Blast Off

Nothing like 20 hours in a car over the weekend ~ and you would THINK that driving 10 hours SOUTH to ALABAMA would at least get you some WARMTH...

But there were rockets.  Lots and lots of rockets.  UC launch starts around 37:45 in the video:

Video

I have no idea if that link will work...it's to NASA Student Launch Facebook video post.


But I have pictures:

Bragg Farm ~ the tents are the teams & their rocket construction site.

Screenshot from the Live Facebook Feed

The seal

To Tonka

February was a hard month.

We lost our Tonka Dog.

It's a heartbreaking story.

And I'm still so very sad.

February 12, I came home from school to find Tonka had fallen in the snow and couldn't get up.  He was cold and hurt and and I don't know how long he had been stuck outside.  Mike came home and we got him in the house and warmed up.  We should have taken him to the vet at that moment...but I think neither of us were ready for the possible outcome of that trip.  By that evening he was able to stand on his own.  By the next morning he was walking like he was drunk...but he was walking.  We took him to the vet, who gave us some hope and some drugs.  Tonka got a little better.  Then we came home Friday night to Tonka stuck outside in the cold.  He couldn't stand.  He was not able to stand Saturday morning.  The time had come.  It was the right thing to do, but I am so very sad.

The best dog I've ever had.  I could take him anywhere, and he would not leave my side.  He loved me like dogs love their people.  He lived a good life, and I miss him.

Christmas Break

As we worked until December 22, we had the first full week in January off.  Despite the really cold weather, it was nice to have so much time after Christmas.  I managed to organize a lot of stuff ~ and catch up on my DVR shows ~ and get a pedicure. 

My Christmas present was a trip to Universal Studios.  Hogwarts and Diagon Alley are AMAZING places.  We went to Ollivander's {more than twice} and were never picked for the wand selection ceremony ~ but I bought Ginny Weasley's wand.  We did it all and then some.  Truly Magic.

The highlight was the Christmas light show at Hogwarts. 

The Dragon on top of Gringotts Bank & the group in front of Hogwarts & The Three Broomsticks

 King' Cross Station & HoneyDukes & Hogwarts

We spent probably our final Christmas in Colorado as Dad really struggled to be healthy at cold altitude.  I've been very selfish in my attitude as I love that house and those mountains, but I see that it is time.  You can't enjoy the mountains if you can't breathe there.

The view

The Eagle View ~ after our run

At the top of Swan Mountain Road

Hiked back a bit from the parking lot on the top of Swan Mountain Road

My favorite pass

Sunset over the Mountains

It was 45+ degrees at the top of Floyd Hill.  We couldn't see forever ~ but we could see the cloud bank enclosing Denver.  We hit those clouds and the temperature dropped to 12 degrees.

We plowed out the front walk and someone plowed out this path through the clouds.

As I look at a fresh year spread before me, I know it will most likely bring a lot of change.  I hope to embrace that change and have a joy filled 2018.

August Run Log & Life

Girls at Union Pier Weekend

Brewfest with Kimi

How is it that life is crazier now than when the kids were little?  Maybe it just that I'm older and need more downtime...or maybe I just do too much.  The kids have gone and the house still isn't clean.  There are shoes everywhere ~ and I don't even want to talk about the dog hair.  It's the second of September, school has been in session for three weeks & cross country is in full swin.  So here's my August recap...

Patrick's Last First Day

Jacob's second year at Mount

It should be all quiet here at home, but Mike is in full swing training for his three marathons in just over a month & I'm in week 14 of my Columbus training.  We did manage to run one race in August...The Rock Hall Half.  This is the race I walked last year...at 99% humidity is was awful and my first half over 2 hours.  I had some redeeming to do & I did.  The goal was to run 8:20-8:25.  I was under that and feeling good until the last three miles.  I knew I was under my goal time of 1:50..and I ran 8:40's.  Keeping it under marathon pace to the finish.  Really proud of myself & feeling like the runner I was 2-3 years ago. 

Cross has started...went to watch the high school kids at their time trials at the Farmpark...looked like a hard course & I was glad not to run it.  I hate the Farmpark...too many memories of Hill, Yeah!

Nothing says XC meets like Twizzlers

And how can I not mention the eclipse?  We had to cancel XC practice because the kids weren't allowed outside for fear they would go blind.  Seriously.  BUT we did get some glasses and get to take the kids out to view.  How cool.

I stole these images off Facebook ~ This is not what we saw, as we only had 80%ish coverage, but lots of people in America got to experience totality.  An awesome thing (Can't wait for 2024 when NE Ohio will be in the path of totality.)

Played Whirlyball with my colleagues last week.  This is way more fun that it should be.  And we are quite the competitive bunch.  Some bruises and blisters and accusations of concussion causing bumps ~ and we can't wait to go again.

 And finally, we celebrated Bob's 50th birthday with a private showing of Caddyshack and drinks at a local establishment.  Fun time with friends (and I took only one picture of me and Ag)  Who claims she can't wait to be 50 because that is officially old and she won't be socially required to use her filter.  The shocker here is that she thinks she has a filter.

So back to running.  What a month.  Training is going well.  I was a little frightened of a twinge in my calf/achillies area after the Rock Hall Half, but that quickly worked its way out.  Other than tired, I'm feeling good.  Legs are strong and I reached a milestone.  200 miles for the month of August.  HOLY COW  That's 44 miles more than my previously high month.  I have four weeks until taper.  I'm getting excited and I'm getting terrified.  Working on my mental game as well as my physical one.

August Run Log:

AuguesTotals:

200.68 miles for the month 
1063.60 miles for the year 

245.51 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ not worn at all this month.

466.93 miles in my old pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

425.85 miles in my new pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

515.64 miles in my teal Brooks Glycerin 13  ~ one run in these...Camp Stig miles

420.64 miles in my purple Brooks Glycerin 14 ~ just ordered a new pair of this exact same shoe ($65!)  

52.12 miles in my Black Brooks Glycerin 15 ~ I'm not totally convinced I like these shoes.  They seem to rub my toes funny. No blisters, but not sure I want to run 26.2 in them.  Which is why I ordered a new pair of the 14.

Training for:  BQ @ Columbus Marathon October 15, 2017

Cross Training: Well, I didn't really stick with the core challenge.  I repeated day 8 for three weeks (rest day)  Today I started my own routine.  Squats, sit-ups, push-ups, plank.  No excuses.

My WEIGHT: I was very surprised to see 137 on the scale.  I eat everything and a lot of it too.  My belly is bigger than it should be, but I'm so hungry!

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   16.12 ~ ran 16.16 the day of the Rock Hall, but it was broken up into three segments.

What hurts?: nothing

Weekly mileage this month:  40.52 ~ 46.99 ~ 46.67 ~ 44.44

Favorite place to run this month: Union Pier, Michigan {Where I counted 24 people walking/running on the incorrect side of the road} ~ Camp Stig White Trail ~ by the grapes on Ledge Road

Monthly mileage record: 200.68 August 2017!   beating the March 2015 record of 156.69 
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.78, October 30, 2016, Marine Corps Marathon, Washington DC

PR's:

1 mile: 6:43 (Memorial Mile 6/10/17)

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: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)

marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

run log: February

Start at the end ~ I suppose.  I got in my head I was ready for some speed over the long distance.  Asked Dodd to pace me in an 8:30  7 mile run.  Yeah.  I need to remember that Dodd likes to start fast (which is really not fast for him)  First mile was 8:10.  Turned into the wind at mile 2 & I died.  Got to 84 & had to stop,  I had to stop.  It sucked and I was a giant baby.  Dodd even said, "You're really being a baby."
So I sucked it up and ran the last two and a half just under 8:30.  Mind wasn't right.  Body hurt.  Breathing was tough.  UGH.  Really sucked.  Tried to talk to Mike about it ~ but he didn't want to hear me whine either.

SO...other than today ~ running has really been going well.  I've been rocking my track workouts...because, for the most part, my mind has been right.  Gotta figure that out.

The weather has been amazing & I've been beach glass hunting with Kelly a few times:

Found some good ones and had fun last Friday when it was 75 degrees ~ skipped drinking at Joey's to walk the beach :)








Jacob has completed his diving season ~ placing seventh at OAC.  {there were seven competing divers}  He improved greatly over the season and had fun.  Observations from a non-swimming parent:
1.  MUC swim parents are REALLY nice people.
2. Swimming is LONG.  We had to watch 4 heats of the mile swim before the divers took 45 minutes to warm up & then dive.
3. It's HOT in the pool cheering area ~ really HOT.  Like 95 degrees hot.  Like I'm sitting here sweating hot.
4. MUC swim parents are REALLY nice people.

That was Saturday ~ his first tennis match was Monday.  He's playing exhibition...but we got to see him play in Erie.

His serve is really improving ~ beat this kid from Allegheny pretty easily with his ground strokes ~ the kid's serves were amazing.

Back to running and working out ~ I'm going to coach MMS track this spring.  Pretty nervous and excited.  I know nothing about track...except how to run.  Hope I learn the rest pretty quickly.

Been consistent with the lifting ~ gotten 95# in the air ~ like 3 times ~ but working on it.  I've been doing ab work daily for a week now.  Don't have a six-pack yet.

February Run Log:

February Totals:

113.02 miles for the month 
233.70 miles for the year 

245.51 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ not worn at all this month.

379.42 miles in my old pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

278.98 miles in my new pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

389.78 miles in my teal Brooks Glycerin 13 

Training for:  Hall of Fame Marathon April 30, 2017  ~ Signed up for the Columbus Marathon October 15, 2017

Cross Training: Swimming Monday and Friday mornings.  Lifting Sundays.  Yoga class on Thursdays.  Daily core (for a week)

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

My WEIGHT: I was at 137 the other morning.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   18.01 ~ with a 8:17 mile at the end.

What hurts?: IT band is a little tight ~ but over all I feel great.

Highest  weekly mileage this month:  43.06 Feb 19-26 ~ but only because we did a long run Sunday and then a long run the next Saturday.

Favorite place to run this month: Spire?  Great track work outs :)

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: 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: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)
marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

November Run Log & running stuff 5 days late

 November has been a pretty warm month ~ This first picture of the lake was taken November 18.  On the left is the beach glass I collected that day.

On November 19, we had our first snow.  It wasn't much, but it went from 75 degrees to 32 pretty much overnight.  

Dinner with Amy for taking care of the dogs in October.

Dinner before pedicures with the girls.

Dogs being dogs.  They were so cute laying next to each other ~ and Fonzi "hiding" under the table because he didn't want to go outside.

Running in November was pretty strange.  Low mileage ~ but never really easy.  I made it my goal to run sub-9:00 during the week.  And I did.  I made it my goal to add some cross-training.  And I started swimming.  And went back to class on Wednesday nights.  And started some very basic weight training.
I haven't negotiated working the resting into the mix ~ and I think I'm paying for it not ~ {did something to my back}

One sad running story ~ that illustrates my fear of swimming in Lake Erie ~
Went to Lake Erie Bluffs last week {I knew it would be one of the last chances to run in a skirt & t-shirt outside for a while}.  As I finished, headed down to the beach to look for beach glass as my cool-down, I saw a woman sitting on the bench.  She was gone when I came back up...but I saw her walking toward me as I turned to head to the parking lot.  She asks if I can help her...
her: "I'm from Akron and I'm kinda lost.  How do I get back to the observation tower?"
me: "Just keep going that way (I point) on the path."
her: "Thank you.  My husband drowned in the lake three weeks ago and the Coast Guard is looking for his body out here, so I thought I'd come and look."
Heart break.  Seriously.  How SAD!
her: "The lake is so beautiful (as we look out at the lake), but I'm so angry with it right now."
Like ~ yeah.  I don't even know what to say.  Tears in my eyes as she's just mater-of-factly stating all this.

Thanksgiving Turkey Day 5k.  The whole family ran!  Jacob won for the family, followed by Mike, then me, then Patrick who met his goal of running the whole way.
I ran my slowest 5k to date...but I felt good about it, because I wasn't dying like I was in all the other 5k's I ran this past race season.  I still placed third in my age group!

First place in Age Group in NERC grand prix

November Running Log:

November Totals:

87.64 for the month 
1312.73 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 

341.09 miles in my old  pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

188.87 miles in my new pink Brooks Glycerin 13 

166.44 miles in my teal/blue Brooks Glycerin 13 

Training for:     Hall of Fame Marathon in April, 2017 

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

My WEIGHT: 141

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   13.07 ~ recovery month

What hurts?: NOTHING in November, but just this past week I tweaked my back...UGH

Highest  weekly mileage this month:  34.47 November 20 - 27

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)