It’s days like today that go a long way into explaining the why do I run question.

All I can say is WOW! What an absolutely pristine fall morning, and an amazing morning for a run. It also happened to occur on a day when I participated in one of my favorite events of the year, the Run for the Apples event put on by Vacation Sports and hosted by Pine Tree Apple Orchard. It’s a 5-mile trail run through the pumpkin patch and apple orchard.

This was my third year doing the event, each year it has been my final event of the season. The past two years I registered for this event in December of the previous year, for $10. What a value, a decent long sleeve shirt, an apple cinnamon donut, apple cider, a raisin and oatmeal cookie, music, scenery, and a short but challenging romp through the beautiful orchard. Oh yeah, and an autographed poster from Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 US Olympian in the 1500 M. I highly recommend this as a fun run, make a day of it, bring the family, get some apples, and pick out a pumpkin.