Life and may run log

May was the crazy month I knew it would be.  Mom & Dad flew into town on May 17 ~ just in time to sit through Senior Awards.  We had a good dinner & an hour and a half of awards.  Jacob received his four-year academic award and the Principal's award for 4.0.  We have sat through 7 of these ceremonies. (missed Jacob's junior year ~ because he had a tennis tournament, or something tennis related)  and now we are done.  

Then we woke up on May 18.  And it was Jacob's last day of school.  13 years of Madison, done.  I loved teaching in the district where my kids went.  I knew their teachers and they knew me.  For six years they came to school with me and went home with me at the end of the day.  I saw them in the halls and I knew what they were doing.  I could look out my window & see if the tennis match had started or not.  For 15 years I had a kid in Madison Schools.  And now it is done.

But we weren't done with tennis, just because it was the last day of school.  We traveled to Mentor to play a rematch of a rained out contest.  It was a beautiful day and Mom & Dad got to see Jacob play.  He didn't win, but he had fun.  I don't think anyone had their A game.  The team was 7 seniors and they were done.  But tennis wasn't done.  After the match, we drove back to MHS for the tennis banquet.  7 tennis banquets.  7 delicious meals. Tennis parents make food!  Jacob received his Four Year Varsity Letter.  I'm pretty proud of his high school tennis career.  He loves this sport & his hard work and heart have paid off.   And now high school tennis is done.

Saturday, May 21.  The day of the 2016 Madison High School Commencement.  The day of the National Robotic Tournament.

This is the weapon that Dreadnaught broke off the first opponent they faced in the competition.  Jacob got to keep it as a souvenir.  Lack of planning caused a moment of panic...but Dad came through.  Jacob and Frank had a robotic adventure as they went to Pittsburgh on Friday, ate duck at a fancy restaurant Friday night and then spent Saturday beating up robots...including their own.  They beat themselves again as they went dead in their two losses.  They came in 9th overall (out of 70 some teams) and had a great time.  Dad would text us when they were up & we were able to watch all but one of their matches on the live feed.  That was pretty cool.

Then came Sunday, May 22.  Jacob's grad party.  A grad party for the kid who didn't go to graduation.  Madison is blessed by a superintendent with a gigantic heart.  She agreed to come to JB's grad party & present Jacob with his diploma.  With his friends humming "Pomp and Circumstance", Jacob, in cap and gown, received his diploma from Angela Smith on May 22, 2016. 

 Here is the link to the actual video of his 2016 class graduation.  Angela gave Jacob and Zak a shout out just after the baby video (and a tribute to Janice Cassidy) around 58:45 in the video. And here is his baby picture that was part of the baby video.  It makes me miss the baby he was.  The days are long...but those years are short.  Blink and they are past.

Barb Hogan outdid herself with the cookies.  Aren't they amazing?  They are all done now.

On Monday after that crazy week/weekend.  I went back to work.  Three more days for the rest of Madison.  We had a great last day at the Outdoor Y with the 8th graders and field day with the 7th graders.  We also had the annual teacher party at my house that evening.  It was a fun time that didn't end in a trip to Jewels Dance Hall.

Finally the school year ended.  The first adventure was to Holden Arboretum.  A beautiful walk to the canopy walk and the emergent tower.  you can almost see Lake Erie over Mike's shoulder in the picture.  202 steps and 12 flights up in the sky.  It is a really cool thing to do.  Adventure #1 done.

This is a picture of the world's greatest DQ Blizzard.  Oreo Blizzard with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups & Marshmallow.  And it's a medium.  It's a medium because my mother is a DQ pusher.  Here's the conversation:

me ordering: I'll have a small...

mom intruputing: Small?  Don't you want a medium?  We're getting a medium.  This is lunch.  Get a medium.

me changing my order:  I'll have a medium.

In the two and a half weeks my parents were here, they probably went to Dairy Queen 10 times.  Maybe more.  Most days it was their lunch.  I am NOT done with DQ.

Memorial Day:

1.  Johnny's Run

Johnny's Run has been a tradition for two years now.  Mom and Dad walk/ran it as they started a couch to 5k app the day before...so they were ready after day one.

I'd like to forget my time as it was the SLOWEST I have EVER run a 5k ~ and I sure was working hard to run 25:02.  25:02.  UGH.  5th place in my age group (12th female overall)  Just about everyone had slower runs ~ People said it was a long course ~ but that really doesn't make me feel better.  25:02.

I decided to run without my watch...7:45 at mile 1 (thank you Phil Scinto)...15 something at mile 2...25:02 at the finish.  There is no way I ran a 10 minute third mile.  I have no idea what happened there.  I didn't like it one bit.  Especially since I was working so hard.  I was DONE at the finish.  Done.

We missed the NERC picture because we ran back to meet the parents ~ a few other people missed it too, so John photo-shopped us in.  I kinda like this picture a lot.

#2 Memorial Day Parade

Jacob's last marching band parade. He also played "To the Colors" solo when the flag was raised on the flagpole.  It was a little rough at the beginning, but he pulled it out. He's played many solos during marching band and jazz band.  He has always made me so proud.  That's really putting yourself out there.  

#3 Mrs. May's aMAYzing Farewell Tour

I don't know how they did it...but it was a surprise for Kristy.  The Barton family has been very fortunate to have Kristy May as band director.  So thankful she stayed one more year.  Madison will continue to have a strong band program, but it won't be the same.

And Jacob and the band got to march on the football field one last time.  And now, Band is done.

#4 Happy POPPY Day

May Running Log:

MayTotals:

100.13 miles for the month 
607.32 miles for the year 

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

384.18 miles in my Old Brooks Glycerin 13 (the gray ones)

85.21 miles in my PINK Brooks Glycerin 13

Training for:     Hill Yeah THIS Sunday...fall marathon...started searching for a Marine Corp bib ~ and so are MANY people from the facebook posts.

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

My WEIGHT: I'm afraid to check after all the DQ I've been eating.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   Chardon half 

What hurts?:   I've been fighting both hamstrings this whole month.  They are tight & have slowed me down.  I'm not looking forward to Hill, Yeah at all.

Highest  weekly mileage this month:  36.26 miles  May 1 through May 8

Favorite place to run this month: Lakeshore Reservation ~ our first summer running

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:  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)

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.

Chardon 1/2 and more

As the school year winds down, there is so much to do!  Last Thursday was my LAST ever band banquet.  We actually bought tickets to eat dinner (usually just show up for the awards) because it was senior recognition night...Jacob would be given a dinner...but the ROBOT wasn't yet working well...so Jacob was at robotics until 7:00, when I had to insist he come to the banquet (he would have rather stayed at robotics).  Sat with friends and had a good time.  It was a nice evening and about all the kids.  What a great group of kids Jacob has gone to school with.  Pictures ~ Mrs. May and JB; JB with Sam and Hannah; Audrey, me, and Olivia; Kent, Taryn and JB.

The Western Reserve Conference Tournament was suppose to be the same day at the band banquet...but due to rain it was postponed to Friday...to start at 9.  Then moved to an 11:00 start time...then moved indoors because it was still raining.  Finally around lunch time, the first matches were played.  Jacob won against Brush, Chardon and was in the finals against Mayfield.  He lost the first set and was down 5-0 in the second set...with the wheels falling off.  It was match point.  JB 15-40.  Match point.  JB 30-40.  Match point.  Deuce.  Ad in.  JB 1-5.  JB 2-5.  JB 3-5.  JB 4-5.  Mayfield won 6-4.  What a come back over a better tennis player.  Second place in the conference ~ which makes him All Conference.  If you have to lose, this is the way to do it.  It was a very exciting match.The whole team, except for a third place for second singles, placed second.  Madison places second in the whole tournament.  It was a great day for tennis.

Saturday brought us Robotics ~ a day of exploding medal.  Here is the 10 hour video... I found the Madison matches (missing some at the beginning...) at 8:28 Cleveland Heights ~  8:53 Ashtabula ~ 9:21 Beaumont  and then every 20 minutes or so...  Jacob was the driver & it was REALLY exciting for 40 seconds...and then 3 hours of sitting there.  We had really cocky t-shirts "Our Robot can Beat up your Robot"  and Dreadnaught could.  They lost first place because of a faulty wire ~ but their robot was clearly superior to all the others.  Exciting day.  

Craig Ayala took some GREAT pictures.

A second place finish for Team Dreadnaught ~ off to the National Competition (on the day of Graduation) in Pittsburgh

The driver (Jacob) and the chief mechanic (Zak) ~ the only seniors on the team

As I was pulling into the driveway after robotics, I surprised to see Patrick's car parked next to the garage.  PATRICK came home.  What a great surprise!  He brought Mags home for the summer ~ stayed until Tuesday and is currently looking for a co-op job for the summer in Cincinnati.

Sunday morning took us to Chardon to run the inaugural Chardon Half Marathon.  In the drizzly rain.  BUT it was 50+ degrees, so the drizzle wasn't bad at all.  This was a good race with a really hilly 5k to finish it.  Dodd took off from the start.  I sort of ran with Mike for the first two miles or so.  Then he took off.  My legs were tired from the start, and Mike was on fire.  He just kept getting further and further ahead.  I did see him do an awesome run jump for the photographer...and it inspired me to do the same.  Unfortunately the photographer didn't get either of us.  But I enjoyed watching Mike...and it's always good to run jump yourself :)

Finished in 1:50:35 ~ within my goal time up under 2 hours.  Enough time to go back and see Angela come in with almost 6 minutes to make it to the finish line and get her Birthday PR and break the 2 hour mark for the first time.  Exciting to see people make their goals.  Mike almost PR'ed on this very tough course...if only he didn't have to stop and tie his shoe (still didn't catch him)  We were SOOOO wet when we finished.  There wasn't a dry spot on me.  We went back to the car & all changed out of our race clothes.  Good race for Madison Group Run ~ I may have come in last, but I placed SECOND in my age group and won a little coffee mug.  I've been nursing sore hamstrings all week.  My first run back (Tuesday) had me slapping the pavement with my right foot.  It was weird.  

Got home and Jacob asked how we did.  He found it very humorous that I kept up the second place theme of the weekend.

Monday brought an all day AP Calc study day for Jacob 

Wednesday took us to Mayfield to play the kid who beat Jacob for the conference title.  Jacob beat him in two sets.  Jacob's game was ON FIRE.  Fun to watch him win that one.  Might have been the highlight of the season.

Thursday Jacob too the AP Calc test and Friday he had a field trip with the Jazz Band to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.  Tomorrow is Prom...it just doesn't end.

But to end this post ~ it was teacher appreciation week this week and our PAK did an amazing job making us feel special.  The best part:

our boss sent us a bag of chips and a jar of salsa to share.

So Lori brought me one chip dipped in salsa every period all day long.

Run log: April

April brought the April Showers Bring May Flowers Mileage challenge...and I didn't hit 150 miles like I did in March.  Tapering for races plays a role in those miles.  But it's been a good running month.  Unfortunately, MGR hasn't met in full, but we've still managed to have running fun.  The skirts are starting to come out ~ but I ran in tights and two layers and a hat and gloves this morning.  In April, you get to pick from all your running gear.

Mike and Dodd ran the Run for Riley 5k last weekend.  I was volunteering.  I didn't run, but I still got ice cream and a cookie as Eat 'n Park and East Coast Custard were sponsors of the event.  

Tomorrow is the Chardon 1/2 marathon.  I've practiced the course twice.  This pictures shows the roller coaster hills for the last 5k of the race.  There a three ups and three down.  and then a fourth  up that just keeps going up.  Both times we ran it we had snack stops...no snack stops in a race.  Won't be quite as fun.  But a 1/2 marathon is always fun.

April Totals:

106.05 miles for the month 
507.19 miles for the year 

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

363.21 miles in my New Brooks Glycerin 13 ~ which aren't new...because I got a NEW pair of Brooks Glycerin 13 on Wednesday

6.05 miles in my PINK Brooks Glycerin 13

Training for:    Chardon 1/2 (tomorrow) Hill Yeah in June...fall marathon...will be searching for a Marine Corp bib

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

My WEIGHT: 139...oops.  pants fit, but they are getting snug.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   20 Miles Drop  

What hurts?:   legs are tight, but right hamstring and feet are better

Highest  weekly mileage this month:  45.24 miles  April 10 through April 17 

Favorite place to run this month: Lake Erie Bluffs ~ alone and into the cooler wind.  relaxing

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:  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)

20 mile drop

Today started early!  A 6:20 bus ride from Fairport Harbor Beach to Chardon Square. It was COLD.  20 degrees ~ thank goodness the wind wasn't blowing.  We hopped off the bus and were among the first in the port-a-pot line for the 8 port-a-pots.  Then Kelly & I found a semi-heated stairway on Main Street.  It was the perfect place to wait for the start.  Because when we left our safe haven, I had to cuddle with Mike to have some warmth.  Wore two layers on top, tights & a skirt, a buff, headband & gloves & it was pretty good.  I took a really easy week because on Tuesday ~ at the tennis match ~ my foot started to hurt?!?  It was better by my Friday run ~ but I could still feel it.  Didn't bother me at all today.  And my legs weren't tired to start the race ~  So I'm happy with that.  Lots of people do a shake-out run the day before a race.  I've always taken a rest day.  Don't know if I should change that or not, but I've been doing pretty well with what I've been doing.

So the race...the 20 mile drop starts on the north side of Chardon Square.  We ran counter clockwise around the square...and around again.  This year we turned right onto route 6 & through a neighborhood before we hit 5th ave to get to the bike path.  Then the race takes the bike path until it ends at Reider's Market.  Then it goes through the same neighborhood where we ran Glow in the Dark.  This is a tough little neighborhood because there are some ups.  We wove around until we got to the Greenway Trail.  This is advertised as mostly downhill...but I swear, that trail is uphill both ways.  I ran this whole first half of the race very well.  I ran between 7:45 min/miles to 8:17 min/miles.  As I passed the first water stop at mile 3 I saw a guy in a green sweatshirt walking and drinking.  As I ran by him, he fell into step with me.  We ran to the next water stop, where he walked & drank.  Then he sprinted up to fall into step with me.  I mentioned how the day had turned out to be better than I expected.  He grunted a reply.  He walked through each water stop & then sprinted back up to me.  I again tried to talk, mentioning something about the run, and he grunted a reply.  Totally weird for me to run with someone and NOT talk.  Even Mike talks some.  I would have at least liked to know his name so I could look up his time.  

I hit the half marathon split at a PR pace: 1:44:18.  That was quite an adrenaline rush   I was pretty talkative about it.  After the next water stop, green sweatshirt guy did not sprint back up to me.  Guess he really didn't want to talk.

Then my pace started to fall back.  8:23, 8:32, 8:29, 8:38.  I caught Dodd, who was dying, at mile 16. a He had just eaten something so I encouraged him and moved on.  Hit mile 18 & 19  thought I was going to die. 8:58; 9:28 ~ and I had that brain fog.  I had to focus.  Look down.  Breathe.  And the fog would clear.  My legs were fine, but I was low blood sugaring or something. {or mentally weak}  I sped up a tad for the end & immediately after I saw Leslie & Crystal & Becca.  Thank goodness Becca handed me a banana {even opened it} because I felt sooooo much better after than banana.  I needed to take in more fuel.  The beef jerky was really frozen & it was hard to eat.  I had part of the chocolate at mile 6.  I should have taken more of that at 13 & I would have done better.  I did take Gatorade {and it was blue!} at the last water stop...which helped me be stronger the last mile.  The finish was 100 yards on the snow covered grass.  The 10 milers had pretty much made it a sloppy mess ~ so the footing was poor & it was up a hill.  This was the worst part of the race terrain-wise & considering we had significant snowfall yesterday, that's not too shabby.  Love that Verdi was MC'ing because I got a personal shout-out.  Trisha Dodd caught my finish face.  And apologized that it wasn't a better picture. I think that has more to do with ME than her picture taking skills.

My marching over the finish line wearing my finish face.

Love my Queen nemy ~ who rocked the 10 mile drop

A 20 mile PR ~ by almost a minute. 2:45:15.  Had to take a picture of the screen because my watch only had 19.90 miles on it...I must be a pretty amazing tangent runner...and I want to make sure I get the full 20 tickets for my 20 mile drop!  Mike also had a PR finish time & since it was the first time Dodd & Kelly had run a 20 mile race they PR'ed too.  We have gone from the Madison Group Run to the PRRG ~ Personal Record Run Group.  Ice Cream will be in our future.  Just not today, because Dodd is dying & I'm napping.  20 miles is a long way and my legs are soooo tired.  The only thing that hurts is my second toe on my right foot...other than that it's just sore tired tight muscles.  

Tennis

Tennis season has started.  Monday we were scheduled to host Harvey.  Cancelled due to rain.  Tuesday we went to Lake Catholic where Jacob played in the cold.  Luckily the wind wasn't too bad (and it was at my back, so it was acceptable to stand & watch).  He won and his team won too.  I loved watching Coach Vidmar walk off the bus carrying his own metal folding chair.  

Playing first singles at Lake Catholic

On Wednesday we were supposed play Conneaut.  Cancelled due to rain.  Same on Thursday...when we were supposed to play North.  Friday after school it was sunny and a warm-ish 37 degrees...with a pretty strong wind.  Perry decided to play at Pine Lake {which made me happy...not to have to stand outside in the wind}  Jacob felt at home there & after a relatively easy first set he had to fight to win the second.  Tennis is a hard sport to spectate because I have to be quiet.  The stress and anxiety builds up & even at the end, when Jacob won, I can't scream and yell.  

Jacob is having a great season so far...and he's having fun and learning and being a good sport.  It makes me proud.

I am looking forward to WARM sunny tennis matches.  We'll see what next week brings.

three things

These three things...

1. Yesterday morning.  I drive down my driveway.  Look left.  Nothing.  Turn right.  Slightly out into the left lane.  Where there's a car.  And it's a police officer.  oops

2.  Same trip to school.  Right in front of the high school.  A squirrel comes into the left lane like it's going to run across the road.  I slow down hoping it runs back by which it came.  It pauses.  I continue to slow down {did look to check that there were no cars behind me}.  It continues to cross the road.  I slow wayer down.  It crosses the road.  If I hadn't stopped in the middle of the road, that squirrel would be no longer.  That was too close for comfort & the 'almost' made me sad.

3. Between 6th and 7th period I call the counselor.  Her extension is 511.  I am supposed to dial 6511.  I dial.  I wait for Kat to answer.  "9-1-1 what's you emergency?"  Uhhhhhh  ~ my immediate emergency is that I've just called 911.  I am SOOO embarrassed. I have to give my name and I apologize a million times in, I am sure, not my calm mature voice.  I look at my phone.  I had dialed 9511.  Since when does 511 ring 911?  I was framed.