Laugh and a Half Marathon

Norfolk, Nebraska

Saturday, June 18, 2018

I completed the Laugh and a Half Marathon in Norfolk, Nebraska on Saturday, June 18, 2018.  Nebraska has been having a terrible heat wave with the highs from 94 to 97 degrees and the lows near 70 degrees and today was predicted to be more of the same so I was expecting a hot race.  About 3 AM before the race strong thunder storms went through the area and made the temperature go down to 67 degrees and made the skies mostly cloudy with no breeze at the start of the event that had about 200 participants in the half marathon and 300 other participants the other events, 5K, 10K, and Kids run.  The skies remained cloudy until near when I finished and the heat only made near 75 degrees.  It made a wonderful weather event.  The course was nearly flat with 2 miles of paved roadways, 7 miles of concrete bike paths, and the rest tightly packed sand and fine gravel bike paths.  Except for the start-finish area in a small park there was absolutely no traffic anywhere near the course.  Water only was offered at the water stations which were spaced about 2 miles apart and were manned by plenty of friendly, efficient volunteers that took care of the needs of the participants.  Because the course was so small rural and isolated, there were almost no spectators.  The event is fun, well organized, and quite a bargain as the $45 entry fee also included a pre-race pasta dinner and a post-race pancake breakfast.  When several locals realized that Gerda and I were from Key West, Florida, they could not believe that we came that far to do their event.  Actually this is the second time we have done this event in the hometown of Johnny Carson.

 My wife, Gerda, and I before The Laugh and a Half Marathon

Gerda receiving her third place age group award from the race director

Gerda and I after the event