For Everything, A Season

You know the e-mail that floats around spouting  on and on about how friends come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime?  I sat in the mall this morning with the newest addition to my "lifetime" of friends.  I say she is the newest of my "lifetime" friends, because I can simply tell that she (her name is really Michelle) is "gonna be around for a while, honey."  I just love her.

In the picture to the right she is the one in the black triathlon get up.  This was taken about two miles into the 26.2 mile run portion of Ironman Florida on November 7, 2009.  She was racing her first Ironman, and boy did she do a bang up job.

Anyway, back to friends who flit and float into our lives.....

I don't have a ton of "lifetime" girl friends.  But those that I do have, I cherish and hold near and dear to my heart.  These are my friends that no matter how long it has been since we last saw each other or spoke on the phone (or even "Facebooked" each other) we immediately fall back into that comfortable togetherness of being with a friend.  It is a blessing to know that on any given day, I could call one of them or show up in their driveway and I would be as welcome as if I had only been there the night before at the school play.

We are beginning the Advent season which, by divine planning, always includes Thanksgiving.  What a blessing to have friends of all kinds to share with me and our Lord the wonder, beauty, and majesty of Thanksgiving which then gives way to the glorious season of CHRISTmas.

Test Number 1 is a PASS!!!

When I originally "came out of the shoe closet" and told my little world that I was going to try "for Boston," I knew there would be hurdles and tests along the way.  The first "quiz" was the Red Cross Hurricane 5K in September (Labor Day).  I managed to pass that one okay.  But, I knew it was a very small step on the journey to 26.2 miles.  The first "real" test (not exam) was going to be the Boston (Georgia) Mini Marathon.  This small Georgia town hosts a half marathon race on the last Saturday of October every year.  Just for me to run near my birthday .... Ha!  Anyway, as in the last few years, I had planned to run this race.  It is scenic; well attended; fairly well supported; and not so far away from home that I can't get there, run, and get back all before lunch.

So, at 6:00 a.m. off I went to the little burg of Boston.  I arrived at "the" Presbyterian church where the out-of-towners park a bit before 7:00 a.m.; met up with my friend and training partner Cathy; and walked to the Community Center to retrieve my race number and shirt.  We walked back to the car(s), gathered our gear, and headed back to the center of town to be closer to the starting area.  The temperature was a bit warmer than I would have liked, but one of the few items I cannot control during a 13.1 mile race, therefore I vowed to just deal with it.  I pulled up my big girl panties and got ready to run.  After the invocation and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner the pack started out...  In the last couple of years the field has been between 200 and 250 runners.  I will be interested to see how many turned out this year for the race.  I know I finished 62nd over all because that is why my chute card said on it.  I don't know which place female I was or how I may (or may not) have placed in my age group, but I know I was less than the 15th female as Cathy said that was her.

My official finish time was 1:51:24 for what Boston measures at 13.1 miles (Garmin Forerunner 305 says 13.18 miles, but who is counting?).  That puts me at roughly 8:27 minutes/mile.   That makes my pace a full 20 seconds per mile FASTER than I need for a Boston Qualifying time in the 26.2 distance.  Not to mention, that is a personal best (a.k.a. PR) by more than 6 minutes (last year's time 1:57:10).  Hooray!

I did learn an important and very valuable lesson on Saturday:  I do not find it hard or difficult to run 13 miles.  I did find it challenging to run 13 miles in what is a FAST time FOR me.  Yikes!  I definitely needed the off day Sunday to rest and walk.  No strenuous anything was going on with these legs.  Today, however, is a different story.  I will be on the bike soon for about 35-45 miles depending on time.  Gotta love it!

Blessings!

Not So Random Thoughts

I spent last weekend serving on a team for the Big Bend Walk to Emmaus Community (Women's Walk #54), and it was fabulous.  As such, I was away from my computer, e-mail, cell phone, TV, radio, newspaper, and family for the duration of the walk.  It was GREAT!  The women who participated on this walk were truly blessed by their experiences.  I was culling through my e-mail, and the Runner's World Quotes of the Day had stacked up considerably.  There are three that I think quite worthy of archiving and sharing and I thought this would be a good forum in which to do that.

Without further adieu, here they are:

Friday, October 23:  Spirit has fifty times the strength and staying power of brawn and muscle.

- anonymous

Monday, October 26:  We all have dreams.  But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. - Jesse Ownes, American track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold-medalist

Tuesday, October 27:  You train best where you are the happiest. - Frank Shorter, American distance runner and Olympic gold-medalist

Looking Back ... and a Bit Ahead

Well, September was busy, busy, busy. And, October is looking to be more of the same. High school swim season began, peaked, and has started the slide into October and championship meets. Colin swam in Orlando again this year with our friends the Ayers bringing home several new best times: 200 Free, 400 IM, 100 Free, 200 Back, and the 50 Free. Aidan is making great strides in the third grade while loving his new teacher: Mrs. Jones; who, by the way, was Colin's third grade teacher as well. Mike continues to "catch" the bad guys and keep all of Tallahassee safe and on the straight and narrow. I love him for the job he does, and because he is him.

I ran, and rode, and ran, and rode, and ran some more including a 5K personal best time. September also say the accomplishment of reaching 3,000 training miles for the year (to date). Yes, you read correctly. I have run/ridden more than 3,000 miles so far this year. Woo-hoo! I'm loving it!

So now that we are "officially" into marathon season, here is the outlook - revised in some places - for the season. Taking note that things for me are ALWAYS subject to change.

October, 2009
10.3.2009 - Atlantic Coast Triathlon (70.3)
10.3.2009 - Pine Run 20K
10.17.2009 - Spaghetti 100 (ride)
10.17.2009 - Big Bend High School Swimming Championships
10.28.2009 - District High School Swimming Championships
10.31.2009 - Boston, GA Mini Marathon

November, 2009
11.5.2009 - Regional High School Swimming Championships
11.7.2009 - Ironman Florida (volunteering on the course - Way Cool!)
11.8.2009 - Kids Tri 2 (kids' sprint triathlon in Panama City)
11.13-15.2009 - State High School Swimming Championships
11.22.2009 - The Women's Half Marathon To Benefit LLS (St. Petersburg, FL) - will not be running this race, though it is for a fabulous cause, and I am going to be damn depressed about it - really wanted to run this. Oh, well.
11.26.2009 - Turkey Trot 15K

December, 2009
12.5.2009 - GWTC 10 Mile Challenge
12.4-6.2009 - Gator Swim Club Winter Invitational
12.20.2009 - Jacksonville Marathon? - I don't think so...
12.19.2009 - Jingle Bell Run with the boys

January, 2010
1.8.2010 - Colin's 15th Birthday - OMG, he can get his driving permit...
1.16.2010 - GWTC 15K/30K
1.29-31.2010 - ATAC Short Course Invitational

February, 2010
2.7.2010 - Tallahassee Marathon and Half - Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.18.2010 - Mom-in-luv (Nancy's) Birthday!
2.21.2010 - 26.2 with Donna (3rd Time's the Charm) or Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.25-28.2010 - Short Course Florida Swimming Senior Championships

March, 2010
3.6.2010 - TRBC 10K
3.7.2010 - Seaside Half Marathon
3.27.2010 - Springtime Tallahassee 10K

High School Swimming and Running a PR

In order to get a couple of thoughts "out there" this afternoon, I am combining topics. First and foremost, Colin swims in his first HIGH SCHOOL swim meet this evening. Yes, that rug rat has grown a bit and aged a few years to become a full fledged freshman in high school - at Lincoln High School to be exact. Tonight he swims two of his favorite events: the 200 yard Freestyle and the 500 yard Freestyle, along with at least one relay. We, being his parents, are anxious and excited to see what he has hiding under his swim cap for the other competitors tonight because we KNOW it isn't hair.

Correct, no hair. He shaved his head completely bald last night for the beginning of high school swim season. I will keep you posted on how long it lasts, and how long it takes to grow out, AND on whether or not he chooses to keep it this way. I am thinking it will grow out for winter training.

Then, lastly, I ran a little bitty (619 runners) 5K on Monday to benefit the Red Cross - yes, my father-in-law is just thrilled. I ran ... drum roll, please ... 3.1 miles in 24 minutes and 23 seconds. YAHOO! FYI, that averages out to 7:46 minutes per mile. WAAAAAYYYY faster than I have ever run anything longer than one mile in my life. I was so excited. I was fourth in the Masters Women division (40+) and would have been first in the 40-44 age division if awards had been given for that. The only pictures are horrible, but I have put one here just to show that I did indeed run the event.

By the way, have a great week!

A Garden in Full Bloom

I sat in the backyard of my friends The Crutchfields yesterday afternoon watching countless children, teenagers, and adults have an absolutely fabulous day of "summer time" fun. It wasn't anyone's birthday. There wasn't a wedding going on; nor was this a back-to-school celebration. All of these people had gathered to celebrate everything good about being young, having friends and family, and enjoying life. It was a perfect day: clear skies, gentle breeze, moderate temperatures, a grill, car loads of coolers, and more food than necessary. Life, my friends, is truly a gift. It can be snatched away from you without warning and in the mere blink of an eye. I kid you not.

It has been a year since we, and I say this from the heart when I say we, lost Mac. It was the worst of all scenarios and conditions. Nothing positive can come of rehashing what really happened. Nothing good can come of dwelling on the moment, the hour, the day, the weekend. Let it suffice to simply say, that Mac is gone. The lucky ones among us are granted a glimpse of him every now and then in our mortal and every day lives. I swear I saw him just the other day (as an egret if you recall). Coach Terry has seen Mac as an Eagle. Jean and I agree, and anyone who listened and watched yesterday will have no choice but to also agree, that Mac was there with all his friends. I could hear it in the laughter and see it on every face in the bright eyes, and generous smiles. No one spoke a harsh word. There was no arguing, no fighting, no "Girl Drama" and calm and peace prevailed as the dominant attitude. Savannah seemed more like herself than I had seen in a long time. Charlie, bless the strong and silent ones, appeared to be comfortable with the gathering and the attention showered upon him and his family. Maggie was, well... Maggie was in her element. The kids all love her. There was not a child present who didn't feel as if they were Maggie's favorite. She just exudes that emotion onto them. They calm down; they begin to glow; they love her and she them.

Maggie and Charlie have taught me a great deal this past year. How I should be stronger in my faith. Without their faith and God, they would have been lost and swallowed before the first 24 hours had even passed. They, Maggie especially, have taught me how to better embrace each moment and cherish it. You truly never know when the last time will be that you lay eyes on your child. I believe as a part of that lesson God gave me a summer of unemployment to spend with my boys. I may never again have time with them like I did this summer. It was wonderful. I would not trade it for the most lucrative job on the planet. I learned that it's okay to not answer a phone call or an e-mail until you are ready and can handle the response. But, I also learned not to stop calling or texting or e-mailing just because there has been no response. Sometimes the message just needs to get there, now answer required. Yes, I have learned a lot. I can only hope that it makes their loss a bit easier to know that someone outside the immediate took something positive away from the tragedy - if that could be...

Last year, a friend of Maggie's told her that her job was not over. She had been given a garden to tend, not just two plants. Her job was now to tend her garden (of children) not just the flowers of her two children. Her garden was in full bloom yesterday. Not one of those flowers will ever forget yesterday.

Track Flats, Pink Hats, and Blueberry Pancakes

So, just exactly what do track flats, blueberry pancakes, and pink hats have in common? Well, they are all important pieces of a successful Breakfast on the Track in Tallahassee, Florida, in August.

Every August, just before school begins, the Gulf Winds Track Club hosts a unique event which is attended by all walks of life - literally. The Breakfast on the Track event is a one mile run. That's it. One mile. "Once" per person. For time and ranking. Last year Colin, Aidan, and I all ran this for the first time. This year Aidan passed the run up for the opportunity to go fishing with Mike while Colin and I sweat the morning away waiting for our respective heats. It was a great morning for everyone, runners and fishers alike.

The morning started out cool and a bit breezy, but not cold. Overcast skies made the humidity a bit more bearable than normal for mid-August. Colin and I arrived at Maclay School about 7:15 a.m. turned in our registration forms; received our embroidered aprons (in lieu of t-shirts); signed in for the appropriate heat (based on predicted finish time); and waited for our friends to arrive. Maggie and Savannah, her daughter, and Alex - a swim buddy of Colin's - arrived very soon after that. We all ran our warm-up laps and sat back to wait it out until our heat(s) were called. Colin was signed into Heat 4: predicted finish times of 6:05 - 6:35; I was signed into Heat 6: 7:00 - 7:25; while Maggie, Savannah, and Alex had all signed into Heat 8: 9 minute miles. These choices were very reasonable based on last year's times (Colin - 6:21, Me - 7:20) and with our training during the year we were curious to see where we would fall.

Colin ran a 5:50, placing 10th in his age group (10-14) for which he claims he has a "teeny tiny trophy" in his swim locker, and I turned in a 7:00 which was fast enough to put me 2nd in my age group (40-44) and earn a PINK running hat. Placing at this event is a big deal as it earns you Grand Prix points for the year, with 10th place and under earn the highest number overall. Yippee for us! Not to mention, those times were great improvements over the times run in 2008.

Below Left: Colin as he screams into the finish area.
Below Right: Me, as I huff and puff to pass the girls that Colin has "instructed" me from his position in the infield: "Pass them! Mom, pass them now!"

Maggie turned in a PR Mile time at 8:05 and Savannah finished her first timed mile in 9:17! Outstanding on all fronts. Alex won the "Chef of the Event" award for running his mile in his apron and long, long shorts. He cracks me up, that kid. Once we had all five run our heats it was time for watermelon and pancakes. After all, this was the Breakfast on the Track event - it includes home made pancakes: buttermilk and blueberry, and lots of Georgia watermelon. Yummmmmmmmy!

Below: Savannah Crutchfield (center) with her two "adopted big brothers" Alex Dehner and Colin Abbey as she comes into the finish area of her mile run.

Above: Me and Maggie Crutchfield (Savannah's mom) as we approach the finish of Maggie's mile run. She PR'd by the way.

After the run, we all came back to our house and the kids took off on their road bikes for a short neighborhood jaunt. Not really like a Triathlon transition, but still a brick work out for the day. It was fabulous without a doubt; hands down. Mike and Aidan did have a great time out on the water even though they caught nothing of note. It would not have mattered anyway if they did, they simply enjoy being out there on the balmy briny sea.