Ritchie County....Come On Down

So I started this blog on March 5^th….I was filtering through some of the entries and it really seems like all this just started…..We are now 30 days from the marathon….. I swear I was just running up the road thinking it was a solid 7-8 mile run and discovering it was MAYBE a little over 4 J

Train tickets have been confirmed…..hotel confirmed…..race confirmed…. Researching “to do’s”….   I discovered I’m off Monday (hello government holidays)…so I’ve already created my full day of things to do which is probably more then I would have done in a work day.  I need to get my orange shoes…orange running sleeves….you know necessities for the marathon to represent Team Fox.

I’m so excited earlier today we hit the $5,259 mark for fundraising!  I mailed out some additional donation request letters and flyers for the upcoming events.  I really think we can make this $10,000 mark happen!  There are over 200 runners for Team Fox….and just for those that may not know…. There are 42,000 runners in the NYC marathon….so yes…that’s pretty much the population of the 2^nd largest city in West Virginia (not to be confused with the MOST populated city of Morgantown given a game day….we discussed that fact with the governor’s wife Tuesday) J

Just to make a note of a Fun Friday story…..  Play this song…. It’s very catchy and I’m sure you’ve heard it before……

  (Price is Right Theme Song)

Now…. One of the funniest most random memories I have of dad coaching our XC team is cruising down the hill at the State Meet held in Elkins…..We had our CD of music selections (yes...they were rather random)…..dad cranks down the driver’s side window…. Turns up this song basically to full blast…..Slows the van down and starts Shouting… “Ritchie County Come On Down!!!!!”

Well….Ritchie County’s team is here (obviously)!  Dad was the biggest jokester….the biggest motivator….but don’t think he wasn’t direct, assertive, and competitive.  He had such a balance that his athletes wanted to do better…not for themselves…but for others…for him…for their teammates…, and I don't ever remember questioning anything he said.

I struggle today with so many excuses kids have.  Why they can’t do something..What happened to the  I’m going to do this…. there are coaches’ who dedicate so much of their time into making kids better….trust me coaches don’t do it for the money….if that is the case they make about a penny and hour, and being a business person…I reccomend I think they need to re-evaluate their investments.  Most do it for the kids….and I wish kids got that anymore, there is this sense of entitlement that has taken over where they should just ‘be good’ and that’s that.  If they aren’t it’s the coaches fault or someone else’s…….  I remember if there was ANYTHING I didn’t get….it wasn’t about an excuse…it was what are you going to do about it.  The answer 99% of the time….Work Harder.

Now sorry for the tangent….. BUT….  I reflect back on dad as a coach so much, and all these athletes that constantly check in on him, are concerned with him, and keep up with him….. What an amazing example he set…not just for me and my sisters, but from the people I get notes from regarding it. 

Now….after ranting and raving about that….I’m setting myself to not be allowed to complain about having a 3 hour run tomorrow, nor make up an excuse to shorten it or push it off a day J  Ugghhh these conscious thoughts I’ve had placed in my head over the years J  

Well…. I better get back to it…. I try to keep telling myself Rome wasn’t built in a day J

In-between the serious aspects of coaching....he of course had to get a picture with the Cow......

Let the Icing begin

Apparently I got too excited about the long run Sunday and should have known better as to the soreness that would come next J  I suppose some things you never learn.  (Random) Like eating tortilla chips before a run… I’ve done that a million times, yet, NEVER learn my lesson!?  Maybe it’s just me J

I had a hill workout scheduled for last night that I altered a little bit.  We were supposed to do 8 hill repeats around 1 minute each…I did 6 and added some time onto the other part of the run…our long runs should be on Saturday but since I had to alter days around my legs are still just TIRED…so I didn’t want to do anything too silly.  I suppose nothing a little couch sitting while watching International House Hunters while icing my legs can’t cure J

I am wanting to check in more often as I promised I would with everyone…I want to change these blog entries  around sometimes too so it’s always different J

Yesterday I checked the PO Box (which for me I get excited like it’s Christmas or something)….there was a return address on the envelope around the Pittsburg area that I didn’t recognize so I tore into the envelope and it was a lady in the area who had heard of our story (I believe from my grandma Nelson but still checking that), however she had the sweetest note included that spoke of her husband having Parkinson’s and her daughters are runners and send a little donation to help out with our project here.  I can’t express how the random notes lift my spirits and I always call mom right away to have her relay the information onto dad.  It’s always amazing how connected so many of us are in ways we never knew, and the goal to work together to find a cure for this disease can be discovered $1 at a time.

Tonight we are suppose to do cross training (this storming is aggravating me)…someone please agree with me so I don’t feel crazy that I struggle at the thought and concept of cross training. I  KNOW it’s important, but even in college when we were supposed to do swim workouts instead or something, I somehow always felt I was cheating training because I wasn’t actually running.  I know there are studies done and so forth to prove things….but mentally I still struggle at feeling like it was “ENOUGH” of a workout to mean something. 

I’m trying to stay on the fundraising routine too of keeping up on things we can do and continue to move forward with opportunities to reach our main goal of $10,000.  I’ve discovered I’m going to approach this in 1% increments so I feel like I’m getting somewhere quicker each time….so I’ve broken down my mini goals into $100 which equals 1%.... My cousin Jim has been my email pen pal in planning and he will probably soon regret telling me to tell him what to do… I can tend to be bossy and nonstop J  We are looking to host 1 or 2 after hours/early evening events in Parkersburg so it’s a easier atmosphere to get together mingle/network/visit for a purpose…with the concept of appetizers, drinks etc….we are also working on some sponsors for those events and then obtaining some silent auction items to have at those events to help raise some additional money.  I’m thinkin’ just a little “Shakin it up for Parkinson’s” theme.  We are finalizing some dates so we can move forward and get that going.  Also a scrapbooking crop event is set for October 20^th in Charleston at our other Cousin’s Crop location and she is helping us put this on…so if you are interested in that it will be a all day crop for $30 and will include prizes, some food,  as well as the hope of some silent auction items.  I’ve been asked several times by people what can they do….feel free to reach out to me if there is something particular here you want to be in on, or any other ideas you want to incorporate and I can help you with.  I’m going to be sending out some donation requests and sponsorship letters as soon as we finalize some dates… so just let me know…. ALWAYS feel free to Email me at MissySpangler22@yahoo.com.. I tend to feel like I overwhelm people through all this (I tend to be a non stop go-getter) so I’d love to hear from you J

Just a reminder…we are still doing the dollars for dad project and could still use A LOT of States!... 

If you need the direct website link to the fundraising pages to pass along it is: http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/Sponsored/TeamFox?px=1007327&pg=personal&fr_id=1210

If you want to write a check please make it out to: Michael J Fox Foundation and you can mail it to our PO Box and I’ll get it sent in with our Team:

Team Spangler

Attention: Missy Spangler

PO Box 403

Ripley, WV 25271

I Heard a GREAT quote the other day and I just wanted to share….

”We run for those who can no longer run for themselves”

  108 Days till NYC….

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day (Belated)

Running Update:

Friday- sadly I slacked this day; I had traveled to Hocking Hills to meet up with some of my friends from OH and didn’t get a run in.

Saturday- I ran a little bit in the morning and then we spent the day canoeing so hopefully that accounts for something J

Sunday- We spent the day visiting dad and the family so I didn’t get home till after dark, which means I have a lot of catching up to do with some miles this week!  One of my next longer runs I hope to do soon is from my “hometown” house to my grandma Nelson’s.  She always hated when I did that in high school because she said it made her worry….so I’ll just not tell her and surprise her one day with arriving all sweaty for a visit J

Monday- I changed my evening run around a little bit, I was still on the road but made a few different loops etc.  I ran for about 45 minutes and the rain didn’t release any of the humid in the air, which caused for a rather hot evening. 

I have to admit, I’ve started this blog post a couple times and been at a point where I’m not sure where to go with it.  Being as it’s a day to focus on our fathers….as you’ve read I focus on my dad a lot.  We visited dad and dropped off some Amish Country Cheese that brought a smile to his face which made the day for me.  (Brock proudly displayed his pictures that showed his catch of frogs from the opening weekend of Frog Gigging knowing well that dad would appreciate it)… Dad was having a bit of a rough day and seemed extremely tired and struggled at being able to respond much.  However a smile and his eyes lighting up makes it a little better.  We had a cookout at my grandparent’s (Nelson) so being surrounded by a family, laugher, sunshine and food of course made for a great day. 

I’m blessed to be able to call my inspiration in life, my favorite coach, and my best friend…”dad”.  Over the years we’ve had ups and downs in regards to learning experiences and perspectives on “life”.  I’d folded up my basketball uniform a few times in high school and set it on his bed saying I quit to prove a point J  I’ve even pretended to be asleep on a few occasions to avoid talks about what I needed to practice on, or should have done differently upon follow up game nights. (He may not actually know that, but I’ve admitted to mom) J  There have even been some life moments where I know he may not have agreed with me on what I chose to do, but he knew enough to let me figure it out on my own, and for that I’m the stronger person I am today for it. 

Dad receiving award at LKC Night of Champions

People always laughed about me never being but a few steps away from dad growing up.  There were always jokes about dad’s big blue truck he use to drive, and he’d be behind the driving wheel and I’d be standing up in the middle seat right next to him.  (Apparently that displays my age as seat belts weren’t required at that time nor the exposure of importance yet)  My number was always #7 from T-ball to Little League because that was dad’s football number. 

I always knew if dad didn’t fully agree with something because he’d ask “are you sure” at least 5 times.  If anyone knows me, I’m never SURE…..I’d rather make business decisions all day and leave the easy everyday decisions to someone else :)  I’m certain I’ve rolled my eyes several times in my lifetime of speeches J  I’m certain I didn’t always agree at that point and time whatever dad was trying to teach me if it really was going to teach me anything….but even if I don’t remember exactly what it was that particular taught me, I’m certain when I look back at specifics it lead me to understanding somehow the place that I’m at.  Dad knows how stubborn I can be, I mean to this day I’ve never been wrong (and if I was trust me I have a justified reason as to how I’m not 100% wrong) J  I was a perfectionist, (still am to a point but I’ve learned to loosen up a little)  Dad even tried to talk me into missing a day of school once for no reason, just to learn to lighten up a little but I couldn’t stand the fact of not having 100% attendance.  I remember being so sick during Cross Country one time dad literally made me go to the vehicle to sleep followed by a visit to the ER because I never really admitted to much pain which meant something really was wrong.  Dad would sometimes ask me why I was so stubborn but I think I usually just stared at me as if he’d asked a rhetorical question that deep down he knew the answer was looking right back at him. 

I suppose that stubborn gene is why dad has put up such a battle with his fight against Parkinson’s.  He’s never let any of us give up at anything.  All the right people who embrace his guidance will learn from all this and take everything they possibly can from it and be a better person because of it. 

Like I’ve said before, I’m not always the best around dad on his bad days.  It’s hard for me to see the strongest man I’ve ever known to struggle.  This journey is helping me deal with some of all this to feel like I’m fighting this with dad in some way.   I asked him on Sunday….”Dad I’m getting beat by 2 people in fundraising that’s on the NYC marathon Team with me…I know I’m not suppose to look at it like that because it’s all for a great cause….but it’s your fault I’m so competitive and can’t stand to lose…is it alright if I make this a competition?”  He shook his head yes and I’m certain he knows it was going to turn into that…and like I said….it’s his fault J

Dad with his 3 Girls

Dad isn’t just my dad....he’s a father to 3 outspoken and loud girls J; he’s a grandfather to Sophie and Carter,  He’s a “dad” to all of “Terry’s kids” from his involvement with coaching…. So for Father’s Day and Everyday…. Thank you dad…just doesn’t seem to justify the level of appreciation for all you’ve done.

Dad and Sophie

Dad with Carter (2009)

Fathers Day 2009 at Mammaw & Pappaw Nelson's

Sorry Dad...no grandkids from me yet...so your stuck with the dog as a grandkid for awhile :)