#25 & #26

#25 was The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah.  It was about two sisters surviving Nazi occupation of France during the Second World War. It was heartbreaking in its descriptions of the cruelty and what happened to the people. Each sister chose a different way to survive and each was worthy and hard.  The story lost me at the end...the ending wasn't so believable but I enjoyed the novel.

fl: If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are. ll: Wounds heal.  Love lasts. We remain. 

#26 was Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani. This was a fast read...and not a well written piece of literature by any means.  The main character is a likable self-proclaimed spinster who looks for love, but not really. It flip flops around and the scenes that could be really great are one or two sentences long. There are more in this series, but I will not be reading them. 

fl: This will be a good weekend for reading. ll: I want to watch the two of them forever--a daughter learning to trust, and a father doing the thing he does best: protecting her. 

Run, Santa, Run

The last Grand Prix race of the 2015 season ~ it's been a long season, but it's certainly been a fun one. ~ Run, Santa, Run took place on a 60 degree Sunday morning.  So amazing to wear a skirt and short sleeves & be WARM at the start on the 13th of December.  Mike & I arrived at our usual early time & got a good parking spot.  Sure does take the stress out to get there just a little bit earlier than necessary.  It gives us time to use the pots, talk to peeps, get our bearings & get in a warm up.  

Summer wear in DECEMBER!

This picture cracks me up!  You can see me and Mike in the crowd looking very serious.

I had told Leslie that I was going to put myself on her hip for this race.  We both wore our skirts & pink tops (I struggled with the definition of pink) and we started side by side.  About .2 in, we were both working too hard to talk,    But I stuck by her until the end.  I enjoyed to course.  It was a loop that included a little up and down two side streets.  Once we made the turn back onto The 20, I could see Dairy Queen in the distance, and knew there was a finish line around there, but I couldn't see the big blue arch for the bend in the road.  Finally I rounded the bend & there was the arch.  Leslie has a kick that I just don't have.  She beat me by a few seconds...and puked.  Didn't PR, but it sure felt like an all out effort.  I was so focused {read, working too hard to notice anything else} I didn't notice Mike zip by us.  HE beat us while stopping to TIE HIS SHOE {you'd think he'd learn to tie 'em tight} and Run Jump for Brenda's camera!  I did not run jump...wish I would have, it may have given me just the push I needed to enjoy the race a little more.

This is also the first race in a while that I didn't place in.  Fourth for my age group while running 23:17.  huh.  Such a kick in the pants to not be a place winner.  I know that sounds so cocky and non-humble...but I'm "not gonna lie" {side note: I totally hate that phrase...I typed it tongue-in-cheek, so please read it that way}

So the lesson for me is I won't always win.  AND that's why you run jump when the opportunity presents itself.  joy & running  They should go together & they didn't really for me today.

Me & Brenda

John's snacks vs mine & Mike's face!

NERC runners

#24 ~ The Husband's Secret

I have really enjoyed Liane Moriarty's novels.  #24 is The Husband's Secret ~ and it was another well written story.  It was not my favorite of her stories ~ as it was such a SAD story.  It involves affairs & community standing & family relationships & murder.  The characters are mostly likable, but I did have trouble reconciling the ending.  While I'm all for "happily ever after", I'm not sure it works for me in this story.

Quote:
loc 3118~ ...does a tiara really count as an Easter hat?


fl: It was all because of the Berlin Wall.  ll: Some secrets are meant to stay secret forever.  Just ask Pandora.

Advent

Advent.  The season of preparing.  Waiting for the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.  The most wonderful time of the year.  Advent for me is always an anxious time of trying to get it all done; get it all done right; and remember the real reason ~ the birth of a baby boy to save the world.  I think I'm getting better at being less anxious.  The house is decorated.  The tree is up.  The presents are being bought. The music is being played.  

The Madison High School Jazz Band had their first Christmas performance at Giant Eagle on Friday night.  They sounded great & Jacob rocked his solos.  Once again, so thankful that both my boys have been blessed by the Madison Band Program.  

While we were listening to the Band ~ I catch a glimpse of the TV in the far back corner  (You can see the TV in the picture)  What is on that TV, you might be wondering?  A picture of Bruce Springsteen with the words "Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band  Live at Quicken Loans Arena"  WHAT?  A real quick search on my phone finds that Bruce announced Tour Dates!  And CLEVELAND is on the list.  February 23.  Tempted to get tickets for Pittsburgh...but I may be in Florida that date.  I guess I'll be happy with one concert.  SOOOOO excited for show #11!  Here are my hopes:  I hope he plays Sherry Darling and Roselita and Thunder Road.

On Saturday we got up early & lifted for 12 minutes so we could be running by 7:15.  Got in our 10 miles...During which we were yelled at by a police officer.  Seems it's illegal to cross train tracks when the gate is down...even when there is plenty of room to do so.   ~ story:  As we were running south on 528 we can see that the far gates are down ~ but no train.  We can also see there is a police car with its lights on.  As we get closer the near gates come down... and I see we have enough time to cross, so I say, "Go" so we all run across...However, just as I yell "Go"  the cops yells, "Get Back."  I'm kinda shocked that I've been given a directive from a police officer, but I'm not about to ignore it, so I turn around.  As we are running around the village grounds to get in our extra 1/2 mile we discuss the legalities of crossing tracks when the gate is down. Mike thought that maybe there was something going on on the other side of the tracks that would have been unsafe for us to be involved with; he just can't comprehend why we weren't allowed to cross the tracks.  But realistically, we kinda figure it must be illegal and laugh at the thought of being arrested during our Saturday morning run.  {I won't tell the story about the time we were running down Bates}  Later in the day I Google Ohio Revised Code & discover that it is a $55.00 fine to cross tracks when the gate is down.  That would have been an expensive 10 mile run.  And embarrassing.  Bad enough to get yelled at by an officer of the law.  Being thrown into the car handcuffed would have been horrible.
I'm 52 miles (or so) into my Rudolph Challenge 2015.  Doing all the events will be 66.6 miles.  I'm going to run all of them in full except the 26.2 ~ that one will be broken into pieces.  I will do that distance again, just not this month!

We had to run early because Dodd had plans that morning.  Seems little baby William Glenn Dodd was coming into the world.  What a beautiful thing ~ a newborn baby.  Such promise and love.  So sweet and precious.

So as we celebrate this season of Advent I want to remember the blessings that I have in my life.  Family, Friends, Music, Running.

Run log

November was a month of running.  Lots and lots of running...and only one race.  Coach Mike decided that we need to build our base miles while the weather is good & hopefully keep that solid base through the winter and spring, so we're ready for marathon training come June.  We've had 'run club' a few times...once just me and Dodd.  Once me & Kelly & Mike {first time at run club}  My IT band & right knee are so stressed from Saturday's run, that I don't want to run with faster people this week...so I'm not even offering up a day.  Hoping to get in 4 tomorrow between the rain drops.  NERC standings have me a solid overall third.  I will stay there unless one of two things happen.  1.  Crystal runs the Run Santa Run.  2. Leslie runs the Run Santa Run & beats me.  {I should just say, Leslie runs the Run Santa Run, because I have yet to beat her in a 5k.}  Worst case, I slip to Masters 2.  I think at that point I'd rather be #1 in my age group.

Mike & I are lifting on Saturday mornings.  I can bench half my body weight & am deep swimmer pressing 15 pounds for three reps.  I'm also taking HITT class on Wednesdays.

November Totals:

126.47 miles for the month ~ makes up for the two months I was under 100!
1292.16 miles for the year 

199.13 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ one wear on a wet Sunday morning!

289.79 miles in my Nike Vomero ~ My go-to shorter run shoes

264.62 miles in my light blue Brooks Glycerin 11 ~ that look much dirtier than they should for that mileage.

Training for:   a fall marathon!  Base Building

Podcasts I'm listening to: Marathon Training Academy, Lore, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Dear Sugar, Stuff You Should Know, & This American Life, Love & Radio, RadioLab & Stuff to Blow Your Mind.  New one: Neighbors

My WEIGHT: After gorging myself these last five days...I was 135 this morning.  Very thankful for that.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:  13.57 ~ UP the hill to THOMPSON.  Oh my aching IT band & my AWESOMENESS all in one.

Highest  weekly mileage this month: 43.61 miles ~ Nov 8 to Nov 15

Favorite place to run this month: 528 to Thompson {can't say it was my fav ~ but it's the one I'm most proud of}

# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet:  Haven't bought one...but sure would like someone to give me a bag.
# of books I read this month: three
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: 1:44:42 (Northern Ohio Half Marathon 10/4/15)
marathon: 3:57:31 (The Cleveland Marathon 5/17/15)

#23 The Siren

#23 is The Siren by Tiffany Reisz.  This was the Harlequin book I read this year ~ and for a Harlequin book it was very well written.  Interesting that the main character is a Dominatrix/writer who is working with a new editor.  The book starts with the new editor & ends when she finishes the book...and all the dirty details happen in between.  This is the first in a very long series...but I don't really like the main character...nor to I really relate to her...so I probably won't read any more in the series.  But it was a quick read and a good break from the serious books I usually read {and if you look at the list of what I read...you'll realize the sarcasm in that statement}

fl:There was no such think as London fog --never had been. ll: The most familiar darkness...her darkness..she was home.

Turkey Day

For the fifth year, the Barton clan has run the Turkey Day 5k.  A great event...in the snow & in the ice  {previous years} & today...45 degrees & windy.  I'll take today over all those other years.  Love how this event has grown & become part of our tradition.

Patrick came home LATE last night...and I was sound asleep.  So he was still in bed {and I think Jacob wished he were too}  Marge RAN her first 5k & had a great race.  

Pre-race Selfie  ~ Jacob, Becky & Mike

The race started at 8:30...and I managed to NOT have to wait in line EVER for a bathroom.  Seems everyone waited inside...so I used the port-o-pots outside, since it was rather warm...and NO LINE.  {1,300 people & NO LINE?  That is something to be thankful for!}  So the start did not, as Mike pointed out, have AC/DC playing.  Nor did it have fireworks.  Nor did it have stands of fans the first quarter mile.  It did have LOTS of little kids.  Three of which sprinted out & about a tenth of a mile in I hear, "Ok guys, it's time to walk."  So they just stop...as 1,250 people are still running at a pretty fast clip right behind them.  Mike had a rough time with on particular little dude who made it his mission to cut right in front of him for the first mile and a half...until Mike finally passed him (and me).  I liked how I got to Lake Erie College before the leaders made the turn and ran back toward me.  I like how that makes me feel like one of the 'leaders'.  

Overall, I'm happy with my time.  Didn't turn on my watch (battery was low & I wanted to get in two more miles after the race & needed to use the GPS on the watch for that) so I wasn't sure of my pace...just ran by feel & while I was pushing, I wasn't hurting ~ so 23:09 is a great time for me.  But not good enough for first place {and a pie}.  

HOLY COW ~ a 49 year old woman ran 20:14?!?!  Enjoy your pie fast old lady!  That's something!  I'm amazed and impressed.  And I still won gloves.  What a great prize!

Once again I was last for the family & the only one to place.  Jacob finished just behind Kelly {22:36} and Mike was 22:54.  VERY close to his PR.  {22:51}

And had to include selfies with two of my favorite running friends!  Can't wait for Brenda's knee to heal so we can run her Birthday Ice Cream Run!  & Kelly has talked me into co-race directing the Red Bird Run with her.  Thankful for the people & opportunities running has brought me.  This year's race shirt says it all:

And cleaning out my Fall Decor...Time to get rid of this AMAZING coaching gift.  How adorable is this pumpkin?  Wish I could save it forever, but that little spot on the bottom is telling me I better not.