MMRC Shine Runners: (front, l to r) Iris, Margherita, Dena, Barefoot Josh, Nash, (back, l to r) Jack, Blair, Royce, Sam
Only two group runs into the MadMayo Running Club and our numbers have already increased. The gang of nine met in downtown Madison at the center of ShineFest, which was already getting into full swing at 10 a.m. The prospect of post-run pulled pork with a Cheerwine/moonshine chaser got us out on the road nearly on time.
Iris designed the route, which, understandably, was the subject of a certain degree of consternation. Truly, that hill up Dalton and Market is a killer. Margherita started early to get a jump on the climb. Next up were Josh, Dena, and Nash to lead the way uphill, with the rest of the gang in tow.
Sam (Rockingham County’s own Sheriff Page—but we’re all first-namers during running club) paced Iris up the hill, the two of them chatting all the way, which helped her forget that her lungs were trailing behind. By the time they swung back downhill and hit Wall, so did Iris, who dropped back from the pack and (gasp!) took a shortcut down to Murphy. This tricky maneuver earned her the moniker “Rosie Ruiz Jr.” from Royce and Jack. Guess we know what’s going on her MMRC shirt!
From Murphy, Blair and Iris (surprisingly refreshed) blazed ahead of Sam, Royce, and Jack down Hunter—where we forgot to TP certain MMRCers’ homes—and then south across Academy for the scenic loops. At this point the group stretched out a bit, everyone finding their own tempo along the gravel road near the river.
Nash, with youthful zeal, blatantly disrespected the Let Josh Win rule with a speedy sprint at the end. The new rivals then trotted back to run last-place Iris up to the finish line while Dena went in search of a couscous stand, thus putting Group Run #2 in the books.
A kind Town of Madison police officer acted as MMRC photographer (he couldn’t say no, after all, the sheriff is in the club!).
By the time we all hit the finish, ShineFest was rocking! The streets were packed with fest-goers, old ‘shine-running hot rods, race cars from NASCAR legends like Junior Johnson and Neil Bonnett, BBQ, bluegrass music, crafts, and funnel cakes. Also? The newly ubiquitous fried butter.
Winners of the door prizes: Royce (Dan River Coffee House gift certificate) and Margherita (fudge from the Madison Fudge Shoppe).
Missed but not forgotten: Tamara and Harvey, who were called away to Chapel Hill.
Join MMRC on the next group run and find yourself in the recap!
Watch this site for dates and times.
I’m all V For Vendetta looking.
Also, I don’t think my parents know about that tattoo. Or, didn’t, anyway.
Love the recap! And my apologies for cursing Josh for the hilly course–apparently I should have been hurling insults at Iris.
Never found couscous but Blair hunted down some kettle corn for a post-run carbo load. It put up quite the fight, but we took it down.
That’s so great! And I’m so sorry we missed it! We returned from Chapel Hill with a brand new old Dodge pickup truck, which we promptly drove down to Greensboro to pick up our brand new old treadmill. I’ve just finished 3 miles in honor of the 2nd MMRC group run, and some sorely missed kettle corn.
It was fun, but you were definitely missed.
I see a new business opportunity here: Tread-2-Go. Keep the treadmill loaded on the back of the pickup, hook it up to a generator, and drive it around to wherever people need a quick workout: home, office, killing time waiting in line at the DMV, etc.
Great looking bunch of runners there Josh! I’m jealous! You’re all smiling and happy looking! Thinking I need to come run in Rockingham Co.!