Been there, done that...Got the Goat Milk T-shirt!!!

Goat Milk! Milk of Goat! Hah!
If that wasn't an adventure to write about, I don't know what is. My nerves didn't kick in until the day before. Like most people, I have a routine, a few predictable habits that I enjoy doing. They make me happy. Usually, in the morning, I blast the radio in my car to whatever upbeat song is playing , but with Parents in tow, I listened to the wind pounding my eardrum the whole ride down there. I had to conjure 'pep' from somewhere down deep because that was a long drive without song. As I passed Pear Orchard going west on County line, in the dim light I saw a creature begin to cross my lane. 'Could that be a cat? Why am I worried? I'm not superstitious.' Even though my mind thought these words, I felt my right foot press the accelerator a little harder to quickly catch a glimpse of the darkened image that would give me bad luck otherwise. 'Spots!' The cat was speckled with white and gray and what looked like brown. It wasn't black. I wasn't worried. But I wasn't about to turn back from whence I came and spin around three times either, no sir.
My stomach growled during the drive down to Big Sand. I would have been eating and singing if I were alone, but I managed to jam my animal cookies and water in the backseat with my Stepmother - who was asleep. I had time for a few cookies and a hardboiled egg right before the race began. (whites only) I had brought wet wipes in case of bodily indiscretions, but I failed to get a fanny pack or device of the like to carry them. Silently I prayed my own version of the Serenity Prayer. "God, grant me the strength and courage to use safe leaves and not the ones of the 'poison' family, and the wisdom to be able to tell the difference."
I had heard people speak of Horseflies before, but I had never seen them. That was until Goat Milk. It dawned on me that Basset Hound had sent his cronies to do a Canine's job. I gotta give credit where credit is due... they were stellar in their 'touch and go' approaches. I hadn't seen manuevaring like that since Top Gun. I'm sure I even heard a couple of them say, "Yehaa, Jester's Dead!!", when one took a chunk out of my shin. Drew blood even. T'knesha told me not to worry, now I had a war wound. Yes... I have battle scars! Luckily I had a camera with me, so she got a picture of it.
I must admit, I enjoyed running Goat Milk. Mark, thanks for coming up with this Marathon Makeover. The positivity I get from participating in it surpasses what words could ever convey. Melissa the Motivator. Thanks for the drive-bys. T'knesha, thanks for running with me and now, I don't think there isn't a hill that I'll come across and not hear you say, "This is just like San Francisco!" Carol, you are a true vision of inspiration. Through all the hiccups and obstacles you manage to crawl, climb and push through, I would be hard-pressed to say I knew anyone else that was as tough and tenacious as you are. I look forward to running with you during the week. To the old man with the bandaged knees at Goat Milk. Thanks for letting me and my ego pass you by on the home stretch.
And Rick.... I hear ya calling. Just bring it!... and the Hound! I'll take both yous on.
Alls fair in love and running a marathon!