Good-bye KMSC

Monday was a holiday here....a much needed three day weekend! A super busy weekend with puppet shows and concerts, good-bye dinners and lunches, and a trip to Kanazawa. And plus the excitement of a big earthquake only 200km away. The swim team usually practices Monday night but the pool was closed so I suggested to some of the ladies that we get together for some food and dinner! And of course it turned into much more. They picked up both San Tache and I 30 minutes earlier than expected and we went to Majorca, a Mediterranean restaurant in the next town over. It was super delicious--salads, pasta, paella, wine, dessert and coffee! Plus I got a few gifts--goggles, a cap, towel, and keyboard keychain! Super cute and useful!! The conversation was a bit forced at first but after the first bottle of wine everyone started having a good time. Unfortunately we drank two more and the next day I thought I was going to puke during my good-bye speech in front of 300 elementary school kids. But I made it through!! Here are some pics from the evening. They are a crazy group...I'll miss my Monday nights!!

Kurobe Road Race

Today was the 24th Kurobe Jimmy Carter Road Race. I ran in it two years ago. But this year I got asked to volunteer! Yippee!! It was a great job! I biked to the race, meet up with some of the Masters Swim Team members and stood on the sidelines and cheered. I got to sport the volunteers' blue hat, a bright yellow jacket while holding a red and white flag in case there was traffic that needed directing. I got to direct one car across the course between runners coming in one direction and the lead police car coming in the other. It was an exciting moment. Actually, the best part was seeing the shock on people's faces as the ran by and realized a foreigner was cheering for them. Lots of people nodded, waved, responded, and one guy even shouted out in English "thank you!"

Kurobe Marathon May 2005

The Nifty Volunteer Outfit

San Tache rockin' the 10K

And then after a long tea ceremony and lunch...I biked home.

In total 26km today! But Ms. San Tache is the real super star. She biked, ran, and then biked again!
Holy Moly!