The HMS Running Bear Pirates!

A Pirates Life for Me! Well, just for this weekend. 

The past month, I've been building. . .

And building. . .

And building. . .

All leading to this one event, the Running with the Bears marathon. 
​www.runningwiththebears.org/

​Let me tell you a little about the organization, Mountain Circle Foster agency.

Shauna Rossington, Executive Director

Josie Litchfield, Race Director

Kevin Goss, Plumas County District 2 Supervisor

These three, along with about 30 staff, are the incredible people who run Mountain Circle Foster Agency, and the Running with the Bears event. 
​
Mountain Circle is a non-profit, community-based organization, committed to ensuring stability and life sustaining changes for foster and adoptive children. Since 1986, Mountain Circle has supported over 3,500 children and families in their journey to a healthier future. Their approach is simple: offer the best possible training to resource families, provide 24/7 support by experienced social workers/mentors, and equip older foster youth with the skills they will need to be productive adults in the real world. 

And they have testimony after testimony to prove the affect they have on these young lives!

The charity race is a direct benefit for and by Mountain Circle and the foster children they work with every day! During this years event, they were able to raise $51,000! Amazing!

Go, Dorie, Go!

This is my sister, Doreen. She has been running the race, as a charity runner, for 3 years now! Me, I couldn't even run down the block, let alone a half marathon! She got up at 4:20 am and headed to the start line across the valley. She started at 5:30 am, and was the first runner in! 

Great Job Dorie!!!

We had loaded the truck the night before. I knew we would have an early start, and I certainty didn't want to pack the truck in the dark!

My alarm went off at 4:00 am and my Mom and I were out the door at 5:00 am. UGH!

It was pitch black when we made it out to our spot. Thank goodness my Mom brought a flash light!

I know the sign said we were at Aid Station #8, but it wasn't the spot on the map, the race crew originally showed us. I was worried, because I didn't want to unload, just to find out I was in the wrong spot. 

"Eva," my Mom said as I walked back to the sign for a third time, "for heavens sake, don't worry, it's your aid station. See, two zeros on top of each other, its an 8!"

We both started pulling things from the back of the truck, when we saw a car and a large box van drive right by us. "I wonder if that's our crew?" I thought as I unpacked. Then, the car  turned around.   

"Eva, this isn't our spot" Pat and Kathleen said. 
"I know this isn't the original spot they assigned us, but the sign reads Aid Station #8." I had to check three times to be sure!"

We had quite an elaborate set up, but it was all worth it! Just look at this table. It was covered in all things a runner could ever need and/or want to refuel themselves. Something sweet, something salty, some protein, some energy bars. See, anything they wanted. 

And a lot of the food was put together by this guy, Jeff Titcomb. Ahoy Jeff! He kept cracking us up all morning long, with his Square Bob Sponge Pants laugh! bit.ly/2vTvkb7

Ahoy mighty pirates!

The HMS Running Bear was built by my friend Pat Bradley. It's made from cardboard. Yes that's right cardboard and hot glue!!! Amazing, isn't it! 

Hi Pat Bradley!

Unfortunately it's been so hot lately that the glue started melting and we lost the other side of the boat. But that's ok, it still gooks great!

And the canon, my Faithful Sherpa and I built that about 8 years ago for a pirate party. It's really just a super huge potato gun with a sono tube around it. You can see the "canon ball" hanging off by the rear wheel, that blue thing hanging down. Yup, that's it. ​

George had a little too much rum

An impressive pirates cache!

The Pirate GPS

Our friends, Kathleen and KD, brought a truck load full of decorations. Literally, a giant Box van load! But look at how fantastic it looks!

KD kept telling all the runners, "You lost? We have a Pirates GPS right here" as he pointed to the globe with his sword!

Evil Red Eva and the Gypsy

I just love this photo of my Mom and I. Yes, that's her, the gypsy! She made sure all the cups were filled with Water, Gatorade, and Ultima. 

Thank you Mom!!!

John McCutcheon refueling

John and his  team of bicyclists rode the race course checking on all the runners. And man do they ride fast! We kept seeing them whiz right by us!

A mighty band of 3!

We had to keep up our spirits, so we could cheer on the runners as they ran by our booth. And it was so much fun! We'd make up songs, tell funny stories, and dream of what we will do for next year's aid station.

No, there wasn't any knitting involved with this event! Just a lot of fun with my goofy, wonderful friends!. 

Dorie, churning butter for Saturday night's dinner.

And thank you, Dorie, for working so hard to help raise $51,000 for the Mountain Circle Foster Agency!

UPDATE!!!

There was an actual bear on the course again this year!

We tied for 1st place with the Main Street Girls Against M.S.! Whoo hooo! 

Way to go team!!!