I've got two weeks left in Minnesota.
I don't think I mentioned it on this blog, but Dr. Moore (my wife, not me.. HAHAHA) earned a tenured-track position at Kansas State University (EMAW, etc.) in the Agricultural Engineering department. In other words, she is a genius. I, however, stumbled my way through a liberal arts degree at an engineering school in a hair under six years, and currently sell running shoes. This is a long introduction to convey my opinion that it is a really good idea for us to move back to K-State. I decided that before I left this wonderful place and return to the land of zero lakes, I'd tell you how I feel about running and existing in Minnesota.
I've swung through a lot of the training meccas of the USA, and have found the Twin Cities to be unique. The altitude isn't anything special, the conditions for 3-4 months of the year are awful, but somehow this place has elite runners coming out its ears. So many that Mike (I was there) had to start another club to hold them all. While met with some resistance, because people are people and fear change, our group worked its way into the pantheon of USATF Minnesota teams. I have run in two other USATF associations before, and didn't realize how many things USATF can do. USATFMN has year long team competitions in several running disciplines and is involved in Youth, Open, and Masters competition. In other words, they are really well organized and do a ton of stuff. For gossakes, they've been charging a dollar to run in the metrodome since at least 1986! You are a great organization and I thank you for the opportunity to race against solid competition close to home. This is sounding a little to lovefest-y for my liking, so I should note that there are some roadblocks still, but eventually running comes down to running fast and winning stuff, and politics can't really stop that. I know I'm being stupidly vague, but a blog with 1-10 readers isn't really the place to take people to task.
I have improved a lot as a runner while I have been in Minnesota. I don't make air quotes every time I say the word "elite", which I think is a big step for me. I've run with a lot of great folks here. I will always remember this place fondly.
It also seems like it's time to stop this stupid blog. I felt like I could go on crusade to make a running blog that doesn't suck, but I fear that I don't really have the will or the ability, or enough interesting content. All of those things actually. I don't really want to talk about running most of the time, and I think we've kind of moved past the blog as a useful thing. I feel like Kansas has devolved so much that the internet will probably be illegal there when I get back anyway. Every time I sit down and type into this box I feel like it's 2005. Anyway, that's what I think, so I bid you a fond adieu.
still tooting my own horn though @joemoorerunning on twitter.
