" thing we do. A pasta dinner capped off the night as we shared it with friends and family of the Germans.
Surviving another fierce thunder and lightning storm Saturday night and Sunday morning, we gathered for the 7 am race in front of the football stadium. Logistics were fabulous as the 5500 runners was a drop in the bucket for the normal 80k+ that they would get at a football game.
The half and full started at the same time in some remnants of the rain. Wind picking up, we took off with each of us having our individual goals in sight. Our members participating in the half were (in order of chip time finish):"
Sylvie Laquerre
Brian Depolis
Lori Hermann
Robin McMonagle
Milo German
Kerry Wilson
Terry Chaves
Our members participating in the full marathon (in order of chip time finish):
Keith Straw
Tom Chaves
Ethel Cook
Our faithful supporters who braved the wind and rain to see us at a few locations on the course:
Sarah German
Hannah German
Adam McMonagle
Family and friends of the Germans
As we dispersed throughout the day to catch our varying flights (not before some of us indulged in another pasta feast), we left with a great Fast Tracks outing and event that gave us a glimpse into the midwest and a deeper understanding of our friends the Germans (for some additional tidbits on Milo and Sarah's youth as shared by their parents, check with any of us)
