Well the first 12 legs of the Hood to Coast adventure is over and Van 1 is back on the course. DRI member Margaret Hoffman led off at 6:45 am in hail and rain on Mount Hood. Fortunately, the weather improved as SWWeaty Briefs runners headed west. By the time Van 2 took over, it was in the low 80's and headed north. Former Board Member Pat Sweeney described it as Africa Hot on leg 7, but it only got worse as Debbie Garcia of Jeld-Wen Industries, Annual Meeting Chair Anne Talcott, Law Institute member Todd Presnell and Chantelle Roberson of BC/BS of Tennessee ran their legs. By the time I took the hand off for leg 12, it was an easy 90+ degrees. The next 6.4 miles were more of a Bataan Death March than a run. "Highlights" were little kids spraying me with water during the first 2 miles, having my best friend from college Anne Rutherford and her husband Ron posting a sign for me in their front yard as they cheered me on, and finally checking my pride at the door as I liberally walked during the last 4 miles. After showers, some food and rest, we will be active again at 10:30 pm, and I will take the baton from Chantelle at 2:00 am. Seriously, this is a blast and a great way to get to know fellow DRI members in a whole new way. We are the "Feet of the Defense Bar!"
Matt Cairns
President of DRI
Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell, Concord, NH
Cairns@gcglaw.com