No Day at the Beach

When will we learn? For the second year in a row, the E Streeters were Blowin' in the Wind thanks to the ridiculous winds at the Eastern States 20-miler. A three state run, from Kittery, Maine, through New Hampshire's coastline and down to Salisbury, Mass. The winds weren't as fierce as last year's outing, but they were constant, and coupled with colder temperatures than last year. And let me say this: do NOT be fooled by the beautiful blue skies overhead. It was frickin' freezing, Mr. Bigglesworth, with a wind chill of 14. Today's photos courtesy of E Streeter supporters Ann Scanlon, Misty Scanlon, and Andrew "Holy Cross" Cook. Here, Ryan gets ready to rob a bank, while the rest of us just shiver at the start: Early on (mile 5), people are in pretty good moods, with thumbs up all around:

Trust me, they won't be this cheerful in 15 more miles:

Everybody wants to get on the blog - who is this guy waving to Ann??

Ryan traded Barry in for Sean for a time. This was before he hit the wall. Or laid across it.Here's Barry and I, planning our chaperone trip to Washington, D.C.:

Tommy looking victorious passing the half-marathon mark:

Sean, deep in thought:Believe me, we're no longer happy: Heading into the final mile, Tommy goes solo:

Happy, knowing there's only one mile remaining: Barry, protecting his godson from the rogue massage therapists and pill pushers of New Hampshire's mean streets: (there's two stories there, neither one of which will see print on this blog)

And finally, with the American flag serving as our backdrop, everyone is all smiles, because there's a pasta dinner waiting nearby.

Check back next March to see if we maintain our idiot statuses and run the damn thing again.