Spirit of St. Louis Races
Sunday, April 4, 2004
Encounter report from Glenn...
Date: Thu Apr 8, 2004
Subject: My trip to the STL!
Fellow winged wonders... Ever since I first met Kecia back in 1999, I knew that one day I would visit her hometown. Last weekend I finally made it to St. Louis and it was an AMAZING experience. There were so many stories:
* I met a guy named Ginnie on the way to Chicago. He was from Seoul, South Korea, and was taking a 4-month trip across the States before attending school in Toronto. I ended up being his tour guide on our arrival in Chicago. We had lunch and went our separate ways.
Geenie and Glenn at Chicago's Union Station* I travelled from Chicago to St. Louis with Ed & Karin Saak, who are the parents of longtime and speedy Penguin Josh Saak. Along the way, we made a stopover in Champaign, Ill., to drop off a care package/Easter basket for one of Josh's sisters who's studying at the University of Illinois.
* Arrived at Josh's place late on Friday night. From there, I rode with Patti Hamill, who offered to let me stay at her place. I was staying in the same room recently vacated by a USHL hockey player that was staying with the Hamills for several months.
* Left early Saturday morning to watch the U.S. Women's Olympic Trials at Forest Park. Met up with the Penguins at Kecia's apartment, which was about a mile away from the Park. We watched the women pass us 7-8 times, because the course was multiple loops. With Cheryl from South Dakota's help, we rang the Penguin bell as the runners passed us. Colleen De Reuck, Deena Kastor and Jen Rhines placed 1-2-3 and qualified for Athens. At the finish, organizers handed the spectators flags, which we gladly waved as the women finished the race.
Penguins at Forest Park for the U.S. Women's Marathon Trials. From L to R: Shawn & Carol from Indiana, Cheryl from South Dakota, Glenn, and Pam from Minnesota.* We returned to Kecia's place for brunch. Kecia's apartment is in a grand old building with high ceilings, a baby grand piano in the lobby and a bench in the wood-carved elevator. If they're looking for a doorman, I'd consider it ;-) Kecia hosted a great brunch with bagels, fruit and gooey butter cake (a St. Louis specialty). Later, Coach Bob arrived with a couple of quiches and we watched his videotape of the final minutes of that morning's Olympic trials.
* From there, a bunch of us went to the race expo in Shawn and John Walke's car. I rode in the back :-) At the expo, I used my proven strategy to get extra stuff: "I'm a Canadian... We don't get this product up there!" Ended up buying a St. Louis Track Club t-shirt. When I first approached the STLTC booth, I noticed the shirt hanging from the wall. It was a basic navy blue shirt with "St. Louis Track Club" scripted in white. The guy lowered the price to $8, but I still wasn't interested. Until he said that it was in a NELLY video (and he had a still from the
music video hanging from the booth to prove it). I gave him $8!
Penguins enjoy ice cream from Crown Candy Kitchen, a St. Louis landmark* The Crown Candy Kitchen is a restaurant/ice cream & candy shop located to the north of downtown STL. It's in a tough neighbourhood and you wouldn't notice it, but for the long stretch of cars parked along the side streets. You walk inside and it's a 1950s diner. Everything inside is preserved from that era. I bought $20 of Easter chocolate and a banana malt to go. Mmm... One of us bought Kecia a chocolate Penguin (!) that we presented to her at the dinner later that night.
* After CCK, Pat (Patti's husband) took me and the Urmachers from Nebraska on a tour of the city. We drove by most of the famous landmarks: Union Station, the Arch, Anheuser-Busch brewery, Soulard farmers market... We dropped off the Urmachers at their hotel and were ready to go back to the Hamills' home when Pat noticed smoke coming from the northwest of the city. We drove as close as we could to the source of the smoke, which Pat guessed was an old wooden house up in flames. Turns out there was a string of nine fires set across the city at nearly the same time!
* Most of us had dinner at Charlie Gitto's restaurant downtown. The pasta was wonderful and I had the toasted ravioli, another St. Louis tradition. Near the end of our meal, Kecia and a few others who attended the official pasta dinner (where John Bingham was speaking) arrived. After everyone made their goodbyes and wished each other luck in next day's race, Kecia offered to drive me back to Patti's place in her Mini Cooper. How could I refuse? After all, I called shotgun a year ago :-)))
Old Glory at the starting line of the marathon* On Sunday morning, Patti and I left at 6 a.m. for downtown and the start of the Spirit of St. Louis Races. At the marathon start line, a huge American flag hung between two fire trucks with their ladders extended. The sky was clear, the temperature wasn't bad, but the wind chill made runners seek shelter any place they could find (bus shelters, walls). I thought I would volunteer, but instead I decided to take some time for myself. After the runners left at 7 a.m., I walked to the Gateway Arch, about a mile away from the start/finish area.
* The Gateway Arch is THE symbol of St. Louis. Officially, it's part of what's called the "Jefferson National Expansion Memorial," which also includes the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse (where the Dred Scott case was tried). The Arch is 630 feet tall and there is a tram that takes people to the top, where there are observation windows. It's right beside the Mississippi River.
* I got to the Arch at 7:30 a.m. and realized that the museum/tram/gift store underneath didn't open until 9 a.m. After I took a couple photos, including one on my back at the base of the Arch looking up [photo above], I noticed a building right beside the highway. As I got closer, I saw people going inside. I waited for someone to open a door and I followed them in. It was a church -- the Old Cathedral of St. Louis. It was the first Catholic cathedral built west of the Mississippi. It's since been replaced by another structure north of the city, but this church still had many of the remnants of its French past. I stayed for Palm Sunday Mass, bought a couple souvenirs at the Arch gift store and then walked back to the start/finish.
* Unfortunately, by the time I came back, many of the Penguins had already finished the half-marathon. I saw Patti finish and she told me that her husband was a couple blocks east cheering the runners. I walked in that direction and saw Pat applauding the runners in the middle of the street, while his Cushman three-wheeled cart was blasting music (Pat owns a
car-repair business). I joined him and we cheered the marathoners and half-marathoners.* After the race, Pat and Patti treated me to "Steak & Shake," which, true to its name, made great steakburgers and shakes. There was some time to kill before I was to meet with Josh's parents at his place, so I asked if I could pick up some food at Schnucks. ["Schnucks" is a chain of grocery stores in St. Louis. It's probably more accurate to call them a "monopoly"!
When I was doing STL research, I noticed that there were 50+ "Schnucks" in the city. I asked myself: "What could there be 50 of in St. Louis?"] Couldn't leave without picking up a gooey butter cake and a couple bags of Old Vienna Red Hot Riplets potato chips.
Glenn and Patti at Josh's apartment, post-race* I said my goodbyes at Josh's place. Josh had coached a group of marathon runners from the YMCA and all of his group did well. By phone, I found out that Kecia ran a PR for the half-marathon.
* 22.5 hours later, I arrived at home. I opened the front door with my key, but the chain lock was on! It took me almost an hour to release the chain with a coat hanger. I had a night shift at work that started in three hours and I wasn't in the mood to carry my bags and backpack to work.
* Over the weekend, I got to meet a bunch of old friends and new faces: Cousins Cheryl (S.D.) & Pam (Minn.) and family; Virgil & Cheryl and their son from Nebraska; Carol & the Indiana Connectors; Coach Bob; Charles & Maggie Cohn from Atlanta; Josh and Kristin... I'm sure I'm missing people and I apologize.
* Eleven things on my "to do" list for next time!
1. Try St. Louis-style pizza at Imo's
2. Run in Forest Park and along the Mississippi
3. Anheuser-Busch brewery tour
4. Cardinals baseball game
5. Blueberry Hill in University City
6. Attend a Nelly or Chingy concert
7. A "concrete" at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard Stand
8. Soulard Farmers Market
9. Play in the giant jungle gym at the City Museum
10. Visit CITY Improv
11. Ride the MetroLinkThank you Patti & Pat Hamill, Josh, Ed & Karin Saak and Kecia LiCausi. All of you showed me incredible hospitality. I do appreciate it. I'm looking forward to my next visit to the STL!
Godspeed!
Glenn Gabriel (ggabriel@pathcom.com)
Toronto, Canada
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Encounter report from Kecia in St. Louis...
Date: Thu Apr 8, 2004
Subject: The Spirit of St. LouisHello Penguins!
What would life be without friends? New friends and old friends, they are all special and make our lives so much the richer. This past weekend my life was rich beyond compare.
Glenn, traveled all the way from Toronto to be here. He came by bus and by car. It must have been a long and tedious journey. He brought his bell, treats from Canada, and his amazing spirit. It's no wonder that the Toronto Penguins are so numerous.
Cheryl and Pam came from South Dakota and Minnesota...and they never stopped SMILING!!! Those two will be forever etched in my brain at the moment I saw them on the course and they both had the biggest smiles I have ever seen. It was thrill to see them finish their first half marathon too.
From Indiana came Carol who brought a few Indiana Connectors with her. I've known Carol for several years now and it's always a pleasure to share time with her, and her friends Jill and Susan were both great. Susan and I are evenly paced and I think we'll probably hook up at other races in the future. I don't know how I missed meeting Shawn and John Walke at PWC4 but somehow I did. It was great having a chance to meet them.
Shawn...I know it hurt to stop but you did the right thing. You should be very proud of yourself for having the wisdom and courage to do that.
Cheryl and her husband Virgil Uhrmacher came from Nebraska. Cheryl is quite a speedy runner and full of life! Virgil was everywhere with his camera! I can't wait to see his photos, even the unflattering one of me tying my shoe! If these two ever find that turquoise Fiesta covered onion soup dish at a garage sale for me...they will be my bestest friends ever!
Old friends Charles and Maggie Cohen were here from Georgia. When it comes to walkers Charles is FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Maggie is true gem.
John Bingham was here as the guest speaker for the pasta dinner. Coach Bob has never had the opportunity to see John speak. When he heard that John was going to be here he immediately bought tickets. To steal a phrase from Charles, John was in "rare form" Saturday and gave the best show I have ever seen him do. Bob was laughing so hard he was crying!
And of the St. Louis Penguins themselves...Patti, Pat, Josh, and Bob...they are the best!
And Saturday morning we all assembled to watch the best American women distance runners try for a spot on the US Olympic team. To make the team they had to run a 2:37 or better and be in the top three. Blake Russell took the early lead and maintained it most of the race, but the strategy hurt her in the end. Deena Drossin Kastor was right behind her, as was Colleen De Reuck, who finished second in last year's championship. Blake blew thru the 10K mark in an astounding 33 minutes! Then Deena made her move and took the lead. Colleen passed Blake and held on to the number 2 spot. Colleen eventually passed Deena to finish in 2:28:25 and Deena finished second in 2:29:38. Blake continued to hold on to the number 3 spot until the 26 mile mark where Jen Rhines, who was seeded around 30, passed her to finish in 2:29:57 and take the final spot on the team. It was a fantastic race to watch!
On Sunday it was time for us mere mortals to run. The weather was perfect for running! My training has been the pitts for a few months now so I didn't have any expectations for my race. I ran the first hour or so with Carol's friend Susan. I take a 30 second walk break every 5 minutes and Susan did not but I would always catch back up to her on the run. After I lost her at in the park picked up my pace some. I had home course advantage...I've run those same roads time and time again and I decided to use it to my advantage. I saw Patti [photo left] and her crew of walkers, Cheryl and Pam, and I saw Pat out cheering runners on. The biggest problem I had all day was that it was hard to tell which mile markers were for the marathon and which were for the half marathon. I didn't figure out which was which until around mile 7. I thought I was on pace for a 2:10 finish...imagine my surprise when I saw the clock and it was at 2:04!!! My chip time was 2:04:22 which was a PR by 34 seconds.
It was all over way too soon and everyone had to go back home. It was privilege to share hostessing duties with Patti and welcome you all to our city. I'm already looking forward to next year!
Kecia, St. Louis
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