Full Version with Pics:

http://www.barefootrunner.org/reports/06stlouis/06stlouis.htm

Cheers!

BR

------------------------------------------------------------
Text Version with no pics:

I had such a good time! And to think I almost didn't go. I was having
second thoughts when my wife and daughter weren't going to be able to
make a weekend of it with me. Saturday morning I was vacillating back
and forth whether to go. Finally, I decided to "just do it" and I
hopped in the car about noon and headed out on the 245 mile trip
between Lee's Summit and St. Louis.

Spring is gorgeous in Missouri! The Redbud and Dogwood trees are
blooming all over the hills along I-70. It was a great drive with
lots of beautiful scenery.

I got to the expo late in the afternoon, picked up my packet and had
a look around. I was wearing my Vibram FiveFinger shoes so those got
a lot of questions and comments from passer-bys. Met a vendor named
Laurie at a booth called Marathon Charms & Gifts. Laurie knows
Barefoot Todd of Long Beach, with whom I have ran a couple of
California marathons. I told her that I would tell Todd that Laurie
said "hi". Consider it done! Shortly afterward, I left the expo and
headed to my motel in West County.

Sunday morning, arrived at the Union Station area around 6:30 a.m.
The weather was perfect! Skies were totally clear with a temperature
of 39 degrees! I parked the car and proceeded to cut through Union
Station in search of a restroom. I was accosted by a security guard
as I walked barefoot through the building. I told him I was on my way
out, that I was just going to hit the restroom and be on my way.
After my restroom break, I headed to the start line where the
National Anthem was being sung. Almost 7 a.m. and I needed to get up
to the start line. I made it up there and got positioned just as the
race started.

I really had no expectation of running any particular time for this
marathon. Remember, I almost didn't go and I was just looking to
finish and have fun. I was expecting probably a 4:30 marathon. Well,
anyway, the first few miles were packed with half and full
marathoners. I had lots of fun talking to folks about barefoot
running along the way. The sun was really starting to come up strong
when we entered the Anheuser-Busch Brewery at about mile 4. One of
the horse trainers had a few of the Clydesdales out for us. I shouted
to the trainer, "You don't put shoes on those horses, do ya?" He
laughed and said "Sure we do!". I thought to myself, "Hmmm ... the
only other mammal (other than sled dogs) that wear any type of foot
(or hoof) protector. Things that just make you want to go "Hmmmm".

I was feeling very strong and was running pretty consistently an 8:35
pace the first 10 miles. I was doing a lot of hand slapping with the
spectators and we all were really getting into it. At about mile 10
in Forest Park, I hear a guy yell, "Hey, Rick, we're Roebers, too!"
Apparently, they had read my article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
identifying me as Rick Roeber. Now, for me to hear that someone has
the same last name as me is rare. There are only a couple of thousand
families in the United States. I said I got to have a picture of us
all together, so I stopped and had a friend of Russ Roeber snap a
picture of all of us. How fun!

Still feeling strong, I left Clayton and continued back through
Washington University. Whenever I got the chance, I would do a short
dance whenever there was a band. There was a school marching band
really "gettin' it" in Forest Park on the way back. I had to stop and
dance a bit. Same thing at about mile 23. There was a bagpiper
playing some type of Highland Jig. I had to stop and do my best
rendition of a jig (which wasn't very good, I'm sure). Nonetheless, a
passing bicycler asked if that was a marathon jig I was doing. We
both laughed.

Coming into the final mile, I had a lot of fun hand slapping the
spectators. I was still feeling pretty good when I crossed the finish
line. My 3:45:35 finish is the second fastest barefoot marathon out
of 15 barefoot marathons. I was very pleased, first and foremost of
all that I had fun, and second that I still ran a respectable time.

Overall, the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon is a fine road race and the
City of St. Louis should be proud of a wonderfully organized event
and a beautiful course!

Factoids:

Chip Time: 3:45:35
Overall Place: 374
25th out of 122 in the 50-54 AG
33rd marathon - 18 with shoes, the last 15 barefoot.
Ran the entire distance -- did not walk any of the course.
Ran a 7 minute negative split