Pennsboro Coaching....

The usual “training update”

Friday:  We were en- route to Ritchie County this evening, and we didn’t get a head start early enough for me to be able to run once we got to the farm.  I think I carried things up and down the steps thinking it was my “fix” for the day

Saturday:  I snuck out of the house before I was given a “to do” activity so I could know I got my run in for the day because they were working on some projects getting ready for Brock’s Family Reunion event.  We were teasing when I got back about dodging projects.  I did truly enjoy the tiny bit of traffic and most of the time having the country roads all to myself.  (Minus the 2 snakes I passed…don’t worry I threw rocks till they slithered a safe distance away)  I ran about 5 ½ miles on a this rather sunny warm morning.  I tried to claim my sweat was from doing projects when I returned.  Too bad I couldn’t count the 4-wheeler miles we had for the day or I would have been able to claim a marathon for the day J

Sunday:  Rise and Shine…Alison laced up her running shoes and went on a run with me.  People use to think we were cousins in high school running days (which I hope the story is straight now given her and Brock being cousins)…it was fun to have a running partner for the day.  We ran around 3-4 miles maybe.  We had to hurry back to get ready for the family reunion. 

Monday:  We left the farm and stopped by to see mom and dad.  Mom had a project for us so I can at least claim some lifting as my work out for the day.  We didn’t get home prior to daylight….I think I’m going to have to start rising a little early on these busier days and run in the morning before the schedules get out of wack.

Tuesday:  I think a turtle could have beat my pace this evening.  It took at least 2 miles before I even felt like I was moving.  My legs wanted nothing to regarding movement for some reason.  I almost didn’t run the hill part of the run, but that little voice inside my head talked me back into it.  I did enjoy running back down the hill a little more after debating not to do it at all.  I ran a total of 5 miles.  

I found myself last week discussing and telling stories about Pennsboro High School’s famous “Cow Patty Bingo” Event.  Ok…maybe it isn’t “famous” but I sure think it was one of the highlighted events of the summer.  I can remember as a kid thinking it was such a go to event.  For those of you wandering what in the world is a Cow Patty Bingo….. Well you see in the country a Cow’s “Poop” is called a Patty…. Soooo to further explain….  You would square off (mark off) a large football field into individual squares…people would buy chances (which would be the squares) for spots on the field; all of the spots were labeled so people knew where their square was.  We would bring in a cow and load him onto the football field…. You could be at the event for hours upon hours…and I even remember one year it was as quick as can be.  The winner would be….wherever the cow laid his “Patty” the owner of that square wins the pot of money.  If the “Patty” landed in several of the squares depending on placement, the pot of money would be split among the square owners.  You can imagine people cheering on the cow to walk towards their purchased square on the field.

I suppose we enter into this humorous highlight of dad again….How could you not find an event like this funny?  It was a way for the community to come together, raise money, and share some laughs, and honestly speaking I didn’t know of any other way when I was growing up.

Speaking of Fund Raising....here is dad doing his part in a Dunking Booth 

        I love the movie Remember the Titans, not just because it’s a great inspirational sports movie, but because that little girl that was the coach’s daughter in the movie was me when I was little.  I didn’t know of any other place to be rather then the sidelines of the football field after school while dad coached.  Whatever dad yelled, I probably echoed it just so I could be like him.  I had a whole team full of big brothers growing up because dad coached them and if dad was there, I was probably 2 steps behind him.  Some of my best childhood memories were at the old Miles Stadium and the field house…the locker rooms were in the bottom of the building and the coaches office was at the top.  Before and after practices when I’d go to the field and up to the coach’s office to see dad, I’d have to yell “I’m coming through” right before I’d jet through the doors and up the steps so the boys would know to be “decent” for a second. 

Tommy, Jim, Dad, and "Little" Tommy
Pennsboro Cardinal Days

 So many of these memories were reflected this weekend too when I saw Bryan Ireland.  I think Bryan was always on dad’s team but then maybe it’s just he always came back to visit even when he was out of school J  Dad always loved Bryan’s work ethic and they could talk football literally as long as you’d allow them.  I remember coming back from college once visiting and Bryan stopped by to visist with dad…a few hours later his wife Rhonda called and was kinda laughing saying Bryan went out for milk and she was backtracking where he could have gotten side tracked to stop and visit along the way and just wanted to check if it was to see dad.  Sadly, I have to call out dad on this; I’m almost 100% certain mom’s had to do that same thing on several occasions. 

                Growing up in a small community was one of the best things my parents could have given us.  At times you’ll find yourself aggravated at some of the things that come along with the saying “The Best Thing about Living in a Small town, is when I don’t know what I’m doing someone else does”.  However, when dad started to get progressively worse with Parkinson’s Disease there were numerous people that have stepped in to make so many great things possible, offer to help with abundant things, and not hesitate to send an encouraging word/message/card.  When I come home to Ritchie County (and even many miles outside of Ritchie County) I get asked everywhere I go, “How’s your dad doing?”  It is a bit reassuring at that moment of the support that makes dealing with something of this sort just a tiny bit easier. 

**Thanks Tara for posting these pictures today to help be able to incorporate in today :)

"Choose to be Happy" Fundraising Friday Update

Tuesday:  What a great evening to just run,  the weather was absolutely beautiful, and I can’t say I can complain about anything bothering me J I extended the usual turn around point and got in about 6 ½ miles. 

***Today was a little milestone in regards to donation levels as we received a donation that pushed us to being officially a quarter of the way to our big goal we set, and its only May…..Thank you to all those who have followed, jumped in, and kept up with this journey….We’ve got lots of strides ahead of us to keep this going.

Wednesday: I didn’t run this evening, we had some prior plans and trying to keep some rest days for now built in.  We went and visited some neighbors we discovered we'd somewhat knew while running/biking and just had a great time!  It’s amazing the people you meet and their positive spirits are contagious.

Thursday: Last night I set off to run, only to discover loud thunder and some lighting shortly after..so I turned around and headed back home.  The storm never really got to us, so I ran some circles around close to the house just in case so I felt like I did something.  Probably got in 2 miles or so.

Just a little dad update.  It’s a little tough to talk about, but I suppose this is what this blog is all about and the reason for all this.  Dad has had a rough week, between the hardship of being bed ridden and things that come from that at times makes it difficult.  I ask mom several times a day how dad is, but sometimes I still find myself wanting to pretend nothing is wrong.  Kelly and Andy have been able to help a lot being at home and there are days I just ponder, I have no idea how mom does it.  Through the extended “Team Fox” I’ve come across after starting this, being a caregiver is something that comes up often in the discussions of trails and struggles.  I know I’ve reflected on this before, and some days I really have to focus on not being bitter about the situation.  It’s easy to consume myself with the “why” factors but I constantly tell myself whatever the situation is, you just have to make the best out of it.  I hear people complain often about silly things (which is fine), but it quickly brings me back to the realization of “it could always be worse”.  Michael J. Fox was interviewed about Parkinson’s the other night, and his phrase “Choose to be Happy” has a lot of truth to it.  If you have a few minutes watch this video….and keep remembering to Choose to be Happy….what we do today, will make a difference for tomorrow.

 Michael J Fox Interview with ABC News (Click to See)

Fundraising News:

I've been told several times as another goal for our Dollars for Dad project is to get $1 from every county in WV....so who's up for it :) WV has 55 counties I also know which counties we have covered so far from my list....so for WV Pride I think we can do that as well.

The states we have represented and donations arrived so far are (It keeps growing!):
Please note also I am still finalizing where some of the online donation people are “Located” to show representation of their location for this project.
(Also please note Canada has been represented) :)

West Virginia- Counties of (Wood, Raleigh, Boone, Ritchie, Jackson, Marshall)
Connecticut
Alaska
Hawaii
Colorado
Ohio
PA

Virginia

Vermont

California

Pennsylvania

North Carolina

New Jersey

The address to mail Dollars for Dad Project is:

Team Spangler

Attention: Missy Spangler

P.O. Box 403

Ripley, WV 25271

Our Team Fox Official Website Has Donations as of now for: $2,504.84

We are a quarter of our way to our Goal of $10,000!!!  We can do this!

The Website for it is (You can click on this link directly and donate via online):

Click here for Team Spangler for Team Fox Donation Page

I will be submitting Dollars for Dad funds & Greeting Cards once we get in $50 increments or after specific events.

If anyone would like a “Pennies for Parkinsons” coin jar to display to have people drop in their change, just let me know and I’ll arrange to get you some we are making.  Every penny counts!

If you are running the Parkersburg Half Marathon or 2 mile, send me a note at MissySpangler22@yahoo.com.  I will add you to a list to update you on any plans we have to do for the day and as a “Team”.

If you would like to write a check and mail it directly to the Team Fox Please Email me at: missyspangler22@yahoo.com and I will email you a form you can use.

So there is your Friday Fundraising Update J Have a great Memorial Day weekend!  I’m looking forward to the long weekend and being in Ritchie County with the families, friends, farm, eating, 4-wheelers, fishing, and long runs in the country.

Rebels Are State Champs!

I know I’m a few days behind a little bit on this update from the weekend’s state track meet excitement but I wanted to share a few things. 

First…the training update. 

Friday: I got about 5 ½ miles on with the typical run on the road. 

Saturday:  I didn’t get a run in due to some other plans, but we did enjoy the day going to Emily’s dance recital and eating ourselves till we couldn’t eat anymore.

Sunday:  If yard work and projects outside count for something I should get a few bonus points and lifting for the day accounted for.  I then ran the flat parts of the road and circled back around a little bit totally about 5 miles.

Monday (Last night)- I wanted to get a little bit more in so I went further than the usual evening turn around spot to try to get the mileage going back up.  On the way home I can’t help but love the fact now that my neighbors have caught onto me running and most wave and several upon passing me say something positive about NYC marathon or even Team Fox.  I’ve made a few pit stops to chat a little bit with some new friends I’ve made as neighbors and it just makes the training a little bit more special and meaningful.  I totaled about 7 miles on this run. I do have to say, I loved running, which usually means a “feel good” day, but it’s nice to not feel sluggish and build the momentum to know you can run the streets of NYC for 26.2 miles.  I tend to reflect a lot of what that day will be.

Knowing Dad is Proud and Happy for the Blue and Grey:

Where I’m from, Ritchie County, they have created a tradition for state championship teams.  Those individuals along with whatever fire trucks can make it go to the county line.  They go to welcome home the state champions along with a parade around what we call the major cities in our small county.  You can keep up with some of the latest happenings through Facebook with our county which I have appreciated during my time of living further away.  It was so great to log into Facebook and see all the updates on the state meet and highlights.  The final result….Ritchie County Boys Track Team was AA 2012 State Track Champs…which causes for a celebration. (thanks Brian for the pictures!)

Waitin' at the County Line

Bring Home The Rebels

 As you’ve learned, dad’s passion for sports ranks high upon his interests, his journey with sports, his students, and athletes emphasize so much about his life.  Dad had a little bit of a rougher weekend, and due to him not being able to get out of bed it poses some challenges to things he’d enjoy most.  Mom knew they usually bring the parade by our house along old route 50, and with her keeping up with where the parade was coming from she knew about what time to expect it.  I had spoken to her on the phone earlier in the evening and she’d updated dad on everything.  Mom turned off dad’s oxygen for a short bit (due to the volume of the machine), and she’d turned off all the TV’s etc, and opened all the windows that she could along with the door closest to dad’s hospital bed.  It wasn’t long after she said she could hear the sirens and see the lights of the firetrucks flashing as they are going by.  (It was after dark at this point) Mom said she didn’t know how else to respond for dad because the blow horn dad has had since his cross country days wouldn’t be heard through the sound of the sirens so mom said she kept flashing the lights on and off to show they were “inside” cheering for them.

I suppose for some that doesn’t seem like a major deal, but those little things mean a lot to dad.  Mom called me right after the parade went by to update me and told me dad got to hear the parade and there was excitement in mom’s voice, which means it made dad smile.  We all know on top of it all, dad loves winning, several of those boys on the high school team dad had in Middle School.   As many of the runners were referred too over the years as “Terry’s Kids”.  (Some of that stems from the poor lady in Wal-Mart on a trip to the state cross country meet that we had convinced upon our stop there that we all ACTUALLY were his kids.  I don’t know how we convinced her but we walked out of that store assured she believed us.)  I’m sure dad expects a full report from you boys as to your split times and so forth J 

Congrats Boys on a State Championship, it’s always a great day to be a rebel….but those days make it just a little bit better! J

Good Luck at State Rebel Runners!

I had found these pictures going through some the other evening, and thought it was perfect timing with the State Meet starting today!    

(Training update I have to say, this week’s schedule has terrorized my running, but I promise I’m making up for it this weekend!)  Wednesday and Thursday I had things both evenings I wasn’t able to get a run in….so I’m really looking forward to a long run tonight with hopefully my biking partner. For a distance runner, Friday Night State Track meet meant you’d be running your 8 laps under the lights at Laidly Field.

2001 4x800 AA State Champions- Ritchie County

Me, Tina, Meghan, Jessie

Dad coached 3 of us girls in the picture in Cross Country; I think we tried to steal Jessie a few times to run. Maybe dad should have put her name in the newspaper J  I can’t believe it’s been as long as it has since we ran this race, but I do know it was a surprise win.  In the predictions Ritchie County wasn’t suppose to win the 4x800.  Coach Haught switched up the routine of who ran which leg of the race and it worked perfectly.  The excitement I remember of each leg of the race, I started the relay off and was so excited I could hardly keep from running to the turns to cheer on the other girls.  I even remember Jim Butta being next to me while we were breaking down the splits and comparing the times of the upcoming legs for the other teams.  Leaving the state track meet as a State Champion for a relay is a feeling I’ll never forget.  There is just something about a blue ribbon medal that looks a little prettier than all the others.

I do have to joke and say I use to claim track season as my break from dad J  He didn’t coach the track team, don’t worry his voice still echoed and carried across the track from every turn.   I did love having Coach Rick and Ryan Haught as my coach, it helped prepare me having a different style of coaching and perspective being an athlete.   (I still think they secretively talked a lot though about what to do with me) J

The entire distance group can claim, we loved days like today (well minus it being a race day) with the weather how it is.  We did a lot of trail runs as distance runners.  Our school is the perfect location along the Rails to Trails for us to just hop on it and get our longer runs in.  However, we did discover the perfect swimming hole about 3 miles down the trails to jump in and enjoy on days like today.  I remember one particular day we came back still displaying we obviously went swimming because our hair and running clothes were wet and a sprinter got mad saying we went swimming.  I suppose we had one thing going for us…..Coach Haught laughed and said something along the lines with him being ok with it because he knew we had to have ran our distance because the swimming hole was round trip 6 miles and anytime they’d like to run with us and go they were more than welcome J  I suppose it isn’t worth 6 miles to a lot of people, but we never argued we weren’t crazy runners! 

Good Luck Ritchie County Rebels!!! 

LKC Banquet

I’m a little torn what direction to take this blog entry.  Between graduations, awards banquets, and the state track meet approaching I’m going to have to play catch up on some memories and highlights.  

The usual blog update: 

I had taken this weekend off, just needed to get my legs back under me and with the schedule I had I just wanted to give my legs a little break.  I did get to enjoy some time at the farm and visiting mom and dad at the “home front”.  Dad got a good chuckle out of a new rental house story.  I sure hope I inherited his story telling characteristics. (Just maybe not the trait of forgetting if I told the story 50 times already) :)

Monday:  I ran about 6 ½ miles on the road and had some company with me while Brock road the bike.  It is a little bit more entertaining with company and I think I pick up my pace a little bit and not as aware of it.

Tuesday (last night):   I had organized an after-hours picnic for work in Ravenswood, so I think I tricked a new friend (Tracie) into running, either that or just told her afterwards we’d go running.  She never argued the remark so I found a running buddy for the evening J  I think I scared her for just a bit, I had a little bit of dad in me with my response to her “I’m gonna die running with you”.  I simply said…”you won’t die running, you’ll pass out first”.  We ran around the riverfront park and looped through town a little bit.  It was almost 4 miles and always glad to have a new running friend J 

End of Season Banquets are approaching and I jusst wanted to share a little picture showing my senior year of high school’s LKC Banquet (Little Kanawha Conference, that was our sports conference title).   Dad was Conference Coach of the Year that year (I think…yikes I may have to check that, but I think that’s the trophy he has in his other hand) I do know our basketball team won conference that year (thanks to the trophy for that fact) J  We competed in a pretty tight nit conference and it was always nice to see everyone after the seasons on a “neutral field” to celebrate a season of accomplishments.  I look back and realize how many friends dad had that were other coaches, and I think it spoke highly of the level of respect that was distributed among them all. 

Me, Dad (Coach), and Mom the sports mediator

Fundraising Friday Update

I feel like a little kid at Christmas every time I refresh my email with the anticipation of a donation notification. I call mom to tell dad all the latest updates. I am humbled daily by the notes I receive, messages, as well as many of the donations that come through.
I'll use yesterday as an example, I checked our PO Box on my way home, and to my surprise Hawaii found its way to our Dollars for Dad project :) The gentleman who mailed this donation has never met my dad; he's never met me, or anyone in my family. He merely knows a friend of mine whom she'd sent a little note to him knowing he lived in Hawaii and knowing it might be a tough state for us to get to, and without much hesitation a donation arrived (including a nice little note and memo line saying "Good Luck"), and it was for $50 (I hope they don't mind me saying that). It's amazing the generosity of people who just believe in the better of anything.

Training: I think that motivated me to run just a little bit more last tonight too….  I added a little bit to my turn around point last night as well as another circle to the end of my run going for about 7 miles for the evening.

I've been told several times as another goal for our Dollars for Dad project is to get $1 from every county in WV....so who's up for it :) I do remember from my Golden Horseshoe 8th grade days and 4th grade WV study days there are 55 counties (I hope my past teachers are proud of that knowledge) :) I also know which counties we have covered so far from my list....so for WV Pride I think we can do that as well.

The states we have represented and donations arrived so far are:
 Please note also I am still finalizing where some of the online donation people are “Located” to show representation of their location for this project.
(Also please note Canada has been represented) :)
West Virginia- Counties of (Wood, Raleigh, Boone, Ritchie, Jackson)
Connecticut
Alaska
Hawaii
Colorado
Ohio
PA
The address to mail Dollars for Dad Project is:

Team Spangler

Attention: Missy Spangler

P.O. Box 403

Ripley, WV 25271

Our Team Fox Official Website Has Donations as of now for: $2,029.84

The Website for it is (You can click on this link directly and donate via online):

Our Team Fox Team Page

We were given a donation from The Wyngate Senior Living Community in Parkersburg on behalf of a fundraiser they did for Parkinson’s Awareness month last month and have donated it to our fundraising efforts.  A big THANK YOU for that and to Larry Ice for organizing that for us.  We have mailed off their donation to Team Fox for $235 to be added to our totals.

I will be submitting Dollars for Dad funds & Greeting Cards once we get in $50 increments or after specific events.

If you would like to write a check and mail it directly to the Team Fox Please Email me at: missyspangler22@yahoo.com and I will email you a form you can use.

We have several things planned throughout our efforts until November (and continue to plan). We are looking to have representation for those past runners, friends, athletes of dad’s running in the Parkersburg Half Marathon (and maybe a team for the 2 mile), Tara’s yard will be decorated with Team Fox for when you get to the top of that leg gripping hill and  make the final turn to the last straight away to the finish J  Thank goodness she’s close to the finish line  J  Our cousin Carrie Milam is going to host a Scrapbooking Crop in October with proceeds going to our fundraising effort.  Cupcakes for A Cure will continue to go on till November. We have started to distribute "Pennies for Parkinson's " Coin jars for businesses or whoever to leave out to accept loose change.  We still have greeting cards we will be selling at different events….so we’ll keep you updated on upcoming plans.  We look to possibly have a “Pit Night for Parkinson’s” (Picnic Style Event to honor our Pit Nights we had during cross country season) Also in hopes of planning a nice dinner event with a theme “Shakin it up for Parkinson’s” I hope to plan in Parkersburg.  If anyone else wants to jump in with anything, just let me know and we'll be happy to help in any way we can as well!

So there is your Friday Fundraising Update J  Have a great weekend!

XC Newspaper Trick....

Training Update:

Monday- Embarrassing enough I hate to admit I was a little bit sore from running fast on Sunday evening to beat daylight that I ran for about 15 minutes as a lighter day to recover a little bit.

Tuesday- Ran with Holli for about 6 miles (more details to follow)

Wednesday- Ran the flat parts of the usual run on the road to avoid the hill and break up the routine of the route (ran about 5 miles).  I do have to admit, I met a new neighbor who jokingly asked if I was training for a marathon and I was able to respond with a laugh and a yes.  He said they always see me running all the time now and he asked how old I was because apparently they have been debating if I was in high school or not recently.  As mom always says I’ll appreciate it one day, and I said that I haven’t been skipping school and in fact 29 J

I was lucky enough to have Tuesday off from work (which for those who know my work-aholic ways I’m still learning how to accept government holidays off)  I’m always worried I’ll enjoy them too much and not want to come back to work.  I guess that was the thing of working ALL the time, you never knew exactly how enjoyable the days off were to ever think otherwise.  Mom needed some help with a rental property they have in town so it was the perfect excuse to visit Holli and go for a run and meet up with mom later. 

Since the weather couldn’t decide what it wanted to do Holli and I decided we didn’t care and were off to run in the rain.  We ended up running around 6 miles on a much friendlier road of slow drivers than mine, it was a nice change of scenery and nice to have company along the run.  Since I went on a run with Holli those who know the cross country stories are probably wandering if we yelled SNAKE any… for those of you “newbies”….Holli is pretty gullible J  (I shouldn’t really talk as myself HATING snakes would do the same thing)  We can pretty much guarantee no matter how many times you yell “snake”, Holli will do a quick movement resembling a jump J  I think some days we took it too far but you just can’t help but laugh J  Well, that is, until you yourself actually stepped on a snake and decided a quick sprinting workout would fit in perfectly during your run.  I have to admit as well, after I would see my first snake of the season running on the Rails to Trails growing up there were days I’d run with rocks in my hands for a quick defense upon site of one.  I suppose it is somewhat good strength training for your arms but I for one hate those slithering things.

Holli has a tough time saying “No” when you ask her to do things....  Now…Dad gets brought into this story because as you’ve discovered and continue to read, he is a very motivational person.  But….don’t think it’s just his motivation….he’s very tricky too, maybe strategic is the right descriptive word.  See… Years and Years ago (Its double digit years ago now so I can say that) I was the ONLY girl runner on the Cross Country Team (are you seeing a pattern here of my sports career growing up) BUT…. We wanted to pull together and get a full team of girls together to be able to finish in the team standings.  Therefore…dad started to review his knowledge of kids as well as my friends.  Dad’s next move was to put the little notice in the newspaper highlighting the upcoming start of cross country season.  Along with that little bit of information is a list of runners who were signed up for cross country (several of those runners didn’t sign up for ANYTHING) but Dad knew once they saw their name in the paper they would “feel bad” not doing it.  One of those names was Holli and sure enough she ran that cross country season J  Along with Melanie Jones, Megan Walker, Kylea Goff…well you get the idea…. True signs of a great coach; pick kids who can’t say no. 

Dad Coaching Holli in High School

 Holli and I were forced to be friends I suppose since our mom’s taught grade school together so we were always stuck with each other after school, faculty senate days and so forth.  Good thing we got along J Since the kindergarten years we’ve traveled the world together, ran for opposing college teams, attended cross country camps, and still love to run miles together.  I should give her a great deal of credit as well as a contributing factor of a cause and effect for a reason I live and was able to move back to WV J 

Holli and I In Paris

Holli Me and Melanie During Our College Running Days

It’s funny to think that a little trick in a newspaper now has Holli coaching the Ritchie County Cross Country team J Dad had to take early retirement due to the effects of Parkinson’s Disease and the restrictions to his mobility it was causing. Holli had been by his side the previous years and was able to step in and help fill in the need for a coach. My mom helps coach the cross country team now too and I think dad looks forward to hearing about the updates from the both of them. I might add too, Melanie Jones has volunteered as well the last few years to help coach and is guilty upon the name in the paper trick as well :) (And I have to laugh because now Holli is in her own shoes of when dad would yell SPRINT at the end of the race and wanting us to push a little bit more...and how we hated that as runners because somtimes we just didn't have ANYMORE) :) 

Dad and Holli Coaching at a Cross Country Meet

I just wanted to add a little bit to this blog post for those who don’t know.  That little trick dad played about putting the girl’s names in the newspaper…a few short years later that group of hard working girls did end up being state runners up in the WV State Cross Country Meet.  That was the start to the continuing growing “family” of Ritchie County Cross Country. 

2000 State Runner Up Cross Country Team- Ritchie County

Dad Accepting the\ WV State Runner Team Cross Country Trophy Season Year 2000