Run Log: December 2014

The month of December was not as snowy as the month of November... We've finally gotten a few flakes today, the last day of the year.  No white Christmas around here, but it did mean more running outside.  Run Club is going strong with 3 to 5 people each week!  We've even met over Christmas Break ~ and it sure does make a difference running with people at 26 degrees than by yourself.  First off, when it's a group, you actually GO & run!
This week started the 20 week marathon training plan.  Hard to believe May is 20 weeks away.  Under the advice of my husband and my running partner, I'm scaling back & actually following the plan. I'm giving my body the chance to rest {a little} and I'll work on speed {a little}  Marathon #2, here I come.

December Totals:

121.2 miles for the month
1191 miles for the year 

600.82 miles for my blue Brooks Glycerin 12 ~ and they are officially retired from running (but I've been wearing them to tennis lesson.  Probably the best pair of shoes I've ever owned. ~ a 5k PR, a 10k PR {which I almost forgot about} and a 1/2 marathon PR.  They served me well.

28.25 miles in my Gortex Ghosts, by Brooks

74.05 miles in my NEW pink Brooks Glycerin 12.  LOVE THEM!

Training for:  The Cleveland Marathon on May 17, 2015  ~ Signed up for the 20 mile drop April 12, 2015.

2011: 564.5 miles

2012: 656 miles 

2013: 1217 miles 

2014: 1191 miles

{I saw a challenge to run 2,015 miles in 2015.  How in the world would anyone have the time to do that?}

My WEIGHT:  Well, with all the sugar I've been stuffing in my face for the past four weeks, it's no wonder the scale said 138.2 this morning {twice, just in case it was wrong the first time}.  So I went out,  met Lori for lunch and stuffed my face with sushi.  That diet can start tomorrow.

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month: 14.23.  It was good to do 14 two Saturdays in a row.  That's more than halfway to a full!

Favorite place to run this month: the 14 mile route.  Arcola to Dock to Chapel to Bennett to 20 to Burns to Dayton to 84 to County Line to Home.
# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet: There is one GIANT bag and the bag I just bought for 50% off at Target today.  And there are some left in the candy dish {under the regular Milk Chocolate ones}
# of books I read this month: FOUR
Monthly mileage record: 155.46 ~ August 2013!  WOW
Highest mileage ever-at-one-time:  26.2 ~ October 13, 2013 ~ Northern Ohio Marathon

PR's:
5K: 22:30 (Run For the Grapes 9/28/14}
10K: 50:13 {Run for the Hills 6/22/14}
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: 4:01:04 (Northern Ohio Marathon 10/13/2013)

Christmas wrap up

Christmas preparation seems to start before Halloween and I still am rushed and stressed to get it all done. I think I'm learning to enjoy the moments more and not worry about the small stuff...but I still worry about the small stuff.  

Then there is that moment on Christmas Eve when we light the candles and sing Silent Night.  That is the peaceful moment. That is the powerful moment for me. I wish I could bottle that moment & call up that calm whenever I need it. 

Two big Christmas celebrations and two big Christmas dinners. It was a good season. 

Lunch with th Dodds so Jackson could give his buddy his Christmas present. 

A Barton Cassidy trip to the toboggan chutes in Strongsville. 

#30 The Spectacular Now

A quick read while I waited for my next book to become available from the library...and I finished it & still I wait.  I'm not sure where the recommendation came for this book, #30 The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp, but it's about a teenager who only lives in the now.  All his relationships are jaded because of his inability to believe anyone could love him, yet he is quite lovable.   He drinks way to much.  He doesn't graduate.  He loses his job.  He makes a sweet nerdy girl his project in a very lovely way.  It's one of those stories where there really isn't an ending...and certainly no hope for a happily ever after ending ~ which I really hate.  In fact, the ending is so obscure, I had to look up some reviews to see what other people thought happened to Sutter. {Don't Read This if you Plan on Reading the Book and Want to Form Your own Opinion.}  Personally, I think he dies, but in the review & comments I looked at no one else mentioned that theory.

fl: So, it's a little before ten a.m. and I'm just starting to get a good buzz going.  ll: Goodbye, I say, goodbye, as I disappear little by little into the middle of the middle of my own spectacular now.

#29 ~ The Circle

A parable for today's social media society ~ what can happen when knowing everybody's business is more important that personal relationships.  Book #29 for 2014 is The Circle by Dave Eggers.  Parts of it can get a little 'preachy' about the negative side of knowing all.  And parts of it are pretty far fetched, but it did make me pause and wonder how social media has effected me & if it's been more harm than good.

fl: My God, Mae thought.  It's heaven. ll: Why shouldn't they know them?  The world deserved nothing less and would not wait.

December

This is the Barton Family Runners...after our NERC interclub relay race.  It was held December 7 at The West Woods in Newbury.  I ran 8, Mike ran 5 and Jacob ran 3.  Overall we ran it in 2:24:03.  By it, I mean the roller coaster they call the trails at the West Woods.  I swear there wasn't a single bit of FLAT anywhere on the trails.  Honestly, I think I'm still recovering from it!  But while driving there, we saw this sign:

"Newbury, Home of the 1986 Class A state Wrestling Champs"  I think we know someone who was on that team.

Later that same afternoon, we celebrated our annual Mount Union Christmas.  Love these girls & am blessed to know them & have them in my life!

And here are my beautiful new Brooks.  Don't you love the pink?  I do!  Another pair of Glycerin 12.  They are the bestest shoe EVER.

Then there's the December Band Concert ~ With Jacob in the regular band and also in Jazz band.  He looks quite dashing & grown up!  On December 11 the band preformed at the Great Lakes Mall outside Macy's. He and Audrey had a duet & were amazing.  I have the video on my phone...it would b nice if I could upload it.

Yesterday we had a impromptu visit from The Amos Family as they traveled to grandma's house.  What a great time to see & catch up with my cousin!  I certainly hope my house can become a stopping point for the family as they travel across the states.

AND PATRICK IS HOME!  He got his feet wet, so to speak, at his co-op & is home now until spring semester starts.

Then ~ I saw this amazing parking job at Giant Eagle yesterday.  Certainly under the category of  "Things that make you go HUH?"

I think I'm pretty much done Christmas shopping.  I need to hit Walmart one last time & of course, Giant Eagle (again!)  But I think I'm ready.

Time to enjoy.

#28 Shadow Spell

The second book in the Cousins O'Dwyer series is #28 Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts.  A little fantasy, a little romance, a little cheesy.  I enjoy these easy reads.  This book has Meara and Connor falling in love & the group coming just this much closer to destroying Cabhan.

fl: Mists spiraled up from the water like breath as Eamon rowed the little boat. ll: And the terrible thirst was vengeance.

#27 Dark Witch

Needed a quick, light read for Thanksgiving break, so I turned to a Nora Roberts.  #27 is Dark Witch, Book One of the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy.  It's an interesting story beginning in 1263 when magick and witches ruled in Ireland.  The Dark Witch is being attacked by an evil power and before she is killed, she passes her power onto her three children.  750 years later, the three descendants of these children join forces to try and defeat this same evil power ~ and of course find love along the way.  Easy Nora Roberts fun read.

Quote:
p38 ~ Illusion, Nan would say, was as good as reality.

fl: Near the shadow of the castle, deep in the green woods, Sorcha led her children through the gloom toward home. ll: Deep in the woods, in another time, the wolf whimpered.  The man inside it cursed.  And with arts as black as midnight, slowly began to heal.  Carefully, began to plan.