Welcome to Issue #282
by Rachel Brandes
Quote of the Week
“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”
– Dali Lama
Feline Tomfoolery
with Brady & Belichick
- Brady– I am relieved that you are feeling better, bro.
- Belichick– Thanks, that was a rough couple of weeks.
- Brady– I speak for the human and myself when I say how happy we are that you are cleaning yourself again.
- Belichick– Whatever, you try to be the runt.
- Brady– You realize the human thought you were going to die, right?
- Belichick– She’s a little dramatic sometimes, but it did get scary.
- Brady– I’m glad I have my playmate back. I missed tackling you.
- Belichick– Uh huh, I know.
Brady & Belichick are Rachel’s adorable felines. These two cute boys turned two on May 4, 2025.
Random Photo of the Week
Sometimes she wonders if others think she’s weird when she takes pictures of leaves on sidewalks. Then she wonders… why isn’t everyone? Photo by Rachel.
Mental Health Minute
Getting outside is important to mental health. How many of you wake in the morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner and veg out on the couch?
Rachel’s unique work schedule gives her an edge and she’s able to get outside most days of the week to enjoy a short walk, trip to the zoo, or other adventure. Being new to Salt Lake City, she’s been wandering around downtown for the most part. Busy busy, with lots of cars and interesting people. Not very calming sometimes.
She changed it up this week and drove to Sugarhouse Park for her weekly walk/talk with her friend in Washington, Kasa. What a pleasant surprise when she saw what her views would be. With the views and getting to chat with Kasa, she was set for the day.
What a mental health boost.
Runtastic Emigration Haunted Half, 5k & Kids Run
It was a chilly but sunny morning in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, October 18, 2025, when Rachel headed to Sugarhouse Park for the Runtastic Emigration Haunted 5k (3.1 miles). This 5k would be a costume party like no other she’s attended. While she isn’t big on wearing costumes, she did partake in her own way by wearing a black cat t-shirt and cat socks. She even received a compliment from a fellow cat lover.
Prior to the run, there were a total of 1,988 participants signed up. It is very common for numbers to drop by race day for one reason or another but 1,846 is impressive. In the half marathon (13.1 miles) event, there were 870 finishers, the 5k event in which Rachel participated had 858 finishers and the half mile kids’ event had 118 finishers.
What does 858 participants at a start line look like? Rachel snapped a photo in front of and behind her to try to capture the massive number of participants.
With 1,846 people participating, including spectators, the park was full of fun costumes. The creativity was incredible. There was a man that ran the 13.1 race wearing a suit and tie. Can you imagine? Rachel snapped a handful of costumes she enjoyed.
The 5k route would begin downhill (thank goodness) beginning in Sugarhouse Park taking runners through a neighborhood full of vibrantly colored trees lining the roads. Rachel thought about taking pictures during the run but opted instead to simply enjoy her surroundings.
The elevation is still a challenge for Rachel, but this run seemed to be a little bit easier on the lungs. The uphill sections are definitely still a challenge. The image below shows the route and elevation at bottom.
When she reached the peak of the last hill, she could hear the announcers at the finish line. She knows the park well enough to know it was all flat and downhill to the finish. She smiled to herself and reflected on how great of a run it was, she didn’t push, she didn’t look at her watch once, and she didn’t try to pass anyone. She enjoyed that she was running in such a beautiful place and that she could actually breath.
The last stretch of the course was a long, dark, creepy blow-up tunnel before reaching the larger-than-life pumpkin mouth finish line. Rachel wasn’t a fan of this tunnel, as she could hardly see in front of her. Picture a drive-through car wash and the things that hang down to swipe the windshield and top of the car, these were inside of the tunnel. She didn’t even think to remove her sunglasses at the time, she was just focused on reaching the end. Don’t get her wrong, the tunnel was a fun idea and if she encounters a tunnel like this again, she will be prepared.
After crossing the finish line, her Garmin watch showed that she only ran 2.98 miles. Darn it, ask any runner about this and they will tell you that it causes a great deal of distress when your watch doesn’t match the intended route distance.
She will get over it soon enough. She was happy with her finish time and pace and even happier that there were chocolate milk and donuts at the finish line, not to mention the multiple cauldrons full of Halloween candy.
What were her results? As you will see on the finisher certificate below, she finished in a respectable time. Considering her watch only had her at 2.98 miles, her average pace would have been a 10:52 minute per mile pace rather than 10:25. She will take it.
All in all, Rachel was very happy with the outcome of the day. She met a few interesting people and even spent her warmup time chatting with another solo runner who was fairly new to the area. Next up is an early November 5k. Rachel hopes the elevation will be even easier for the upcoming run. Until next time, be well.
