It is officially fall

Ok, so the official day was a week ago. It was on a run earlier in the week that it felt, smelled, and looked like fall. This is definitely one of the best times to run.

The soccer season is winding down. I think Mad enjoyed meeting new people and running up and down the field. She did not really like kicking the ball. Makes playing soccer a little difficult, but she is only 4. So there is more time to develop into a World Cup and/or Olympic Gold Medalist. :) Ha.

Two weeks ago Kevin and former teammates from SFU/SFC participated in Reach the Beach, NH. They were one of the last teams to start, but were the first team across the finish line! The guys won the relay in 19:44:59, averaging 5:50/mile. The full set of results are here.

Winning Team - SFCMXC

Miles came down with hand, foot, and mouth the same day Kevin was leaving for NH. Since he was contagious, he couldn't go to daycare, so I had to take time off to stay home with the kids. It was nice to spend the extra time with them and I used that as the response to my mom guilt since I felt I wasn't getting to spend enough time with them. We did a scavenger hunt, colored, played a few games, watched a movie, and made our own pizzas! We had a fun weekend, but were happy with Kev/Daddy came home!

Finding a rectangle on the scavenger hunt

Miles adding the sauce to the pizzas

Maddie adding cheese to the pizzas

 I can't say we have been doing much more than working, running, and spending the little remaining time with the kids. This past weekend was PotatoFest in downtown Ebensburg. The beautiful day meant it was completely packed. The kids enjoyed the potato patch where they could play games, do crafts, and most importantly get balloons! It didn't take too long for Miles' sword and Maddie's flower to pop, but they got to enjoy them for a little while. We also got to enjoy fried pierogies, sweet potato fries, and kettle corn. 

Kevin also spent some time at SFU for the annual XC meet. It wasn't quite the reunion it is with the guys (since most did RTB and couldn't make it), but it was a beautiful day for those who did attend. 

There is only one more week for our CSA. We certainly have enjoyed the various produce that we received each week. It enabled us to try new vegetables and new foods. We look forward to next year and hope the growing season will be just as plentiful!

Week 15 - Celery, Garlic, Jalapenos, Parsley, Potatoes, Red Onions, Sweet Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Yellow Beans, and Head Lettuce

Week 16 - Basil, Bell Peppers, Cabbage, Eggplant, Garlic, Onions, Potatoes, Salad Mix, and Spaghetti Squash

Week 17 - Hot Banana Peppers, Butternut Squash, Garlic, Leeks, Onions, Potatoes, Red Cabbage, Salad Mix, Sweet Peppers, and Green Beans

Ah running, I do enjoy the time we spend together, but I think I'll need a break come November 11th! For the month of September, I ran my highest total ever - 160.25 miles. Today (Sunday 9/30) was supposed to be a rest day, but I was 0.4 miles shy of 160. So I went out and ran 0.65 miles just to hit that mileage. This past few weeks have been a high mileage week, an "easy" week, and another high mileage week. Luckily, my 19 miler went really well. My 20 miler is in 2 weeks, so here's hoping it goes just as well.

Kevin dialed back the mileage after RTB, when he actually caculates his mileage in the past few weeks, then I'll report what he has run!

A look at the past few weeks:
Week 10
Day 1 (M) -Rest Day
Day 2 (T) - 8.01 miles in 1:07:34 this was negative split with the second 4 miles faster than the first
Day 3 (W) - 3.0 miles in 25:08 at CC track
Day 4 (T) - 3.53 miles in 33:29 with Sarah
Day 5 (F) - 4.0 miles in 36:38 on the treadmill...this was an interval workout while home with the kids
Day 6 (S) - 18.0 miles in 2:41:25 on the Ghost Town Trail while my Dad biked. Ran this a little too fast and I think it hurt my hamstring...
Day 7 (S) - Rest Day

Total mileage for the week - 36.54

Week 11

Day 1 (M) -3.53 miles in 31:19 on GTT
Day 2 (T) - 6.82 miles in 59:11 around Crestwood - this was a miserable and soggy day and I didn't want to venture onto New Germany Road
Day 3 (W) - Rest Day
Day 4 (T) - 6.59 miles in 56:13 on GTT - a 2 x 2 mile up tempo run
Day 5 (F) - 3.02 miles in 26:31
Day 6 (S) - 13.06 miles in 2:01:43, I ended up cutting the run 1 mile short because my hamstrings hurt
Day 7 (S) - Rest Day

Total mileage for the week - 33.02




Week 12

Day 1 (M) -Additional rest day for my hamstrings
Day 2 (T) - 8.04 miles in 1:13:59, slow and steady is the name of the game this week
Day 3 (W) - 3.01 miles in 28:30 on the treadmill
Day 4 (T) - 5.51 miles in 49:28 - hill repeats on a soggy day
Day 5 (F) - 3.25 miles in 31:43 on the treadmill
Day 6 (S) - 19.07 miles in 3:02:49, felt pretty good for the whole run
Day 7 (S) - 0.65 miles in 5:46...had to break 160 miles for the month!

Total mileage for the week - 39.53

Until next time...

Hmmm....

I have been trying to update the blog weekly, but lately that hasn't really happened. There just seems to be so much we need to do that I don't have the time to sit in front of the computer. It's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just reality.

I can't think of anything real extraordinary from the last two weeks, we have just been living life. I got to enjoy a longer Labor Day weekend because I took an extra day off. That Friday, our neighbors in the back left corner decided to clear out the lot beside them. For a long time, an old man had used the lot to grow trees, shrubs, and grass. We're not really sure what the point was, but it did help make our backyard very private. Well, over the course of the day, that privacy was lost. It appears that the new owners are going to build something in the lot, we just aren't really sure what. At this point, we are going to see what they will be doing before deciding what we are going to do.

We did get to spend Sunday of Labor Day weekend at the cabin. The weather held out and it was really nice just to sit outside and relax. 

The woods around the cabin are perfect for fern growth!

A fire perfect to make smores!

Luckily over last weekend, Mad's soccer game was cancelled. It was pouring down rain and there was a threat of severe storms, so they ended up cancelling the games. It was nice to have the extra time to get stuff down. Plus I had been called into work at 4 AM, so I was a bit tired.

We are getting to the end of the "summer" vegetables in our box for the CSA. This past week was the last for corn. It was nice to get corn every week this summer, but Butler County sweet corn is still by far the best! In the coming weeks we are supposed to start getting more of the fall and winter vegetables. 

Week 13 Box which contained - corn, eggplant, green beans, lettuce, onions, hot and sweet peppers,  plum tomatoes, potatoes, saladette tomatoes, and tomatoes

Week 14 Box which contained - basil, beans, corn, eggplant, garlic, green beans, lettuce, onions, carmen sweet peppers, plum tomatoes,  saladette tomatoes, and tomatoes

Training for the marathon continues to go well. The past two weeks were week 8 and 9 for training. Kevin and I are both on an 18 week training program, so we are half way there. So far the training has been good with minimal upsets and really bad runs. Hopefully the second half is much of the same. I'll certainly be getting into the longest runs I have ever completed!

Week 8 - Lighter Week in mileage, I needed this too!

Day 1 (M) - Fun Workout - Kevin and I played some basketball in the driveway. I beat him at HORSE. :)

Day 2 (T) - 4.09 miles in 36:36 with Sandy

Day 3 (W) - 5.13 miles in 43:55 with mid 3 miles at "race pace" not that I really know what my race pace will be yet and the 3 miles were probably faster than race pace

Day 4 (R) - 3.5 miles in 33:11 with Sarah

Day 5 (F) - 4.00 miles in 35:42 on the dreadmill. This was a disasterous attempt at a 7 mile run since the girl child kept coming to talk to me every few minutes

Day 6 (S) - Rest Day

Day 7 (S) - 14.56 miles in 2:16:38 - the Lemon Drop Loop - let me just say, it's a heck of a climb up Lemon Drop Road through the golf course. Always feels good to conquer those runs!

Week 9 - Back to higher mileage. It looks like temperatures will drop after this week, YEAH!

Day 1 (M) - Rest Day...after the run yesterday, this was much enjoyed

Day 2 (T) - 3 miles in 26:24 on the dread

Day 3 (W) - 7.07 miles in 58:01 mostly on the track. This included a warm-up and cool down. The workout was 4 x 1 mile with 0.25 mile recovery.

Day 4 (T) - 3 miles in 27:44 on the dread, my legs were tired from the workout the night before

Day 5 (F) - 6.07 miles in 51:54 around town...it was hot!

Day 6 (S) - Rest day... I was happy to have the day off since I got called into work at 4 AM

Day 7 (S) - 17.46 miles in 2:43:23 - the same Lemon Drop Loop as the week before, but this time I started from home and added running through Emerald Estates. 

Kevin tapered a bit in week 9 since he is running a 200 mile relay - Reach the Beach NH - with his SFU teammates next weekend. I am going to have to figure out running an 18 mile long run and something to do with the kiddos. Don't think I can run up and down my street for nearly 3 hours! Anyway, in week 8 Kev ran 62 miles, including the same Lemon Drop Loop (he started from home). In week 9 he ran 56 miles. 

This will be an interesting week with Kevin being away for part and getting in all my miles. Luckily, my parents are awesome and will be able to help me out over the weekend. The weather really changed on Saturday after the storms moved through. The cooler temps are a welcome change from the hot and humid days of summer. 

Have a wonderful week...or two!