Mr. Jingles Goes to the Rockin K Trail Run in Kansas

On April 2-5, 2009, I traveled to Missouri and Kansas with Brent to experience the Rockin K Trail Run, which was held on Saturday, April 4th at Kanopolis State Park near Ellsworth, KS. It was a bit windy (like 30-40 mph winds!), but the rest of the weather was great. Temps ranged between the low 40's and mid 60's for race day, so shorts were very much in order for us Minnesotans. Below are some pictures of my trip.

Here I am giving Brent directions while he drives as we began our trip to Kansas.

He even let me take a turn at the wheel! Man, this thing is hard to see over...

I'll need some help here if we have to brake! :)

This spot in the car was a lot better. Not only could I help shift, but I could also use my tail to control the radio volume!

On my way to Kansas I found some long lost cousins in Lee's Summit Missouri, where some of Brent's grandkids live. There were almost as many of my cousins as Brent has kids!

My favorite was Scooby Doo. He's my kind of dog. I also found out that Scooby Doo was the name of Brent's second car.

Guess what? In Missouri, it's been warm enough already for the dafodils to be in bloom! I sure wish winter would finally end in Minnesota...



On Friday, April 3rd, we drove to where the race was to be held, at Kanopolis State Park near Ellsworth, KS. Pretty hard to miss the "Trail Run" signs, even for an old guy like Brent.



Here I am with Brent and his friend, Ron, from Nebraska. I even got to camp out that night before the race! How cool is that? Actually, it was about 40 degrees. Ron introduced Brent to this race for the first time in 2008, and he was hooked!

OK, I really don't want to talk about my first experience in one of these contraptions. Near disaster. Don't ask. And what's that smell??

Brent's Navy son, Ben, chauffered me around in the pocket of his coat that evening as the rest of the Rockin K runners gathered. Ben also ran with Brent, as he was home on a surprise leave from Okinawa! He got a few questions about what I was doing there. I don't get it...don't I look like a long distance runner? At least I was dressed for the occasion with my headband and Rockin K shirt.



Most races like this have a pasta supper the night before. It was delicious, and as you can see, I was stuffed. :)

I think the winds were something like 30 or 40 mph that day of the race (April 4th). It was cool enough that a little time by the fire sure felt good.



Holy Horseshoes!! This Rockin K finisher's award is heavy! I'm thinking I need to enroll in the exercise program with one of those lifestyle coaches I know back on The Green Mile at home.



Even though Brent didn't actually let me run the Rockin K this year, I did get to cheer folks across the finish line. I couldn't quite swing the cowbells, so my two friends here did that for me.

OK, so I didn't get to run the Rockin K. It's a pretty rugged course, and I'm a little scared of water, so that last belly-deep stream crossing would have really freaked me out. Brent agreed to take me for a run later where it was safer for me. Good thing I didn't eat beforehand...it was a bit of a bumpy ride back here.

Here is proof that I actually did the Mouse Marathon distance of 2.62 miles. OK, so it's not 26.2 miles like for humans, but give me a break...my legs are a lot shorter, too!