Grin and "Bear" it: My First 100

When I first heard about the sport of ultra running, I thought it was a joke. I had just started running marathons, and I thought 26.2 miles was the ultimate distance. I didn't realize anything existed beyond that. 

One day I was visiting my parents and commented on a shirt my dad was wearing. It had the Bear 100 logo on the front. I asked him about it. His reply? "Oh, it's a crazy 100 mile race through the mountains that I help out with Ham Radios."

Our conversation went something like this...

Me: so it's a bike race?

Dad: no. It's a foot race. 

Me: oh, so it's a relay?

Dad: no. 

Me: (silence, followed by my jaw dropping) Oh. 

I couldn't understand how someone could run that far, let alone want to. 

Fast forward a few years. My marathon times were getting faster and faster. I could finally run a marathon under 4 hours. I wanted to keep challenging myself, but I wasn't sure I could go any faster. Maybe I should try going farther instead? My thoughts turned to my dad's t-shirt. One hundred miles still seemed way too crazy, but I took some wise advice and signed up for the Antelope Island 50k in 2013. I figured it would give me a taste of ultra running to see how I liked it. The day of the race was my first time on a trail. I absolutely fell in love with it and finished in a respectable 5:49. 

So I proved I could run 50k. The next question was whether or not I could run 50 miles. I signed up for the 50 mile Buffalo Run (also on Antelope Island) in early 2014.  The result: I finished in 10:05 and enjoyed every minute. 

So what was next? My thoughts turned again to my dad's shirt. Could I possibly run that far? I finally decided that the only way to find out was to try. So I set my sights on the 100 mile distance... But not just any 100. It had to be The Bear. 

I registered for the event and began a long summer of what I thought was adequate training. I also registered for El Vaquero Loco (50k) as I thought it would be a good training event in the mountains. The day of El Vaquero Loco finally came. I had never seen such a beautiful course...but it kicked my tail. It took me nearly 9 hours to complete it. I was frustrated. How could I handle 100 miles in the mountains if a 50k beat me up so badly? After speaking with some friends, I came up with a more aggressive training plan. I had 6 weeks to train and 1 week to taper. So, I hit it hard for 6 weeks and hoped it was enough. 

The closer the Bear got, the more nervous I became. I had no pacers, no crew, and didn't know how I was going to pull it off in my own. Then, angels were sent to my rescue. Two friends contacted me and offered to pace me. Larry Adams and Missy Berkel. Not only that, Missy also said she would bring Ann Hilton Stockham along to help pace. I was overwhelmed with gratitude, and my anxiety began to fade. 

Race weekend approached. I attended the pre-race briefing, grabbed a pizza in Logan, then spent the night at my parents house. I woke up feeling unusually calm and ready to get to work. 

The race kicked off promptly at 6:00 a.m.  I kicked on my headlamp and headed out into the darkness. As the mass moved down the street, around the corner, and up the hill, I hung back a bit so I wouldn't get caught too far up the Congo line in a pace I couldn't sustain when we hit the single track up the mountain. 

As the miles clicked off and the first light of morning came, we were treated with beautiful views of the valley below. By the time I made it to the ridge, it brought a few tears to my eyes. I was so thankful for the health and strength I had that allowed me to experience the beautiful mountains this way. 

After playing leapfrog with a guy in a kilt for awhile, I made it to the first aid station at mile 10.5 where I was rewarded with snacks and beverages. After a brief 30 second stop, I was back on the trail again, anxious to cover the next section of the course which I knew would include several miles of downhill through beautiful trees. It did not disappoint. The next section flew by, and before I knew it I had arrived at the Leatham Hollow aid station at mile 19.6. 

By this point, it was getting quite warm. I took a minute to fetch the drop bag I had waiting for me there and drenched myself in sunscreen. Then I topped off my water in my pack, pulled out a ziplock bag, and filled it with snacks from the main aid station table (pumpkin chocolate chip bread, PB&J sandwich, chips, grapes, etc). I checked out of the aid station and followed the dirt road up the canyon to the next aid station 3 miles away. I used the uphill sections to hike and eat my snacks and ran the downhill and the flats. I arrived at the next stop, Richards Hollow, feeling good but hot. A volunteer there gave me a wet wipe to clean the salty sweat off my face and then handed me more sunscreen. It felt so good to have a clean face again. 

The next section of the course was a little over 7 miles. I continued my strategy of eating snacks while hiking uphill and then running the descents, making sure to stay hydrated in the heat. When I arrived at the Cowley Canyon aid station about mile 30, a volunteer topped off my water with ice. It was the best thing ever. I filled my snack bag again and headed out again gulping that cold water. 

The next aid station was Right Hand Fork at mile 36.9, where I looked forward to seeing my crew for the first time. About halfway through this section, the sun finally went behind a cloud. It felt so good not having that hot sun beating down on me that I suddenly found my second wind. I was running, passing people, and generally just enjoying myself. I was greeted at the next stop to cheers from my crew. It was so good to see them. While I went to the bathroom, Missy and Ann topped off my water with ice again and filled my sandwich bag with more snacks. Then they sent me on my way, reminding me to stay hydrated and keep eating. 

I really don't remember much about the next section. I was still on a high from seeing my crew and feeling their energy. When I arrived at the next aid station at mile 45.2, I couldn't believe how good I felt. Missy and Ann were there waiting for me, and Missy was ready to start pacing me. They fetched my drop bag with my night gear and worked on restocking my pack while I changed into a long sleeved shirt. I was not ready to put on any if my other warm gear yet, so Ann packed it up to transport it to the next aid station at Tony Grove. I grabbed my headlamp. Then as we were getting ready to leave, the winds hit, and it started to sprinkle. We threw on our ponchos/garbage sacks and thought we would get drenched, but the rain stopped after about 2 minutes. So we took off our ponchos and continued in our way. 

It was fantastic having Missy accompany me for the next two sections of the course. Although we went through some tough climbs, I barely noticed it as we moved along, chatting, burping, and giggling. Upon arrival at Tony Grove, Missy and Ann went to work organizing my gear while I went to the bathroom. Then they sat me down in a chair and had me change my socks while several others shielded me with a blanket while I took of my running skirt and wiggled into some tights. After a cup of broth and a turkey sandwich, we were back on the trail again. 

The next section from mile 51.8 to 61.5 was fairly uneventful. I began to feel a little sleepy, so Missy cracked open the can of Coke she was carrying and we both took several swallows. It provided a much needed pick-me-up, and after a quick stop in the bushes to go potty and apply some Vaseline to a chaffed bum, we bounced down the trail again giggling and burping. 

When we arrived at Franklin Trailhead at mile 61.5, Ann was waiting. I had kicked my ankle several times and had developed a tiny sore spot, so Missy sat me down in a chair and taped up my ankle while Ann and others fetched food for me. It was like being part of a Nascar pit crew. Then I said goodbye to Missy and took off down the trail with Ann. 

It was during this next section that the rain/mudfest began. About halfway to Logan River at mile 68.8 that the heavens unleashed and the rain started pouring down. Luckily we got our ponchos on just in time. Unfortunately, it really slowed our pace having to deal with the rain and mud. We arrived at the next aid station and took shelter for a few minutes while I enjoyed more broth and a grilled cheese sandwich. At this point, I was still pretty warm and was wearing only tights, a long sleeved shirt, and a plastic poncho. 

We headed back out into the storm and made our way to the next aid station at Beaver Lodge, mile 75.9. I seriously could not believe how good I felt. We arrived shortly after 5:00 a.m. and we're welcomed with cheers from our crew and friends. My next pacer, Larry Adams was waiting with a smile and lots of energy. My crew sat me down and removed my shoes and socks to check for damage. We found a blister on my toe. So Missy went to work cleaning up the blister while Larry washed and dried my feet and Ann fetched more broth and snacks. In no time, I was out the door again. 

Up until this point, I was still pretty warm, and knowing that dawn was coming shortly, I opted not to take a jacket or gloves, as I had not used them all night. (In hindsight, that was a mistake. The constant rain eventually cooled my body, and I got cold.) So far the rain and mud were little more than an annoyance. I had no idea it would get worse...much worse. 

Larry was a great pacer. We're made fantastic time over the next few miles. Then the mud got bad. Really, really bad. It was so ridiculously bad that you just had to laugh it off so you wouldn't get frustrated. By the time we reached the final aid station at mile 92.5, I was really wishing I had not left my gloves and jacket with my crew. I knew I needed to warm my body, so I sat down for a minute by a heater and asked a volunteer if they had a spare garbage sack I could have to wear as an extra layer. They fetched one for me and proceeded to cut a hole in it for my head. As I headed back out in the trail, I could tell it helped immensely. 

Unfortunately the mud was unforgiving and slowed my pace down to a literal crawl. I fell more times than I could count that last stretch as I walked/slid nearly the rest of the way to the finish. 

Yes, I eventually made it to the finish line (a few hours later than I originally thought), but I was greeted with cheers from family and friends. The best feeling ever! Overall, the Bear 100 was a great experience, and I learned a lot about myself. 

#1.  I can do hard things. 

#2.  Having a good attitude will get you through some really tough times.

Many, many, many thanks to my wonderful team and to my family and friends supporting me from home. I could not have done this without you!

 

El Vaquero Loco: A Family Affair

When I first signed up for El Vaquero Loco, I did so for two reasons:
1.  The pictures of the course were stunning.
2.  I figured it would be good training for the Bear 100, which I plan to run in September

The fact that they offered hoodies instead of t-shirts and fed you burgers and huckleberry soda at the finish line were also selling points.  The website specifically said this was a "difficult wilderness race", but I didn't let that scare me away.

We originally planned to leave the kids with Grandma and Grandpa for the night.  As the race approached and we realized it wouldn't be an option, we made plans to take them with us and camp at the starting line at Cottonwood Lake.

The day before the race, we loaded up the plane and flew the quick hour to Afton, Wyoming, where we had a rental car waiting for us.  We unloaded the plane, loaded the car, and drove to the campground about 13 miles away.  After a quick lunch, we set up camp and decided to go for a drive to explore the area.  We drove back to Afton and up a different canyon, where we parked to do a short hike to Intermittent Springs.  The kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the water as we walked along.  It was a great afternoon.

When we finished the hike, we drove back into town and feasted on pizza and breadsticks at Pizza Hut.  Tyler drank two full glasses of pink lemonade, and I began to worry that his diaper would need to be changed before we got back to camp. (I forgot to grab one from the tent before we left.)  We finished dinner and headed to the county fair two blocks away so the kids could experience their first carnival.

Adam had big plans to ride the adult rides with Cory, but we wisely chose to start him off on a kiddie roller coaster with Sadie.  One lap around the circle, and the operator stopped the ride because Adam's eyes were as big as saucers, and he didn't appear to be enjoying himself.  Sadie finished the ride without him.  After that, the only thing he rode was the carousel.  Tyler, on the other hand, fell in love with the bumblebee ride and couldn't get enough of it.  

After spending all our ride tickets, we grabbed a sack of cotton candy and headed for the car with a storm approaching.  As we reached the car, Cory put his hand in his pocket to get the keys and discovered three more tickets.  As we stood there deciding what to do with them, I looked over at Tyler and could see his very full diaper dripping on the asphalt.  I pulled his shorts down, removed the diaper, and we headed to the restroom to wipe his legs off while Cory looked around to see what we could spend those last three tickets on.  Luckily Tyler's shorts were dry.  So, I cleaned his legs up and put the shorts back on without a diaper, and we went to find Cory.  He decided to let Tyler spend the last three tickets on the bumblebee ride.  So a very excited little boy climbed into a bee one last time. After a quick stop at the grocery store, we headed back to camp, where I strapped a diaper on my little boy, and everyone got ready for bed.

Bright and early the next morning, I quietly got ready and ate my breakfast before kissing Cory goodbye and walking to the starting line.  At 6:00 a.m. we were off.  It was light enough to see where we were going, but still dark enough to be a little chilly at the start.  When I came to the first stream crossing about a mile into the race, I carefully stepped on the rocks and I crossed in order to keep my feet out of the icy water.  As I stepped on the last rock, however, my foot slipped just enough to dip my foot partially into the water.  So much for keeping my feet dry....  Another mile or so into the race, I could hear sheep up on the hills to our left.  I looked up and could see a huge herd of sheep with their shepherds and dogs.  It was a pretty cool sight.  Another mile or two, and we hit our first summit around 10,000 feet.  I stopped to take my outer shirt off and enjoy the view.  Absolutely stunning.

As the race progressed, I chatted with other runners along the way and stopped occasionally to take pictures.  The wildflowers were the prettiest I had ever seen, and I was really enjoying myself.  Before I knew it, I was already approaching Corral Creek Lake at mile 7.5.  After a very nasty climb out of the basin the lake sits in back up to 10,000 feet, I began the 8 mile descent to the turn around point at mile 16 (elevation 6,800ish feet).  I couldn't help but think of what a difficult climb it would be on the return trip, but in the meantime, I enjoyed the spectacular views.

As I approached the turnaround point, a fellow runner told me to check out the waterfall on my left.  I turned the corner and looked across the canyon, I suddenly knew exactly where I was.  It was the same waterfall I had hiked to the previous day, only now I was seeing it from the opposite side of the canyon and much higher up.  I continued to follow the trail to the aid station, which then began to drop....right into the parking lot I had parked at the previous day.  Tables were set up with all kinds of goodies.  PB&J sandwiches, Nutella rollups, pumpkin pie, grapes, watermelon, chips, cookies, candy, etc.  I refilled my hydration vest, grabbed a bite to eat, and headed back out on the trail.

The return trip was not easy.  In fact, it was pretty dang tough.  I looked forward to each aid station, where I thanked the volunteers profusely for being there, as they had to backpack or horseback all the supplies in and spend the night in the rain.  I even began to look forward to the stream crossings, where I would wade across, soaking my feet and dipping my hat in the water before putting it back on.  Despite the tough climbs and the muddy spots, my legs held up pretty well until the final 3-4 mile descent, where they really began to feel fatigued.  At last, I could see the finish line, and I could hear my little family cheering for me.  What a good feeling.

Let me just say, the website was not kidding. This really was a difficult wilderness race.  I didn't complete it as fast as I would have liked, but I did finish. Out of 104 finishers, I placed 69th. (Yes, a handful of people dropped out.) And out of 27 female finishers, I placed 15th.

Me, 3 kids, and a dog

I survived the first week of summer vacation! It wasn't easy. It was full of baseball games, a picnic, a trip to the water park, play dates, and more. It was downright chaotic at times, but I made it through with most of my sanity intact. And I did it despite sending Cory back to work and helping Adam watch the neighbor's dog while they were on vacation.

Yes, we have become official dog watchers. When the neighbors approached Adam about it, they said they would pay him $2 a day to do the following:

1. Go over to their house in the morning and let the dog out of the laundry room where she sleeps. 

2. Water the plants on the front porch. 

3.  Go over at night and put the dog in the laundry room to sleep. 

4. (Optional) take the dog for a walk. 

It all sounded so simple. I figured Adam could handle it with my help. So we agreed. It has now been 72 hours since we started. Adam, Sadie, and Tyler are enjoying the dog experience immensely, but I am worn out. The simple tasks we were given are not so simple with three kids in tow. I guess you could say I'm in no hurry to get a dog of our own. 

As instructed, we have walked across the street every morning to let Maggie out of her room. The kids squeal with delight as the dog jumps all over them. With the task complete, I am ready to head home, but the kids follow the dog into the backyard and start playing fetch. Poor Maggie is so confused with three kids running all over the yard, each throwing a different doggie toy. She doesn't know which toy to chase. So instead of coming right home, I spend part of my morning impatiently watching the chaos in the neighbor's backyard. When I am finally able to pull the kids away, we shut the fence and walk out front for Adam to water the flowers before we leave. 

Now, technically we are done with dog responsibilities until bedtime, but on the first day, we ended up back at the neighbors in the afternoon to play fetch. Then we went back again after dinner to take the little dog for a walk (which was quite the ordeal with three kids). Picture Adam holding the leash, Tyler running after him, and Sadie all over the place on her bike getting tangled up in the leash as the dog stopped on every other lawn to sniff and paw the grass. Let's just say that first day wore me out. After we had story time, put the dog and the kids to bed, I was ready to collapse. 

Day number two was easier. We cut out the afternoon game of fetch, but the evening walk was still a bit of a circus.

Day number three was just plain busy. Between the morning trip to the neighbor's, my workout, and an afternoon play date at our house. We were swamped. When the parents came to pick up the friend, they stayed awhile to chat, so we were late having dinner, late for the evening dog walk/game of fetch, and late for the Saturday night bath. As I herded the kids in the house for bath time, the phone rang. So as I'm trying to talk on the phone and get bath water going, kids are stripping off clothes. Then Tyler proceeds to pee all over the floor. I managed to get the mess cleaned up and the kids bathed before hurrying downstairs to fix milk before storytime. 

The evening is finally winding down. All three kids and the dog are now in bed. I guess I'm not the only one who's had a big week. Two kids fell asleep during storytime...

Well, by this time tomorrow, the neighbors will be home, and our dog watching job will be over. I'm glad the kids had the experience of taking care of a pet, but I'm ready to have one less thing on my plate. If the rest of my summer is as busy as this week has been, I may have to start drinking caffeinated soda. :)

Ogden Marathon Recap

This past weekend, I ran the Ogden Marathon for the third time. I just love that course. It is such a beautiful canyon. I won't bore you with every little detail of the race, but here is a brief recap. 

Leading up to the race, I wasn't sure how my body would perform.  For several weeks, I had been doing one long run per week (15-22 miles long), maybe a couple of short runs, and a lot of elliptical workouts.  I felt pretty confident I could handle the distance since it had only been 2 months since my 50-mile ultra, but I was nervous about the speed.  I hadn't been doing speed workouts like I had before my previous marathon.  On top of that, the weather forecast the day of the race was expected to be hot, which isn't great news for me.  I do better in cooler temperatures.  I decided to just do my best and if the heat got to me, I would slow down.

The morning of the race, I woke up at 3:45, got ready, and headed to downtown Ogden with my neighbor to catch the bus to the starting line.  The next few hours were pretty uneventful.  We arrived at the start, got in line for the porta potties, and stood by the fires to keep warm while we ate breakfast.  After the national anthem, I shed my sweat pants and jacket and said wished my neighbor good luck.  Then I lined up with the runners expecting to finish in approximately 4 hours.

The first few miles passed quickly.  I shed my arm warmers at mile 2, and by mile 4 I was already starting to sweat.  It was just about then, that I heard the guy next to me say my name.  I looked over and saw a friend of mine that lives in my neighborhood.  He is an avid runner and has done several 100 mile races.  I expected him to be way ahead of me, so I was thrilled to see that I was keeping up with him.  We chatted for a few minutes, then I pulled ahead...fully expecting to see him around mile 20 or so when I was getting tired and he would be just warming up.  :)

With each aid station that passed, I found myself in a new group of runners.  While others around me stopped for drinks, I was able to keep running thanks to the bottles I had filled on my running belt.  When I hit the halfway mark at 1:50:35, I knew I had a good shot at coming in under 4 hours.  In the previous marathon I ran, I hit the halfway mark at 1:51, and the rest of the race was somewhat flat.  Since I still had the canyon to run through, which was downhill, I knew it would help me keep my speed up.  The only problem was that I was starting to feel some chaffing between my legs.  At mile 15, I finally pulled over long enough to smear Vaseline between my legs to keep them from chaffing more.  A few miles later, I heard an airplane and looked up.  It was Cory and kids going for a ride.  They were flying over the course watching the race. 

As the second half of the marathon progressed, it started getting HOT outside.  I started grabbing drinks at some of the aid stations to keep me hydrated, since the fluids in my bottles were getting low. With only a few miles to go.  I knew for certain I would beat my previous time.  I crossed the finish line at 3:54:42.  After receiving my medal and having my picture taken, I found some shade where I could call Cory and eat a Creamie while watching others cross the finish line.  The friend that I passed around mile 4 came in 30 minutes behind me, while my neighbor came in 45 minutes behind me.

So, in case you're wondering, here are my stats from the race:

I finished 648 out of 2540 overall runners.  I know it doesn't sound all that impressive, but it's the top 25%.
I finished 217 out 1245 female runners.  The sounds slightly more impressive.  It's the top 17%.
Lastly, I finished 68 out of 327 in my division.  The is the top 21%.

So here I am 3 days post marathon.  My legs are recovering and I can finally go up and down stairs again without difficulty.  I was feeling pretty good about myself until I heard that my ultra friend that finished 30 minutes behind me has already logged 34 miles the past three days.  I haven't even attempted running yet.  I guess I have some work to do before I will be ready to run 100 milers like him.  The Bear 100 is only 4 months away, so I better training.

General Conference at the Wolf House

General Conference at the Wolf House is usually a joke.  In the past, I have tried to sit on the couch and listen while kids run in and out of the room screaming.  Obviously I wouldn't get much out of it.  While one child would yell at me to get them a drink, another child would cry over being hit or kicked.  Between breaking up fights and changing diapers, I would get pulled in various directions all over the house and essentially miss most of conference.  This time, however, I was determined to make a change, and I think I may have found the secret to success.  Bribery.

I took a last minute trip to the Dollar Store on Saturday afternoon and spent a few dollars on supplies.  Then, I came home and assembled five "speaker" bags, which I labeled with numbers.  Inside each bag, I placed three items (one for each child).

When it was time for conference to start this morning, I explained to the kids what the bags were for.  As speaker #1 started their talk, I instructed one of the kids to grab the bag with #1 labeled on it.  Inside the bag was a little surprise to keep them busy and quiet for a few minutes.  Then, when speaker #2 got up, we opened the second bag.  And so on.

Here's what I put in the bags...
1.  fruit snacks
2.  a new puzzle for each child
3.  a small treat
4.  playdough (different color for each child)
5.  money (a quarter for each child)

The kids were so excited about opening each bag that they were actually pretty good between bag openings. I was able to listen to most of the Sunday morning session.  I did miss one speaker while helping each child with parts of their puzzle, but overall I am thrilled with how it went.  I turned a dreaded event in our house to something more enjoyable for everyone, and I think the kids will actually look forward to conference in the fall.  Their only complaint was that I didn't quite have enough bags to last the whole session.  :)

Buffalo Run 50-mile Recap

Famous poet T.S. Eliot once wrote, "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."

As I prepared to run the longest race of my life, I did not believe it was too far for me. Never did I question whether or not I would be able to finish. As the day drew closer, however, the odds started to stack up against me. 

Two days before the race, my sinuses started draining. I started pounding vitamins and fluids into my system, and I crossed my fingers that it wouldn't keep me from the starting line. For two days I stressed over it, but the morning of the race I woke up feeling somewhat normal. I got ready, ate breakfast, and headed to the starting line. Unfortunately, I underestimated how long it would take me to get there, and I nearly missed the start of the race. I arrived with 4 minutes to spare! As I stood at the starting line with the other runners, I turned on my GPS watch and waited for the satellites to acquire. As the race director signaled the start of the race, the runners took off and left me still standing there waiting for my watch to aquire. When it finally did, I immediately took off and tried to catch up with the pack. I knew I couldn't take off to fast, or I would wear myself out, but slowly I began to pass runner after runner as we climbed the hill. 

Approximately 4 to 4.5 miles into the race I looked down at my watch with my headlamp to check my average pace and realized that in all the frenzy I forgot to push the start button! Oh well, nothing I could so about it now. I hurried and pushed the start button to track my distance and pace from that point forward. 

As I reached the Elephant Head aid station at mile 5.5, I stopped to locate my drop bag that was to be waiting for me there. I wanted to put my outer jacket and head lamp in the bag so that I wouldn't be carrying them, but I was surprised to find that my drop bag was not there. I must have arrived to late to have it transported. Oh well. Nothing I could so about it now. I tied the jacket around my waist and resumed the course. Five minutes later, I tripped on a rock and fell hard on the trail, bruising my shoulder, my knee, and my pride. Come on! Can't I catch a break? I was beginning to wonder if my bad luck would continue the rest of the race, but fortunately thing started to turn around. 

I finished the first half of the race much faster than I anticipated, in spite of my deliberate efforts not to push myself to hard and my nose running like crazy. The second half of the course took us back past the starting line before continuing on the east side if the island. Lucky for me, I ran right past my car, so I stopped long enough to toss the jacket and headlamp in the car and continued on. 

As the miles continued to click off, I did some quick calculations in my head and began to get a little concerned that I would make it to the ranch before Cory arrived to pace me the last 17 miles. Sure enough, I got to the aid station early and he was nowhere to be found. I took a few minutes to go to the bathroom and grab a quesadilla. Then, while looking around one final time before heading back on the trail, I finally spot Cory.  Just think, if I hadn't of started the race a minute late and hadn't of fallen down, I may have completely missed him. 

Anyway, for the next 17 miles, he was great company. We talked, ran, and enjoyed the time together. The last mile of the race, when I was getting tired and may have slowed down on my own, his encouragement kept me going to the end. We crossed the finish line with cheers and congratulations from complete strangers and friends. 

My final time was 10 hours, 5 minutes, and 34 seconds. It was good enough to make the top half of all competitors, 7th place in my age group, and 11th for overall females. I couldn't be more pleased. 

So now I have proven that I can run 50 miles. The only question that remains is whether or not I can go even farther.  I guess the only way to find out is to try!

Outsmarting a 2-year-old

Kids these days are smart. Real smart. So smart, in fact, that in recent years NBC broadcast a game show called "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. "

In this game, a single contestant attempted to answer ten questions (plus a final bonus question). Questions were taken from elementary school textbooks, two from each grade level from first to fifth. Each correct answer increased the amount of money the player won, with a maximum cash prize of $1,000,000. Along the way, the player could be assisted by a "classmate", one of five school-age cast members, in answering the questions. Notably, upon getting an answer incorrect or deciding to prematurely end the game, the contestant must state that he or she is "not smarter than a 5th grader."

This is how I have been feeling lately, except it is a 2-year-old I have been up against, and sadly, the 2-year-old has been winning. However, yesterday I had a moment of brilliance which turned the game in my favor. Before I tell you about it, let me begin with some background. 

After Tyler turned 2, I decided it was time to make some changes in his room. I got rid of his crib and changing table, put in a toddler bed, painted the walls, and installed shutters to transform the space to a cute little boy room. I've been very pleased with the results. 

See before. 

See after. 

Although his room turned out great, I've been dealing with a hurdle ever since. Now that Tyler can get out of bed himself, he does. Frequently. Sometimes several times a night. For awhile I tried locking his door. That worked pretty well, until he learned how to unlock it. Then my troubles began again. Finally after weeks of not sleeping much, I had a moment of clarity. I drove straight to Lowe's and bought a new door knob that would be hard for him to open. 

I installed the new door knob yesterday, and I've got to say that last night was the best nights sleep I've had in a long time. I slept so well that it didn't even bother me when Tyler gave me a dirty look this morning when he woke up.

I should be ashamed of myself for being so proud that I outsmarted my toddler, but I'm not. :)

Wolf family end of year review

As 2013 comes to an end, I can't help but look back on what a great year it has been. Each member of our family has had a memorable year in one way or another. Here is a short recap...

Tyler achieved big boy status when he turned 2 in October. His car seat got turned around, his crib went away, a toddler bed appeared, and he started drinking chocolate milk instead of plain milk. In the eyes if a 2-year-old, I'm sure it has been a pretty awesome year. 

The highlight of Miss Sadie's year has been starting preschool. She LOVES school and is learning so much, like what intestines are and how to spell yellow. I am amazed at everything she knows. 

Adam started first grade in the fall and spends all day at school now. He is at the top of his class in reading and math, and I couldn't be more proud. If I asked him what the highlight of his year was, I'm sure school wouldn't be at the top, but it is pretty noteworthy to me. He has come a long way. 

Cory started the year off by buying an airplane, and he has had a permanent smile on his face ever since. Need I say more?

As for me, I have enjoyed health and happiness and have been able to watch my family learn and grow. As icing on the cake, I accomplished some personal goals along the way...running a marathon in under 4 hours, running my first ultra, and running the biggest marathon in the world. And although the daily routine hasn't always been easy and I've had plenty of challenges, tantrums, and fights to break up along the way, I will look back on the year with many fond memories.

NYC Marathon: Running with a rabbi and a blind woman

Yes, I recently ran with a rabbi and a blind woman.  But first, let me give a little background...

In 2012, I registered for the NYC Marathon lottery.  When the lottery closed, I learned that I had not been selected to participate.  When expressing my disappointment to a friend, she told me of a charity that helps disabled athletes run the marathon.  The charity uses "guides" to help the athlete complete the race, and they pay the costly entrance fee.  I was intrigued.  I immediately looked into it.  Unfortunately, I had missed the cutoff for the upcoming marathon.

Fast forward to August 2013... On a whim, I decided to submit an application to work as a guide for the 2013 NYC Marathon.  Much to my surprise, I was contacted a few weeks later with an invitation.  I was assigned to help a blind woman from New Zealand run her first marathon.  I learned I would be part of a small team assisting her.  Over the next few weeks, I corresponded with the blind athlete as well as the other members of our team, one of which I found out was a Jewish rabbi.  In the meantime, Cory started feeling left out and worked his connections with JetBlue to get a slot running with the FDNY.

A few days before the race we learned that due to enhanced security at the starting line, my entire team would not be able to start the race together.  Two of us would have to position ourselves a few miles into the race and jump in when our athlete came by.  Those two people turned out to be me and the rabbi.

On November 1, we dropped the kids off with Grandma and Grandpa and hopped on a red-eye flight to New York City.  We landed about 5:15 a.m. on Saturday morning and began our whirlwind tour of the city.  After spending the morning sightseeing, we dropped off our backpacks at the hotel and headed to the convention center to pick up our race packets.  When we got there, I found myself in the longest line I had ever seen.  It stretched through the convention center, out the door, down the street, around the corner, and down the next street before doubling back and ending back inside the convention center.  Fortunately, it moved quickly.  We picked up our stuff, browsed the expo, and left to eat lunch and catch a matinee of Wicked.  After the show (which we totally enjoyed), we headed to the hotel and ordered pizza for dinner.  We called the kids, watched a little TV, and went to bed early. 

The next morning, we dressed quickly, checked out of our hotel, and headed to the Park Central Hotel to store our bags with the FDNY group.  Then, Cory hopped on a bus with the FDNY runners and headed to the starting line while I waited to meet up with my new rabbi friend to travel to mile 4 together.  The time passed quickly, and it wasn't long before Rabbi Michael showed up.  He was super nice, and we got along splendidly.  We made our way to mile 4 and started watching for our team to come through.  As I waited, I ate a banana and looked for a garbage to throw my banana peel in. I spotted a 50 gallon barrel and almost tossed it in...until I realized it was full of Gatorade waiting to be put in cups (see below).

We didn't wait long before the professional runners passed our checkpoint.  They were going FAST!  When the first wave of general runners started coming through, Michael held up a sign he made to help the team spot us (see below).

I was glad we had it.  When it started getting busy, it was a little stressful trying to spot them in the mass of people (see below).

Luckily, we found our runner.  We configured ourselves in a diamond type shape.  One person ran in front and acted as a snowplow.  Vinnie ran in the middle with her husband on her left holding a tether.  I ran on her right for most of the race (slightly behind her to help protect her from getting pushed from behind), and Rabbi Michael floated around as needed.  Here are a few pictures...

 

 

The miles passed quickly.  Between the spectators cheering and the live bands playing throughout the course, it was more of a 26 mile party than a marathon.  We were having so much fun, and Vinnie was doing great.  At the halfway point, however, she tripped on a piece of rubber sticking up from the road.  She went down, and I could not catch her.  She skinned her elbow a bit, which started to bleed, but otherwise she seemed ok.  We helped her up, and she started running again.

Around mile 20, her knee started bothering her.  She took some pain medication and we walked for a while.  Then we started up a slow jog again.  At mile 23, I got a phone call from Cory.  He was about a mile ahead of us and was waiting for us to catch up so we could finish together.  We met up with Cory and finished strong.  My blind athlete finished in 4 hours and 59 minutes.  She did amazing!

After taking a few group pictures and saying our good-byes, Cory and I headed back to the Park Central Hotel to get our bags, have a quick shower, and eat a plate of food (courtesy of the FDNY).  Then, we headed straight to the airport to fly home.  It was a very short weekend, but it was an unforgettable experience. Who knew that running with a blind woman and a rabbi could be so much fun!?!?!!!!

My first ultra: The Antelope Island 50k

Having completed my 7th marathon just a month ago, I have had an itch to try something different.  Since all of my running so far has been on pavement, I decided to try some trail running.  So, I signed up for the Antelope Island 50k.

In most cases, it is probably a good idea to at least try a short run on a trail before signing up for something as long as a 50k, but I figured if I took my time and focused on enjoying myself, I would be okay.  I knew, though, that it would be a lot different than anything I had ever done.

Most marathons I have done start the day prior with some sort of an expo where you pick up your race packet and browse vendors.  But of course, most marathons I have done also have a couple thousand runners.  This was definitely not the case at Antelope Island.  With the race capped at 150 runners, packet pickup was in the parking lot before passing the guard station on your way to the starting line.  I jumped out of my vehicle long enough to sign my name and pick up a bag with my runner bib and a souvenir shirt in it.  Then I was back in the truck driving across the causeway.

I followed the signs to the starting line where a large tent and two porta-potties were set up.  Several cars were already there, and people were out visiting, eating breakfast, or standing in the bathroom line.  I found an area outside the tent to leave my drop bag, which would be transported to the Elephant Head aid station for me.  In my drop bag I left a bottle of sunscreen.  My plan was to take off my running jacket and gloves at the aid station and leave them in the bag to be transported to the finish line.  Then, apply sunscreen on my arms before leaving the aid station.

About 15 minutes prior to the start, the race director gave a briefing and explained the route we would be running.  Then, he headed over to the trail and began marking the starting line in the dirt with his foot.  This was a far cry from the starting lines I have been to before, but to be honest, it was refreshing.  It took the pressure off.  We all lined up and he counted down from 10.  Then, we were off. (see picture below: the starting line)

I told myself before the race began that I would hike the uphill and run the flat and downhill sections.  I knew I would be gaining over 3200 feet in elevation (and also losing it), and I also knew there was no way I could run all of it.  Right out of the starting line, we began an uphill section that climbed for the first 2-3 miles.  I felt a little silly walking at the beginning of the race, and since everyone else was running, I ran too.  Since I was new to this, I decided to watch other runners to see the best way to handle the terrain.  When they stopped to hike, so did I.

In a road marathon, you'll typically have porta-potties every mile and aid stations every two miles.  Don't expect that for a trail race.  Aid stations can sometimes be several miles apart, and the only porta-potty I saw was at the starting line. (If you have to go before then, squat behind a rock or bush.)  The first aid station was at Elephant Head around mile 5.5.  My drop bag was waiting for me on a tarp.  I quickly took off my jacket and gloves and shoved them in.  However, in my excitement, I forgot to apply sunscreen.  Good thing I put some on my face before I left that morning.  Then, I went to the aid station table to get a quick snack.  Now, at a road marathon, you'll usually see water, sports drink, and fruit or power gels if you are really lucky.  Here, it was like winning the lottery.  Water, Gatorade, soda, fruit, cookies, potato chips, power gels, candy, pierogis, and more.  I grabbed a chunk of orange and a few peanut M&Ms.  Then, I headed off again. (see picture below: Elephant Head aid station, my drop bag is the red one with black and white stripe on the side)

The next section of the race was challenging, but beautiful.  The terrain was steep...we climbed over 1000 feet, but I took my time and enjoyed the scenery.  Before I knew it, 8 miles had passed and I approached the North Sentry aid station at the south end of the island.  The volunteers took great care of me.  They filled up my bottles with water and Gatorade, and offered me plenty of snacks.  I grabbed a peanut butter sandwich and hit the trail again.  From here, the trail began a descent to the east side of the island and field of runners really began to spread out.  There were a few points where I couldn't see anybody ahead of me or behind me, but I did see a herd of buffalo.  I eventually caught up to another runner and chatted for awhile.  Aid station #4 was Nine Mile Gate, about 6.6 miles from the previous station.  Again, the volunteers were amazing.  They refilled my bottles, and I grabbed some grapes to munch on.  Then I headed out again for the final 10 miles.  When I came upon the final aid station at Lower Frary, my bottles were still full and I was feeling great.  So I gave them a wave and kept on going.

When the finish line came into view, I stopped to take a picture and silently congratulated myself for finishing what I set out to do.  Then, I followed the flags up to the tent to have my number and time recorded.  A few other runners were hanging out, visiting, and cheering, but otherwise, the finish line was quiet.  No whoop-la.  No medal.  Just the satisfaction of completing the race.  I was presented with a finishers mug, which I promptly took inside the tent and filled with homemade buffalo chili.  Then, I made my way to another table and finished filling up on grapes and M&Ms. (see picture below: the finish line)

So, in case you're wondering how I did, here are the stats:
My time was 5:49:11
I placed 47th out of 103 overall finishers and 12th out of 32 females
I figured placing in the top half of a male-dominated sport on my first try is pretty darn good.  :)

Top of Utah recap

At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to run a marathon in under 4 hours.  When I was getting ready to run the Ogden marathon in May, I knew I wasn't quite there yet, but I was determined to do my best.  As it turned out, my best was pretty darn good, but not good enough.  My time was 4:07.  So, I told myself I would train hard all summer and try again at the Top of Utah in September.

I looked up training programs online and got to work.  The summer started off pretty well.  I was getting up at 5:00 a.m. to run on the treadmill before the kids woke up, and I was pretty diligent for the first month.  Then about the time the end of June hit, it got hot outside and we started doing some camping.  It wasn't long before I started having motivation problems.  I still ran, but not like I had promised myself.  As the weeks passed by, I knew I needed to get myself back into gear.  Finally when Adam got back to school, I started running several times a week with the jogging stroller, and I felt like I was going to pull it off.

The morning of the marathon, I was a bundle of nerves.  We got up at 4:00 a.m., got ready, and headed out the door.  After parking and catching a bus, we were on our way to the starting line.  When we arrived, there were two very large white tents set up with propane heaters inside for warmth.  After standing in line for the porta potties, we headed to the tents to keep warm.  It wasn't long before it was time to take off our sweats and leave them in drop bags to pick up at the finish line.  Then, at 7:00 a.m., the gun went off and the race began.

The first half of the race was pretty much all downhill, and I kept up an amazing pace.  The first mile flew by, and I tore off my long sleeved shirt at the first mile marker and dropped it in a clothing box.  When I reached the first aid station at mile 3, I didn't even slow down.  I was carrying my own water and didn't need to stop, so I passed right through stations at miles 5,7, and 9 also.  When I hit the station at mile 11, I slowed down long enough to take a few gulps of Gatorade, then took off again.  I hit the half way mark at 1 hour and 51 minutes (a new best), and I still felt great.  By the time we exited the canyon and the course flattened out, though, I could feel my body slowing down.  I looked at my watch for the first time at mile 15.  My average pace was 8:30, but I knew I couldn't keep it up much longer.  Right about then, the 3:45 pace runner passed me.  I was disappointed to see him.  At the same time, I was happy that I had kept that pace for so long.  When I ran the Ogden marathon, the 3:45 pace runner passed me at mile 8.  So, I knew I was ahead of where I was before and still had a great shot at meeting my goal.

Well, my pace continued to slow down, and it seemed to take forever to run between aid stations.  I wouldn't allow myself to walk between them, but whenever I hit one I allowed myself to walk while I took a drink and ate fruit.  I apparently walked a little too much, because the 3:55 pacer came up behind me with a few miles to go.  I silently cursed him.  I was exhausted, but I pressed on.  As I got closer to the finish line, I looked at my watch and suddenly realized I had only 2 minutes to make it to the finish line.  I started to panic, but then rounded the final turn and it was right in front of me.  I made it with 54 seconds to spare.  Final time:  3 hours, 59 minutes, and 6 seconds.  Average pace: just over a 9-minute mile.

I achieved my goal, and I'm thrilled.  Of course, I was secretly hoping to beat it by more than just 54 seconds, but at least I beat it.  Not bad for a girl that couldn't even run a mile in junior high without nearly passing out or throwing up or both.

So here I am, three days post-marathon.  I'll give my legs another day or two, then it's time to start gearing up for the 50k I'll be running in 3 1/2 weeks.  :)

Let's see what this body can do!

Six weeks. 

Three marathons. 

I may be officially crazy, but if I can pull this off, it will be an incredible ending to a great year. I don't have any doubts, but let's face it, that is 83 and a half miles of racing, plus training during the week. It sounds intimidating, but i think it will help that i will have a different focus for each race.

Race #1: speed. 

The Top of Utah Marathon is this weekend. It is my best shot at getting a sub-4 hour marathon. So, I'm going to run my little heart out and see if I can make it happen. 

Race #2: endurance. 

The Antelope Island 50k is on October 19. It will be my first ultra marathon.  Since I have never been farther than 26.2 miles, I'm not going to push myself to be fast. I just want to finish. 

Race #3: enjoyment. 

The New York City marathon is November 3. It is the biggest marathon in the world. Since I will be accompanying a disabled athlete, I don't think speed will be an issue. And since it is only 26.2 miles, endurance shouldn't be a factor. So for this race, I'm just going to focus on motivating my disabled athlete and enjoying the experience and the opportunity to be there. 

Having said that, the next six weeks will likely test my toughness - physically and mentally. Since I'm unwilling to give up any of them, however, it's time to see what this body can do!

My trip to PetSmart

I'm a good Mom. At least I try to be, which is why I took Adam to the pet store this morning to get a little doggie outfit for Sprocket's birthday. Yes, that's right folks. Sprocket will be turning 6 soon, and since he is part of the family, we will be celebrating his special day once again. 

As we headed into PetSmart, the kids were drawn to the little pet Halloween costumes in display in the main aisle. I think Adam secretly wanted the little Buzz Lightyear costume, but as I looked at the price tag, I knew we wouldn't be getting it. I wasn't about to pay $25 for a little doggie costume. That is almost more than I would pay for a child's costume! So we put the costume back on the display and headed to the pet "apparel" aisle. 

It wasn't long before I found some little doggie t-shirts that Adam was thrilled with. He picked one out and we headed to the checkout. After ringing up my $7.49 purchase, the clerk asks me if I had a PetSmart card and if not would I like one. I told him as politely as I could that I didn't have any pets and wouldn't be making purchases on a regular basis, so no thank you. What i was really thinking was "uhhhh...I'm not a pet person." I quickly explained my need to buy my child's stuffed puppy a present. He said I was a good mom and wished me a good day. 

This got me thinking about pets. My poor kids have been asking for one, and I've been dragging my feet. Pets are noisy, smelly, and make messes. So why have them? I guess some people want them for companionship or as part of their home security system, but personally I think chickens would be a little more useful. At least chickens lay eggs. Cats and dogs lay poop. 

Conversations with my kiddos

I have three kids.  All of them have different personalities, and all of them are at different stages in their development.  Consequently, my conversations with each of them are all different.

My conversations with Tyler are short.  I do most of the talking, and he gives one or two word answers when required.  A typical conversation with him sounds something like this...

Me:  Good morning little buddy.  Are you ready for breakfast?
Tyler:  Yeah!  CRUNCH!!!
Me:  OK.  Let's go downstairs.  (I pick him up and carry him downstairs.  After setting him down, he points at the TV.)
Tyler:  Toons.
Me:  OK.  I'll turn on cartoons.  What would you like to watch?
Tyler:  Buppies!
Me:  Bubble Guppies is not on right now.  You can watch Dora or Team Umizoomi.
Tyler:  DORA!!!

My conversations with Adam are at the other end of the scale.  He does most of the talking, but he requires me to be an active participant by providing one or two word answers when called upon.  A typical conversation with him goes like this...

Adam:  Mom?......  Hey Mom!.........MOMMMMMM!!! (he will continue until I answer him)
Me:  Yes Adam?
Adam:  Can I play with Cameron tonight?
Me:  We'll see.
Adam:  Last time we played the Wii together and we almost killed the big monster.  We made it to the purple castle and Cameron died, and I tried to kill the monster by myself but I died too.  (He then goes on to describe in great detail the events of the game.  After several minutes, he brings me back into the conversation.)
Adam:  Mom?.....MOM!!!!  Hey, MOMMMMMMM!!!
Me:  What?
Adam:  So, can you text Cameron's Mom to see if we can play tonight?

Even though Adam does most of the talking, our conversations can be somewhat exhausting.

Miss Sadie is on the extreme end of the scale.  Most of the time, she does not require my participation at all... only my presence.  She just talks.  I get worn out trying to follow her train of thought, so I admit that I don't always pay close attention to what she's saying.  As a result, I can't really recap a typical conversation with her.

My kids love to talk, but our house is about to get a whole lot quieter.  The summer is coming to an end, and Adam and Sadie will be starting school soon.  After a bit of break during the day, I'll be ready to hear everything they have to tell me about school.  :)

The 1, 2, 3 countdown

One week until Adam starts soccer practice.
Two weeks until Adam goes back to school.
Three weeks until Sadie starts school.
I'm calling this my 1, 2, 3 countdown.

It's hard to believe Adam will be in first grade this year.  Having him at school all day will sure be different, but I'm ready.  I hope he is too.  Sometimes I worry I've babied him too much and not given him the opportunities he needs to grow.  For instance:

Adam is the only kid in his swimming class who won't get his face wet. 
All the other kids his age in the neighborhood ride bikes without training wheels. 
He is the only kid his age I know of that insists on wearing winter gloves when eating popsicles so his hands won't get cold. 

Have I gone wrong somewhere?  In my effort to be a good mother and shield him from the world, have I been coddling him too much?  The evidence says yes.  I hope I haven't done any permanent damage.  :)

In other news, we bought Sadie her first bike helmet a few days ago, and she is super excited.  Here she is riding around the neighborhood.

8 more weeks

I'm sure my faithful readers have noticed that I haven't blogged in awhile. I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, I've just been overwhelmed with life. I have been consumed with tantrums, fighting, keeping the kids busy, and training for my next marathon (which is just under 8 weeks away).

Since I don't want to dwell on the tantrums and fighting, I'll focus my blog today on marathon training. This next marathon is an important one for me. I hope to reach a major milestone: running a marathon in under 4 hours. 

So why is this such a big deal? Well, an article I read recently put it pretty well. The author had done some research on what percentage of runners can complete a sub-4 marathon. The answer: between 20-25 percent. So in other words, if you can run a marathon in under 4 hours, you are in the top tier of runners nationwide. This is a pretty big deal, especially for someone like me who did not grow up being very athletic.

I told myself that I would train hard this summer to achieve this milestone, but between the heat and dealing with tantrums, I have had a hard time motivating myself to get up and run before the kids wake up. I guess you could say I have been in a bit of a depression. However, I have been running faster than ever lately, so I know I at least have a shot. 

Getting this close to a milestone has given me an opportunity to reflect on where to go from here. Do I challenge myself to go faster or farther? If I decide my next goal is speed, the next milestone would be to continue to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I would need to run a 3:40 to qualify. If I want to go for distance, that means joining the world of ultra marathons.  No, I'm not talking about one of those crazy 100 mile races...yet. I would start with a 50k to see how my body responds. I have actually looked into this, and there is a 50k on Antelope Island in October. I guess first things first, I need to work on that sub-4 marathon. 

A sign of what's to come

Sadie is officially registered for preschool in the fall, and she is beyond excited.  The place I will be sending her invited her to come and spend a day to check it out.  So, on Tuesday after I dropped Adam off at Kindergarten, I took Sadie to preschool (backpack and all).  Then, I headed home with Tyler.

The house was soooooo quiet without Sadie's constant chatter.  So, I turned on some music, and got to work.  I couldn't believe how much I was able to accomplish.  Maybe this is a sign of things to come.  I weeded the entire garden and raspberry patch, I washed all the dishes in the sink, I folded a batch of laundry, and I ironed three shirts.  I felt I was starting to come down with a cold, so then I turned on PBS and let Tyler watch Clifford the Big Red Dog while I closed my eyes.

When I picked up Sadie at 3:00, she was very excited to tell me all about her "first day of school".  She can hardly wait to go back.  Now every day she asks if it is "fall" yet.  I hope this won't be a long summer!

I'm not a master gardener...yet

Every year I dream of growing a beautiful garden.  Every year I fail.  It's not that I don't have skills, it just seems like every year I'm either pregnant and have no energy or I have a baby and no energy.  Since I am neither this year, I set high expectations for my garden.  One thing I forgot to factor into the equation:  I have one of the busiest 18-month-olds known to mankind.

I managed to get a modest garden planted with a few basics.  But every time I go out to work in it, I have helpers.  Sadie and Adam trample the onions and lettuce, and Tyler picks up dirt by the handfuls and throws it.  I decided it was time to get their swimming pool out...

I inflated their pool, rinsed it out, and put a few inches of water inside.  The kids were thrilled.  No sooner did I turn my back, though, and Tyler started making trips back and forth from the garden to the pool with a determination to throw as much dirt as he could in the water.  He had great fun, but Adam and Sadie were not pleased.

Time for Plan B.  I had been planning on making Tyler a sand/water table to play with outside.  This situation motivated me to finish it....fast.  Here's what I did:

Made a trip to Lowe's for a 2x4, a 2x6, some screws, and a large mixing tub
Cut the wood to make a frame for the mixing tub
Screw it together
Add some legs
Insert mixing tub
Fill with water and toys

I thought about putting sand in it, but I was afraid Tyler would throw it all over the yard.  So, for now I will stick to the water.  Tyler can throw as much dirt and rocks as he pleases in it.  Maybe later I will try sand.  In the mean time, kids are happy.  So, I can get back to gardening.  I'm not a master gardener yet...  First I need to master the art of keeping my kids busy.

Team Adam

Last weekend was Adam's first 5k.  We wanted to do the race as a family, so we registered everyone except Tyler.  The day before the race, we picked up our t-shirts.  Sadie was so excited to be part of the team that she took her shirt to bed with her.

On race morning, we ate breakfast, put on our matching shirts, and headed to the starting line.  Gotta love Adam and Sadie with their headbands on...

Adam had been "training" for weeks, but hadn't been running very far lately.  So, I figured we would be walking more than running.  When the race started, we began jogging.  Adam periodically needed a break, so we walked while he got a drink and an energizing jelly bean. 

To get him running again, I motivated him by encouraging him to pass people.  It worked, but it may have inflated his ego a little too much.  Every time we passed someone, he would turn to them and say, "Team Adam passed you!"  By giving a little encouragement and commenting on how many people he was passing, he was motivated enough to keep running and finish strong.  He was thrilled to get to the finish line and realize he won second place in his division.  After a popsicle and some water, it was time for the awards ceremony. It was cute watching him run up to the stage to receive his award.  As icing on the cake, he won the grand prize drawing at the end of the ceremony.  Once again, he ran to the stage and waved to the crowd and got his picture taken with the tether ball system he won.

Three days post race, Adam is still wearing his medal around the house.  He is very proud of it.  Go Team Adam!

Always use the right tool for the job

I have something rather embarrassing to admit.  I screwed up.  My few faithful readers know I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist, so I hope this shocking revelation doesn't shake their faith in me.  :)

For Mother's Day this year I wanted to give Mom something a little different than the traditional hanging flower basket.  Since she has a new deck to enjoy, I thought I would make her a nice deck chair.  So, I reviewed some plans I found online and made a trip to Lowe's for the wood.

The first step of the project requires you to cut two pieces from a board with unusual angles.  Since I didn't have an angle finder, I thought I could just "wing it" and be okay.  So I estimated where to make the cuts and continued with the project.  Everything was going great.  I cut, sanded, and painted the boards.  Then, I began to assemble.  The seat portion went together great.  Then, I attached the legs.  I sat down to test it.  Actually very comfortable and very sturdy.  Then, I stood up and looked at the legs.  My heart sank.  This is what is what I saw...

It doesn't take a genius to realize the angles I "estimated" were way off!  Lesson learned.  Always use the right tool for the job.  I just need to figure out when it is okay to "wing it" and when you absolutely must follow the instructions.

After much internal debate, I decided to finish the chair as is.  Here is a picture of the finished product... This picture was actually taken from a pretty flattering angle.  :)

Unfortunately, I am too embarrassed to give it to Mom for Mother's Day.  So, Mom, if you are reading this... I'm so sorry.  I have since purchased the tool I need and would be happy to give it another try.  I would even paint it any color you want.  I could even do a matching set with a chair for Dad.  Or if you would rather, I could make you something else or buy you a nice traditional hanging flower basket.  :)  I actually have been wanting to try making this bench...

Are my readers disappointed in me?