a weekend away.....

ok, so the mm has learned many things during this 3 day weekend away.....some profound and some random....lets start with the profound......i have absolutely no need to run/walk/crawl 50 miles......no intrinsic reason/nothing to prove to anybody else......i haven't ruled out another marathon.....after witnessing the 50 in progress i could see myself doing a more doable distance...maybe in a better time next goaround.......while there is still daylight......understand that these events start in the neardarkness and end for most in complete blackness...except for the halogen lights at the finish line...thankfully all participants are issued a reflective vest at a certain hour.....my spouse finished in slightly over 11 hours.....he swears he will never do it again...but then i said that after my marathon, now didn't i?.......the temperature was cold but thankfully not raining nor windy.....and so many others jockeying to be supportive of their runners.....i walked at least 6 miles by the days end by the time i parked my car in the next available portion of a cow pasture and walked back to the course...at 5 separate spots along the course...that included the appalachian trail and the towpath on the c&o canal.......and then back to the car.......the scenery was special......historically so....antidium battlefield, harper's ferry, numerous stone houses and barns in the western maryland style......pastures with stone fences.....or split rail fences.......lots of topsy-turvy backroads....it was a lovely day for a driving adventure.....finding these course support spots using the downloaded directions......a bit problematic once the darkness fell...part of the day was spent with my brother-in-law.....who brought along many of the same items that i had brought.....a thermos of hot water, a packets of powdered cider, hot chocolate, soup.....oatmeal....as well as gels, potions, bars, etc......and yet another digital camera to record the moment(s)......he is most pleasant company.......i also had pleasing moments with strangers in the same boat as i......i want it noted on my permanent record that i didn't approach any of these people to chat......kathy from new jersey spoke to me first as we walked back to our cars after the mass start on the main street of boonsboro, md...a charming a little town........her spouse was doing this for the first time, also.......i had minor interactions with a gaggle of folks who walked off and left all of their leavings.....empty water bottles, pop cans, etc....i offered to pick up their stuff as they walked away from it.....well, that maybe doesn't count as an interaction.....but telling them loudly that i would be happy to pick up their trash made me feel holierthanthou.......and then there was the crowd of supporters who had the complete hp commercial-thing going...they had obviously photographed and downloaded a picture of their runner......and made full-size facial-fascimile/masks....mounted on large tongue depressors....and held up as he approached....it was very sweet.........and then there was the fellow who, when asked if he was supported his runner....said.....'if he gets here and looks for something to eat or drink then he will be f..cked, now won't he?.......'.....omg......2 compelling books on cd on the way up and way back....robert parker's widow's walk on the way up.....and inspector morse on the way back......that book was too long to completely finish on the way home....and i am listening to the end as we....type.........still not sure who done-it.......still a few chapters to go......the routes we traveled were littered with dead deer.....must rutting season for so many carcasses to be on so many lengths of roadway.....and speaking of roadways....so many tributes to the dead at the sides of roads.....crosses, wreathes, and the like....from tragic wrecks over the years......or more recently...who can tell......as for me....i am so very very happy to be home...at my own little terminal.....recapping the events so as not to be forgotten........