We Would Never Win a Spelling Bee......

I’ve decided dad and I possibly should have our own sit-com when it comes to us partnering together using his “Spell Chart” Sophie made for him.  For many of you that know, dad can’t actually “speak” anymore to where we can understand him (it is a condition over time with the loss of muscle control that is a side effects of some Parkinson’s patients), so…. there is a Letter chart Sophie made him for him to spell things to us.  Well….for those of you who know dad….spelling isn't one of his best traits (and I think I’ve touched on it before)….  Well if you’ve also picked up from my blog or communicated via Email much with me….spelling isn’t one of my best traits either J  I’m not even sure which words came first in our massive case of laughter during the day…but I fixed dad tomato soup…I was feeding it to him and towards the end of the bowl he kept trying to say something….I thought he was telling me he was sick and tired of it J…..I then got the letter chart…..he started to spell out letters…. C….R…..A…..C….K (well either I interrupted him or he kinda had a paused moment to get his fingers going again…another Parkinson’s effect)…but I kept saying DAD…I don’t have any Crack…what in the world… (laughing of course, knowing well enough I’m certain he didn’t actually mean CRACK) J….but my brain was stuck on CRACK…he was laughing to where he couldn’t spell anymore….then I finally realized he was trying to spell CRACK….ERS….  Oh of course…who doesn’t want crackers in their soup!?

This happened several times throughout the day……it tends to be dad and I’s biggest struggle when we are on schedule together J  I suppose it could always be worse…..you just never know how we may TRY to spell things between the 2 of us, but you’d think we’d be on the same level of bad spellers and it be easier…..  I’m just glad he doesn’t’ have to dictate what is capitalized or not….for those who have received notes/announcements from dad via him being a “coach to athletes” before where everything was in CAPS LOCK…… 

So after dad got his crack…..I mean his crackers…we did what 98% (that statistic is estimated…but probably suitable) of West Virginian’s were doing at Noon on Saturday…..watching the WVU/Baylor football game…our fist big game of the Big 12 conference…..  I will highlight the game in my blog…because we won J  See…. Let’s go back a few years…well…SEVERAL years J…… dad actually went and played his freshmen year at WVU….  He had gotten a scholarship graduating from Sherman High School in southern WV (which is a very small town)….and got noticed by WVU for his athletic talents.  I suppose he’s got some bragging rights…but let’s not get him started  J  Dad discovered though it just wasn’t “him” (And I think he missed playing multiple sports) and transferred later to play at Glenville State where he ended up taking over the record books...and of course the best thing…..he met my mom….therefore allowing me to be here today (and mom to help him with his homework) J  I’ve grown up answering the question MANY times… “Are you Terry Spangler’s Kid?”  When I answered with a “yeap”….it was usually responded very quickly “Ohhhh Man…I remember one time when he…….” (Sports related story)……   We use to tease dad we didn’t believe his stories, and now we have some random person justifying them to us…..   There are very few times we could top dad’s stories that started out...”When I was your age….”

The running continues to go well….I’m just lovin’ this time of year…. This past weekend’s long run was “only” 2 hours….it was funny how my approach to the run was feeling like it was such a short little thing compared to the 3 hours the weekend before….And it will be 3 hours this coming weekend.  Being out at the farm has helped a lot with the mental approach to a change of scenery and being further out where I have the road to myself most of the time.  I had some fun pictures I took to share (and of course have seemed to misplace my camera cord somewhere).  On Sunday I laced my shoes up and got my run in and had them pick me up on their way leaving the farm.    Last night’s run was nice…the sky was beautiful when I returned home, but the picture doesn’t seem to really do much justice. 

 

I’m booking our train tickets today….so NYC Watch out! J  We decided to make it a fun adventure up, driving to DC and visiting a few friends and then taking the train to the city. I’ve never taken a train in the US before (always Europe…but now feel bad not here)…so this will be a fun adventure all around J

We keep pushing towards our goal…..and I finished the flyer for our upcoming event on the 24^th of this Month….so if you’re interested…We’d LOVE to see you there…and make a little party before the trip to NYC.  Sponsorships for the event are available, tickets on sale….and we’ll see you there

AND....today marks the 30 days out.....AHHHHH :)

Thank you dad for knowing…..everyone

I’ve been told MANY times in my life….”Missy do you ever know a stranger?”… no sorry….I’ve got the genes of my father who has never met a stranger…nor ran out of a story to tell a stranger J  I can’t tell you how many times my mom had heard the phrase ‘MOOOOOMMMMMM can we PLEASE go now”…and her response would be “We are waiting on your dad to stop talking”  I’m sure that’s why many times we hitched rides home with friends because there could be the possibility of dad NEVER leaving if it meant for him to “stop talking”   As you grow older you find yourself filling in the time lapse waiting on him to stop talking, and then you yourself starting to talk to others…and slowly but surely you tend to find yourself being your father J  I should come with a warning label that I may not be on time, not because it takes me so long to get ready….but because I probably stopped and got tied up talking to someone.

To note a few of the weekend fun activities, I decided to re-name my Friday run to Fun Run Friday while Brock worked on “deer hunting” stuff at one of the farms….(you know season is approaching)….I took the dog and was ready to hit a true WV country road, mud puddles included.  You can guarantee that if there was a mud puddle, Smokes was running right through the middle of it, I gave up on attempting to keep him and me relatively clean and just went with it.  It may not have been the furthest 60 minute run but it was a fun one, and some days that’s perfectly fine (at least in my book) J  After covering the car seat and letting smokes play in the creek to clean off a little bit we loaded him up in the Jeep and headed to Ritchie County.

Trails on Friday

Saturday….the thought concept of a 3 hour run was quickly starting to consume my thoughts…I mean 3 hours….do you know where I could drive to in 3 hours?.... I could be in Pittsburgh, Dayton, etc.  Who runs for 3 hours!?...oh right…me….  We ran a couple morning errands….and on the way back to the farmhouse I had Brock drop me off about 6 miles out to go ahead and get started…..   I couldn’t’ have asked for a nicer day for this.  Perfect weather, perfect temperature, new and pretty scenery…and all dogs were tied up J  It’s a runners dream!  I got to the farmhouse in about 52 minutes and made a tiny stop to re-fill my water bottle and head on another loop….During that pit stop I realized smokes hadn’t come back with the other dog yet after their morning adventure…but I didn’t think TOO much about it at the time.  I headed back down the other direction to keep on running…the sky appeared pretty where I was….through the run I made a few turns and then it had me heading a different direction and I realized the dark clouds…hmmm..this might not be good…so I decided I better turn around just in case as I was about 40 minutes away from the house.  I got back and no rain and the clouds were was quickly passing…but I also realized no Smokes either.  I was starting to get a little worried at this point so I was looping my runs around the farm house seeing if he was in a field or something.  So now….my 3 hours of running are over…. And I can’t find the dog L

We did some looking, checked with the neighbors etc.  Nobody had seen him.  We had a fun visit with Rhonda and Bryan Ireland who stop to visit and check up on the search for him some and we got to sneak in a visit with the 3 girls who helped take our minds off the worrying J  Bryan has now taken over dad’s life of being surrounded by woman and having 3 girls…I’m sure at one point dad’s advice to him was “Good Luck” J  We were laughing at how loud the house is going to be…because at least with us 3 girls..If someone wasn’t listening to the story we were telling over the other one…we just started to talk louder.

I ended up calling mom and asked her if she would put something on Dad’s Facebook about Smokes missing….I said Dad knows a lot more people around here..and maybe somebody has seen him.  Sure enough…less than an hour after mom posted it on Facebook…mom got a phone call with a gentleman saying  “Does the husky have a black color”…and there you have it…Smokes has been found…a mere 4 miles or so “down the road”.  So thank you dad…for knowing everyone….even down all the back roads that made us fear we wouldn’t find him J  Thank you to such a nice person who brought Smokes back at 10pm on his rhino because Smokes had fallen asleep in the back of it.  Apparently Smokes thinks he’s training for a marathon too after his runs with me, I just need to educate him on the importance of returning home.

We stopped to visit dad on our way back through and kept laughing at how it all worked out.  I suppose this is what happens when they say “let your kids go and make their own mistakes”….Well….Smokes is grounded J

Hope you enjoy the view from the window buddy.....You're now on home confinement for awhile.... :)

 

We are starting with some of the tapering aspects of running….so this week is just another week full of miles J (with that long run creeping up on the weekend again) J  At least it’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy them. 

We had a GREAT weekend of donations (thank you)…and continue to creep up on our goal…we are VERY close to the halfway mark of our goal ($10,000) and pushing at $5000 so we are excited!  I can’t wait to tell dad what our final total will be after our events and continued support.  We are currently 6^th on the “Team Fox” team for the NYC marathon for fundraising….so we hope to make a big impression with that as well and show Team Fox what we all can do together J

In case you were wandering….41 days….

Catchin' Up To Do

OK Ok….I know I’ve been a TERRIBLE blogger….  Yikes….if I could only type/write while running I could possibly catch up on some things!  This madness of a count down and making the most of what time we have left before the big day is starting to steal my hours away from me.  Oh…and my job….silly work/jobs get in the way of all the fun J  (Ok not really….I actually love my job..most days J) 

 So where to begin…..I’ve been a bit crazy the last few weeks of maintaining the mileage as well as trying to plan and organize our last little push before the race regarding fundraising and awareness of what we are doing.  (Those who know my perfectionist ways know that just getting it done isn’t acceptable)  Dad asks me every time we are out to the house what day the race is so I really want to make this big for him and surprise him with a big finish to Team Fox contribution.

If you aren’t busy in October…you are about to be J (Hopefully we have something to fit everyone’s schedule)

Here is some updated event details we have for some events we are working on to give it our best shot towards the marathon and most important have fun and raise awareness for our passion with Parkinson’s. 

October 18^th…from 5pm-7pm you can fill yourself up with Homemade Chili/Soup Beans benefit dinner at Wyngate Assisted Living (And don’t fear…it won’t be homemade by me for all those who may have had a slight panic attack there).   Along with that there will be cornbread, celery sticks, fresh baked cookies, as well as hot chocolate and apple cider.  They are requesting donations of $5 per dinner, so we’d love to see you there!  Weather permitting as well they will have a bonfire and Jeremy Casto from Party Time DJ Services to entertain!  We have put together some silent auction items as well for the event and would welcome anymore donations to help with it.  All proceeds will go along with fundraising efforts for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

October 20^th, we are still having the Scrapbooking Crop in Charleston.  Details (From my cousin Carrie) for this event are:

Saturday, October 20, 2012

9am - 7pm

Southeast Activity building, 50th Street & MacCorkle Ave. Kanawha City

Cost is only $30.00 with proceeds going to Team Spangler / TEAM FOX

We will have cropping, food, fun, door prizes, silent auction and raffles all to help raise money for this great cause, but we need your help and support to make it a success!

Proceeds from this fundraising crop will go to Team Spangler - in honor of my cousin, Terry Spangler - as he is battling Parkinson's disease. His daughter Missy (a fellow scrapper as well!) has been accepted to run the NYC Marathon in November as a member of Team Fox, (Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's Foundation), honoring her dad. These fundraising efforts go directly to Team Fox.

To register, or if you have any questions, please contact Carrie at: cropcarrie@gmail.com or call directly at (304) 437-3850

Our Last and Final Big Party to finish up will be:

 “Shakin’ it Up Social” at the Parkersburg Country Club

 Wednesday October 24^th from 5pm-8pm.   

We are finalizing sponsors for that now…so if you would like to participate as a sponsor please please please Email me at MissySpangler22@yahoo.com for more information.  We promise to have some fun activities that remind us of dad to keep in the spirit of how we all have come together, and to have some fun!  We will have a DJ there as well…along with lots of silent auction items to choose from! We will have an assortment of games and activities, T-shirts to sell.  We will have Parkinson’s awareness information as well here to provide and help to anyone we can reach out to.  Tickets will be on sale for $20 pre-sell/$25 at the door and will include 1 drink ticket and heavy appetizers.  We will have a Team Spangler banner as well for everyone to sign for us to give to dad and show him how much support he has.  Feel free to spread the word and invite your friends for a fun evening.  We’ve got 45 days to make some big things happen!

Progress, notes from everyone, and support continue to come in and it’s been so enjoyable to hear from everyone! We received a Dollar From Jefferson and Wood Counties to help with our 55 County Project…we also received a Dollar (With the help of Diane J) from NC, SC, MD, and TX! J  And not to forget that we went “international” this week with an American Dollar coming all the way from England!  I will post a picture soon showing where all the dollars have come from so far for those keeping track!

Dollar for Dad From England! :) 

 Ohhhh and the running thing…see how much goes on J  This is my FAVORITE time of the year to run…scenery is ever changing with leaves, temperatures are much more tolerable, and it’s XC season of course!  Last weekend I did my longer run (however it snuck back down to 2 hours) as a recovery weekend of miles.  I circled around some routes in Ritchie County …funny how I referred to it that day as only 2 hours…..Kinda scary when I caught myself J  I did however sneak a few “tempo spurts” into the run….I took Smokes (the dog) with me for part of the run so every time he saw a squirrel, deer or any movement he decided sprinting was a good idea and we were jetting off before I had the chance to pull him back.  No big fish caught  this weekend….squirrel season snuck in so that was show and tell for dad this time J  This weekend however don’t fear we creep back up to 3 hours….so question is…who wants to run with me or bike J

Sunday’s run was a really nice change of routine.  I got to meet up with my cousin John and talk his ear off while we ran for a little over an hour. J  It’s always nice to have company and a new route to keep things changing.  I’ve been keeping the evening runs steady as to logging the miles, and trying to throw in a little bit of speed work throughout as to what the workout calls for.  How far is this race again….ohhh yes 26.2 miles J  I’ve been chatting a lot lately with other fellow Team Fox goers and am so glad I decided to do this journey and take all of you along with me!

I leave you today with a thought I asked someone the other day who kept complaining about something a little senseless..."What have you done today to make a difference?"....I ask myself that a lot when the little things seem to matter more then they should to help put myself into prospective of what matters...my goal is to somehoe make a difference in something each day.....so what did you do today?

Now…I hate to run (no pun intended) J…..but I better get back to it….I’ll check back in soon…..  Don’t forget….45 days to make a difference!


I think I gave away a few secret stories of dad (or was he my coach?) this night :)

Terry's Kids Reunion Evening

 

Are my legs moving?

Today when my feet hit the floor getting out of bed I wasn’t quite sure if they were going to move or not….it seemed the soreness has settled in overnight and froze all my muscles after the long run yesterday.  Shuffling my feet without much of a stepping motion got me around until things started to loosen back up. 

I am so happy to see Fall here…..the crisp air is a welcome change to some of the hot and humid days we’ve had lately.  I am so looking forward to the fall change of scenery as it’s one of my favorites to enjoy through the runs. 

I’ll back up a little and highlight the weekend….Saturday we spent with dad while mom had a Cross Country meet.  I think I’ve mentioned it before, but mom has been coaching cross country since dad had to retire from it and keeps dad updated on all the latest running news with the kids.  The Rebel cross country team had a great day!  I got a phone call from Holli before mom got home so I always tease between those 2 who get to me first for updates J  Johnny Hogue won the meet for the Rebels!  His time was a good bit faster this year compared to last and race conditions were a little crazier this year.  He must be a rain runner J  The boys finished up 2^nd in the meet overall….a lot the middle school kids are coming around learning the new sport to them, and the girls continue to work to improve.  It’s always a great day to be a rebel.

We teased dad a good bit on Saturday when doing a few things.  I kept teasing whenever we’d have to move his legs a few times and knowing it had to hurt him…..I’d respond with a “remember when you told me to suck it up……etc….boy dad it sure is coming back to haunt you now”  J  I’ve said it before…and I’ll say it a million times….Humor is the best medicine…..We’ve learned to laugh and joke about some of the difficult times and how to handle them. 

I ended up post-poning my long run (does that story sound familiar) till Sunday….so I went to run a few of the “country roads” around the house to get a 55 minute run in on Saturday and enjoy the scenery some.  It is funny how easily some childhood memories can sneak into your head when you visually see things you haven’t seen in awhile.  I also felt myself a little bit more startled at dogs barking being in a “new” area again and not knowing the neighbors dogs after last weekend, so lucky all were friendly J

How could you not enjoy this run?

As for Sunday….minus the mental block I had to work my way through I convinced Brock to ride the bike with me for a little while to make a go at this 2 Hour and 45 minute run my training log told me to do.  I don’t know what it is….but these runs get the best of me sometimes with just the anticipation of it….where will I go for that long?....what will I do?....How will I feel?....Can I do it?....somewhere in there I tell myself “Seriously Missy stop being such a baby…what is your problem”…. That obviously is dad’s input J  I think sometimes I Fear doing it by myself….like if I’m miles and miles from home I get bored or something in the midst of the mental pressure you put on yourself.  I’ve always been a thinker…so I’ll consume myself with time…mile pace….distance….pace I run the hill…should I push myself at this point….if I push myself now will I make it the entire run… wonder if I’ll feel this way in the race…wonder what other people are doing training and will I match up to them…..  When I realize I’m partly going nuts and need sidetracked from my own thoughts I realize this might be what people call crazy J  Having someone to chat with or breaking up my thoughts as well as handing me water off and on was a great change of pace (for a lack of the irony of that statement) J  Don’t tell him, but I’m not sure I could have done that run without him getting me through the first 10 miles or so.  That first step of 17/18 miles was a tough one to do. 

I do have to say it made me feel a little better to hear him complain how sore he was from riding the bike and the hills… I’ll regret that statement the next time I try talk him into going J 

I also underestimated the time it would take me to do some of the loops (which I guess is a good thing) but then I had to keep running when mentally I thought I could stop by that point!  Brock by this point drove in the car a few times to check on the time left and I assume to make sure I was still moving J  It did make me laugh when I had to run back up our main road a mile each way…and I passed a little kid I’d probably passed about an hour prior and he asked me if I was lost and remembered where I lived.  I probably appeared a little delirious at that point but told him I only had 2 more minutes and hopefully could finally go home J

I’m certain that is the longest run I’ve done yet in my life….I don’t think we ever snuck up that high in mileage for a single run in high school or college so I’ll take that accomplishment until the 3 hour run creeps in I saw on the training log J  I suppose goals and records are meant to be broken J  So until next Saturday/Sunday….I’ll claim this as my longest run J

 

"Whether you think you can or can't...you're Right" -Henry Ford

I started off my day going to You Tube and watching the Team Fox Video….I just felt like I needed to remind myself of some “bigger” things in life and not let the little things get to me too much.  Sometimes the bigger picture is lost in the grass of everyday minor issues.

 

I shared this video before, but in case you missed it…this helps explain just what Team Fox is All About...if you need a feel better video..give it a click. 

Now onto this running thing….  I made a “girl call” to Dorsey Chevront at On the Run and Walk in Parkersburg….  Basically I said I need orange shoes and told him that was the “girliest” question he’d ever hear me ask J  I am looking to get the orange “sleeves” and orange shoes for the marathon to “match” my team fox gear J  If you have lost track of time….that happens in 57 days/22 hours/13 minutes/22 seconds as I type this (not that I’m counting down). 

I’ve just been logging some miles and minutes this week…I did one of the “tempo” workouts they suggested for the week and rearranged a few runs since I switched up my long run day to Sunday this past weekend.  I keep getting consumed I need more miles…but need to switch up the strength aspect as well.  Yes I know they are both equally important, but the mental game is sometimes a tough battle.

I just wanted to give you a little mini Team Spangler update this week so everyone can start to save the dates if you’d like of a few events coming up.  I received another donation this week I mailed into Team Fox that puts us REALLY close to the $4000 mark, and I’m really excited about that!  I ordered another 100 shirts to have on hand to sell at a few upcoming events, and can still get more in for anyone who wants them…Help us spread Team Spangler everywhere J

This is what we are about....
 

I received a message from Wyngate Senior Living Community in Parkersburg, who’s “Golden Girls” group has helped us raise money earlier this year wanting to do another event for us!  They have offered to have a “Chili Dinner” event on October 18^th at their facility (will confirm times later and exact details…but right now looking around 5pm-7pm)  We will have a few silent auction gift baskets as well.  There will be a DJ to provide some fun.  A big thanks goes to Jeremy Casto with Party Time DJ Services who probably wishes he’d never met me through the chamber and all the things I volunteer him for. J 

We also have information regarding the scrapbooking crop we noted earlier to be set for October 20^th in Charleston with help from my cousin Carrie Ford.  If you can sneak away for the day it would be a great day!  You can get more information on it at:

Crop for a Cure Information

I’m looking forward to the weekend of another long run (even longer then last week) to feel a little bit better about the mileage J  I’ll be in Ritchie County so looking forward to a different route to enjoy and switch things up a bit.  Don’t worry I’ll try to stay clear of dogs J

I’ll end with this quote for the weekend as I’ve thought this a few times randomly this week feeling overwhelmed….    “Whether you think you can or can’t….you’re right”….Can and Can’t change your approach in life….from wishing to doing… So find a way to “can do” something this weekend and change it up a little bit, to make an excuse is easier then doing.

“Who Let the dogs Out”…No Seriously…..

If you don’t know the song…then I’m sure you’re thinking I have a weird sense of humor and where did she come up with that…if you do know the song…I’m certain you still think I have a weird sense of humor and I apologize that the song in now stuck in your head.  We loved that song in high school because it was just one of those songs that stick in your head and just so happened to be one of our high school rivals mascots so it only seemed fitting (the boys on the team may not have thought so but it was a nice thing to harass them with on long road trips)…. 

I blog with a heavy heart today.  My hometown community has had a rough weekend of tragedy that has struck and it’s always so hard when it hits so close to home.  Please know for the 2 tragedies that have happened that a community of prayers are and thoughts are behind to help through the hard times of all those involved.   

I have had a whirlwind of the last week.  I forgot to warn you that work will be taking me out of town along with a hectic schedule to blog through due to events scheduled for all day.  Now…don’t feel too sorry for me in the meantime, as having to “work” at West Virginia’s Finest and Historic Hotel, The Greenbrier, doesn’t make work all that difficult.  You tend to escape into another lifestyle when going there that it’s almost hard to want to come back to reality.  I will never complain about having 3 gourmet meals provided to me each day that I know I couldn’t prepare myself even with my hardest of efforts.  Believe me when I say I used the excuse “I’ve been running and training for a marathon….I need to eat” every opportunity I had. 

The Greenbrier.....One of the highlights of WV

I can't believe they made us suffer through a dinner event with this view :)
We were told this was a home Jerry West stayed in often before he built a house there....

My side note to all this though and the running side of things, it is truly unfair for a girls legs to even want to cooperate with the concept of running after having to be walking around in heels all day.  Maybe I’m just not use to it, but that is exhausting on your legs! J  Before you roll your eyes boys…you should try it and get back with me on it. 

My running story today reflects my long run…those seem to take precedence most weeks I’m beginning to see.  I was supposed to do it on Saturday….and somehow I hate to admit that I talked myself out of it on Saturday and pushed it to Sunday…if you ask I had about 15 solid excuses as to why….  You know..weather…humid…heat…etc (You get the idea)…..  So thank goodness I stuck to it on Sunday…woke up early….and made myself get to moving my legs before I talked myself out of it….  I had 2 ½ hours ahead of me to conquer what my training schedule told me.  This was my longest run yet so far..and they continue to get a little longer for a short bit more.  I enjoy it once I get going…I love it actually….it’s just some days the mental game is a little more than others.  Sunday was one of them.  I passed by my furthest “turn around spot” so far on this route..and almost seemed overwhelmed that I still had about 20 more minutes to go before I needed to turn around.  So…I obviously just kept running….  Before I knew it….. here comes 2 dogs running towards me.  At first my happy self wanted to think…”Ohhh hey dogs…it’s ok..I’m only running through…with a soft voice”….then realize soft voice or not..these dogs aren’t as friendly as my nonstop licking your face husky is at home.  Apparently I missed the 3^rd dog coming over before I felt a quick nip at the side of my leg….then I got mad.  Beyond the crazy barking and growling the owner who came out on the porch didn’t seem to care too much, mind you it was an older lady…but I referenced still trying to be friendly that your dogs aren’t very nice and you should probably tie them up (I also said I needed to come back through here and if they could to please tie them up)….She never left her porch….  When I came back through…of course the dogs were still out…so my tone of niceness had sense disappeared and my affirmative get back or else seemed to at least get me through without another ordeal and they finally left me alone.

 

Why can't all dogs just be as friendly as "Smokes" :)

For those of you who haven't seen him since my blog post when he was just a little guy....

 

I don’t think I really realized that I should have actually been scared….and it could have been worse.  Ohhhh the life of a runner and random dogs, I’d almost forgotten.  We use to know where every potential dog problem use to be and could have avoided it.  Lesson learned to be better prepared.  It also took my mind off of the fact of my route of running.  The WV Hills are an understatement when you are going for 2 ½ hours…Every time it seems I turned a curve in the road…there was another hill waiting for me!  Don’t get me wrong…it was beautiful scenery….but my gosh! J   I wish I had a picture to share a few images of the run, my cell phone has decided it didn’t want to last long enough anymore to handle the runs with me…so I’ve added a new phone to the wish list/to do list and  left this one at home. (Which yes creates another problem to the planning runs better aspect)

I also made one pit stop at a neighbors for a quick little water break….I of course under estimated the level of “hotness” of the temperature….  So moral of the story…the 2 ½ hour long run is marked off the training list and no records were broke through the process of it J  Now to stick to the training schedule this week so I don’t keep going through panic stages of being prepared for NYC. 

60 days..WHAT!?!….Insert Rocky Theme in my head before nerves set in… J

Tired Legs...

Well it’s Monday alright….  I’m beginning to get sleepier and sleepier from the miles logged on the weekend when Monday hits J 

Last week got away from me a little bit with the blogging, so again I’ll criticize myself to stay more on top of it (again). 

Friday night’s highlight should be on the start of Football Season!  (Oh and for a scheduled day off of running but I suppose that’s not important right now) J

Dad could have been found every Friday night in high school on the football field with his #10 Sherman Tide high school football jersey.  As rumors and stories have it touchdown after touchdown being thrown (I suppose I will believe a few of those stories he told us, since I’ve heard them from a few others as well) J 

Dad is on the Far Right #10

This past Saturday I got to spend with dad…Mom had the first Cross Country Meet of the Season; Autumn Classic, so we went to stay with dad.  I could almost feel nervous at the anticipation of getting another season of Cross Country started for them.  Dad had the marathon of “Swamp People” on when we got there so him and Brock were set for the day regarding entertainment.  When mom got back from the meet she got to highlight dad on how all the runners did.  I know he still looks forward to those updates and keeping up with everyone.  

In the earlier evening I set off to run my scheduled 2 hours and 15 minute long run of the week.  Brock stated if I had just started when I initially debated starting I would have been done by then, point proven, I laced up my shoes and decided to try to stay a little close because the weather looked "iffy".  Staying close for over 2 hours was a bit more difficult than I anticipated….Kelly was getting a run in too so I joined her when I was coming back from one of the back roads and looped around a little bit with her to have some company J  I routed back through and ran some roads I hadn’t ran on since high school so it was a nice reminder of things, the WV Country Roads sure make it enjoyable, and I of course noted where all the deer were to report back to dad and Brock.  I debate with myself many things during these long runs; I assume it’s normal to have several conversations with yourself in your head to fill up the time span of 2 hours.  It’s also really random what crossing your mind at times.

There is nothing like coming back exhausted, with the soreness already start to creep in on your legs to a room full of Dad, Brock, and mom stuffing their face with Ice Cream Cones.  They all were laughing too waiting to tell me of the fishing tales that took place while I was gone too. 

See.. dad had a little pond put in on our property a little behind our house.  It’s been there for several years now and when he could…you could always find dad fishing up there when he’d get a few minutes break.  Smokes (the dog) discovered the pond this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed swimming a few laps in it.  Brock decided he’d go for a bit of fishing and quickly caught a little catfish.  He brought it down to the house to show dad, as dad before has asked Brock if the catfish he put in there are still there and how big they were.  We hadn’t had much luck on the catfish side of things there so Brock brought the smaller one to show dad this time.  He went back to fishing and low and behold got another one….this one a bit more “story worth”…  I suppose the one dad put in that should be bigger by now has been discovered.  (Also..you can imagine the dramatic emphasis of detail and lavish fish exaggeration of story details I was told upon the final proof of the picture of the fish)  So I think dad was pretty tickled to see this being brought to the window for him to see that had been in his pond.  (Don’t worry Brock says the picture makes the fish look smaller than it really is…of course…it’s a fisherman’s tale) J

 Sunday was definitely a recovering run day, and I under estimated how warm it was.  I’m kinda lost in the midst of a mind set of summer still here but fall sneaking around the corner with the cooler evenings.  I was supposed to run 40-50 minutes today but somehow that turned into 55 minutes.

Another week of training is in the training logs, and yet I’m still getting nervous at moments that all this is happening too fast and if this 26.2 miles will be as bad as I’m scared it potentially could be J  Right now I hit a wall of doubt around 14 miles…so if I’m correct in hoping I side track myself with 10 miles of sight-seeing….I should be able to just forget the other 2 miles somewhere in the midst of all this and reach the 26 mile mark (the .2 will just have to run itself) J  We’ve got the room booked for the marathon…debating now on driving or flying….so the minor details can continue to fill themselves in J  I know I’ve found myself excited to talk to dad about it and something for us all to look forward to, so I guess now the hard decision of the day …which direction to run J