Mini Marathon 2013. Guest Blogger: Chris Richardson

Guest Blogger: Chris Richardson
This past Saturday was a big day for our team Craig's Hope as we participated in the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon/mini-Marathon. Last year the team had three runners and a loud support team, and raised over $4600 in donations. This year, we were 8 runners strong and have so far raised $6,615.00, thanks in large part to the efforts of Scott Deitz, who really spearheaded the effort and kept us all motivated and inspired. Kudos to Scott Dant for running the Marathon! That’s a major accomplishment! Kudos, as well, to all the mini-Marathon runners, it’s no walk in the park.

I encourage everyone to spread the word and if you have ever considered giving the mini-Marathon or even the Marathon a try, join us next year and help us in our efforts to raise awareness and funding to help understand and stop pancreatic cancer.

A very special thanks to the support crew that came out to cheer us on! It really means a lot to all the runners to have you all there cheering and shouting encouragement, and it always seems like it’s at just the right time! It was also great to have the team and their families over for some pre-race pasta loading and camaraderie. Thanks, Janelle, for the great spaghetti! And thanks to everyone who brought all kinds of yummy food!

I really wanted to thank Michelle for inviting us over for a post race celebration. We all enjoyed the company and the food and got some much needed rest for sore muscles.

That gathering made me happy to be around such great friends, but by the same token, of course, it’s also times like those that weigh heavily on me and make me really reflect on the loss of such a great guy. I will always miss hanging with Craig at the Oaks or making mint juleps at the annual Merimee Derby shindig. Those were wonderful times in my life that I will never forget.

As we’re all taking in the weekend festivities, make sure your raise a glass of bourbon and get your name in the race pool! Craig wouldn’t have it any other way.

On that note, “Punch it Chewie!” Let’s get more runners and more participation next year!!

Brad Toon (Michelle's Bro) running

(Michelle's cousin) Rob Knarr running

Rob running

Chris running

Scott Deitz, team captain running (sorry Scott, I did not get a good picture this year.)

Hannah eating donuts in the cheer section



cheer section with the breakfast of champions



Cheryl Pfennig running (looking good)

Missing Running pictures: Katie Hood (Craig's cousin). Rich Graviss (Craig's frat Brother and friend of the fam). Scott Dant (friend of the fam).  




5/8 of TEAMHOPE with the cheer section



pasta party at the Richardson's house Friday before the Saturday morning run

partying with pasta at the Richardson's

The three amigos



the Richardson's pasta party



Hayden

Sean Merkt holding Nolin Craig at the after mini grill out

Runner resting after the mini

Hannah (aka: Snow White) getting in the bounce house at the after mini Grill out

Cheryl lovin on sweet Amelia

Scott Deitz after the mini. He had a lil to drink, just a little.

The girls at the post mini grill out.



Well deserved beer after the race



Note from Michelle:

Sorry the pictures are all out of order they are hard to move around. It was a wonderful and very exhausting weekend. Words cannot describe the many emotions that went along with the this run. This was the third year TEAMHOPE has run for Craig, the second year without him. You would think that this would be getting easier. It wasn't an easy year for me. The truth is I would love to have pasta with friends just have to have dinner together and cheer friends on that are just running to run. I feel honored to have so many friends and family want to honor Craig in this way but at the same time I would love to just have him here and never have been effected by PC. It was a mix of intense emotions this year.

Craig, If there are blogs in heaven, I miss you so much this time of year. I wish we were going to Oaks today. I wish you were ordering mint juleps and I was ordering Lilies all day and betting on the fillies. I wish we were back to throwing our derby party. Plans change and we are doing okay here just missing you so badly and wishing you were here with us. Happy Derby week. Love you.