LaCrosse Half Mary 9/27/9

Have you done the Oktoberfest half before?  It is an out and back course and there is a time limit (not a problem for fast to average runners).  On the way back you are sometimes having to watch out for half drunk, smoking parade goers as it is along the Oktoberfest parade route for the first and last part of the run.  Somehow they also manage to avoid almost all of the beautiful scenery in the La Crosse area.  I will likely be doing the St. Clare's marathon (they also have a half marathon).  It is on a somewhat more scenic course and benefits the St. Clare Health Mission, which provides free health care to people and families without insurance and with limited (or no incomes).  It's a great cause and a prettier race.  http://www.lacrossefitnessfestival.com/events.html

Getting better.  Still has some swelling and low circulation but she has a fair amount of use of the hand back.  Unreal how serious the injury was!  It's been almost four months.  Thanks for asking!

Sounds great Mike!  I look forward to meeting you!

I'm already in...It was my first ever 1/2 mary last year. Going for a PR this year.

runs_with_jasper, I too went to HS and college in La Crosse. Moved to Milwaukee 7 years ago. 

Sweetness!  This is going to be fun!

Where did you guys go to HS?  I went to Logan.  Graduated in '93.

I went to Central and graduated in 1987.  I graduated from Viterbo in 1994 so I am aged compared to you

I am Aquinas class of '81 and Viterbo class of '86.

Do you not like the scenic view of French Island and the Northside that the 1/2 mary tours?

Not especially.  They manage to avoid the actual pretty parts of French Island for the most part.  Crossing the bridge onto French Island is nice.  On the plus side I don't think they go by the place where the guy stored his dead mother in the freezer for several years .  That and one year I was nearly hit in the head by a football some parade goers were throwing across the course.  Between dodging parade goers and avoiding the heavy smokers waiting for the parade I just didn't have much fun either time I did the race.

The race organization was fine the two times I did it.  They do have plenty of water stops and people directing you.  It also does benefit the local YMCA, which is nice.

Oh, a southsider.  I lived on the southside but then about 10 years before we left La Crosse we moved to (gasp) French Island.  However, you seem nice enough even for a southsider so I will let it pass

Good luck at your race!  It is a week before the Lakefront Marathon so if I am in town that weekend I would just do the 5.

I just looked at the web site and online reg closed on Tuesday and on site closes Friday at 6 p.m.  We won't be in town until around 8 p.m. so we won't be able to register!  That's crap.  We'll likely just run anyway.  I want to give them my money but if they don't want to take it that's their problem!!!

Peeved,

PeterAK

 Could you call in and talk to Allison at the YMCA to see if she would let you register over the phone or something?  The YMCA phone number is 608-782-9622.  Could your mom or someone register you?