WV Trilogy 2015 ~ Part 2

 The West Virginia Trilogy takes place in the Monongahela National Forest and consists of three races three days in a row. This year was the sixth running of the trilogy. The first is 50k - but Bud only runs the marathon part of it. The second is 50 miles and he does NOT run that one. On Sunday is the half marathon and the 3 miler for both adults and children. Everyone has the best time, especially the children. Even wives that do not run have a good time. The food is wonderful and the people at the institute are the nicest folk.

And they are off...

All three races take off this way.

It is a very festive moment for runners and families.

Bud crossing the finish line after the first race on Friday.

He does not do the last loop so only ends up running a

marathon. That is his limit.

Here are his muddy, nasty shoes after the race.

Thank goodness he remembered to bring a second pair.

Needless-to-say, the socks had to be thrown away.

There was a torrential downpour right after the race began

which left all the trail slick and muddy. Luckily, Bud did not fall.

Bud after first loop on the half marathon on Sunday.

Bud finishing the half marathon.

He’s always wearing a grin when he crosses that line.

 Gotta love the skirt!

 Bud’s running friend, Nick, and his wife. 

 Nick ran all three races.

 My friend Rachel from Ona,WV... a high school math teacher.

Rachel taking water break after first loop.

Anneliese, Rachel’s daughter, reading instead of running.

She won a medal for her age group.

 Even the children run the 3 mile race.
 These three are all siblings.

Oh, sosososoooooo cute!

And little bunnies run atop their dad’s :-)

Here are the children waiting for their parents 

handing out the hand slaps.

Bud with Dan Lehmann, the “Commandant" of this race. 

He is so kind to both Buddy and me and always has 

that big, warm smile on his face.on his face.

This post is linked with Our World Tuesday.

Buddy’s running is definitely Our World.  He’s not in the races to win. He’s there because he loves what he’s doing, and he loves the people he is with.

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”

~John Bingham

No Need for Speed: A Beginner’s Guide to the Joy of Running