In 1970, a chartered Southern Airways DC-9 returning from a football game clipped a stand of trees and crashed just outside Huntington, West Virginia, killing the entire Marshall University football team, the coaching staff, several boosters and a crew of 4. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the story of the town would be the subject of a movie starring Matthew McConaughey. Anyway the race itself is a ho-hum double loop course with the most interesting part being running through Kiwanis Park until the big finish on the Marshall Stadium turf. Flat by West Virginia standards (260 ft of gain) with a goodly amount of community support. Started cool but very quickly warmed up so much I regretted the long sleeve I elected to wear. Two more states to finish the second round and then I need to chill out for a bit.
Outside the post office. I loved this guy in Toy Story.
This is G Dog Gordon. He’s a parapalegic chiweenie and he’s awesome.
More G Dog Gordon
Marshall University Memorial Fountain. The flowers are laid by the runners. The fountain is turned off on November 14 (the date of the accident) every year until the next spring.
Fun fact: As of 2016 West Virginia is the fattest state in the union.
Railroad museum on the course.
LEGO land Red Cross
Fountain in Ritter Park
Cute corgi on the course.
Amy Melissa Guimond is not having it.
I’ve been telling the bureau of labor statistics that they’re failing to consider the volatility of the slurpee sector in the consumer price index. It turns out here in southern Ohio they are ready for another sudden surge in slurpee related inflation.
The fall colors were spectacular
It’s funny because…opiates.
Part of the thundering herd at the expo
Gazebo in the old city
The Huntington Memorial Arch is a tribute to those lost in WWI.
Chester Kalb is all about kicking butt and chewing bubblegum, and he’s fresh out of bubblegum.
One doesn’t say this often, but the Ohio river looks lovely today.
Huntington’s old central city is known as the antique capital
The man, the myth, the 4th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall.
Finishers are given a football to mug with, Heisman style, at the finish. The ball is not regulation size, my hands are.
The bib
The medal.
The jacket that Andy Bowden doesn’t feel is a jacket.
