Comments on: Of Coots, and Cones

By: But… Where’s the Orchard? « George’s Meanderings

But… Where’s the Orchard? « George’s Meanderings — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:55:46 +0000

[...] race was first run it started up in the foothills amid orchards, but they moved the start. So like Roses to La Playa the name no longer reflects the current race. Maggie suggested “Pedrogosa to La Playa”, [...]

By: Joe Howell (aka, by Maggie, Coot)

Joe Howell (aka, by Maggie, Coot) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:44:33 +0000

OK, so I ran the Peadbody 10K today, most of it with Maggie, just like I ran most of Roses to La Playa with Maggie. Maggie did not have a good day. Talking after the race with Maggie and Kim, Maggie asked if I have read her blog recently. No I admit. Kim then says “Coots”, they chuckle, and Maggie tells I need to read it. I now have. (Kim notes that I also am required to write a comment; I am.) I am flattered to be named in the blog, as a Coot or otherwise.

I think as I segue from commenting above on Maggie’s entry to making my own, I may be moving into blog hog status; if so, sorry Maggie. Maggie did not have her best day today but hey, the Coot beat Miss Maggie and a W is a W, right? Actually, I told Maggie that last week, running Roses with her at the end, until she dropped me, was a real breakthrough for me. The last time I did Roses was 2004. I was training hard for Boston, feeling fatigued from the training but good overall and the 42 min or so 10K I ran, mostly with Maggie (and don’t know who “won”), was my last reasonably good races. A month later, I blew out my knee at Orchard to Ocean, then knee surgery (albeit pretty minor stuff), long layoff, repeated decisions to quit running and finally a return in late 2007 to running some of the local events.

Running last Sunday with Maggie, literally cheering her on as she dropped me and today, trailing then passing her at some point, were both milestones- reminders that I am sort of back, the Coot hanging with Miss Maggie.

By: McKee

McKee — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:14:54 +0000

Good race Maggie! As you know, I was so dizzy and mad after stopping to tie my shoe (I think I am over that now)… I too missed the chalk arrow telling us to go across the grass. But, I often miss such details in life. I must say that I was surprised that my last 1.1 mile was slower than I felt like I was going. Thanks to you, George, Kim, and some cute little coots I know that I was more up to speed.

Did anyone actually run the turn correctly? Were any little coots kicked? I guess we will never know.

By: kmonkey

kmonkey — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:41:51 +0000

Do you think maybe the coots were covering the little orange cones, and that’s why we all ran past? I wonder how many others did what we did.

I called Rusty right away (because I was excited about my race) and left him a message telling him what we had done. He called me back and left me a message saying something to the effect of: Why on earth would you go the longer way just because you thought everyone else was cutting the course? I had to explain — oh, no, no, no — I only went the long way because I’m a blind idiot and a little lemming; I was simply following those in front of me. If it were the other way around, and I knew everyone was turning around too soon (like that 10K out at Goleta a while back), I most certainly would continue on with my lemming ways and follow the too-short course. (You, of course Miss Maggie, out at Goleta were like the kid in class who reminds the teacher she forgot to give us homework, shouting to everyone: “You’re turning too soon! The course is mismarked! It’s too short!” You’re just so good, wink, wink.)

Oh, and now that I know what a coot is, I find the exchange between you and Green Shorts No. 2 far more amusing.