Do you know the Way to Hot? Sacamento! Outdoor 2024.

 

USATF Masters Outdoor Championships 2024 Sacramento

I took the wrong entrance to lot 4.  Cemetery Rd is the shuttle bus entrance.  So then quandary. Can’t exit if never entered.  I parked near the vehicle entrance and walked over thinking maybe I could scan the code even though I was not in the car. Fortunately, 2 RDU workers there gave me the telno for the parking people who then opened the exit gate so I could drive out and then back to the entrance.  In

by around 10:15.

Learned that if TSA has white tunnel looking scanner one does not have to remove clear bag with liquids to be scanned separately. 

Angela Staab’s flight from Denver to Sacramento got canceled but she found a flight leaving 3 hours later (making her too late for packet pickup.) 

However, she ended up in a middle seat (she had been in first class on the original flight).  The problem being that the lady next to her spilled her coffee onto Angela’s white pants!  So not a good trip for her.  My flight from Dallas to Sacramento was delayed by 45 minutes.  That was okay but the changes to departure gate seven times was no fun.

I had opted to take a Lyft from the airport.  However I did not know where it would show up - in the lane adjacent to baggage claim terminal A or across the roadway to the public bus lane area.  I walked over there then decided no. but I then got a notification that the driver was there and would leave in 4 minutes if I did not show up (And I would probably be charged.). I was going to try to contact the driver  -  somehow we got in touch. He tried to explain to me where he was and kept saying go right from the baggage area.  Eventually, I understood.  Because of the competition between taxis and the private driver groups, they are not allowed to pull up by the baggage area but instead are in a small lot on the side of the building.  He saw me before I saw him.  He could also see that my suitcase was purple,  good eyes.

One unfortunate thing about arriving at the Doubletree hotel around 9pm was that there was no coffee to be had.

Mary Trotto arrived right after me and Angela said Mary would give me a ride. (I did not see Mary’s response to my text until after I arrived at the hotel).  She had flown in from Hawaii and rented a car.

The next morning at breakfast was a meet track compatriots time. Always a fun time.

Thursday July 18 

The Meet was conducted at American River College.  The competition area was pretty sprawling in terms of where the throwing circles were. Ran into Linda and Nicole Kelly right at the entrance. 

We sort of caught up.  And then our amazing Athlete Rep, Colleen Barney appeared.  So cheerful.  Don’t know how she can keep her even disposition, sometimes in the midst of chaos.

101 today while we were doing javelin, starting at 3:45.  Tough on officials.  I saw many track pals.  Such a great community.  Christel Donley, w85, threw great despite being handicapped with limited shoulder motion after shoulder replacement a few years ago..  Dreadful looking shaft down arm.  I expect her doc would not recommend her throwing activities.  She had Elspeth Padia in the same age group.  Elspeth threw an astounding 18.68m (61.3 feet!) such that Christel came in second of three, throwing 9.02m.

the 70-89 Jav group

Kathy Bergen in my AG threw 14.25m to get first, Virginia Henshaw threw 10.88m to come in second while I threw 10.11m, Catherine Radle 9.64m and Angela Staab 9.34m.

Mary Trotto along with a TNT teammate Nancy Berger did the pentathlon early in the morning. Both in their 70s.

When we went to get the shuttle bus back to the hotel, I realized I had left my neck cooler scarf back at the javelin throw area.  I had to sort of run back there and return to the bus.  I could not do much more than jog walk and was nonetheless gasping by the time I got back to the bus.  Not a good sign for the two races coming up on Friday, the 100 and 400.

Colleen Barney & Robert Thomas supporting the athletes

We ate at the hotel. I had creole salad with salmon and a coke. Yes, with sugar. Nancy Berger had leg cramps from her activities. We suggested she try the mustard that was on the table. It helped.

Friday July 18

The distant weight & hammer circle is at upper right edge

My first event was the 100m at 10:00. It was only 86 degrees with a decent dew point of 55.  (Not like NC’s high dew points) . I had had leg cramps during the night.  Unusual.  My first task was to find my way around the event site. Fortunately USATF had huge maps on the welcome table.

  There was a practice area (a baseball field) somewhat behind the far side of the track.    On the way there, one passed the check in table, passed through a gate, turned right walking behind the far curve to a path that passed by a parking deck (a cool place to shelter I later found) and by an area also used for shot put then right behind that to an entrance to the baseball field.  

Landon Lamar was at the check-in table.  Always good to see Landon. Outwardly happy fellow who keeps everything under control.

Some people were warming up on the grass. I swung the leg 100 times then walked the circumference of the field on the warning track. Near the border of the outfield was a muddy spot on both sides. I stopped and back tracked.  I did this a few times as well as walk backwards.  I stayed close to where there was a bit of shade on one side.  I encountered Brenda Steele Mathews and her trainer.  Brenda was in a boot,  she had arrived injured and had aggravated it.  They had decided she would not run again since she wanted to compete in Sweden.

I did my five or so short sprints and though I had 15 minutes before I had to check in,I stopped and went up there.  I met Christel Donley and Catherine Radle.  Patricia Berg was there with her husband and another lady I had never met, Alice Johnson.  Alice had not run a 100 before. Speedy Kathy Bergen arrived as we were putting our stuff into baskets. We carried them down to the track and left them by the wall for pickup after the race.

Alice was In lane 6, I was in 5 and Catherine was in 4.  Alice was confused by the curved and solid lines.  I told her to follow the straight lines and look straight ahead. 

Once the race began she was fine.  Kathy used blocks and was well away by the time the rest of us got into gear.  When I began running, my right arm hurt in bicep area. Try as I might, I could not catch Catherine so I came in 3rd.  The right biceps continued hurting throughout the Meet but I was able to throw later.

Hammer at 11:15

97 degrees so not too bad. I was hoping for a good throw, one more than 16m.  That did not happen.  Myrle Mensey was antsy to get started. She threw far.  

Elspeth Padia throwing hammer

400 at 2:35

I knew Angela was dreading the 400 because of the heat.  It was now about 105 degrees, but still a comfortable dew point. The 400. A true ugh. Once again I had to force myself to keep going.  Mary Smith was off and away before I had five steps in.  I struggled breathing-wise to get to the finish. I did not walk but sure had a slow run pace. I was still in oxygen deficit as I walked along the side towards the exit area. The heat did not bother me but I welcomed the bag of ice Mary Trotto, spectating above, handed down to  me.  So welcome!  I put it on my head and continued my stagger forward. The volunteers got me to sit down.  Based upon subsequent photos from Sweden, I can imagine how bad I looked.  That ice helped cool me down while I worked at getting to normal breathing.  My time was the best I have had in a long time, 2:13.89.  But at what cost.

Mary Trotto positioned to give ice bag 

Angela and I discovered the protein smoothy truck and became addicted to the Spartans selection.

Nearby, at the entrance to the track area was the USATF merchandise tent and almost straight ahead the set of steps going up to where one could get their earned medals and, maybe more importantly, actual bathrooms! But those steps! Zounds. If one had an injury or was feeble, they were a challenge. (But, of course, this is a College! Youth! ) The stairs seemed to lead up to the sky. I wish I'd taken a photo.

Dinner at the hotel was a bust.  I ordered salmon.  Others received their meal yet I had not.  Even a late arrival to our table got hers but I hadn't.  Someone reminded the waitress, again, that mine had not arrived. After a while, I said to hell with it and left and told them if my dinner arrived, it was too late.  I went upstairs (taking the mustard jar with me!) and sulked, eating some left over crackers. 

Eventually Angela returned with a container with salmon etc that Christel had insisted they give me per gratis.  So considerate! However, the salmon was not only. cold but still frozen in the center.  I only ate a smidgeon of the cold portion.

Saturday, July 20.

Shot

A bust.  The only good aspect is the socialization with the other throwers.  The shot area was down behind the back side of the track.  The weather was warm, only 82 in the morning.  While waiting for the shot I watched April Lund in white shorts run the 1500 so far ahead of everyone else.

The Shot group

April Lund in action

However at 2:15 when Angela had to run the 800, usually her favorite, it was now about 102 degrees.  For sure well beyond a temp when she would normally be outside.  Never mind running in a wide open area!  A Chapel Hill Carolina Godiva lady, in her late 80s Martha Klopfer was also running the 800, as was the unstoppable, it seems, Lynn Hurrell. At the younger end of the mixed age group 800 was Coreen Steinbach just at the beginning of her 70s.  As expected, Coreen won her AG (in  3:12.6). 

the 800m 70-89 AG at start line

Excellence in 2023 Award Dinner 

Sue McDonald was awarded Masters Athlete of the Year for excelling in all of her track events. For the second year in a row, both Kathleen Frable and Mary Robinson received Age Group Athlete of the Year awards for their 2023 achievements. (Mary was not there, having competed instead at the Pan Am Games in Cleveland a week prior.)   I sat at a table with Mary Trotto, Angela Staab, Christel Donley, Flo Meiler, Nancy Berger and Mary Smith plus two others.  Christel also received AG Athlete of the Year. as did April Lund.  Shows the diversity of talent to be found in both the younger and the older. 

Meiler, Donley, argh - memory fails me

Shopping.

Oh, yes, I bought a shirt.  Pink sort of but with wide V neck though, which I usually don’t wear so I ill wear it over another shirt. In honor of Elspeth Padia who had also bought the same shirt with intent to wear at Huntsman in Utah.

Elspeth in her new shirt

Neringa, Phelps, Christa D

Sunday

Angela and I had the 1500m at 7:30.  It was my first 1500 and the only reason I had signed up for it was because I had signed up for it in Gothenburg. Why?  Well, when I registered for the Gothenburg WMA, there were only two others registered for it, one of whom was Angela.  That changed such that of the other six who had registered, all had seed times much faster than I could even approach. 

So for about four weeks or so before our Outdoors, I tried to run a mile on Wednesday mornings on the packed sand American Tobacco Trail.  I could not run more than say 200m before having to walk, running out of energy or air.  It was pitiful.  I think I took an average of 14 minutes for the mile.  One time I was so bad that I was losing my balance from perhaps leaning too far forward.

 So, come the time of the 1500 in Sacramento, I dreaded it.  Fortunately, it was early in the day and cooler, 67 degrees.  We had to hustle to the weight throw circle way in the back of the complex so we could check in since the weight throw was at 8.  Then hustle back for the 1500. Our trip was saved by getting a lift from the folks operating the go carts In the 1500, we were in a mixed age group so I expected I would be lagging way in the back.  I would do what Angela suggested, run the straights and walk the curves.  We started off and I trotted towards the first curve – I continued trotting around it but then a quarter way down the straight, I ran out of gas though not running fast.  So I walked the rest of the way only trotting just before the curve, then walking around it so I could get into the pattern of jog then walk.  I did manage to finish in 11:37.68.  Nowhere near what those competing in Sweden would be running.

Weight

Again Myrle Mensey threw a record.  The weight is my worst event .I don’t know why I sign up for it.

Mary Trotto taped up my biceps to alleviate the discomfort.

In our walk back from the distant throwing circle, i relented and was persuaded to join TNT, a team with Mary Trotto, Angela Staab, Cora Hill, and Barbara Warren, my track buddies.  I spend so much time with them.  I elicited a promise that I would not have to run in something if not up to it (knees being an issue never mind the darn breathing) 

Trotto, Staab, guardino

The 200 was okay.  Manageable in terms of breathing.  And it was relatively cool.  Only in the low 80s.

Discus

I was not so hot and I am not referring to body temp.  Myrle of course won her new age group.  I sympathize with Mary Trotto and Barbara Warren (who was not there) having to contend with a superstar now in their AG.  Elspeth was there to keep the mood light while Myrle chafed at what she considered a delay (she wanted to start early.) 

The TNT ladies did not run any relays as one of their runners had airline snafus and never made it.  This may have been one time Angela was okay with not running a relay (her favorite).  The heat was really sapping her.

While waiting for the shuttle I happened to see on my phone that Biden had decided to drop out of the presidential race.  yay,  he ought to have done that way back - I.e. not run for reelection at all.  Subsequent news that Kamala was running.  A better choice.

Getting home turned out to be interesting for Angela who was staying longer so she could spend time with family. It was the weekend of the bad patch by a third party to a Microsoft component that resulted in all airline booking and flight systems plus other industry software taking a dive.  I was going home on American Airlines, Angela on Delta.  My flights went off without a hitch. 

Not so for Angela.  Her flight was supposed to leave at around 10pm.  It was canceled.  The next flight on the next day also canceled.  Eventually she got home, but ending up in a middle seat (again).

 

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Want hot? Go to WVSSC in June

 

West Virginia Senior Games Classic Experience

Laidley Field Charleston WV

Hot. Drawn out. Wiped.

That essentially sums it up.

Mary Hartzler and Mary Robinson drove from Ohio, I drove from NC, 

near Pilot Mtn NC

Angela Staab flew from NC, and Barbara Warren drove a few miles from home. Claudia Rankins was there also.

The temperature was predicted to be about 100. The weather report after was that it was the hottest day Charleston had experienced.

Back to Friday. It took me about five hours to get there, with three stops. One for gas and two rest stops to also pick up another cold brew coffee equivalent. Amazingly, though Angela flew from Greensboro at noon and I drove, leaving at 10:40, we arrived at the hotel parking lot at exactly the same time! Kismet. Finding a place to park to check in was a bit tough as the hotel parking lot was quite small. They instead use a parking deck right next door, with an area reserved for the hotel.

We were both tired but Barbara Warren had spent a whole day beforehand cooking and preparing. She loves to cook and create meals, so she had made enough for an army. Or two. Some folk were not able to make it so it was just Alissa and Martin Noguez, Angela and I, and Barbara and her husband. However, getting there was an experience. Only three miles, Barbara says. So we set off, Angela driving her pseudo humvee (actually just a large SUV.) It was a short drive over a bridge to Loudon Heights Road. Slight bending uphill. Seemed okay. As we drove along, Waze kept saying turn left for Loudon Heights Road or turn right for Loudon Heights road when actually there was no such turn, the road continued as Loudon Heights Road. But we never encountered the side road we were looking for. Then Barbara started texting us while I was trying to look at Angela’s Waze directions then mine. It was funny – Barbara texted both of us then called both our cells. We didn’t answer, trying to look at the Waze directions which were overlaid by an indication that we had a text or call from Barbara.. Eventually we found the road we were looking for and then Barbara’s driveway – which was a short trip into the unknown since it went uphill until it didn’t and you could not see anything but sky ahead. Well, maybe tops of trees. And then it dropped down. Yikes for a first time arrival.

We had a great meal with good company.

Warren, the cook , & Staab

And got to see Barbara’s Star Trek room. Chock full of Star Trek and Star Wars pictures and figurines. A kid’s or fan’s delight. In addition, her husband’s amazing photos. Though not a pro photographer, he could very well be when it comes to landscapes etc.

When Angela and I departed we turned left at the bottom of her driveway. Another adventure awaited! The road began narrowing and Angela said “I think we are on a driveway!”. However the “driveway“ continued, with a few homes on the side as the road narrowed to a one-laner. Humph. We got to a point where the road sort of ended with a driveway and three dogs to the right (a medium black one, followed by a small brown and white and then yet another one .. Fortunately they stopped at the end of what must have been their driveway.). To the left a long, maybe driveway or one lane road continued narrowing to disappear in the distance. Enough! Angela decides and turned around. Good decision. Seems we should have turned right out of Barbara’s driveway. Did I mention how hilly everything is? Homes up on hills or down hills on the other side. I am amazed that Barbara walked this area while recovering from knee surgery. Not me, even with good knees.

Saturday, June 21. A hot day to be sure We drove separately as I had much of the equipment in my car. It was an easy drive to University of Charleston’s Laidley field where we had been two years earlier.

There were about 13 women signed up to do track and or field and many more men. According to Barbara Warren, I was the oldest on the registration list. Well, no, not actually. Nadine Carver was older. On some lists her age was correct, on others she was in my age group. Though actually older than me, she ran much faster. There was one man older than both of us. Pickings get slim when one reaches the elder years.  

Nadine Carver

 The first race was to be the 100m. It was already hot. Some folks were finding shade near the stands where there were a few shady spots. Over on the other side there was more because of the sun’s position. I went over there and began my warm-up routine. Swing the bad knee 100X. Walk around the track twice, partially backwards. Then slow sprints for about 20m. Five, increasing speed up to the last one. Then I walked over towards the start area where there was a bench and put on the new track shoes. Never worn except initially, in the house, when received. They arrived at 5p.m. the night before leaving for Charleston. I wore them while I sat in my recliner for a few hours. 

I was concerned that they might feel tight or I might be off balance when actually trying to run since these Nike Zoom Superfly Elite 2 shoes were very narrow midway down the shoe and sort of canted to the side it seemed. However, when I tried them on the track, they seemed okay. Not uncomfortable. They felt pretty good. This is the second time I have entered a major event wearing shoes I had not run in before. The first a half marathon (though I had tried running a few blocks in those new Nike shoes). I know the adage is never compete in new shoes. I have lucked out, it seems.

A volunteer after a few consultations lined us up at the 100m start. The Starting official, Joe Heintzman, was not wearing a hat in the blazing sun. And he never did throughout the day. Four of us older folks were in the first heat. Ages were in terms of National Senior Games ones age as of this coming December. Nadine Carver was in the W85 AG, Mary Robinson, Angela Staab, and I were in the W80 AG. Nadine and Mary ran the same time 23.57, with Angela and I following behind. (I recognized Carver’s name from having seen it years ago as the winner of events.) My knees felt okay and I ran as fast as I could, which is not that fast! 25.54, but better than my practice times at home on a middle school hard surface track., using a Sport Ring to time. Angela is a middle distance runner but ran the 100 in case she wanted to in Nationals.

 throws area. Warren Staab Robinson

The next four women to run the 100m included Barbara Warren who had also been helping out at the packet sign in table. She is also an official and can help out if needed. And they were short handed on helpers, never mind officials. So it was Warren and Hartzler in the W75 AG and Rankins and Miriam Deinhardt in the W70 group. Rankins won her AG as did Hartzler in hers. This was Warren’s second Meet running with her new knee. She is now totally knee bionic. Her focus is really on pole vaulting as well as throwing. Barbara did manage to get an attempt at pole vaulting, getting a height of .70m. She was the only one to do pole vault, male or female. Of course! (If there is an event, Barbara will be doing it. She also did triple jump and probably long jump.)

While Angela ran the 1500m, I and others tried to find shade before the 400m. It was really tough. Yet those officials somehow managed. I drank all the fluids I had brought with me as well as a lot of the water the organizers provided. I talked to Nadine and Mary while Angela trudged around behind the men to get that 1500m done. She and Miriam Deinhardt were the only women running it. While sitting on the bench beneath a tent, I watched a man attempt the high jump. He kept trying, but not clearing. At least once, it seemed he would damage an essential part. He finally gave up, Later, the only two women to attempt the HJ, Barbara Warren and Nadine Carver successfully cleared the bar, both at .90m Six men did the HJ. I have no idea how the guy practicing did.

Despite having just done the 1500m, Angela lined up to do the 400m. She wanted to get as many events done in WV as she could so she would not have to do many in the NC Senior Game Finals (which does not have hammer or javelin.) I was not looking forward to the 400m, but wanted to try. There were only five of us in three age groups so we combined. A 55 year old, Kathy Randolph, Mary Hartzler W75, and the three of us in the W80. Angela was not going to run hard because no matter the finishing times, we three would be qualified. And who would want to run hard after doing a 1500m? The 55 year old Randolph finished in 1:50.59, Mary Hartzler in 1:54.84, Mary Robinson 2:07.78, LG in 2:29.17 and Angela in 3:40.09. I struggled to not walk when about 120m from the Finish line. I did not walk, nonetheless my time was about the same as when I have walked! Perhaps my “run” was more of a shuffle than I was aware of! I was glad it was over!

Mary Robinson went off towards one of the throwing areas. Probably shot. The next race was the 200m. Only four of us women ran it -- Claudia Rankins, Mary Hartzler, Angela Staab, and I. Hartzler finished first in 45.48, then Rankins 49.25. Angela and I found our way to the Finish behind them. Me in 56.53 and Angela in 1:10.41 getting her qualification done.

Mary Robinson rejoined us for the last race, the 50m. This time there was a W65, Jeanne Roberts, as well as the W70s Rankins and Deinhardt, W75 Hartzler and two W80s Robinson and Guardino. We all ran in one heat. The order of finish was Rankins (10.15), Hartzler (10.21), Deinhardt (11.85), Robinson (12.25), Roberts (12.38), and dragging in last LG (13.78)

Angela and I then went over to throw shot. There was a tent there for shade (but not for the valient officials) Mary Hartzler was out in the sun helping retrieve the shot in addition to throwing. Eventually Angela and I took turns retrieving the shot. Of the women, Rankins threw 5.73m, Hartzler 8.74m, Warren 7.23m, Robinson 5.51m, Guardino 4.99m, and Staab 4.55m.

Hartzler, Warren, Staab, Robinson, LG

Then we moved on to the area which got really backed up. Hammer and discus. At one point it seemed they were throwing only discus in order of the way people lined up, regardless of gender. (there were no non genders there, at least acknowledged.) But then it sort of got mixed up such that we were throwing hammer when someone arrived who wanted to throw discus so that individual was inserted to throw his discus in the midst of the hammer throws.

One official, Marshall Cavender, sat beneath the tent (wearing a white hat) documenting the distances measured and another over by the netting called us forward to throw. Volunteers in the field were standing for a long time in the sun retrieving and measuring, Martin Noguez being one and a young fellow the other. Some throws were phenomenal. Scott Hannay (M60) threw his discus 43.15m. One of his throws went out of the sector hitting an area that had cement, messing up the discus edge. Good thing he happened to have a backup.

Miriam Deinhardt (W70) was throwing discus for the first time in a Meet. She had been practicing with a rubber discus and at first threw with that until someone said, nope, can’t use a rubber one. Someone let her use their discus (presumably a 1k one.) She did well, throwing a distance of 15.02m.

Alissa Noguez (W60) from SC threw magnificently as she usually does. 28.58m.

In the W75 group, it was Mary Hartzler and Barbara Warren. Hartzler threw 23.71m and Barbara threw 16.55m.

Then we get to the three W80s. Mary Robinson 14.62m and passed on her last two (probably preferring more shade), Guardino 11.29m and Angela Staab who was feeling the heat as well, 9.09m. In this event as well as in the shot, my last throws were my best. With all of the men throwing, it seemed as if we were out there forever, especially by the time we got to the hammer. The hat-less official, Joe, came over to help out officiating this huge group.

An aside. I was drinking a lot of fluids and sweating it out but decided maybe I ought to take a trip to the john. Mary Robinson said I could not miss it, it had a sign on the door. So I walk down along the back of the building. Lots of closed doors. I get to an area with an open gate, on which someone had placed a hand printed sign MEN. Inside the gate to the left was a closed unmarked door. To the right was a door open and against the wall such that if there was a sign on it, it was not visible. The first time I walked down there I kept walking to the end of the building, never finding anything that indicated women. The second time I went into the area with the open door. There were urinals on one side and stalls with doors on the other side, with a center fountain like thing to wash hands. I chose a stall. Used the fountain thing on my exit and returned to Mary and the group. Mary said Nope, that was the Men’s room. Another lady there said yeah – there was a place marked women.

I can only guess that at one point the closed door to the left with no sign may have been for women and the sign on it had disappeared. Maybe should there be a next time, I will walk down there with another woman.

In the hammer Alissa Noguez threw 35.08m, Claudia Rankins 13.09m, Hartzler 32.35m, Warren 21.12m, Robinson 14.14m, Staab 10.23m, and Guardino 16.90m (this is becoming my favorite event).

Scott Hannay threw the hammer 38.27m. Why do I mention him? Because when things were mixed up in the beginning, he was a bit miffed but then he turned out to be a nice fellow. So I remember him. And he was wearing a red and black shirt as I recall. Made me think of a Scot. And Scots throw!

We had a long wait for javelin. It was now after 2pm. The Marys were planning to drive back to Ohio right after. Plus, the sun! Angela and Barbara Warren had already thrown the javelin by the time the Marys and I started throwing picks. Barbara had thrown 12.15m and Angela 9.31m. Angela had left after two throws as the heat was getting to her. Some of the men were still throwing hammer (or maybe discus) when Alissa Noguez began throwing jav. She did two successive throws. I think the heat got to her as well since she only had one good throw, getting 17.34m. Mary Hartzler threw 17.60m. Mary Robinson threw 10.93m, forgoing her last two shots, ready to get out of the heat and go home. I also skipped my last two throws as I sensed that if I stayed out in the sun any longer I was going to get dizzy. My best throw was 9.34m. There is no running up for me!

Scott Hannay threw 39.70m.

I think I left the field at 15:15 and was so glad to get back to the hotel. I found Angela asleep. She had gotten chips and something to drink upon her return to the hotel.

We were both tired and ate at Outback which was right across the street from the hotel.

I only had one stop on my drive back home the next day. I left at 06:45, getting home before noon.

And a note from Angela:

it took angela 12 hours to get home due to lack of flights departing from Charleston and cancellations!  Never again to fly to Charleston