MCM

Friday, October 28 we left for Washington DC.  Mike became our "special friend" and we're really glad he didn't get shot on the trip.  We were all pretty excited & nervous & really had no idea how we were going to navigate all we needed to do.  Luckily we had Trisha with us ~ because she is the most navigationally knowledgeable person (and the nicest).  Other than Dodd missing one REALLY OBVIOUS left hand turn...we made good time, got on a shuttle to the expo & got our bibs.  REALLY exciting.

We had some fun at the Expo ~ First we got our picture taken with a Marine.  Then, after waiting in a very long line to buy Brooks products, we wandered the booths, Mike bought a hat & we all got free stuff.  Mike and Dodd had fun pretending to be badasses in a military 4-wheeler.

 After checking into the hotel and meeting up with Dodd's parents we had an amazing steak dinner.  Then we found a DQ to have "good luck" ice cream.    We went back to the hotel & watched the Indians win game 4 of the World Series against the Cubs.  Exciting time to be a Clevelander ~ side story ~ was talking to a guy at the runner's village on race morning.  He asked where I was from.  I said, "Cleveland."  His reply, "Oh, the City of Champions."  You got that right!

The next day we had breakfast (biscuits and gravy) and took the metro into the city.  We were 6 novices & I'm pretty sure we'd still be there if Trisha hadn't been with us.  She figured it all out & got us to where we wanted to go.  

Had to take a Selfie at the White House.  The Secret Service had the road blocked & it looked like the President may have been getting ready to leave.  It never happened (in the 10 minutes we were there) so we started walking toward The Vietnam Wall.  Got stopped in our travels by another blocked road on the south side of the White House.  The Secret Service make no secret about the amount of weapons they carry.  It's not as unnerving as you would think ~ but seeing a dude in full gear, flack vest & all is a tad unsettling.  You certainly don't see that in Madison, OH.

Made it to the monuments.  And the plan to see stuff that we don't see on the 8th grade trip was out the window!  I did enjoy being leisurely and not herding 60 kids around.  Dodd does listen to the tour guides, as he was able to tell just about every fact he knew about what we saw.  I love this picture of Mike and I at WWII with my favorite Washington Monument in the background.    We took the Metro back to Alexandria and had BBQ for a very late lunch.  Then we relaxed, had a light dinner and fell asleep before the Indians game was over (woke up to find they had won putting the series at 3-1)  

Four o'clock in the morning came on Sunday & we were getting ready to race.  It was in the 60's on October 30...with high predicted to be 80.  And they were.  But it wasn't humid & Mike convinced me I shouldn't worry about it.  So I didn't (much).  The best part about the forecast, was race outfit was a no brainer ~ skirt and tank at the end of October!

Took our pre-race selfie in the hotel and off we went in the hotel shuttle.  We had to have the driver drop us in a different location (thankfully this was the one time the shuttle worked in our favor & he took us to the MCM official shuttle spot)  We boarded the bus & were dropped off at the Pentagon.  Easy trip through security (always easy when you are early arrivers like we are)  We waited in 'runner's village' (a big parking lot) where we sat on the big garbage bags I was smart enough to bring.  They also had the port-o-pots set up very well.  Groups of 5, back to back.  So the lines were for the group of 5...not random lines for a random number of port-o-pots.

It finally becomes time to walk the half mile on the highway to the start.  I went to the bathroom behind a building...and then saw the line of port-o-pots... (oops)  We hear the national anthem, we watch the two fly overs, we hear the shot for the start...and stand there.  We start to move, a little.  We walk a little further.  Still walking.  See a row of port-o-pots and decide to go again.  That was a great call!  Joined the crowd and finally started running 8 minutes after the start (I really didn't think that was bad, considering we went to the bathroom!)

And we run and weave and run and weave.  It's hard to stay together because there are SO MANY people.  But we do.  The first 6 miles are pretty hilly ~ beautiful running through a park & tree lined streets.  Lots of peeing in the woods (Mike was really impressed by the young lady who just moved her shorts over & peed like a boy)  We were running well.  Passed two older Marines running and singing their running chants.  That was very cool as everybody joined in.  

Lots of Team Beef members running by & Lots of shout-outs for Mike's Team Beef jersey.  

The blue mile was so moving.  Pictures of fallen Marines lined the road, followed by families of fallen Marines holding big American flags.  Cheering for us.  I just kept saying "Thank you" over and over.  They were thanking US.  Freedom is NOT free.

Mike started to not feel well ~ and at mile 17 he said, "I need to walk soon."  Dodd asked, "Next water stop?"  Mike answered, "Next Marine"  and stop he did about 20 feet later as the next Marine.  This was the start of the end for him.  At mile 24 he puked for 10 minutes...and I thought we weren't going to finish.  I was rather worried that he might not make it...but make it he did.  We turned up the hill at mile 26.1 (which was really 26.6 on my watch) and saw a guy go down...feet from the finish.  Dodd turn to Mike, full in his face, and screams, "You DO NOT go down now."  Mike responded with, "Then get out of my way."  And finish we did if you look at this video, you can see us at the 2:00 minute mark (Mike even gets a shout out)

We walked ran the last 9 miles, but it was worth it to finish together & make sure Mike made it.  It was the first marathon where I never hit the wall.  I finished strong & CAN NOT WAIT to run the next one.

The one on the left was taken in April, the day before the MCM lottery opened.  The one on the right was after 5:03:26 on October 30, 2016.  

Now we're preparing for game 6 of the World Series ~ against my Chicago Cubs.  But GO TRIBE!  What a great time to be a Cleveland sports fan!

October Running Log:

October Totals:

131.71 for the month 
1225.09 miles for the year 

242.32 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~no Gortex runs this month

472.37 miles in my Old gray Brooks Glycerin 13 My Camp Stig Shoes 

329.87 miles in my old defective pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

168.53 miles in my NEW PINK Brooks Glycerin 13 ~ That continue to have the same defect as the old pair. Still running in them.

110.36 miles in my NEW teal/blue Brooks Glycerin 13 ~ These are my long run shoes ~ great to race in!

Training for:     Hall of Fame Marathon in April, 2017 ~ the only race on the books.  Need to sign up for the Turkey Day 5k!

Podcasts I'm listening to: Marathon Training Academy, Dear Sugar, Story Corp & Reply All

My WEIGHT: 142.8 ~ oops that was a good Marathon Training Gain.  I entered a lose/maintain challenge at work.  So...I'm going to get back into the 130's and get rid of the marathon thigh/tummy pudge.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   26.78 ~ Lots of weaving at the Marine Corps Marathon

What hurts?: NOTHING!!! (two run logs in a row)  Hamstrings and quads are tight & tired, but not HURT!!

Highest  weekly mileage this month:  46.26 October 2 to October 9

Favorite place to run this month: Lake Erie Bluffs.  Love the peacefulness there.

Monthly mileage record: 156.69 ~ March 2015 {purposely ran 8 (on a treadmill) on March 30 to beat the August 2013 record}
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.78, October 30, 2016, Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC

PR's:
5K: 22:30 (Run For the Grapes 9/28/14)
10K:  49:40 (Greenway 10k 3/20/16)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)

20-miler: 2:45:15 (20 mile Drop 4/10/16)
half-marathon: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)
marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

CBus

Trisha Dodd ran her first half marathon today & we surprised her by showing up to cheer.  The morning started REALLY early ~ left Madison just after 4 am ~ just before 6 we stopped for breakfast & I had to take a picture of the small McDonald's coffee.  It doesn't even fit in Mike's hand.  {When did the small shrink?}  We had great directions to follow the course from a master course follower ~ Jen Ayala has chased her husband around this course for years...and her expertise paid off for us.  We got to our spot just past mile 4 & found a giant and clean port-a-pot ~ which probably saved the day.  I watched the start from someone's live Facebook feed & could feel that energy.  I need to pause here, and reiterate my Columbus Half Marathon Recap ~ this race has the BEST start ever.  Thunderstruck, fireworks, Born to Run.  It's just a rush of adrenaline and energy.  Someday I will run this full.

We watched the first wheelchair racer and then (much later) the second & that was all of the wheelchair racers I saw.  Maybe they all took a short cut, because I have a hard time believing there were only 2.  The Dodd boys had signs

And so did I.  This sounds very braggy to say, but I'm pretty proud of my signs.  This was my first one, that I held at mile 4.  Dodd lent me his hat, so I had the sign and an outstretched ball cap.  And people smiled and laughed.  That was my goal.  I wanted to give people a reason to smile.  Sometimes, when your running, you just need a reason to chuckle.  I didn't, however, get any donations.  Not even a gu.  Cheep marathon runners!  :)

Mike held this sign. Which really makes him laugh...because it's funny.

I held this sign at mile 9 and there were many people who said, "Thank you, I needed that."  One lady held her fist to her heart and tapped it there for me.  I know that when you're at your lowest, you just need to know that it won't last...that you have what it takes deep inside to do this crazy thing.    So I think that my signs encouraged people today & that makes me feel like I was successful.

So, there we were, at mile 4.a little bit, waiting for Trisha, Leslie, and Pat. We saw the elite runners go by...blistering speeds...and then the people just behind them...working so very hard...{and I got a little scared.  These people were pushing and hurting at mile 4 ~ I don't want that to be me in 2 weeks ~ they still had a LOOOOONNNNGGG way to go}  We saw many NERC people and cheered for many many strangers.  Lots of sparkle skirts and tutu's out there as well as two dudes dressed in Spartan Costumes.  

We were race tracking Trisha, Leslie & Pat.  When they got to 4 we really started looking for them.  Then it said, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 & we got really nervous that we had missed them.  So we just started yelling, "Go Pat!"  "Go Leslie!"  "Go Trisha!"  Finally we spotted them.  I think Trisha was surprised and pleased to see us there ~ and I got to take their coats ~ which is a small repayment for all the times I've thrown articles of clothing at her during a race!

So off we went to mile 9, by the hospital and a water stop.  Crowded ~ but we found them again.  Then to the finish & as Jen said, it's hard to find a legal parking spot.  We parked in a gravel lot that had a closed sign...but there were about 40 other cars doing the same thing, so we figured they couldn't tow us all.  We were able to get to the finish and see them come through.  It was pretty awesome being the cheering crew for someone's first half.

at mile 9

waiting at the finish

all done

Then we went to meet Patrick and Maggie for lunch at Red Robin (YUM).  Very good to see them & hear how they are doing.  Jacob was home for fall break this weekend, too, so it was a great one.

Crazy running weekend

Our first adventure as race directors went off pretty well.  We need to do better with a few things...but overall it was great.  The day started with POURING rain, but it stopped by the time we ran the kids race...and other than a little wind, the conditions were perfect.  We ended up with over 160 people running & tons of same day entrants. I would not have come if I hadn't already paid (or been in charge)  Kelly and I decided we couldn't pass up the Grand Prix points (well, she got the max amount & I did not) but it's hard to pass up a race.  I still haven't totally recovered from my Chardon Sore, so it felt good to run sub-8 min miles.  But at 24:02, it was my slowest race in a LONG time.

Our sweeper took some fun pictures!

trying to be under 24...didn't make it

Kelly, Mike & Dood, pre-race

JB, running the mile clock.

Kelly placed second overall.  Dodd and I both placed first in our age groups.  Great video of a puker. 

Then we woke up VERY early Sunday morning for Mike to, once again, try to not let the Cleveland Marathon win.  In 2013...the heat did him in and he drug himself to the finish.   In 2015...a repeat of the heat ~ a better finish, but still.  The marathon beat him mentally.  So we went from the HEAT to the COLD and SNOW and WIND and WET.  It hailed.  It sleeted.  It sucked.

Dodd and I were Mike's crew & promised to meet him every 6 miles.

Start selfie

First we waited in line to get into Quicken Loans areana as we had to pass through security?!?!?  and they had TWO people working for 15,000 people.  Really?!?  Strike one, Cleveland Marathon.  Then we went to the anti-climatic start {I knew the Columbus Start would ruin any and all marathon starts} Strike two, Cleveland Marathon.  It was rather crazy that after watching the start for 5 minutes or so...we started to ride toward Tremont.  There were still people walking to the start...pausing for pictures...laughing...not hurrying.  Dodd and I just couldn't understand the mentality.  We rode to Tremont & got some coffee/hot cocoa  and watched the elites come through.  It was fun to cheer for all of the runners.  We cheered for Mike & I ran a little bit with him.  Then off we went.  Saw just how the water stop works...kinda makes me wonder about taking water from water stops...There are big Rubbermaid tubs filled with water.  Pitchers to scoop out the water and pour into the cups.  Just seems like it would have lots of ways to get dirty.  But I'll still take water...as I've never had any problems in the past.

This is a picture of the snow.  I know you can't see the snow, but it was snowing.  Sleeting.  Hailing.  Ice pelleting.  Winding.  Colding.  It was miserable to be riding.  We were soaking WET.  Literally.  Standing at mile 17/19 we couldn't feel our fingers or toes.  My gloves were just soaking,   After we saw Mike on at Mile 19 we rode to Dunkin Donuts so I could use the bathroom.  The first thing I did was put my gloved hands under the dryer.  It didn't dry my gloves, but it warmed them enough.  Then Dodd decided to find a place to buy new gloves.  We went into a CVS and asked for gloves.  No dice.  

They don't sell those in MAY.  She took us to the rubber/dishwashing gloves.  As we were looking at them and deciding if that would help between our hands and gloves an ANGEL handed me her very nice and very dry gloves.  With the rubber gloves, my hands did not get frost bite.  

We realized we had to book to the finish, so we took off.  Passed Mike at 24 ~ and waited at a very windy finish.  4:09:52    Almost a PR in another Red Flagged race.

I refuse to sign Mike up for another Cleveland Marathon, strike three.

This is us post-race.  The only time we saw the sun.  We got back to the car and I took off my shoes and socks.  Literally {YES, Literally}  I wrung out my socks and water poured out.  I need to go change the newspaper in my Gortex shoes.  side note: Gortex does work to keep the water out.  However, it also works to keep the water in.  As we were standing by the car loading our stuff.  Mike sorta bends over and says, "I want to take off my shoes, but I can't untie them.  Who's going to untie my shoes."  After a beat a dude, fairly clean cut, I might add, says, "I'll untie them for two dollars."  and I'm pretty sure he was serious.  Truly, it's pretty sad.  But it was oddly funny too.

Rabbit Run

Jacob woke up this morning with a lot of congestion in his chest & decided he wasn't running the family tradition, Rabbit Run.  The race (along with the Turkey Day 5k) we've run since it started. Mike & I get in the car and he asks were Dodd is ~ saying, "It sure is quiet.  It doesn't feel right."  So I text Dodd & tell him we have an extra bib.  He met us at the race.

Here we are representing Team Beef!

Our friend, Jim, fresh off hip surgery was there ~ "walking" the race.  It was good to see him out and about! & part of the traditional pre-race selfie.

I love this race because I usually have a good turn out of middle school XC runners...and this year I had quite a few high school kids return.  Lucky for me the XC girls weren't allowed to run/race as they just qualified for regionals yesterday & the JV kids have a race tomorrow.  AND there was a Grand Prix race in Mentor, so Kelly & all the NERC runners didn't come to this race. {just a foreshadowing of the results}  

The race started & off went the top runners.  I stuck with two of my 7th grade boys & Mike was right on my heels. I knew he'd stay there until the end, when he'd zoom past me.  Around mile one I realize that there are no women in front of me.  And as I'm going along, I realize that I really could win the thing; I just couldn't let any female past me.  So I stick with Brian and Ben {who are TALKING to each other as I'm huffing and puffing}  Just after 1.5, I hear Mike say, "my shoe's untied."  I couldn't even think what I would do in that situation...so I had no advice for him.  I realized that he stopped to tie it around mile 2, because I couldn't hear him behind me anymore.  So the boys and I run on...we can't see anyone ahead of us, that's how far ahead the leaders were... As I'm about to reach the end of Heritage, getting ready to make the turn to the Haines Hill... Brian Butler come running back, tells me I'm the first female, but there's one coming behind me.  UGH.  I have to push.  Up the hill on Haines (which is always bigger in my head than in real life).  By now, Brian is too far ahead to catch (and I'm hoping I'm too far ahead for #2 girl to catch) and Ben and I are racing.  I see Dodd coming back out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't have the extra energy to even look in his direction.  I 'sprint' to the finish & WIN!  

I've placed second in this race (minutes behind Kelly) but I've never been #1 before!  I have to say, I'm pretty pumped about it.  All the stars aligned & it was worth losing grand prix points!

Here's Mike, who probably would have PR'ed if it weren't for the shoe tying incident.

Team Beef represented well.  Mike was first in his age group & I was FIRST OVERALL FEMALE!

Not a PR, but WOW!  #1.

A BREEZY 52 degrees at the start.  Was going to wear just the sleeveless Team Beef shirt...but was glad I brought the light undershirt.  Same outfit I wore in Columbus ~ when it was 20 degrees cooler.  I was thankful for the sleeves when we ran into the wind.  Would have been too warm for anything over a 5k, but for today, it was the right call.

Run log & Glow in the Dark

Ran a race Saturday night ~ Saturday night at 9:15 {delayed a little bit by the THUNDERSTORM and the DOWNPOUR from 7:35 until 9:25}  I was really looking forward to this race...because it was going to be so cool ~ dress up to glow & run in the dark with a big group of friends on a warm August evening...with free beer at the end.  Had people over for dinner before hand ~ and Team Beef decided to represent.  I do say we look great ~ and Ohio Beef Council reposted our instagram pic ~   Don't be fooled...this picture was taken between downpours.

Here's the group of teachers and husbands.  Kirsten & Max also ran...but were too late for this picture.

Start line ~ Dodd, Kelly, Me & Max!

Proud of this girl!  Ran more than the last mile.  She's amazing in my book.  And Mike & Dodd are the best photo-bombers.

SOOOOOO... Under the heading of Totally Obnoxious ~ These four people are standing in line to check our places...behind a pretty large family who is taking their time photographing their finishing times...  We get up there & Dodd types in his bib ~ FIRST PLACE IN HIS AGE GROUP ~ yea!!!.  Then Kelly ~ FIRST PLACE IN HER AGE GROUP & FIRST PLACE FEMALE ~ holy cow!!!  Then Mike ~ FIRST PLACE IN HIS AGE GROUP ~ AMAZING!!!!!.  So I go...the one who usually is the only one to place.  Second Place in my Age Group.  They all point at me and yell, "loooooooser!"   We had to be the most obnoxious group in the whole place.  

Best part of the night was the really cheap free beer afterwards.  We're standing in a circle talking and drinking our beer and Mike says, "This tastes like college." and he was 100% correct.  What a fun night.  Got home, went to bed & woke up early to run 12 miles.

Overall #3!

So running for the Month of August, on this, the first of September was good.  Became difficult once school started to get my runs in during the week.  I run with the XC kids, but I can't do a five mile run with them... it's all broken up into smaller chunks.  Ran the White Trail a couple of times & that is ALWAYS fun.  

I did something to my right leg...just where my achilles attaches to my calf muscle.  I've put some KT tape on it...and that has made all the difference.  That stuff is MAGIC.  I'm pretty sure I've just stressed it running at Stig ~ and the race on Saturday just agrivated it...and the 11.5 early Sunday morning just did it in.  

Lots of racing to happen this fall.  A nine miler, a few 5k's, and two half marathons.  I'm excited to run this fall...

AugustTotals:

113.94 miles for the month
976.89 miles for the year 

196.08 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ didn't wear them this month

603.05 miles in my pink Brooks Glycerin 12. Camp Stig shoes ~ and boy are THEY MUDDY and getting a hole in the side.

188.01 miles in my Nike Vomero ~ Like these a lot for my shorter runs.

61.52 miles in my light blue Brooks Glycerin 11 ~ Like these for my long runs and races.

Training for:   The Columbus Half October 18 ~ and, let's be honest, the Northern Ohio Half won't be a training run.

Podcasts I'm listening to: Marathon Training Academy, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Dear Sugar, Stuff You Should Know, & This American Life.  New ones: Love & Radio, RadioLab & Stuff to Blow Your Mind.  Still have those...haven't really been listening to podcasts while running...been running Sunday mornings with Mike & Dodd.

My WEIGHT:  Was 137 yesterday morning {three pounds heavier than last month} but it was at the end of my parent's visit...and we had Dairy Queen TWICE and dessert almost everynight.  Maybe I'll be better now that Mom's back in Colorado

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:  14.01  Glad to be back at 14.  12 & 14 are my favorite long distances

Highest  weekly mileage this month: 25.53 ~ August 16 to August 21

Favorite place to run this month: The WHITE TRAIL

# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet:  NADA
# of books I read this month: One
Monthly mileage record: 156.69 ~ March 2015 {purposely ran 8 (on a treadmill) on March 30 to beat the August 2013 record}
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.36 ~ May 17, 2015 The Cleveland Marathon

PR's:
5K: 22:30 (Run For the Grapes 9/28/14}
10K: 50:13 {Run for the Hills 6/22/14 & TIED the time Run for the Hills 6/21/15)
10-miler: 1:21:29 (Hermes Cleveland 10-miler 4/28/12)
half-marathon: 1:44:58 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/12/14)
marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

Weekend Fun

The high school football team made the playoffs this season ~ and even had home field for the first round.  We haven't seen Jacob march for a long time, so it was great that this one was at home.  We get to the game all bundled in our cold gear & a blanket to wrap in too ~ it was that cold.  We sit down and prepare to watch pre-game.  People are just wandering in & getting there seats...it's early yet, not a lot happening before the game starts...

Except the people in front of us.  Apparently they have been sitting in the bleachers for a while, maybe hours.  this was the mess BEFORE THE GAME EVEN STARTED.  They certainly had their money's worth in fun.  This just struck me as one of those things...I couldn't stop looking at the mess & wondering what kind of partying they were doing in the stands before I got there.  Because they were pretty tame fans while I was there.

The Saturday (after running our 13 miles in the cold & wind) we loaded up the car & drove south to Cincinnati.  This is our usie...it's really difficult to get a really tall kid and a really not so tall kid in one shot!

It was really good to see Patrick & Maggie.  Patrick took us to his new favorite BBQ place ~ Alabama-Q.  A little store-front with five tables (not so clean) and food served in Styrofoam to-go packages.  For $28 we all had a very good and filling meal.  Mike pointed out that it didn't even have a bathroom & we were probably glad for that!  I would eat their food again; I would just take it to another location to do so.

After breakfast with the kids, Mike & I went to Jungle Jim's.  I tried to get a selfie with one of the 'animals' out front. It was an interesting place ~ with even more interesting bathrooms.  In the middle of the store are two big port-a-potties... that enter into very nice bathrooms.  It's pretty freaky to open that door tho'.

At check out Mike thows these Cinnamon Twists on the belt ~ I can't believe he bought the Cinnamon ones ~ like he totally didn't read it & thought they were the Strawberry ones.  So I say, "Those are Cinnamon."  MIKE SAYS, "I know.  They're like breath mints, but candy." 

Mike Says...

Going to have to start recording the Pearls Of Wisdom issued from the mouth of Mike.  

Today's keeper:

I'm not a pessimist or an optimist.  Someone dumped out my 1/2 cup of water.  I'm paranoid.

That right there folks, could keep a psychologist busy for a while.