Rebel Runners

OF DELAWARE

A large group of Rebel Runners flew to Minnesota to run "TCM" on 10/2/05.

We were expecting good race conditions (upper 40's at the start with a high around 60 for the day). Instead, race day would be a challenge, with high humidity, near 70 at the start, and some breezy areas. As the St. Paul Pioneer Press noted, it became a "Battle of Attrition"!

Rebel Runners invade Minnesota

By General Bootsie DiNatto of the Rebel Runners of DE

Despite the rocky start to our trip- our flight was delayed and Loco & Coco’s flight was cancelled, we all eventually made it to the hotel. It was there, in the hotel bar that a challenge was presented to me. A marathon of my own- drink 26 different beers, one for every mile of the marathon, by the end of Sunday night. I eagerly accepted the challenge forgetting for the moment that I usually do not drink more than two in a night. Quickly, I made my way to “mile” 2.

Friday at noon, we hit the expo at the XCel Center in St. Paul (where the hockey team plays). It had the usual vendors. We saw Slug Goddess, who was there with friends from her former running group in Rochester, NY. Megaphone conned the Saucony guy out of a hat, citing his undying loyalty to the brand. No one left empty handed. Later, Tuck-in, Megaphone, and Sit-down took in a Twins’ game, in which they won, while the rest of us carbo-loaded at dinner.



Many of the following photos can be enlarged by clicking on them:

Megaphone and Tuckin took a Friday morning walk to the Metrodome



Rebels on balcony overlooking Race Expo in St. Paul


Rebmaster at the Expo || Rebels depart Expo - St. Paul's Cathedral in background


Keeping the waitress hustling! || Waiting for our faithful taxis


Twins win!   Megaphone, TuckIn and Sit Down hit a Friday night game.

Saturday was uneventful, as it should have been. Breakfast, a little shopping, and oh, yeah, a whole lot of bananas (this is where the title originated). While walking back to the hotel, the girls+BBQ stopped at a roadside stand for bananas. Because they were so cheap, we bought three bunches for the whole gang. Turned out, Ray Falcon had the same idea, but bought six bunches. Just as we had many wine bottles in Paris, we had many bananas in MPLS. After an early dinner, the runners turned in early to get a good night’s rest.

Mall of America


Mall of America


Pre-race pasta dinner at Buca di Beppo

Some ladies across the hall festooned their door with "Danger! Bachelorette Party - - Wild women inside", so Sit-Down decorated our door as well.

TCM p.2: The Race || TCM p.3: Aftermath