Thank goodness it’s raining in Empire, and that I volunteered.

I’m signed up to run the Scrumpy Skedaddle 5K this weekend, and I’d gotten it into my head that it was Saturday morning, likely because most of my races have been on Saturdays. Then I showed up to help with Friday registration and found out the race is Sunday, when I was going to be up north closing down our campsite. But with the rain in Empire, we put that off a week. So instead of a thoroughly messed-up weekend, I can do a final tuneup run on Saturday with the best running club in existence and then have a blast at the race on Sunday.

So that’s one of the things I’m thankful for this weekend. Here are a few more.

Thanks to Mother Nature for providing a perfect morning for running the Vasa Pathway 25K in Traverse City last week. It was a small race – about 200 overall, and only 48 doing the full 25K – and light on frills; cotton T-shirt, no finisher medals, and a single aid station. All fine with me. It was a low-key race on a cool, clear morning, on a wide groomed trail cutting through woods just starting to turn color. Really, really, enjoyed it.

Thanks to my body for taking on the crazy challenge I dreamed up this year to do every event on the Running Fit calendar, including a snowshoe race, three triathlons (for which I had to relearn how to swim), and six ultramarathons, when I’d run a total of two before this year. I did them all without serious injury and with just three short events left, I’m feeling stronger than ever. Amazing.

With most of my running group training for fall marathons, it feels odd (but good) that mine are already done, and I can just enjoy myself. Not for too long, though. Coach has promised to get me going on speedwork for those shorter races!

And thanks to the Lord for creating apples and cider, pumpkins, fall colors, and all the wonderful things about autumn that keeps me living in Michigan. And football, of course.

So many more things in my life to be thankful for, but I just had to get those out. Do you share my passionate love for all things fall? What else are you thankful for, running-wise or otherwise? I’d love to hear from you.

Oh, and last but not least, I’d like to thank the Kansas City Royals for that terrific come-from-behind win Tuesday night. Not that I want them to win the World Series (go Tigers!) but I was designing my new blog business card during the game, and the extra innings gave me the momentum to finish. I sent in the order just as they scored the winning run. Here’s what they look like. Hope to be handing them out soon!