May Run Log

The good and the bad of May:
Bad:
Marathon #2 is in the books and I wish I could say I achieved my goals.  Fell way short of what I thought I could do and, even though I've been told not to call it an epic fail, it was a fail.  I handled marathon #1 much better ~ and finished in an upright position.  I know it was the heat/humidity that did me in, but it still is disappointing and embarrassing.
Bad:
I gained weight training...
Good:
I am proud of the under four hour finish and my PR and the fact that I still love running.  I didn't experience the post-race blues that plagued me after Marathon #1.  I do wonder if it is because it's the start race season and I was ready to start scoring some NERC grand prix points, where the first one was in October & the end of race season...with no much to look forward to.
Bad:
I'm losing two toenails at the beginning of summer.  The only 'pain' I had from the marathon were the second toes on each foot ~ blisters under both nails.  The gross report: you can look down under the right one and see that it's only held on by the edges...as soon as they grow out, it's off.  The left one hasn't had the skin peel away yet, so it looks like it's attached, but I know it's not.
Good:
Kelly & I started our Thursday NERC group run...five people showed {total} on the first night & we didn't go the second as it was my end of the year party.  I'm hoping to get Mike to join us & start to enjoy social running {maybe}
Good:
Lots of kids signed up for cross country.  We have our first summer run next Tuesday.  I'm hoping for another fun season.
Good:
I can still run sub 8:00 and placed first in my age group just a week post-marathon.  This old lady can still run.

Signed up for my first travel race ~ the Columbus Half Marathon {every marathon has a half}  Excited to see what it's like to sleep in a different bed the night before a race.

May Totals:

111.44 miles for the month ~ glad to get over 100!
662.61 miles for the year 

184.41 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ ran 3.01 in them today as we tried to run between the green/yellow/red blobs on the radar.

518.41 miles in my pink Brooks Glycerin 12.  They ran the marathon & the next 5k & have a little bit left.

48.56 miles in my Nike Vomero ~ I really like these shoes.  They feel lighter than the Brooks.

Training for:  Half marathons...The Hill, Yeah THIS Sunday {crazy} and The Columbus Half October 18.

Podcasts I'm listening to: Marathon Training Academy, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Dear Sugar, Stuff You Should Know, & This American Life.  {but I've been running so much with people, I haven't really listed to any this month.}

My WEIGHT:  Was at 139 the few days post-marathon...last I checked three days ago, I was down to 136 ish.  

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:  26.36 ~ The Cleveland Marathon {it was long by my watch}

Highest  weekly mileage this month: 36.24 ~ (5/17 through 5/23) 26 of that being the marathon

Favorite place to run this month: Lake Erie Bluffs ~ on the beach connector from one side to the other.  Kelly and I had a fun time doing that and it was beautiful ~ not easy running, but beautiful.

# of bags of Candy Cane Kisses left in my cabinet:  Maybe one...
# of books I read this month: ONE.  Sleep keeps happening
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}
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)

School's Out

 Monday was the Memorial Day parade ~ always fun to see the Blue Streak Band one last time.

On Thursday we took the 8th graders to the Outdoor Y ~ Where we walk around and enjoy the kids having fun on their last day.  It's a great spot because kids can swim, and play volleyball, frisbee, soccer & football.  They hang out & have a good time...just like teachers!

Then the important people come over to my house for my annual end of the year party.  We celebrated Erin's two years with us by giving her framed pictures of each of us!  HA!  I will miss Erin & her Awesomeness.

The end of a year is always fun, but it's also always difficult (more so as I get older)  People leave & retire & move around & nothing is ever the same.  I guess I'm noticing the change more as my friends are retiring!  I will miss Cheryl, especially as she and I were the constant at run club!  I fear I will run alone many weeks.

Yesterday was the kids last day...but it was also Happy Poppy Day!

The most beautiful flower!

#11 The Collector

I finished #11 3 weeks ago or so...and I'm just now writing about it.  {and it's no longer on my Kindle, so no quotes or words or first line/last line}  The Collector by Nora Roberts is a good Nora Roberts.  A little mystery (that takes some creative license) and a little romance.  A good combination for a light read.
This story involved a house sitter and an artist ~ and stolen Faberge eggs.  An interesting lesson in stolen art also.

Memorial Day weekend

A busy weekend for our last weekend of the school year.  Patrick came home for the long weekend {and to see his girlfriend}  & it was good to have him here.

On Sunday we went to GO APE ~ they opened a new one in Strongsville ~ so much closer so not as long of an adventure...so we thought.

It was a very fun group as you can see by our crazy-eye selfie.

It took about 3 hours to complete the course ~ it was just slow moving & then a lady quit halfway through ~ literally just quit in the middle of an obstacle.  She just hung there in her harness, not even attempting to move.  Finally {after five blows of the emergency whistle ~ five TIMES of blowing five whistles, "and see how fast we get there."}  someone showed, got to her & helped her move backwards to the rope ladder.  We were all at a standstill for about 1/2 an hour as she s.l.o.w.l.y and without care to the backup, moved to get off the course.  The worst thing, after she left we figured smooth sailing to the end...NO we still caught the people in front of us and had to wait.  It sounds like I'm really complaining ~ I'm not really ~ it was just unbelievable that we caught them.  

We had a ball & worked up quite an appetite!  Dinner at TGIFriday's {with stinky bathrooms} followed and then the hour drive home.  Took just as long as the 2 &1/2 hour drive to Pittsburgh!

Today I ran my first 5k of the race season...8 days out of the CLE.  My toes hurt in my shoes {the blisters under my toenails have popped, but they are still oozing & tender}  I was nervous about what running fast would do to my still sore body & if I'd be able to run sub-8's.  I was going to be happy with 24 something {well, not happy, but reasonable}  Dodd had raced yesterday & was nervous about back-to-back & Mike just hates to run & he hates 5k's  But he wants the NERC points.

That horn sounded & I took off at a reasonably hard pace...with Dodd way out front & Kelly out there too {kinda thought I could stick to her ~ but no}  Mike blows by me shortly after the start and I watched him keep pace with Kelly for most of the race.  I could see all three of them, but I wasn't catching.  However, I was pretty pleased when I passed the mile mark at 7:15 & felt good.  Ended up crossing the finish at 23:49.  Happy to be sub 24:00 & happy to run 7:40 overall pace. {each mile was a little slower, but my kick was a respectable 5:53!  

I went to the computers to check my standings & it said I was fourth in my age group.  I kinda thought Crystal had placed overall ~ so I asked Kelly & John to collect my third place award so we could leave {Mike hates to stay & Dodd had practice}  Surprise Surprise to come home & check the final standings to see I came in second in my age group with Crystal ahead of me, but placing third overall...I won my age group which was the big one ~ 40-49!  Kelly collected my TNT tanning gift certificate {I'm sure my dermatologist who keeps cutting skin cancer from me will be pleased} & my medal.  Super pumped to place so well!

And Mike joins in the race selfie tradition!

Tennis season

Pretty proud of Jacob Barton and all the hard work he put into his tennis career.  All the time he spent taking lessons, clinics, playing in leagues, getting his butt kicked in tournaments...paid off during his junior year.  Last year at second singles Jacob had a record of 2 & 17...that's right TWO wins.  We were all pretty convinced that no matter what he'd have a hard time at first singles.  Coach even said that he'd be the "sacrificial lamb" setting the table for the rest of the team to win.  Jacob worked very hard to not let that happen and he finished his season at 13 & 6.  Coach called it one of the best improvements he's ever seen.  Jacob ended his junior year with the third best record for a junior in coach's 25 year career.  The team also had a winning record this season; one of the best records since the 80's. {I think that's what was said...}  It was a fun banquet & this morning we woke up to Jacob's Player of the Week in the News-Herald.  A great end to a great season!

CLE

So, three days later I think I'm ready to recap the 2015 Cleveland Marathon.  

Jen drove the three marathoners down to Quicken Loans Arena where we met up with Kirsten, Anita and Heidi.  It was already in the mid 60's & looked like rain.  Sure enough, as we stood in the starting line crowd, the sky opened up and huge raindrops began to fall.  Just enough to get us a little wet...and we were off.

I ran a solid first 10k, staying within my 8:30 pace frame pretty well.  I was feeling good and strong.  Then it started to rain, and it felt pretty good because it was getting warm.   The best surprise was seeing Beth & Lori & Dave around the half {I had missed seeing them at 9}  They had signs & were cheering!  What a pick me up!  

 I met up with Dodd around mile 14.5 and we ran together in the rain, which eventually stopped...and the sun came out.  I didn't think it was too hot, but I knew I was struggling.  At one point I reached out and grabbed the back of Dodd's shirt just to catch up to him.  By mile 20 I was holding his hand just to keep going.  The original plan was for him to pull off at mile 20 & drive to the finish.  He realized the shape I was in and chose to run a little more.  This picture was taken around mile 21 & you can really see the horrific shape I was in.  I know I didn't know how bad I looked ~ I just wanted it to be over.  That stupid Shoreway.  The last three miles are giant rolling hills of open concrete...lots of people sitting on the side of the road looking for help...90% humidity was killer.  We saw the finish (Dodd actually claimed to see it long before he actually did) and kicked it up...I crossed the finish line at 3:57:31, turned off my watch and watched my legs buckle.  The next thing I know I'm in a wheelchair, in the medical tent, getting my temperature taken not in a way I would like...with Dodd standing there next to me...being dumped in an trough of ice water to lower my 106.7 core temperature, and finally realizing I was in serious trouble.  Thank God for the medical personnel who were right there taking care of the crazy people who spent $$ to push their bodies beyond the limit.

Right now I am just embarrassed to have been able to run a 20 mile race at an 8:16 pace and die {almost literally} at the marathon distance.  I had to be drug {really literally} the last 6 miles.  I would not have made it if it hadn't been for the selflessness of my amazing running partner.

I didn't make my BQ goal ~ the lowest point of the race was when the 3:55 pace group caught and passed me.  I did ask them, rather nicely, "please don't pass me."  but pass me they did.  

I did finish in under 4 hours, but it was certainly not pretty.  And the end wasn't  fun.  I look at the pictures the marathon posted of me...and they are so embarrassing; being pulled along a race I pictured finishing so strong ~ and independently.  

Mike had a great race: 4:08:10 and he finished without falling down {although witnesses say he did take a little wobble upon he finish}  I'm so proud of him and his fight and determination and strength.  He did it and was not beaten this time.  & then instead of taking care of himself at the finish he has to come deal with me...and he was in no shape himself to do that.

We made a new family motto:  Every marathon has a half.

and that is the distance the Bartons will run.

the day before

Hard to put into words how I am feeling 23.5 hours before the Cleveland Marathon.  Part excited, part anxious, part total freak out.   I'm trying to find the fun and ignore all the what if's.
What if the weather is bad?  The weather is going to be warm & humid with a chance of rain, possibly heavy.
What if I can't keep my pace? 8:30 is the number that keeps rolling through my brain.  Can I maintain an 8:30 pace & increase it at the half?
What if Boston doesn't happen?  Can I not only qualify for Boston, but do it enough under the qualifying time to actually get to register for the race?

This time tomorrow I will be running the streets of Cleveland & I will do my best & I will be proud of that.

Tennis

Yesterday was {finally} a beautiful day to watch tennis. Sunny, warm, a slight breeze!

And a Friday victory. 

Jacob had three wins and one loss (Conneaut) this week to bring his record to 8 - 4. 

He's playing well and learning a lot.  It's fun {especially now that the weather is warming up}