Boulder, CO Memorial Day, May 25, 2009

Today, Memorial Day, is the time for the annual Bolder Boulder celebration, here in Colorado. The main event is a 10 K (6 mile) race/walk along the streets of Boulder, ending in the University of Colorado Stadium. The race starts with the fastest, competitive runners, then the joggers, then the jogger/walkers, and finally the walkers. Debbie and I participated as walkers. I have been having some foot problems, which just recently were alleviated, so between that, being terribly out of shape (little walking for the last 2 months), and altitude adjustment, I was concerned that I might have trouble. I am happy to report that I finished the race just fine, a little under two hours I think, which is a fast pace for me, but not for most people).

At the end of the race, all the participants are given a pack lunch, containing healthy snack chips, a power bar or two, an orange, a couple of other things and a beer or a soda. Then we went up into the stands and watched teams of runners run the course. Duane will be interested to learn that an Ethiopian man won. Usually runners from Ethiopia and Kenya run very well. We can watch them on a big screen in the stadium. After that, there is a short patriotic speeches, a 21 gun salute and skydiving --- landing in the stadium, and finally the National Anthem. That was the end of the festivities, and a good thing too, as it suddenly began to rain -- very, very, hard.

Yesterday Debbie and I took a short hike out on the prairie at Boulder Ranch County Park. I heard a meadow lark singing, prairie dogs clicking (a sound I have never heard before) and frogs in a pond, peeping (peepers). So --- my new ears are doing quite well.