Stu Breeze

Stu's Run, a 30K (that's 18.6 MILES!) ordeal over some of the hilliest terrain to be found on the pre-Boston Marathon running paths, around and around the Wachusett Reservoir and up and down the hills of Clinton, West Boylston, Sterling, and any other Worcester county community that boasts a spirit-breaking hill.

But for me, one of my favorite races to photograph.

Why?

Because I get free advertising every year for this blog at Mile 9, that's why.

Wicked Good Cookies.  That's us Cooks, indeed.

ANYways.... on to the race.

This year's Stu's Race, while run under clear azure skies, also boasted the fiercest, most unrelenting winds we've experienced out on this course.  It hearkened back to that still famous 2010 Eastern States 20 miler that still ranks atop the list of most inhuman weather conditions under which to conduct a Boston Marathon training run. 

Sunday's winds pretty much accompanied the runners throughout their 18.6 miles, and unfortunately, any time the vista became especially photogenic, the winds increased exponentially.

Mile 5 at the Old Stone Church, site of one of Jackie and my first dates way back when I had hair and Jackie had no idea what she was getting herself into.

But there was no time for sight-seeing as suddenly, like a bolt, there appeared Rick Sobey, he of the fleetest feet in the Lowell Sun.  Sorry, Barry, he's got you by a couple of steps.

The Most Valuable E Streeter running buddy nod goes this year to Scott Spence, who opted not to just go for a simple 10 mile loop to assist in pacing Andrew, but went all in, logging nearly 14 miles on the course with the lad!

That kind of friendship deserves a fist bump, at a bare minimum. 

And just like that, the pair was off and inseparable for the next 2+ hours 

How windy was it?  The gale force gusts blew Rick's Patriots' knit hat clear off his head, as caught on camera.

But that's okay, Rick's still smiling.  That smile can't last the next 9+ miles, can it?  (See further below) 

Time for an updated blog profile pic?

I'm thinking there's a branding opportunity somewhere here for me.

And as I ruminated on new marketing opportunities, the Pernicious Pair was upon me again!

The Dynamic Duo is still providing thumbs up, despite the mile-long ascension up toward Shrewsbury

And there's that aforementioned smiling Sobey again.  Just dawned on me now: Shorts, Rick?  It was ARCTIC freezing out there with the damn wind chill, Rick!  Are you NUTS?!?!?

Speaking of nuts

Their shadows are outpacing them

Heading into the home stretch, Rick made special note of the 25K signage to his left.  That means he has just 5K, or 3.1 miles to go to finish this bad boy off!

And he never looked back

How many kilometers you got left in you boys? 

The wonders of Snapchat, and my son gets to tell mom and dad he's doing just great out on the open road.  You know it's windy when Andrew a) has his hat now turned around frontwards and b) has his hood up

Heading down through Clinton Center, Andrew openly ponders when this runner's long winter ordeal will finally end

With dad pointing the way to the finish, Andrew lets readers of this blog know how many miles he has left to run.  Could have explained it better in retrospect, Andrew.

Is that a finish line I see before us?  Hard to tell.  We're all pretty bleary-eyed at this point

Andrew discarded his running entourage and claimed his medal solo, to the throngs of fans foolhardy enough to stay outside in these wind chills

Inside, the two young mustangs share a laugh.  Actually, this pic is just proof of what so many hear rumored.  You lose control of all your faculties after such a grueling physical test.  Some cry, others laugh maniacally, others collapse in exhaustion.  And other big blows grab a cup of soup, a banana, and cookie and just document the day's true Wind Warriors with his iPhone.

Exceptional job, boys!