Oct 29, 2012

Frankenstorm

As of Monday 10/29 - Over the course of 4 hours, Kevin and I have been able to 

  • Amass a nice reserve of water for us and Barley
  • Fit in a shopping trip for other vitals such as Starbucks frappuccino (gotta get coffee somehow!) and batteries 
  • Make fresh popcorn and get other food supplies
  • Get all the blow-away-able stuff secured or brought inside (well, I hope so)
  • Strategically place candles throughout the house
  • Put away the kiddos toys or other items that would be a nice tripping hazard in the pitch black
  • Do laundry and put away the laundry
  • Do all the dishes
  • Run 3 miles (on the treadmill)
  • Eat dinner
  • Get the kids to bed
  • Get the bathrooms cleaned
  • Charge all essential items (and some non-essential, but nice to haves)
It's amazing how a time crunch can motivate and focus you! It's starting to snow/rain and the wind gusts are really picking up. Luckily we still have power, but we'll see how long that lasts....

Until next time...

Stay safe and dry!

UPDATE: Tuesday 10/30 - We were lucky and really didn't get hit with much. It rained a lot and was windy, but we didn't even lose power! Now the temperatures have dropped enough that it's gently snowing. Now we have enough bottled water to supply our next race. Kevin mentioned that if he ever runs into the local weatherman, he wants to throw all the D batteries and water that we purchased at him. :) I guess we will be better prepared for the next weather storm...which is likely to be a blizzard!

Oct 21, 2012

Welcome to October!

By the time I actually post this, it's closer to the end of October, but I started it closer to the beginning....The beginning of October also means the end for a few things. Namely, the end of Maddie's first soccer season and our CSA. Both had a good run and we are looking forward to when they begin again next year!


Week 18 - Cabbage, Onions (white and red), Garlic, Potatoes, and Acorn Squash
The last picture for our CSA. We got some heartier vegetables this time that should keep for a while. It was a great experience and we will certainly sign up again next year!

Maddie probably had one of her best games for the last game. It was a completely miserable morning...cold, windy, and rainy. Luckily, the other team only had 3 kids (it's 3 v 3), so we played shortened quarters and had a shorter half. Most of the season, Maddie didn't want to kick the ball in the middle of play. A prime example was when one of her teammates threw in the ball to her and she just stepped aside and let it go out of bounds. During the last game, she was more involved in play and seemed to have more fun. It was a fun experience and we look forward to next year!



Coach Kevin directing the kids to their goal


The end of the last game

Maddie and Coach Dad

It was a chilly last game!

Orange Smiles!
 The kids have finally decided what to be for Halloween (I think). Miles is going to be a train conductor and Maddie is going to be a ballerina. Miles costume was easy enough and he doesn't seem to have a strong opinion on what he is. Mad, however, has changed her mind quite a few times. First it was Ariel, then it was a princess (what she was last year), there was something else, then she has decided on a ballerina. Luckily, she came upon this idea because she has a crazy white, purple, and black tutu. I will just have to get some ribbon to make her ballet shoes, find a leotard (or something similar), and put her hair in a bun and we should be good to go!

We finally made it to Vale Wood Farms Pumpkin Patch days. The kids had a great time seeing the animals, running through the maze and down the slide, and picking out their pumpkins. We will be carving 2 pumpkins and painting a few pumpkins. It's always a fun time, but if you missed it, you will have to wait until next year!




Milkmen Maddie and Miles - I guess I can only get 1 picture with each having their eyes open!

Playing in the corn box. Luckily they didn't learn from the other kids and dump the corn on themselves!
One of my running goals for 2012 was to break 1000 miles. I realized late last year, that I was close to doing so, but ended up at 985 miles. As of Oct 11, I hit 1000.5 miles! The number continues to climb, but I have smashed the total miles that I ran last year. I ran my longest training run last weekend of 20 miles. From here on out it's taper time. I was supposed to go 16 miles over the weekend, but since I was still recovering from being sick, I was happy with my 12 (although VERY tired by the end). 

Week 13
Day 1 (M) - 3.00 miles in 27:35
Day 2 (T) - Rest Day
Day 3 (W) - 6 miles in 50:45 - 1 mile warmup, then 4 miles up tempo, and 1 mile cooldown
Day 4 (T) - 4 miles in 38:30 on the treadmill, I can never run fast on the treadmill. Something just gets in my head!
Day 5 (F) - Rest Day
Day 6 (S) - 14.0 miles in 2:10:00 - got this one in early in the morning on a slightly rainy day before Mad's last soccer game
Day 7 (S) - Rest Day

Weekly Total - 27.65 miles

Week 14
Day 1 (M) - 3.02 Miles in 26:52
Day 2 (T) - 9.28 miles in 1:19:15 - Negative Split run and longest week night run! First 4 miles in 34:55 (8:44/mile), second 4 miles in 33:58 (8:30/mile), last 1.28 miles in 10:22 (8:04/mile)
Day 3 (W) - Rest Day
Day 4 (T) - 4.52 miles in 39:42 around Town
Day 5 (F) - 3.11 miles in 27:36, easing up before the big one tomorrow!
Day 6 (S) - 20 miles in 3:05:31 - I had to go into work prior to running, which may have been a good thing since it allowed me time to have a good breakfast and be properly fueled for the run. I had company and a lot of encouragement from Maureen, Meghan, and Sarah. I certainly couldn't have got through the run without their help!
Day 7 (S) - A well earned rest day!

Weekly total - 39.93 miles

Week 15
Day 1 (M) - Additional Rest Day since my knee was bugging me a bit
Day 2 (T) - Really sick, no run
Day 3 (W) - Still sick, so still no run
Day 4 (T) - Still recovering, luckily this was the first day of running I really missed
Day 5 (F) - 2 miles on the Treadmill in 20:54 - I took it slow since I had a bad cough and was still getting over being sick
Day 6 (S) - 11.70 miles in 1:55:34 - Took it nice and slow since I still had a cough and wasn't feeling 100%. I was hoping to get 13, but my body told me to be done and I listened
Day 7 (S) - Rest Day

Weekly Total - 13.70 miles (Target was 26), so I was a little shy, but hopefully the sickness will be long gone before the Marathon in 3 weeks....GASP!!

Until next time....hopefully I get 1 or 2 posts in before the marathon!