team NOCO and the latino relay.

this past saturday, i took part in a 4x2 relay on long island with my cousins.  david brought it up over christmas and was able to convince maria because she "only had to run 2 miles."

friday night, maria and i had an old school sleepover at my parents house on long island.  we sat at my kitchen table for hours after dinner talking and then moved it upstairs and lay in bed in the dark talking to each other across the room.  just like old times... well, minus my afro-ing hair, our geometric glasses, and conversation revolving around stolen pogs.

the relay race was out in suffolk county in sunken meadow park.  luckily, the race didn't start until 10am so we didn't really need to leave until 8:45 or so.  i got out of bed around 8, got ready, and enjoyed some food that big joe b picked up for us to eat before our run.

mama b drove maria and i out to sunken meadow park where we were going to meet up with dave and matt. some highlights from the ride out:

me: we need to sign some waiver. dave said matt felt uncomfortable signing our names.
maria: what? what a goody goody.
aurelia: sometimes i don't think he's related to us.  maybe he was switched at birth.
me: yea someone definitely picked up the wrong kid from the nursery.

pulling up to the parking lot, i call dave's cell phone.  he doesn't pick up.
me: maybe he's already runni-HAHHHA
maria: don't hide how you really feel, ang

so we find the boys, sign the waiver that matt wouldn't sign for us, and hurry back into the warmth of the car to put our bibs on.  we decide that i'm going to run the first leg, david the second, maria the third, and matt would finish us off with the last leg.

i needed to get a "long-ish" run in on saturday so i decided that i would run all legs.  so i ran with david and maria on their legs... and then i ran really far behind matt.

leg 1:

i did 8:15 min/miles for my leg. woohoo!

leg 2:

leg 3:

leg 4:

team NOCO with second to last place! next year: third to last.  booyah.

after the race, uncle arnie treated all of us to lunch at a nearby diner.  maria pointed out that we were 6 adults and 2 wallets.  what does this say about the arpino grandchildren? that we're smart.

lunch was delicious and matt redeemed himself by reminding us that he is, in fact, one of us:

me: i want an elliptigo.
matt: if i ever see you on one of those, i will... punch you in the face.

welcome back to the family, kiddo.

anyone know of another relay in the nyc area? need someone on your team? cuz i'm kind of awesome.  and i can run fast sometimes.  and i promise i won't "forget" my wallet at home if you want to get lunch after.