Feeling Inspired

     Wow - I have not written for a very long time!  I am not sure why - my life has had plenty of exciting things happening!  But I am not going to bore you with the past - I am going to jump right in with today!
     We had ten inches of snow fall in this little pocket of MN today!  It is definitely a winter wonderland around here. I was stuck at home all day so I had to be creative with my workout. I have been trying out Barre Pilates at the Y and my instructor has made videos and posted them to You Tube!!!  Man, that is a hard workout!!!!  I always think as a runner I should have really strong legs - but nope!  I was shaking!
     Due to the weather, I had to cancel my physical therapy appt.  I was sad to do that because I really needed my "Jamie fix."  My therapist is so awesome and totally gets my need to get back out running!!
     Three pies in the oven, three to go!
     I entered a challenge to get me through the holidays in a healthy manner - #HolidaySweat. I am excited to take on this challenge and put in the effort!
     My daughter sent me this today.  Love...

My Beautiful and Amazing Daughter

I am so excited about this weekend's race!!!  My daughter and I will be running her very first race EVER together!  She chose to run a half marathon in the community in which she attends college - Fargo.  Saying that I am proud of her is not enough.  I am overwhelmed with so many emotions.  This little baby of mine has grown into such an amazing and confident young woman.  She went off to college this past year with a few tears (from both of us) and has adapted so well to the life.  Halfway through the year she decided she wanted to run a race. She came to me and asked me if I would help her plan a training program and then she asked me to run it with her!!!!  YES!!!!!!!!!  Macey is not a runner by nature, but she is runner by heart!!!!  During her training she endured long miles on the treadmill (Fargo winters are harsh), a calf injury that sidelined her off and on, and balanced running, homework, and a work schedule!  Tomorrow is her big day!!!  Tomorrow is not about the clock, It is not about the pace. It is not about what was.  It is about celebrating the hard work and effort and the journey and my beautiful and amazing daughter!!!

Zumbro Endurance Run

You know those dreams that you have right before you fall asleep - the ones in which you are falling of a cliff and then your body wakes with a jerk?  Well, three times tonight I started to drift off to sleep when I had one of those dreams except instead of falling over a cliff I tripped over a tree root.  Yep, that's a sign that I ran (this is not the correct verb, but you will find out later why it is not) a trail race today.
Today was the day of the Zumbro 100 Mile Endurance Run.  First, let me clarify - I did not run the 100 or the 50 today (you people are crazy awesome!), but after completing this run I think I will have to put the 50 on my calendar for next year!!  I ran 17 miles - but do not be fooled!  This was not a frolicking run through the woods! This had to have been the most challenging and rewarding course that I have ever run!!!
The run was to begin at 9:00, but at 8:55 I was still sitting in the car with Spider trying to decide if we were really going to run this thing.  It had been pouring for the past hour and Mother Nature threw a little hail in there just for fun (ugh, poor 100 and 50 milers out on the trail.)  I already had it in my head that I was not going to run and was a little crabby when Spider finally made the call that we were going to haul our butts out there and do this! This would be the longest run ever for Spider and a comeback from an injury that sidelined for a month.  Spider wanted to earn the shirt we already had in our hands and get that medal!  I wanted to stay warm and cozy and dry inside the car. Just as we pinned our numbers to our shorts, the rain let up.  I needed a visit to the porta-potty and as I was waiting I hear the starting bell ring.  Dang it - we missed the start.  We weren't worried because we had decided when we signed up to do this run, that it would be a training run for us, not a race (did anyone really race this today??) We found a couple of bathrooms with no line, did our thing, got some directions and started out.
Because of our late start, we were about 10 minutes behind everyone. Soon after our start we caught up with some of the runners.  They were bottle-necked on a muddy ridge.  One at a time, we made our way up and down and around the ridge, sloppy mud making our footing very slippery.  A woman who had run this race before assured us this would be the worst of it.  We ran on.
The rain came and brought along thunder and lightning.  The downpour was just one of the many things that made the run so memorable.  We ran through a "tunnel" of pine trees and I felt like I had entered a magical forest.  We climbed and climbed...and climbed...and climbed ...(one more) and climbed to scenic vistas that I wish now that I would have paused to view.  We slogged through mud and flooded trails.  We picked over rocks and splashed through puddles.  Oh, who am I kidding- we spent a lot of time in water and it was AWESOME!!!  My feet were cold but my socks did the job - no blisters! I don't use the word EPIC very often but in this case I can not find a better word - the trails on the way  down were like a giant Slip -n Slide made of mud.  We slid more than we ran.  Down we went, some on their feet, some on their backs, and some on their backsides.  Spider had just been complimented by another runner on the great form being used before biffing it!  I have never seen anyone bounce back up so fast and smiling also!!!  I watched one woman man-handle that mud - she looked like she was snowboarding!!!  And just like always, the trail gods reminded me how much fun trail running is and threw me down into the mud!
Although the trail was in rough shape from the rains and snow melt. there were areas that were easier.  The sand trail actually felt great after the mud, and there were some gravel paths in which we finally felt flow and our pace picked up.  We had no idea what our pace was or what mile we were on because in our hustle to get out of the car we had left the watches behind.  We agreed that was actually a gift! I might have felt discouraged if I would have known our pace.
The aid stations were amazing - as always, the food spread is phenomenal!  But even better are the volunteers - they are so encouraging and helpful.  I read a comment today on FB that at one station volunteers gave the clothes off their backs to cold, wet runners. At the last station, one of the volunteers yelled out to us "Looking good." That perked us right up.  As we made our way toward the finish line we were estimating about 1 1/2 miles left.  A little further down the road a man told us there was only a quarter mile left! We rounded the bend and heard the crowd cheering and ringing bells.  Spider and I fist-bumped, laughed, and made our way through the finish line.  Amazing feeling!!
The race director knows how to put on a great run!!!  Everything from the course to the volunteers to the shirts to the medals is top-notch!!!! I will return!!

Bed in Boston Needed

Hey everyone - I have a friend who needs a room (bed) in Boston for the marathon.  Her hotel plans fell through.  Do you have one or know of someone who might?  Let me know - thanks!

What Up?

I have been absent from the blogging world lately.  So have some of my favorite bloggers.  I always look for them, I wonder what they are up to, I think about how they are doing with the things that they used to talk about.  Isn't it funny how you get to know bloggers and you feel like they are your friends?  I want to email a few of them and say "Are you ok, friend? Do you wanna go have coffee?"

Anyway, so I am back.  I am starting to put together some plans for 2014 finally and am feeling pretty excited.  My dang hamstring is an ongoing issue for 18 months now, so I feel like I have to readjust some of the goals I have set. But readjusting is ok - as long as I am still striving to reach the goals.

Here is what I have on tap-

For sure
Get Lucky 21 K - March
Zumbro 17 Trail Race - April
Fargo Half Marathon - May
Chester Woods Trail Race - June
Foot Traffic Flat Marathon - July 4 in Oregon
Big Woods Half Marathon - October
Mankato Marathon - October

MN weather has been awful in January!!! My students have had three "cold days", one late start, and two early releases!  And tomorrow has just been declared another "cold day!"  I have been avoiding the treadmill and am lucky enough to have a running partner who is pretty crazy and doesn't mind the cold runs.  We have been out on most of the really cold days, but today's wind forced me back inside!

Bring on summer!!!!

Sharing the Trails

It's hunting season in MN which means I have to don the blaze orange (or yellow or pink) when I hit the trails.  Sharing the trails with hunters is not my favorite thing to do.  It's not that I have anything against hunting cute little helpless deer (ok, maybe I do a little bit) it's just that I don't think it would be very fun be a mistaken target.  On a recent day, I was running in a wooded area and saw three deer.  They were about 25 yards ahead of me - they didn't even move as I ran by.  So cool - and then I talked to my friend who was in the same location hunting and he said he didn't see one single deer!! Ha ha!  Maybe deer prefer silent runners in hot pink and Brooks over hunters in camo and boots?

Anyway, that got me thinking about sharing the trails. I have been very lucky that over the last few years I have found a group of runners who like the dirt path that I so enjoy.  Last Saturday I ran with Spider - he loves the trails and rarely runs on pavement.  He has a goal to run his first marathon in June 2014 so he knows he has blacktop beauty in front of him soon.  But for now, he prefers bounding effortlessly (which really makes me mad!!!) around on the trails.  On that Saturday, Bluedoug also joined us - he is pretty new to the trails and I wasn't sure after the run if he really liked it.  But today he texted that he wants to go back out there on Saturday!!!

I think one of the best parts of being a runner is sharing your passion with others, when you get to see someone else get excited!

Numbers

24 hours
2 friends died  - cancer sucks
31 students watched as their teacher cried
8 hours watching the clock
1 3-day old baby brought to me by former student
7 much-needed miles on the trail
124 minutes of conversation with a BFF
5 hours of restless sleep
24 hours

No title - Just HaPpY!!!

By the time I publish this blog it will be exactly one week since I ran the Mankato Marathon.  I am the worst about doing race reports.  I am not sure why - I think sometimes that writing it down doesn't do justice to the experience itself.  I try to hold onto the memories in my brain, but it seems that is getting harder to do - and that has NOTHING with getting older, right??  SO, this little recap is for me - so that when I am 103 like great grandma I can pull up my blog and remember one of the greatest races I ever ran!

Mankato Marathon 2013

The forecast for race day kept changing.  One week before the big day the forecast called for a high of 55 and no wind!!!  Perfect race conditions for me.  But the day of the race was actually quite cold (32) and blustery.  I was a little bummed cuz I had my outfit all picked out and then had to decide if I would go with tights or stick with shorts.  I went with shorts - but there weren't too many others who made that decision!!!  As I waited in my car for the race start, I wrote names of all the people who donated to the charity I would run for on my legs. It was pretty cool to see the list!! At about 7:50 I went to find the pace group I wanted to start with and also meet up with a woman I kinda know. We had discovered we had the same goals for the race so we thought we would run with each other. We were sh-sh-shivering and bouncing around trying to stay warm. National anthem.  Gun went off and we ran! Then stopped.  Then walked.  Then ran!!  Then walked.  Finally made it to the starting line and the bottleneck eased up so we ran!!!!  My goal was to start out slow which I can never manage to do!  I often run my first mile in 7:05.  This one was an 8:15.  I kept that pace for the first 3-4 miles.  Then we started up a very loooooong hill, so my pace slowed, but it was a fun hill and I had a great time talking to the runners around me. I lost my partner around that time.  Not sure what happened and I felt like I should go back to look for her.  I decided to keep moving forward and hope that she would catch me (I am glad I did - she ended up with a very different race than she planned.) The next 10 miles were about a 8:00 minute pace.  I met a man from a neighboring town and we had a great conversation!  Isn't it funny how you become "friends" with people during those long miles?  I felt great!  Took a Gu at mile 8 and made sure I was drinking at the aid stations.  I really need to figure out how to drink and run!!!!  Most times I walked through the stations.  I saw my kids and parents for the first time around mile 10.  That was awesome!!!  I ran over to get "some love" from all of them and continued on. At about mile 11 a friend of mine caught up and we ran together for a while.  His goal was to do negative splits, so after about 5 miles together he started to pick up speed.  I stuck with him for a while and as he pulled away I made it my goal to always keep him in sight. Miles 16-21 were UNBELIEVABLE!!!  I was keeping a 7:40 pace and felt amazing.  I remember thinking "Whose body is this???"  I just didn't think I should be feeling that strong at that point.  But I did, so I went with it.  It felt great to run like that and I actually got a little choked up. Then came mile 22...  I really needed a Gu or something but was all out at that pont.  I met my son at a cheer station as he planned to run the park loop with me.  As he took off with me I noticed that three of his teammates from his CC team were running with us!!!  That was so cool!!!!  They encouraged me the whole way!  I felt pretty sluggish and my pace slowed, the course gets very windy and hilly.  But it was still a great experience to have my son rooting for me!  We came out of the park and Kellen sent me on my way with a mile to go.  Running down the last few blocks was so much fun!!!  People were line up for blocks and I heard friends and students shouting my name!!  I high-fived a few and posed for a few pics before I decided to kick it in.  I finished in 3:31.  So close to a PR, but today was not even about that.  I SHOULD NOT have been able to run like that.  I was going to be very happy with a 3:40.  I was undertrained and overinjured. The running gods must have been granting wishes that day or something!  I ran across the finish line and right away saw my kids.  For some odd reason, I always get emotional at the end of a race. I gave my kids and parents big hugs!! I hung out in the finisher's chute for a while - I love to do that!  It's so fun to watch the faces of the runners as they cross that line. So inspirational! After that, I headed over to a local sports bar to join friends.  It was the perfect day! One of the best races I ever ran - why?  I had FUN!!!!!!!!  I ran happy!!

Ready to Run!

Excited? to be running the Mankato Marathon on Sunday!  I have no goal in mind except to finish with a smile.  My training has well, it has sucked.  I have had a really stupid hamstring issue for over a year.  And believe me- I have done everything to get rid of this thing, everything except take time off :)! So you may ask why in the heck am I running it then?  Well, I think a while ago I mentioned that I was asked to run for a charity.  The charity is The BackPack Food Program.  This charity provides weekend meals for children who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. It's super cool because teachers just sneak the meals in backpacks on Fridays and holidays and the kids then have meals for the weekend!!  Anyway, there are three charity runners (we are called Champion Runners)  and we each set a goal to run $1,500.  We did that and then $5,500 more!!!!!  Isn't that awesome?!?! So, the charity is the reason I have stuck with the marathon. It's not going to be pretty and I am surely not going to PR BUT it is in my hometown and that is FUN!!!!!
Watch my little little video!

Something else really cool about this weekend.  Along with the marathon there is a half marathon AND ONE OF MY FIFTH GRADERS IS RUNNNG IT!!!!  I have known Noah since he was just a little guy and have watched him grow up through the grades.  He has always been a great runner and decided this would be the year to try his hand at the half.  He trained so well - it is fun to listen to him talk about his long runs and tapering!!  He has set great goals for himself and I know that he will accomplish them! Send out a little cheer for Noah on Sunday morning!!

The weather forecast took a turn recently and there is a possibility I will be running in snow!!!  But just at the starting line.  High of 52 for the day so now the question is what should I wear?

Just put together a new playlist and my fave song on it is Timber by Ke$ha!!! LOVE that song and it makes me wanna dance.  But my son thinks I am weird.  He doesn't know cool when he sees it!
Timber!!!!


What do you wear for chilly marathons?
What's a song that you would suggest for the playlist?

Life is a Game of Ping Pong

     Imagine a giant ping pong table with two players hitting the ball back and forth, back and forth.  One player's name is "All That Is Good" and the other is known as "That Just Sucks."  This seems to be a never-ending game this weekend with no clear winner!  I wanted to write a post with wonderful and inspirational words. But I can't do just that - I need to include some other things that have happened this weekend - to recognize that while my life is okay right now, others are suffering.

* I ran the most beautiful trail half-marathon this weekend.  For those of you that live where a a change in season means a change in the landscape you know what I mean.  I ran through a forest filled with hues of gold and red.  I always wish that when I was trail running that I could look up to see all that is around me, but I am so busy looking down at the roots and rocks.  I did glance up a few times to see the sun streaming through the trees. Serenity.  I took first place in my AG and won a bright yellow and black fleece blanket that says "disaster zone."  Hmmmmm.

* A very dear girlfriend ran the Chicago Marathon today.  She trained so well and so hard and should have easily run a 3:05 marathon.  But something went wrong.  Her hamstring hurt at mile 10, but that was not the worst of it.  Her vision became blurred as she continued on.  She crossed the finish line at 3:37 and then passed out!  When she came to she was in the med tent and she has no idea what happened.  Her heart feels sad.  I wish I was there to give her a big hug!

*  A friend that I started running with over a year ago ran a 10K yesterday with hopes of a PR.  He ran the same course last year and this year he SHATTERED his record!!! And is he ever FAST!!! It has been exciting to watch him grow as a runner.  Last week he took his car to the shop and ran the mile and half home from there. He texted me "I am a runner."  Yes, you are!

*  Cancer sucks.  Yes, it does.  My coworker and friend's husband was winning his fight and things were looking good.  Now cancer is invading.  And tonight he had a stroke.  There are no more words to be said.  Just please pray for them.

* I want to end on a good note - maybe that will mean "All That Is Good" is winning.  My son, the runner, earned a spot on the Varsity CC team for the Big Nine Meet.  That's a huge deal for an 8th grader!!  The meet is on Tuesday and although I cannot attend because of Open House at my school, he knows I will be there in his heart- coaching and cheering and celebrating.  Mighty proud of my kid!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Really? It has been July 29 since I posted last!!!! It is not that I have had nothing going on - maybe it has that I have had too much going on and don't know where to begin. I have become a bad blogger - I hope I didn't lose my followers!!!  I won't bore you with ALL the details of the last 56 days, but I wil give you a snapshot of my life!

Ran Great River Ragnar for the fourth year!  This year out team placed 10th overall of 302 teams!!!!  We rocked and had a great time!!!!

Macey moved off to college 5 looooooooooong hours away.  She will be home in 20 minutes- her first time in 20 days, 7 hours, 32 minutes and 7 seconds.

**Well, I began that post two weeks ago.  I was all set to commit to writing the post when in walked Macey!!!  SO, the computer was cast aside and the great weekend together began!  I sure miss that girl of mine, but I am so happy that she is so happy!!!

I have decided I am not going to catch you up on what has been going on in my life.  One of my fiends (who also follows my blog) said he missed my blog and that I should just begin writing again.  I realize that I miss it too.  So , here I go... moving forward!

New News!!

There is a new love in my life and I couldn't be happier!  I have kept this relationship under wraps because I just didn't know where it was going.  I wasn't sure of the level of commitment.  I was unsure of how others would feel. But after two weeks and hours spent together, I am ready to reveal.

Isn't she pretty?  Her name is Sunny.  We are learning a lot about each other  - I am finding out trust is important.  I am still pretty tentative when it comes to riding, but the great thing is that my community has many strong bikers who are willing to share advice.  I will figure it all out, for right now I am just enjoying the ride!

Whaaaat?

We have this really great county park nearby.  It has gorgeous trails, abundant wildlife, a babbling stream.  It is the home to coyotes, turkeys, and deer.  Families gather their for reunions, friends gather to play volleyball and hike the trails.  It is a gem of a meadow nestled in the limestone bluffs of a river valley.  Doesn't it sound wonderful?

Now get this  - on Sunday, in broad daylight, out in the open, in the middle of a day when the park is at its highest use, a man decided to bare it all!!!  Can you believe it???  He was naked, on the bridge, participating in "lewd behavior!!!"  When the police responded, he got into his car and a slow speed pursuit ensued. It finally took a spike strip to stop him!  I wonder if he had his clothes on at this point??

Yesterday was National Nudity Day - it really was!!!  Maybe he can use this as his defense!

Passing of the Torch

My son, Kellen, has started captain's practice for cross country.  Kellen is a soon to be 8th grader who is not very big at all.  He is pretty proud of his six pack and likes to flaunt his pecs, but compared to his peers he is on the small side.  You would never really know that because Kellen has a HUGE personality!!  He is always smiling, joking around, and pushing the envelope just a little bit.  He is everything I wish I was at that age!!  Anyway, back to practice.  Kellen loves to run which is funny because when he was a small boy he ran really funny - kind of sideways.  We almost took his to a doc for an evaluation, but we figured he would outgrow it kind of like Forrest Gump.  Well, he did.  Kellen shows up every day at captain's practice even though it is optional. He is the youngest one there.  He runs hard and has big goals. Wednesday he experienced the "runner's high" for the first time and now I am sure there is no stopping him!  When I picked him up from practice his face was bright red and he was exhausted.  Then he began to spew (yes, that is the right verb!) "Mom, that was the hardest run ever.  I ran with the fast guys and I kept up.  I worked so hard. I am going to do that again tomorrow.  I am so proud of myself!" And he went on and on all the way home as he made plans to  the set records in distance running.  LOVED IT!  Kellen is one of a kind!  Some of his traits that annoy me the most - his stubborness, his questioning of authority, his lack of caring what others think - are also the qualities I admire most in him.  I love that we share a love of running!!  We are planning on running a half marathon together in August.  I think sharing that love is a thread that will always keep us connected!

New braces!!  I love that he chose colorful bands!!!

Amazingness

I looooooooove summer! Part of it is the weather and a huge part of it isI have the freedom of a relaxed schedule!  This morning I woke up at 5, did a little around the house, and hopped back in bed for an hour more! Yesterday, I did a Body Pump class at 5:30 am, ran at 6:30, played taxi for most of the day, ran trails at 5:00 pm, in bed at 8:30 with a book.  My kids are busy with friends and so far only need me for money and rides.  Love this new part of my life entitled "Me Time!"  IT IS AMAZING!

My daughter, Macey, graduated on Thursday and we had her party on Sunday.  The weather in MN has been very unseasonably cold and rainy.  We watched the radar for a week and saw only pending rain.  On Saturday, we moved all of out furniture out of our main level to make room for people in case it rained.  It rained hard on Saturday.  It rained all Sunday morning.  It rained an hour before the party.  And. Then. The. Sun. Came. Out!  The winds died down to a light breeze and the sun was shining brightly for the entire party.  Guests said it was raining all around us - just not on our party!!  We had a great time!  My daughter loves to decorate so she was in charge of all of that.  She did a beautiful job! She also stepped way out of her comfort zone and greeted people as they came to her party.  We had a "build your own grilled cheese sandwich" (Macey's favorite food) bar which was a huge success!!!  And I had the best friends in the world manning the food for me!!! We had a photo booth so we have a lot of crazy pics of family and friends to put in a book for her!! My goal was to keep the party inexpensive and to show that a grad party could be fun without spending tons of money or remodeling any part of our house or yard. It was the best party ever and IT WAS AMAZING!

I bought myself a new little toy - A NutriBullet!  I am not good at eating my fruits and veggies during the day, so this little machine is perfect for me!  I am excited to try out some new recipes.  Today it was spinach, raspberries, blackberries, and almonds.  YUM!  I heard about the NutriBullet last week at 3 am while I was up worrying about my daughter's grad party - ha ha!  The infomercial promised that I would feel better and look younger!  Heck yeah!  Sign me up!  So far IT IS AMAZING!

Tonight is the first night of our second year of the Muddy Shoes and Brews Trail Series.  A couple of friends and I started it last year.  It is a very low key gathering twice a month in which we run the trails and drink beer after.  Tonight we are celebrating with summer ales.  There are 34 people signed up.  Meeting new friends, running, toasting with a good beer - this night WILL BE AMAZING!

Catching Up

I have been pretty absent from the blogging world lately.  I have been so busy and in a little bit of denial. A couple of weeks ago, I had this bright idea that I was going to write a blog dedicated to my daughter who is graduating this year.  I started it, but could not finish.  Her looming graduation was too much for me to think about. She is ready to face the world and has chosen a college that will prepare her for the path she desires.  So, I am not worried about her well-being at all.  I am just having a really hard time dealing with the idea of her leaving the nest.  She is a REALLy good girl - so easy to raise, honor student, fun, hilarious, she makes me laugh, we borrow each other's clothes, we shop together, we work out together, we talk, we talk, we talk...  And now she wants to leave me?  She is ready, do I have to be?  Well, last night she graduated and I could not be prouder!!!!

On a different note - I ran the Chester Woods 10 Mile Trail Race last Saturday.  It was the most fun I have had since I was a kid - cuz I felt like a kid! I stood at the starting line with 130 other runners and enjoyed the peaceful solitude of the sunshine - we have only had sun in MN for 20 of the last 80 days!!  It felt amazing to see blue skies and have the sun warm my back.  That area received 9 inches of rain the night before so the the trails were mucky, muddy, sloppy, wet, soaking (any more adjectives?) We were wet within the first half mile and continued that way for the entire race! I ran for a while with a friend - it so fun to share that joy with another!  After a while we split and ran our own races.  It was a course with rolling hills and a few steep climbs.  I loved the challenge of the terrain and the puddles added to the fun. I felt pretty consistent throughout the race and ignored my hamstring when it got a little cranky.  In the final half mile I was running with another woman.  As we looked ahead we saw what looked like a lake right in front of us.  I jokingly said "Looks like we will be swimming."  I assumed the trail would curve and we would go around the water - WRONG!!  The trail was under water due to the rain.  So with big smiles and huge gusto - we ran right through it!  And then on to the finish line!!  My finish time was 1:24 - good enough for a first place win in my age group!!!

Weird - the photo keeps wanting to go sideways!!  Anyway - love the unique awards at trail races!

PLEASE HELP ME OUT - QUICK

Reaching out to the blogging world - there is a blogger who has a fitness, health, diet challenge - I think it runs for a month.  She had a "get ready for summer" challenge during the month of May - I was too late to sign up but wanted to do her next challenge.  Anyone know who that is??

Not Ready Yet

I knew exactly what I was going to blog about today even before I sat down at the computer  that is rare  Often the ideas come to me as I stare at the screen.  But this post has been a long time coming. It is not running related, so if that is what you were looking for you can stop now.

I want to write about my oldest daughter.  Soon Macey will graduate...ha, I guess I am not ready to write this post yet.  Too emotional!

Signing off  - one last thought, last Thursday we had 8 inches of snow.  In the past three weeks we have had three major snowfalls. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 70 degrees!!  Gotta Love MN!!

Run or Not - You Decide For Me!

This is like one of those reality shows in which your vote counts!  I have a 50k run scheduled for this Saturday and today Mother Nature decided to dump six inches of heavy, wet snow on us!!  I love winter, but this is SPRING!!!  I can't decide if I should do the run. The trails will either be messy and snowy or messy and muddy.  Either way I am going to get dirty!!!  That is not a problem cuz I clean up pretty good. I just don't know if I want to plod slowly through the muck.  On the other hand, it might be a lot of fun to plod slowly though the muck.  So, you, the readers, will decide my race fate. Majority wins! Let's hear it!

Live Like Ghandi

"You must not lose faith in humanity.  Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty." ~ Ghandi

I used this quote to guide a discussion with my students about yesterday's tragic events in Boston.  The saddest part of this discussion was that almost four months ago I led a very similar one about Sandy Hook Elementary School.   They want to know why.  And I don't know why.  They want to know who and I cannot possibly even imagine.  They are scared, they are courageous.  They are saddened, they are uplifted.  They are children dealing with grown up issues.  How do we explain to our children that good always wins over evil? How do we assure them that the monsters under the beds are not real when there they are on our TVs, Facebook, and tweets?  I have no answers to those questions.  We can teach them to have faith in humanity, look for the helpers, believe in yourself, lift up others, the power of prayer.  And then we hope that they remember...