2008 Races and a Christmas Dinner Tribute

Certified races finished by Sweet Pea and Sunshine in 2008:

200 meter... 3 races
400 meter... 1 race
1 mile... 2 races
5K... 6 races
8K... 1 race
10K... 3 races
10 mile... 2 races
Half marathon... 3 races
Marathon... 2 races

Total: 23 certified races ... plus other uncertified races

One age group award in a marathon
I have now advanced to the highest age group, but I'm not dead yet!

.....................................

In celebration of a Christmas dinner....
... That's a gluten-free meringue pie crust... (like my mom used to make.)

Imagine a Christmas dinner... organic food, seasoned and cooked to perfection...
Grilled chicken breast, whole carrots, cauliflower, fruit salad... and the dessert pictured above.

Certainly a healthy feast for everyone at the table...
Considering recent evidence that pesticides do cause cancer...

A magnificent gift to us... and I didn't have to cook it!

Thank you Dear Ones!!

Christmas Angel

Angel at the top of the lovely Christmas tree at the home of my brother and his wife.

Hoping your Christmas was good.

A puzzle for New Years Eve:
If you are ever blessed enough to reach the age of 70,

HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE?


Wishing You....
Blessed and joyful New Year.. filled with loved ones, running and cross-training, and the healthiest food.

PS... Last run of the year: 6K at the community center indoor track

Christmas Eve

Christmas lights.
I was so full of Christmas spirit (not the alcoholic kind) that I didn't think of taking a picture of the decorated St. Andrew's sanctuary ... Christmas Eve family service at 4pm ... sign interpreted for the deaf.

So... imagine here ... the magnificent tree decorated with colored lights ... organ pipes across the chancel in the background ... huge multi-sided gold star hanging above ...
(Well, a picture would have been better!)

I delight in Christmas lights.

Below... a crystal bowl filled with an "ice cube" string of LED light.
The LED's are bright, cool (literally temperature cool), and a fabulous energy saver.

May you be blessed with Light.

December 2008

First of all, we'd like to say we have been running... on indoor tracks. Today we were at the Challenge Courage races at Bethel University.
Winter came early!!
Below: really huge snow blower at Fleet Farm parking lot.

With early arrival of cold temps, displays of warm hats and gloves at store entances and check-outs.
A very special party at work for our Precious Sweet Pea. Many Chinese restaurant take-out entrees, plus gluten-free ginger cookie ice cream (Breyers) sandwiches (made with love!)
Dear children of our Godson; picture by Sweet Pea.

What's Going On?

Making tracks on the elevated indoor track at the community center

Brought sweet potato pie to the Stillwater myeloma meeting

Mailed a Christmas box to distant family

Regularly reading some runner's blogs

Read about the new Weight Watchers Momentum plan on message boards

Shoveling snow off the deck

Shivering

Regular blood check-up and meeting with Mayo Dr. for myeloma

Delighted to hold Godson & wife's baby after baptism

Staying well, eating good food, getting sleep

"Confessions of a Fat Runner"

Newsweek, December 8th issue... page 20
"Confessions of a Fat Runner".. by Jennifer Graham
of Hopkinton MA.

Happy Thanksgiving

Running running... and getting ready for Thanksgiving.

Don may run outdoors in nearly any kind of weather.. and sometimes he goes with us to the indoor track. I sort of prefer temperatures above 25 for outdoor activity (which means I don't ski anymore).
Running in above 40 degree weather is a great thing: shoes, shorts (optional knee covers), a shirt or two (or three?) ... depending on the humidity and the wind... and just run run run!

Thanksgiving is a great holiday... family together... no gifts required ...nearly everybody celebrates it...
Hoping you can spend it with those you love.

Extra encouragement to eat turkey... from Minnesota... first in the nation in turkey production.

Gobble gobble!

Great News and Well, the Weather

Be sure to check out Don's monthly myeloma report:
myelomahope.blogspot.com

This November weather is getting annoying: cold, windy, cold, gray, cold, snow flurries, cold.
The unseasonably cold weather hit suddenly, you see.
And reasonable weather theology would say we didn't deserve that because the winter dragged on (last "spring") until summer finally came.

We are keeping on running... at a community center with a very nice indoor track.
Around and around and around....
But oh my, that beats cold, windy, cold ....
Happy running!

First Snowfall

Monday and Tuesday were spectatular... September weather!
Also, we are celebrating some election results and hoping for restored international relations.. and other good changes.

Chickadees, nuthatches and cardinals flocked to the feeder when the snow came on Thursday.

Later this week: Freezing weather and time to sign up at indoor track center.

Summer: lots of races, 5 marathons, some half marathons, and where did it go??

Amendment... Don ran 5 marathons.. and that 10 miles that was supposed to be a marathon in St. Charles.
Sweet Pea and I did only 2 marathons (sigh), 3 half marathons, the Twin Cities 10 mile .. and many shorter races: 5K, 8K, 10K

Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

Don ran the marathon (32nd marathon, 19th state); Sweet Pea and I did the half.
Don's myeloma diagnosis was just after his first marathon. He has no symptoms and doctors say, whatever you are doing, keep doing it.
Both race started out together.. for the first 6 miles. Weather was just right for running: temp around 50 degrees.
Indianapolis is a city of monuments, many of them made from Indiana limestone.
Gatorade in "poison" cups.. On Halloween day.
Little trick or treat bags of chocolate candy were a fun addition to the race bags.

Marvelous fall color all weekend... Pumpkins decorated doorsteps for Halloween.... and Obama lawn signs were abounding on the historic north side of Indianapolis.
The race began and ended near the Indiana State Capitol Building.
Registration was in the rotunda of the capitol. No security screening was imposed
There was NO expo.

But the next day...
when Post-race spaghetti was offered there, too.. somebody decided to set up security screening, locked all but one entrance to the building....

AND FINISHERS WERE REQUIRED TO (TEMPORARILY) SURRENDER FINISHERS MEDALS, CELL PHONES, CAMERAS, ETC TO GO THROUGH SECURITY BEFORE ENTERING THE CAPITOL TO
SEE THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS POSTED AND EAT POST-RACE FOOD!!!

Truly, during the race, police and volunteers were super.
Only a few motorists had missed the road closing warnings and honked impatiently.

A walk along the canal... You can click to enlarge the wording on the plaque.
Sunset on a beautiful day.. as we drove all the way back to St. Paul from Indianapolis.
Next morning we ran a 5K on the University of Minnesota golf/cross country course.
... final race of the local grand prix season.