Off to Florida..

Thank goodness, I am in an exit aisle on my flight. Stretching the legs...

Will check in later from Disney World. Wishing I was on the coach..but looking forward to seeing Mickey Mouse.

Larry got a bath

Van 1 just completed the car wash leg.

laundry time

i just unpacked my bag and my apartment now smells like van 2. i just want to bask in it one last time.

i miss the van

i just can't get comfortable on my couch wearing clean clothes.

Van 1 Update

We have crossed into Massachusetts. CT up next. Lindsay behind the wheel. Van still decorated, getting a lot of looks on the road.

Hampton

Griff, we await your arrival!!

Humpty Dance

The humpty dance is your chance to finish this race with ants in your pants.

Lots of running going on today in the sun. Kendal bringing this stranger adventure down to two runners remaining.

It is official..

Every food item Lindsay has brought into the van, has spilled all over the van. This time it was the ranch corn nuts. Special thanks to the "Nut Box" in Brooklyn.

Cheers from Pennsylvania

Hip Hip Hooray Strangers! I missed you this weekend!

 

Congratulations on the Series Finale!

 

xoxo Maura D.

Flashers

Andy

Expelliarmus Hills

Andy

A woman after Andy's heart

Van 1.. Ann on the road!

Sheila is in, and feeling good after leg 3! Ann on the road as Van 1 is getting excited to close out and cheer on Van 2. Get ready Sarah... We're coming.

Warming up, flip flops are back!

Van 2

After running on fumes, we are all gassed up and starting to prep for the final 6 legs. We got a rapper in the back busting out some warren g. Check out the handsome fellas on the window. Mepos or burst baby!

Santa calling for Little Bistis..soon.

Sheila is ready. Once she gets out of the porta.

2 left in Van 1!

Waiting for Dan

Anybody see the runner in the Kemp jersey?

Squirrel!!!

Oh no! Kerry killed a squirrel, poor thing. She tried to avoid it, but no luck.
New team name: Squirrel Killers

In other news we're coming up with new philosophies:
"squirt, then rub"

Sent from my iPhone

Quick nap

I was napping until I started choking on my own saliva, so all in all, quite a restful nap.

Update from Van 1..the final legs

This whole runner 1 gig is pretty sweet. So now I get to watch the rest of the day?
Coffee please.

Andy is on the road. Wild Card transition was a success. Another RTB first.

Jamming out to Rush. Taio Cruz and New Boyz running through my head.

Warm it up chris!

By Chris I mean the sun, and by warm it up I mean AT LEAST INTO THE 50s!!! It was damn cold last night and still feels cold.

Do your magic Chris, er, sun.

WILDCARD!

Lori B closing out her final leg of the series finale. Big moment.

And then there were 11

The final countdown

Bear brook breakfast and warm sunshine.

Griff is in and Lori is off to start the final round of this year's RTB. Series finale... tear.

Last Leg

About to start my last leg of 8 years of this race. Tear? Still unsure of the wild card handoff... Andy and I will figure it out. Go Strangers!!

Smells like victory

If victory smells like a combination of feet, brown bananas, ham, swass and heart, then yes, virginia, our van does smell like victory.

Livn' it up

Tried to post this earlier... thanks to our awesome support crew for the tents. Great way to stretch out and "sleep".

Rapid progress

In the blink of an eye, Kendal finished, Aaron went out for his morning wake up, and now Griff is on the road heading to Bear Brook.

Mmmmmm pancakes!

pd witth the game face

2:46am and pat is prepping. sarah is on the road. ludicris providing the soundtrack.

Sunrise Run

Marya is in, and Kendal is off and running. A sunrise run for Kendal.

Def Jam

Speaking of Def Leopard, Brett Michaels play the Casino Ballroom on Saturday.

Hampton should be in rare form.

Lace 'em up dad

Thanks to Connor for helping lace up dad's new sneakers a few weeks ago. They were the key to his 9-mile moonlit adventure.

Most inspirational quotes from Kendal and the road crew:

"Hey look at how bright Orion is tonight"

"If you think this gel is covered in honey, you're probably not going to be happy to see your bag. Oopsie!"

Hahaha. Needless to say, I was driven by those speeches to finish strong.

One leg to go.

Marya on the road. Kendal napping while listening to Def Leopard to feel the Hysteria during her run.

Van 2 away

And the conversation has turned to bear awareness, moose attacks, coyotes that sound like sirens, and vicious squirrels.

As long as we avoid those four fc0000000000000000000000000

Night rangers

"Why do we do this stupid race?!"
It must be time for night legs.

Rise and shine Van 2 campers

After a fantastic nap aloft on our are air-mattressed palaces, it's time to rise up and embrace the 42-degree chill of he night.

Who wants rto go for a run? I do! I do! And Sarah will in just under an hour. Sheila is halfway there (bon jovi style) and then it's down to Ann before Van 2 retakes the reins.

Show show show here we go.

Thanks Fenway!

Thanks to the Red Sox for providing paper towels for RTB.

progress

How’s everything going?

 

Deb Podgurski

Business Development Manager Key Accounts

401-333-7975 - Office

401-333-6095 - Fax

 

The happiness of having 2 down...

Look how excited Sheila is to run...

Back in the Saddle

Public apologies to Griff for leaving him at the alter... I guess we got our math wrong. I feel shame!

Andy is on the road. I am full of mac and cheese. Yum.

Night is upon us

We are in the deep of the dark. And it doesn't look like it'll let up until morning.

Kendal is done, and Aaron is on the road... looks fast.. Another perfect stranger.

Triumphant return

Two moms are making their triumphant return to RTB this season. Sarah is done with her first run and Kendal is about to head out as Marya comes in.

Connor, Owen, Carter, moms say hi!

Series Finale Rolls Along

Lori Bartokomus and Cousin Paddy got a little dust in their eyes before their first run in this eighth and series finale. Luckily they kept it together and the finale rolls along on this beautifully brisk beach endeavor.

Running at dusk

Running at dusk is so awesome... when its not raining!

Dammit, I want a hot dog!

Dance Party

Oh yes.. Dance party on leg 7!

Drivers love this race!

Kerry is psyched about the view as we make our way towards Nancy's.

On our way

Up next, Dunfey hits the road. Yeah, that's right, the guy who refers to himself in the 3rd person on the RTB blog. Let's do it.

Van 2 in the chute

Sarah ready to go, and we're back in sync after van 1 made it with 5 minutes to spare.

Kendal's childhood hero

Van 2 is at Attitash gearing up, tagging vans, and making friends. Just waiting for go time.

Obviously...

...It's a good day for a run... Snow on Lafayette.

Transition??

At TA6A Ann came flying in with a powerful finish. Now just 90 minutes til van 2 starts!!

balki magic

good sign to start it all.

Rochester Handoff Approach

Sheila is in! Last of Van 1 is off with Ann's rookie leg.

..And I just killed the ESPN signature so I don't look like a dork anymore.

Feels like RTB.

..And the edamame just spilled everywhere.

Looks kids...

Mountains, foliage... Passing over the Kanc on the way to 6B.
Just over 2 hours until van 2 takes the wheel... Getting all antsy in the pantsy.

Pat sandwich

Larry, Balki (and Pat) are ready for Season 8!

Pancake Heaven

Polly's never let's you down on race morning. (Tried to post this earlier with no luck.)

Where is our TA?

Van 1 update. Slight confusion thinking TA 6a was 3. Crisis averted! Lindsay is locked and loaded.
Lori M. Bistis
ESPN Emerging Technology
860.778.3031
Sent from my BlackBerry

You've Just Been Balkied!

The Usual Suspects got back to their van after they'd been Balkied (small pictures of Balks tape to their van), and were nonr the wiser. It's on! Let the mass Balki'ing begin!

Coffee Please?

We have arrived at Pollys. It is a bit chilly, but welcoming the cold temps. Not sure why it is raining though, that was not in the forecast! Ready to run at 1040am... Yikes.
Lori M. Bistis
ESPN Emerging Technology
860.778.3031
Sent from my BlackBerry

Which way to the 6B?

Lori B and Andy are in. Van 2 (aka Balki) on our way to transition 6B.

So a few quick questions. What happens if our runner gets to the transition before we do? Or what happens if we get there before our runner? Or, heaven forbid, how do we know when to start if our runner is still at transition 6A?!!

Where are my sneakers? Someone help me!

video post test

if this works it's a game changer for this race

van 1 or van 2

van 1 listening to lindsay lohan music. van 2 listening to alladin soundtrack. everyone loses

gloria!

figured out whole this blogging thing. van 2 gettin to know eachother. need to make friends now so we can survive the late nights.

breaking the ice

Waiting for Strangers

We have arrived at the beach (for the first time). Waiting for the rest of the gang, about to eat some last-minute training lasagna.

dan did something

dan just remembered that he has to run more than 20 miles very soon.

biking is for sucks

we've established that biking hurts ladybits as much as manbits. According to sheila: "Ouchies"

on another note, dan's obssession with german euro trance music is unnerving.

about time to spread the spirit

on the wings of love

making our way up 95, roadies in hand. listening to sheila's UM study mix. dan drives like a mix of his parents.

dan's third leg has a colorful surprise for everyone. he has named his third leg "Supersonic"

rocking out to Haddaway "what is love"

sheila's yearning

sheila really really wants to spend time with kerry.

84 traffic... Shocker

Uh oh, accident on 84. The NYC contingent is stuck in traffic en route to CT, in the trusted 1998 "Hondee." Van 1 is parked in my driveway and Andy will be here soon with Van 2. What to do while we wait for the others? I supposed we could start on the beer in the van.... Bad idea?

Dimitri is ready...this is really the only time he gets out all year. So exciting.

Lori M. Bistis
ESPN Emerging Technology
860.778.3031
Sent from my BlackBerry

RTB 2011 24-hour Countdown Begins

We're just over 24 hours out from the start of RTB 2011 Perfect Strangers season. There are many plot twists that have already taken place, and I'm sure there are more to come. We head to Hampton tonight to meet up with the Vans on 10th Street in North Hampton. Until then, I guess I should do some work.