The month of May

I haven't been the best blogger this past year, as I definitely don't make this a priority.  However, I do have a very valid excuse for not blogging very much this past month of May.  I WAS BUSY.
Between the massive amount of travel I had to do for work and the general business that is May in Indiana, I didn't find the time to write about what makes living in Putnam County great.

I will attempt to give you a recap now with a list of highlights:

1. The 500 Festival Mini-marathon.  It was the first half-marathon I ever ran, and now that I have done it 8 times, I feel very much at home when I participate in it.  I also have a lot of memories from doing volunteer work all along the route, so that helped this very pregnant momma end up cruising through the first 6 miles without taking a break, despite my intention to walk/run the course this year. I ran the mini under the name of a guy from Greencastle who sold me his bib at the last minute, and I will probably be more connected to the greencastle running group next time so that I can start and end with some familiar faces.  Despite doing it solo (well, the baby was with me...), I had a fantastic time and the energy of that race is like no other one I have ever done.  Worth the entry fee, worth the training, worth your time, and right down the road from Putnam County.  It still gives me chills as I think about how I am running in the largest half marathon in the world.

2. The greening of the landscape.  Everything comes alive in May in Putnam County.  Most people take pride in their landscape and lawns, the farmers have planted their crops and they are coming up, and even the weeds have beauty.  I wish that my allergies were less appreciative of the greening of the county, but I will sacrifice many a box of kleenex to be home.

3. Cook-outs, graduation parties, and get togethers.  This is a perfect time of year to have an outdoor party, as it isn't usually yet too hot and we all have piles of wood to burn if it starts to get chilly.  Hoosiers know how to throw a pitch-in, and we are good at entertaining ourselves with or without adult beverages.

4. Pacers and the playoffs.  I know this was a rough year to be a Pacers fan.  I had a mini pack of season tickets for the first time and really enjoyed the regular season only to feel very confused about the team that I saw in the playoffs.  Thing is, I always feel like we are the underdog and love rooting for the team in that role.  I have been a Pacers fan since junior high and I remember almost having a wreck when I was listening to the radio while driving to one of my AAU games and Reggie Miller hit  all those shots in like 7 seconds vs. the Knicks during the playoffs.  I just can't wait until the Pacers are also part of fun in Indiana in JUNE!

5. The hope that spring brings after a long winter.  I have seen snow flurries in May, but I definitely feel a collective optimism growing in the month of April that really shows itself in May.  People start to get fit, everyone smiles more, and the general mood of the county improves.  Sunny days that allow you to wear flip-flops and get your pool ready (or even use the pool) change everyone's mood after what was a particularly weary winter this year.