The Caffeinated Athlete likes the Senior Games. The competition is good, but the competitors are better. While participants come to compete in sports they are passionate about, there is an air of friendly camaraderie rather than cut-throat competition. This was very apparent to me during the Illinois Senior Olympics held in Springfield, IL. National Senior
Parengo Coffee opened a small shop on Malone St. in 2013. It was a comfortable space with counter service and a somewhat detached seating area. Parking and access were a bit limited by the location on Sikeston’s major east-west thoroughfare which is also Highway 62. But Colby Williams and staff built a good business of
Brian and Kim Kelpe at Missouri Running Company hosted the Meandering Turkey trail run November 18 at Klaus Park in Cape Girardeau, MO. In 2011, Brian decided to share his passion for trail running with the local running community. Combining the trail run with a customer appreciation event makes the Meandering Turkey a fun late-fall
Days like today aren’t the reason why I run. But it was almost a reward for all the other days I’ve spent running. The day after Thanksgiving and I had a day full of eating sins needing atonement. The sun had just started to color the eastern sky as I left the hotel for a
I’m not sure how it happened. I didn’t do many of the things that lead to a successful race. I had not done any race-specific training, no twelve-week plan with a well-timed taper. An unseasonably early cold snap resulted in me running less, yet enjoying it more. I decided to run the Pearl of the
For me the course was the star of this race. Ten miles of reclaimed railroad, five runners wide, no traffic and slightly downhill the entire distance. A quarter-mile tunnel, exposed rock and a few trestles crossing gorges and waterways provided enough variety to keep the scenery interesting throughout the run. While the fall foliage may
On a recent trip to Memphis, I stopped by The Hub Coffee to check e-mails and grab a caffeinated beverage. My friend Robbie at Dynamite Coffee in Cape Girardeau had told me about The Hub, and their location was between two of my destinations for the day. The location is the first thing that struck
To the countless volunteers who have made it possible for us to compete in running, cycling, swimming and multi-sport races this season, the caffeinated athlete extends a heartfelt “Thank you”. A Volunteer’s Work It’s no small feat to gather, guide and direct the legions of volunteers each event requires. Starters, timers, judges, course marshals,
I didn’t train for the City of Roses Half Marathon in Cape Girardeau. I put in some work and felt like I was in decent shape. But still, I had not trained for the distance or the course. I like to support the local running community and this race normally falls right after the Trail
Plan B can be a beautiful thing. I signed up for races on three successive weekends in September this year. I knew what I was doing, so I’m not complaining. Questioning my critical thinking skills a bit, but not complaining. Trail of Tears sprint triathlon followed by City of Roses Half Marathon then finish with
