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

March Run Log

March running has been cold and snowy and rainy.  Spring is coming very slowly to NE Ohio this year.  The daffodils are up & the magnolia has buds...but it is still cold.  Track has started and it's been super windy & ugh.  We have our first meet on Tuesday ~ and the high jump & long jump pits have yet to be set up..."We'll get it done with the weather breaks."  nice.

Two trips this month...7th grade Columbus and 8th grade DC.  Did not run for THREE days.  oh my.

March Totals:

167.44 miles for the month 
447.39 miles for the year 

251.61 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ worn around DC ~ in the snow/rain/slush.  Didn't count those miles...but shoes worked.

235.77 miles in my Black Brooks Glycerin 15 ~ zero miles

326.85 miles in my purple Brooks Glycerin 14 

350.88 miles in my HOT PINK Brooks Ghost 10 

10.2 miles in my Blue Brooks Levitate  New shoe & I like 'em 

Training for:  O24 in April

My WEIGHT: I have ZERO idea

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:  18.01 ~ to round off a 26 mile weekend (with a 10k too)

What hurts?: my left hip/IT band/quad...Just not right.

Weekly mileage this month:  38.3 ~ 41.7 ~ 47.5 ~ 29.29 (the week of DC & 3 days off) 

Favorite place to run this month: The Leprechaun Dash course in DTW.  Loved the last downhill mile.  Felt fast and strong.  It was the best running feeling in a long time.

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)

this really happened

Set the stage:  There is a lady who works out at the Y every morning.  She used to swim everyday, and she would glare at Mike all the time.  Then she switched to lifting every morning and has been making small talk with us, mostly Mike ~ almost like she was flirting with him.

Today Dodd didn't show up to lift.

After lifting, Mike and I both swam {since it's spring break & I had the time}.  I get in the locker room after the swim, and Lady is coming in from lifting.

Lady: Done already?

Me: Yep, just 20 minutes of swimming today.

L: Where's that skinny guy?

Me: (wanting to laugh) Didn't show up today.  What a loser.

L:  I like him better than that other guy.

Me: Well, that other guy is my husband.

L: Well.  Huh.  Oh. Well.  Oh.  Well. {just looking at me so strangely}

Me: yep.  Have a good day.

L: Yea, you stand tall.

???

I laughed all the way home.

My Legs are TIRED

47.5 miles this week.  And I finally made my legs tired.  Really tired.  Like it hurts to walk downstairs tired.

Since I had such an amazing race last weekend doing a 5k...I thought I'd do it again, only twice as long this weekend.  AND the 10k was the same price as the 5k {I know, silly reason}

Kiss Me, I'm a Runner starts in Legacy Village and runs DOWN through a park and UP to Richmond Road ~ crosses the street into Acacia Golf Course.  The 10k winds all around the golf course & a neighborhood.  Then you run back DOWN and UP through the park.

I'm very happy with how I ran.  And despite icy and hilly conditions AND being stopped by the police to let traffic pass on Richmond Road...I was only 30 seconds off a PR.  Kinda pisses about the traffic stop...but what can you do?  Who knows if that breather actually helped me on the final hill.  And we'll never have that answer.

I did have one angry mile...In mile 5 we got back to the golf course & started passing the people walking the 5k.  They have to know they are on a race course...right?  They have to know the people running are racing...right?  They got the whole start and finish line concept, I'm sure.  I was following another 10k runner and we both said, "excuse me" when we ran past the first of the walker group.  We both passed them with plenty of room for all of us, when I hear one of the people say, "Don't you hate rude runners who don't say 'passing on the left'?" 
seriously?
It just lit me up.
I yell back, "Passing on the Left.  I'm just tired from running."
oh my
Kinda felt bad, but seriously?  I can hear you.  And I wasn't being rude.  Until you were.

I would love to not be gasping for air at the finish!

But I ran well and had fun ~ so successful race #2 for the season.

 So, I ran 8 total miles Saturday ~ and went on an 18 miler today.  Thankful that Kelly joined me for the last 5.  I should have fueled...and she helped me stay strong.  And I found my weekend limit.  It's a 10k & 26 miles.

And the make the weekend even better...I went to the BEACH both days.

Leprechaun Dash 5k

Ran my first 5k of the season today...

5k's have not been my friend lately.  They have been hard and I have been slow.  I won this one at Winter Party ~ so I figured I'd run it.  I had a 16 miler on my schedule & I couldn't figure out the best way to get that in with a race at 11:00am on Sunday. 
I opted to run 16 on Saturday and see what Sunday brought.  I really wanted to see what I could do ~ but I didn't want to get hurt either.

I spent 20 minutes stretching really well this morning {got to the point that I could touch my toes!}, ran a 2 mile warm up {this is going to be SOP for 5k's}, and toed the line.  Kept Kelly in my sights for most of the race & just ran fast but comfortable.  I noticed that after mile 1, I was passing people.  Passed the 2 mile marker & knew & could see that the last mile was downhill. {by mile 3 Kelly was pretty far ahead}.  "I can and I am" carried me quite a while.  It just felt good today.  I was very pleased to see the clock still saying 24: when I turned to the finish.  I felt strong and capable and am very happy with my run.  The first time EVER that I have run negative splits in a 5k.

Second in my age group as well! {I could have beat the first place person, but I would have had to PR by 20 seconds}

February Running

Other stuff happened in February that wasn't quite as depressing. 

We went curling with Mount Union Alumi 

Some of my favorite people went to Mount Union

Valentine's Day happened.  

I got Mike a bag of beef jerky and beef sticks because nothing says "I love you" 

quite like processed meat.

Whirly Ball with my teacher peeps happened.  Nothing is more fun that Whirly Ball, Bowling and Laser Tag with amazing coworkers.

Beach glass hunting happened.  I forgot how much I love to beach glass hunt.  

And the frozen lake is beautiful to witness.

Girton's retirement happened.  

We worked to throw the most epic retirement party ever ~ and I think we succeeded.  The evening was made when son, Kyle, surprised her. 

Would have been more epic if Kyle was able to start the golf cart & drive around like I wanted him to.  Thank goodness it wouldn't start!

Golf carts may have been a theme this month...because we "ran" across this one on our Saturday morning run.

Keys weren't in this one...so I wasn't tempted to start it.  Funny that it was gone when we ran by it on our way back.  

I am very thankful for my running friends who have kept running fun this month.  The boys aren't really running.  Mike's knee hurts & Dodd has been super busy with his house that he will never live in and his new job.  Their long runs have been 6-8.  I'm finding other people to run my 12-15 with.  And, while it's not the same, it's great in it's own way.  I have to drive a little more (and get up a little earlier) but it's good.  I'm learning to be less about my running.  

We have also been weigh lifting on Mondays and Wednesday for the past four weeks.  It may sting a little if I punch you.  I've made it to Yoga maybe twice this month ~ but swimming every Friday.  Today I swam a mile in 39 minutes!  I felt like a total rock star.  Had to swim another lap to get to the second ticket for Good Running.

February Totals:

137.34 miles for the month 
279.95 miles for the year 

251.61 miles in my Gortex Ghosts ~ worn for 6.1 this month!

235.77 miles in my Black Brooks Glycerin 15 ~ my weight lifting shoes now ~ but they saw one run.

314.64 miles in my purple Brooks Glycerin 14 

205.85 miles in my HOT PINK Brooks Ghost 10 

Training for:  O24 in April

My WEIGHT: 142 ish.  I kinda stopped going to DQ the past two weeks...that February Blizzard of the month was SOOOO good {dipped strawberry} 

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   14.25 training run

What hurts?: nothing

Weekly mileage this month:  26.8 ~ 41 ~ 31.6 ~ 32.6  I skipped a long run in there and then ran 26 miles the following weekend.  I'm a little under my plan, but I've taken a rest day each week that was unplanned.  I think I need that rest day.

Favorite place to run this month: A snowy Tuesday morning.  We made fresh tracks in the snow & there were flakes floating down & zero wind.  Absolutely stunning morning.

Monthly mileage record: 216.66 September 2017!
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)

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.

January Running

The car said -14 on our way to this run in Chardon.

January Running...
Cold
Snowy
Warm
Sunny
As all Northeast Ohio Winters go
It's always changing.

There have been many treadmill miles this month ~ but also some beautiful in the snow runs.  Even some warmer sunny runs.
I decided to add .1 miles to all my runs this year.  Every 10 runs I'll have an extra mile for the year.

Good times with my running peeps.

January has brought NERC track workouts at Spire ~ and I'm learning to not hate them.

Hill Repeats with a fun crew in Geneva.

January also brought Adult Prom (aka NERC Winter Party)  "Middle Aged White Girl Dancing"

 This is my favorite picture of us ~ Because THIS IS US.  As Anita commented on the Facebook: "This picture says it all.  Becky gesturing wildly and talking animatedly, Mike grinning like he meant to do whatever he did.  And has no shame."  Yes.  Love.

And then there were the Grand Prix prizes.  I was pretty sure I was second or third in my age group.  Marcella was ahead of me, having only run 8 Grand Prix races, I knew she had me on participation points.  They did men first and both Mike and Dodd placed third in their age groups!  Go Mike!  He was so excited because he had been so far down the list.  Then they called the women...Marcella placed first in our age group followed by two people I didn't even know.  I didn't place.  I was shocked and rather disappointed.  It was the first time I didn't place in the Grand Prix.  Then they called the overall masters...and I placed third there (just behind Barni!)  It doesn't speak very highly of my character, but I was relieved.  And excited.  I won a bottle of wine too :)

This month also brought a fun reunion.  We were at Mount for a swim meet and went for a walk between dive events.  Bailey was going to text us if the next diving round started so when Mike's phone dinged, I asked if it was Bailey.  "No," he said, "It's Brian Matthews."  Brian asked if we were at the swim meet...because he was in the gym watching his daughter on the dance team.  We have not seen Brian in over 10 years.  What a great surprise.  Then this past Tuesday, we went back to Mount to the wrestling alumni night.  It was fun to see some people we knew, and talk to others who knew us.  Mike had a great time and Jacob finally got to meet Coach Monty.

January Totals:

142.61 miles for the month 
142.61 miles for the year 

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

231.57 miles in my Black Brooks Glycerin 15 

266.02 miles in my purple Brooks Glycerin 14 

127.42 miles in my HOT PINK Brooks Ghost 10 

Training for:  O24 in April

My WEIGHT: 142 ish.  I keep thinking I should do something about this...but I talk myself out of it because I remind myself that I'm upping my miles.  Then I got to DQ.  

Some interesting facts:

Longest run this month:   14.25 training run

What hurts?: nothing

Weekly mileage this month:  30.5 ~ 32.9 ~ 30.8 ~ 37.2

Favorite place to run this month: Hill Repeats at Geneva High School & the 1.5 mile warm up/cool down to Dodd's house.  Beautiful snowy day, good company, strong workout.  Delightful

Monthly mileage record: 216.66 September 2017!
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)

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.