The Stone Rabbit

Memories of My First Marathon

 A few months ago the idea of doing a marathon first nudged its way into my mind.  It started to grow as I was going longer distances with Verna, a running friend, who was preparing to do a marathon.

She had done several such races over the years. . .as well as longer distances.  She is my running idol who eagerly shares her knowledge and expertise about the sport.   

And she's patient.  

I struggled on more than one of the long runs we had done.  My elderly body rebelled now and then.  She didn't give up on me.  We just kept at it.  And as time went by and the distances grew and the encouragement from Verna was never failing, well...I finally started believing that "maybe" I was capable of going the 26.2 miles.  

Then the reality check would hit.  I was going to be 69 when I did a marathon.   I'm an old woman...what was I thinking about?    What was wrong with me?  Why wasn't I thinking more about knitting or making pies? I'm a GRANDMA for goodness sake!!  

Then I'd find myself out on the trail on a really hot day with her, and often times other running friends,  and it just seemed to becoming a reality.  I was going for longer distances and they weren't always so hard. . .don't get me wrong, they were still often times hard, but they weren't "as" hard.

I came to the decision that the Kansas City Marathon would be the one I'd run in October 2016.  It was there, in 2010, that I did my first 5K and then again my first half marathon in 2013. 

 

I knew it was not an easy course. . .

but I signed up for it anyway.  

 

 

 

After months of slowly building up my distance ability I found myself at the expo with these running buddies the day before the race.   They had both signed up for the half.  We are pictured with Steve of BODIES RUNNING.

He has been a steadfast running support for us over the last year.  He'd started a speed workout group where, once a week,  he gives us a plan  . .and then we meet at a local trail and attempt it!  :)  Steve is the first person that made me realize that if I wanted to run faster....I needed to practice running faster.  He introduced us to  tempo runs and fartleks and pyramids.  All of these were foreign until Steve became a part of our running experiences.

L to R:  Brenda, me, Steve, Karen

 

 

 Karen was another big cheerleader for me over this marathon journey.  She insisted that she was going to pick me up the morning we did our races  and she would be there when I finished my distance.

I knew it was gonna take me twice as long to complete my run as it was going to take her to do hers and  I really didn't want her to have to hang around for me all that extra time.  However, she was not going to have anything to do with my argument.  She won.   She picked me up bright and early on the morning of the event.  We arrived at the parking lot near the race start well before daylight..... giving us premium parking and ample time to find restrooms!   haha

 

 

We also located the spot near Crown Center where lots of folks meet up before the race to get their group pictures.

 We know several of the folks pictured here  as we  belong to a local running group called the RUNbelieveables.   Many of them are amazingly fast.  Several of them were pacing the half or the full marathons that day (you can see the pacer sticks they are holding).  At that point I was still undecided as to exactly where in the corral I would start my run.....which pacing stick I would try to follow and keep up with as I made my way along the 26.2 miles of the marathon.

 

 

Brenda, Karen and I , plus a few others, run together once or twice a week.  On this day, we probably wouldn't be side by side on the course, but we certainly would hold each other in our thoughts as the race went by for us.  On this morning one of Brenda's daughters was also running the marathon.  She's on the left in the photo below.  

For this race we supported TEAM WORLD VISION, a great organization that helps provide clean water to Africia.   We arrived at their tent around  6:30 a.m. for a little "inspiration" and pep rally......

 

 

 

 and a group picture!!

 

 

The next photo shows us packed in with thousands of other runners waiting for the start of the race. . .scheduled for a little after 7:00 a.m.. 

I don't know how my other buddies felt during the time we spent waiting . . .I just recall feeling a little jittery. . .praying I was really prepared to go that distance of 26.2 miles.   I was pretty sure I could made the distance physically, but it was the mental challenge that scared me. . . knowing I'd be alone most of the way after about the 8th mile.  I'd be on the slow end of the runners and the fast folks would be long gone.  I hadn't trained to do more than 5 miles alone.   The picture of me plodding along, alone for many miles, was one that kept popping into my mind.

Also, I was  worried about being able to finish before the 6 hour cut off.  I didn't practice "speed", but rather keeping a slower, steady pace as I got my body used to going such a long distance.   I had to be realistic that just finishing was more the goal I needed to chase.....but I REALLY wanted to finish before the 6 hr. cut off! :)

 

 

Besides my running buddies, my son was there.  He was also doing the marathon!!

I just grin every time I look at this picture.  I could have never dreamed that in 2010 whenI ran my first race ever, a 5K here at the KC Marathon event with this guy  by my side, that in 2016 we'd both be doing the marathon!!   He had done a few others, but this was my first.  I think the look on my face kinda speaks volumes.  :)  This part was pretty danged neat!

 

 

Looking north on Grand, the old Western Auto sign, a KC landmark,  was barely visible in the dark sky. 

The weather that morning was predicted to be warm for mid October.  I don't do well in heat, so I cut the sleeves out of a lightweight running shirt to make things a bit cooler!  However, the weather did hold out for us!!  It was pretty overcast most of the race and we had a good breeze.

 

 

 

As the moments ticked by, waiting for the "start", we could see four drones in the sky!  If you look carefully there are 3 dots of light......they would be drones! 

You can tell by the 2:40 pacer stick that I decided to line up there.  Why?  Because Brenda wanted to hang with that time group to finish her half. . .sound decision for me, too, right?  haha

I just knew MY JOB was to go slow. . .no matter where I started.

 

 

In past races, I've taken a gob of pictures along the course.  I didn't this time.  I think that just shows how focused I was on actually completeing the course upright and not too exhausted.   However, this picture does show us heading south on Oak....going up part of the challenging Hospital Hill !!  It's definitely well known in the KC area!

 

 

At the 2 mile mark, we were going up another hill, headed to the World War I Memorial / aka Liberty Memorial.

 

 

Here's the Liberty Memorial....it doesn't lean in real life!  haha

See those glorious clouds?  Yay.  No sun! 

 

 

 Around the 6 mile point we had reached The Plaza Shopping District.  It's full of fountains.....with this one being one of the most popular!

 

 

My first goal was to "start out and keep a slow pace", but still make it to this point....the COURSE SPLIT.  It was here that the half marathon people went left and the marathon folks went south.  And if we (the marathoners) weren't on a certain time pace by the time we hit this split, then we  would not be allowed to continue the marathon course because that meant we were too slow to make the 6 hour cut off time limit of completing the distance.

HOWEVER.... I was in good shape at that point.  Yay!!!  Happy dance, big smiles, this was fun.....I happily made a right turn and headed south.....

and that's when it got reallllll lonely!!

Most of the runners had signed up for the half.  I think there were only 1500 that were doing the marathon.  I was one of them......and I was not fast....and I promptly found myself pretty much on my own.  

 

 

By this point, there were tons of  runners ahead of me. . . .and many folks behind me. . . but not many to actually chit chat with as I ticked off the miles.

We'd already dealt with several challenging hills on this part of the course.  I walked them, saving my "strength" to run 3 min. and walk a min. intervals on the flat stretches.  Cheering support groups seemed slim on the second part of the course, but they still maintained great water stations and porta potties about every two miles.  Each one was like a little oasis for me!  :)  Water, smiles and good wishes from the volunteers and the oportunity to use the potty if necessary. 

Porta potties are huge on long runs....especially for me.  I drink lots of water and, well, that means I need to make pit stops sometimes.  On that day, I remember, around mile 10 or so that I thought I should use one of those facilities at the next water station, but when I got there, there was a line for it....so I figured I'd be OK to make it to the next one.  Funny, though...the feelling went away and never came back.  I actually made it the entire race without needing to use one!!  That was probably right up there on my list of : big accomplishments for the the entire race for me personally!

 

 

Fatique was setting in.  Around miles 17 or 18, I had to start using some mind distractions to keep me moving as best as I could.  I had a prayer list that I'd already gone through . I had a gratitude list, too.  

I was  feeling pretty emotional along with the tireness that was creeping in and my cramping calves  ( a new experience).   That's when I started thinking about some of the moments that prepared me for this day. . .and all of the good running buddies, in all sorts of weather experiences and distances!!!  

From freezing at the Battle of the Bean 5K in January, to......

 

 

weekly speed work sessions in the dark and the cold. . . 

 

long runs on the weekend also in the cold and later in the blistering heat. . .

 

to 10 miles in the cold and rain. . .

 

 

speedwork in the heat of summer.  

 

 

Countless runs with so many supportive, like-minded friends had brought me to this point!!  Yes, I was very emotional and so very thankful that, at my age, I was completing my very first marathon!!

Somewhere prior to this photo being taken, I received a text from Verna.   She was out of town, but had been "tracking" me on a race app and knew that I was slowing down a bit.  Simply she said:  "RELENTLESS. FORWARD. MOTION!! You've got this!"

I no longer felt "alone" on that course. . . and I puddled up for a bit.

Verna was the reason I did the marathon in the first place.  She lit the fire, she encouraged me, she taught me. . .and I will be forever grateful.

 

 

As I said, I  did have issues with my upper calves cramping. . .something that had never happened before.  In turn my right knee started hurting on the outer side.  I don't know if it was related to the cramping.   All I know was by the time I reached the last couple of miles, my plan had been to totally run them and not do the 3 min. running and 1 min. walking intervals I'd used up until that point.  However, my knee wasn't wanting me to do that, so I adjusted my plan.  I could run 1 1/2 min. before it started twinging.  When it did, I stopped and took a few rapid steps, then ran til it hurt and walked a little.  The 1 1/2 min. time was what my knee wanted and that's what I did until I reached the final stretch of the marathon.

This is the last hill of the course. . .the "finish line" is in the distance. Yes, it was UP HILL!

I  recall turning the corner and seeing the hill and thinking how tired I was feeling and how far away the finish looked to be.

 

 

It took every ounce of energy I had to make that final push!!

I was tired, I was happy, I was tearing up and THEN, as I was near the finish line, three of the cutest little grand kids in the entire world. . .

 

 

came out to help me cross the finish line!

I had no idea they would be there.

Words can't express how full my heart was in those moments!

 

 

 

 

Also waiting at the finish were my son (who had finished his marathon quite a bit ahead of me!!  ). . .

 

 

and my good buddy Karen!!!

This day was a big one for each of us with our own individual goals  met!!

My daughter in law was at the finish line taking photos, as was my husband. 

I was a lucky woman!!

AND I had not only finished, but I did it under the 6 hr. cutoff with an offical time of 5 hrs. 55 minutes and 23 seconds.  Not speedy, but a time I was very happy with.

 

 

 

My blogging buddy and Facebook friend, Nancy, made this fun sign for me!!

 

 

 

Fellow runner and friend, Jacqui, got Jon Bon Jovi in the action for me, too!

WOW!! 

 

The next day one of my friends sent me a sweet text and asked if I was going to do another marathon.  Uh..."not today", I replied!!

THE STONE RABBIT is so proud of my accomplishment.  He knew I could do it all along, too.  

In fact, he's so taken with the idea of longer distances that he's been using my GPS watch to train for a possible race in the future!!

 

 

I hope you weren't too bored with this race recap.   Reliving that time through writing this post makes me think that perhaps another marathon "might" be in my future one day!  As in most goals we set, it's really the journey that's probably the most important part.   Celebrating the steps along the way. . .embracing new friendships. . .cherishing the old ones. . .and just being grateful for the oportunity to take on new and fulfilling challenges.

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  There you will find a long list of others who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

DANA

 

Remembering Thanksgiving 2014 and Anticipating Thanksgiving 2015!

 

Last year, THE STONE RABBIT posed with some of the artwork the grand kiddos had created  for  our Thanksgiving. . .along with my lunch of "leftovers".    Looking back on the photos from our Thanksgiving Day 2014 really makes me excited about gathering with our little family again this year and giving thanks for our blessings.

 

 

 

Many thanks need to be given to Beverly, of HOW SWEET THE SOUND , for continuing to keep our weekly Pink Saturday up and running!!  Please visit her blog for a long list of others who are ready with their weekly shares!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!!

DANA

KANSAS CITY HALF-MARATHON 2015. . .we did it!!!

 

WARNING....WARNING.....WARNING....this is a picture heavy post . 

I am being selfish here, but I wanted to document our big day ,last Saturday, when we ran the Kansas City Half-Marathon.   I hope my running friends will enjoy this and my non-running friends will tolerate it!  :)

Karen and I worked hard all summer to prepare for the last half we did in September and then this one.  We have one more lined up in November.....then that's that for 2015.  That's plenty.  :)

We ended our training for the KC Half by meeting up early the morning before for a short run.   The trail was dark at 5:30 a.m., so the headlamps were necessary!

 

 

Later on Friday, Mary and I attended the "packet pickup" for the run.  This great sign was outside the entrance to the expo.

 

 

We studied the course map that showed the routes for all of the events to be held the next morning:  the 5k, the half and the marathon!  It was the same route as the one we ran the year before. . .killer hills in the first three miles.  :) 

 

 

We went to the "pacer booth" to pick up "pace bracelets" to wear during the run so we could monitor the progress (time wise) we would be making along the way.  The picture shows some of the "pacer sticks" that are carried by  amazing runners.    

The first year we did the half we sorta "fell" into the 2:50 group (two hours and 50 minutes, meaning if we stayed with them we would most likely finish the run in that amount of time).  We actually did just that.  Last year, Karen and I just wanted to do as well as the previous year. . .so we stuck again with the 2:50 pacing group AND we came in right at that time.  This year, we still planned on using intervals of run/walking, but we had been training all summer to use 1 min. walking rather than 2 min., but still keep the runing intervals at 3 minutes.  

I spoke at great length with Vita, who also paced the half we had done in Sept.. . . we were able to stay with her group.   For this run, she was pacing the 2:45. . .so I picked up bracelets for the 2:45 AND (being real hopeful) the 2:40 times.

 

 

While I've loved this run each time I've done it, this year was truly a bit more special because my son and daughter ran it, too (yes, they ran it a lot faster)!  Here we are not too long before we got in the corral to start the run.  We had hoped to meet up with a few others for a group picture, but that didn't happen.  It's pretty crazy at these huge runs. . . and it's hard to actually "find" folks some times.  

 

 

We ended up being almost as far back in the crowd as you can go by the time we lined up.  Looking north, in the direction we would soon be running, I couldn't even see the 2:40 or 2:45 pacers, but that was OK, cuz I figured we'd catch them at some point along the route.

 

 

And wouldn't you know it. . . .two of the folks we had hoped to take a pre-run photo with actually FOUND us in that pack of people!!

This was the first half for three in this photo. . .so that really added to the excitement of that moment. I had my son take our picture.  Left to Right: Julie, Sue, Bridget (all about to run their first half marathon) Mary, Karen and I'm in the middle front.  We are all in a running group that meets once a week on the local trail!

 

 

One of the things that makes this half so special is that it takes us through so many of the great "spots" of Kansas City.  The first mile goes by the SPRINT CENTER. . .that's quiet a feeling to run by that enormous structure.

 

 

 Mile two goes up the VERY CHALLENGING "hospital hill" (really more than one hill), then in  another mile we are at the  LIBERTY MEMORIAL/WWI MUSEUM.  This is one of the best parts of the run to me as we are heading toward that awesome monument. 

 

 

 

We are so lucky to have photographers (provided by the event!) who take our pictures along the way. (AND the photos are FREE on line later).

I have fianlly learned to be on alert for them, because I have been captured with the most horrible looks on my face during various runs.  Mercifully, I saw this one in time to wave and smile.  It was also still early in the distance.....10.1 miles to go!   

 

 

After we left Liberty Memorial, we had the last awful hill, then made our way through the mid-town area, then over through another neat part of town that's full of fun shops and restaurants : WESTPORT.  I didn't take a bunch of photos there as we starting to "feel" the run.  I'm thinking that was round miles 5 - 6....I may be off.  Anyway, we headed South on Roanoke which is residential.  That's where we were when we saw this puppy handing our hi-fives.   

 

 

 

Next, we found ourselves in another pretty part of town, The Country Club Plaza.   The Plaza is full of fine shops,  dining venues, fountains and beautiful buildings.

 

 

ROYALS flags were waving in the breeze as with headed East through The Plaza.

 

 

 We were on the look out for this lovely lady...Fritzi!!   She was the course monitor for the spot where the half marathoners turned left and the marathoners turned right!   This was right before mile 8!

 

 

Fritzi is known in our area as a great runner and supporter of the running community.   She's one of the first "real runners" I met when I started my own running journey five years ago.  I have so much admiration for her. 

 

 

I didn't take many photos from this point on......with 5 more miles left to go, I was just trying to "get this over with"!   I did manage to catch up with the 2:45 group at some point......I don't recall just when.   I know we ran north on the beautiful Harrison Parkway for quite awhile, then we turned right and got on Paseo Blvd. until we reached 18th street.

 

 

By this point a nice young man struck up a conversation with me (I think he thought I was nuts taking pictures of the mile markers).  Anyway, he wanted to know how long I'd been doing half-marathons. . .of couse I'm thinking "he figures  if that old lady can do it I know I can "......I answered this was "my third time to do this particular run and my third half for the year" and that I had one more "planned in a month".    He then said he thought "women did better at running long distances than men" ( was he thinking the old lady is able to do it because she's a she and not a he? ).....I said well, I didn't think that "was true" and yet while there were  usually more women running the halfs I'd done, that most of the marathoners seemed to be men.    With that, we had a nice chat for that looong last mile to where we turned and headed for the finish line.    I really appreciated that distration, because that last mile seems like forty.

 

 

The first time I crossed that finish line, in 2013, I cried.  It was such an accomplishment for me.  This year, I just felt great that I had actually crossed it and still felt pretty decent....that's definitely an improvement.   My time was 6 min. faster than the years before AND my son was waiting for me.  He'd crossed a long time before I did. . .with a great time....and he was cold and ready to go home!  :) 

 

 

One of the best parts of the "post race" festivities is taking advantage of the free cup of beer and the sandwich.  I never would have thought that a cold beer would taste so good as it does right after I'd just completed a half....but it's wonderful!   

 

 

We didn't stay too long after the run. . .we had our beer and food and checked our "official times"  and spent a bit of time just trying to catch up on how we were all feeling now that it was over.   We were tired and starting to get cold.  However, we had to take a few moments to get our "post run" picture in front of the fountains at Crown Center.   Once again, they are BLUE this year in honor of our hometown boys THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS who , we hope, will get to play in the World Series again this year!

L to R:  Karen, Pan, me, Mary

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT really loved our Half Marathon goodies!!  The finishers medal and the personalized race bibs were great. . and WOW, what an awesome  shirt!   Most of all, he loved seeing all of the pictures and hearing all about our experience.   He's such a supportive rabbit!

 

 

So that's it. . .you really are lucky cuz I do have lots more pictures. .. I held myself back!  haha

I hope you won't hold back about visiting Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND because there will be a lot of other bloggers who are ready to share their posts with you, too!

Have a great PINK SATURDAY!

DANA

 

A ROYAL RUN!

 

When my niece tossed out the idea of signing up for the ROYALS CHARITIES 5K Run/Walk. . .well, I wasn't sure about doing it.   The run was to be held in mid-August, which typically means HOT, HOT, HOT in Missouri...and it didn't start until 8 a.m., which meant it would be HOT, HOT, HOT at that time of day in August. . .and it was mostly held on the concrete parking lots that surround the Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums, which meant REALLY HOT, HOT, HOT!  However,  since it ALSO meant spending some fun time with her AND part of the run was to be done on the outfield inside the Royals stadium, I signed up. . . .and am I ever glad I did !!

It actually turned out to be a FABULOUS morning!!  Rain had been predicted....but it didn't happen!!  The skies were a bit overcast to start, but they cleared up to a gorgeous blue. . .I'm sure in honor of our Royals blue!!

This picture is of  my niece and I prior to the 5K!  I credit her for my  start in running 5 years ago!  We are so lucky to live  close to each other . . .we get to do one or two runs together each year!  

 

 

This was a heavenly sight. . .lots of Royal Blue porta potties. . .and they were clean and fresh!!

 

 

My running friend Karen came to cheer me on!!  This picture is out of sequence cuz it was taken after I'd completed the 5K.....she looks fresh as a daisy....I'm sweating profusely!   It was so awsome to have her there!!

 

 

 

I'm with one of my newer running friends, Sherri!  She ran with a group called Team RWB (Red, White and Blue).  It's an organization   whose mission "is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity."  The Royals are huge supporters for our veterans.

 

 

Her blog is called Adventures of a Middle-Aged Drama Queen!   We "met" on line nearly a year ago. . .through a running facebook page . . .and finally in person at at  10K in September!  We've been "running into each other" ever since!!

 

 

This fellow was kind enough to give us his blessings as we headed to the Start of the run!  :)

 

 

 

 

There were about 2,500 participants at the 5K!  It was really family friendly. . . lots of serious (and not so serious) runners were there, but  so were tons of kiddos with their parents, getting to experience running/walking at such a fun venue!!   

 

 

An airshow was in town last weekend, and as  the national anthem was nearly over, this formation of planes flew over us. . . twice!!  It was such a moving experience!!

 

 

When I'm doing longer runs, I do run/walk intervals, but when I do 5Ks, I try to concentrate on running as much as I can.  I take lots of photos on my walk intervals on the longer runs. . .but not so much on the 5Ks cuz, like I said, I'm trying not to walk!  However, when we were near the end of the run, we ran down a tunnel and BAM....we were on the outfield at the Royals!!!  It was so neat that I had to take a few pictures!!!

 

 

 I "borrowed" this one from my niece's album of photos!!!  I don't even remember seeing this spot!  I was in lah lah land!!

 

 

 I did take this blurry one. . .cuz I was still trying to run!  I just wanted to remember what the outfield looked like at that level and not how I typically see it from up high in a seat in the stands!

 

 

 Karen took this picture just as I had finished the run.  That was a happy woman there!!  I was glad it was over, but I was pleased that I didn't do too badly with my time.

 

 

There were so many awesome Royals "celebrities" at the event. . .all were so great about posing for photos!!

Here I am with Royals historian Dave Webster aka KayCee.....he's known to us as the "W Guy" because every time the Royals win at home, he climbs stairs and and hangs the W on the Royals Hall of Fame building and salutes it!!

He was waiting for all of us at the finish line!!

 

 

This Royals fan ran with moose antlers strapped to his back!   One of the Royals players is Mike Moustakas....lovinly known as MOOSE  !!!  He took the antlers to the to the stadium last fall when the Royals were  in the  Worlds Series and became a "hit" with the fans.  

He was right in front of us at the start of the run....I tried to get a picture of him there....but he took off and left us in his running dust!!  I tracked him down for a photo afterwards.  He said the antlers weighed about 15 pounds. 

 

 

I was thrilled to find out I'd placed third in my division!!   My niece took this photo of me holding up my little certificate!  In the background you can see the announcer for the awards ceremony.....his name is Toby Cook.  He used to be an anchor at a local news station.  He has been the Vice President for Community Affairs and Publicity (for the Royals) for several years now!

 

 

 

Yep, I had my niece take a picture of me with Toby, too!  :)

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT loved hearing all about our great time at the Royals 5K!!  He was impressed with my running on that morning. . .but even more by my swell new Royals shirt!  He got pretty tired of hearing me grumble last year about not being able to find a shirt I loved. . .cuz this city was so Royals crazy our t-shirt suppliers couldn't keep the shelves stocked!  :)

 

 

Be sure you visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  There will be a lot of other bloggers with great shares for you to enjoy!!

Happy PINK Saturday!

DANA

 

 

 

July 4th . . . and beyond!

 

BAM......that's how quickly July 4th came and went!!! 

It's a day I look forward to all year long. . . first the parade that features lots of candy tossing for the youngin's to scramble for and many a vintage car for the adults to drool over.

 

 

If it's an election year, we'll see lots of politicians  marching along, too, . . . . pressing the flesh.  

There's the occasional pretty fun float. . .like this blow up eagle!

 

The Shriners participation is a given!!!

 

 

Following the parade . . . we attend a wonderful picnic!

After a few hours of sun and food and fun. . . it's time to head home and crash until the neighbors start shooting off their fireworks.  At that point I head out to the front porch and enjoy the ones that shoot high into the sky and result in colorful displays, even if just for a few seconds. 

 

 

On Monday morning, I headed out for my first solo run in quite awhile.  I love running with my friends, but sometimes, it feels great to just be by myself for a few minutes.

On that day, I'd hoped to totally run a 5K distance with no walk breaks.   Since Karen and I have been training for a fall 1/2 marathon using run/walk intervals ( 3 min. running and 1 min. walking) we'd put the total running of 5Ks on the back burner.  When that happens, it's hard for me to get that level of stamina back.

Anyway, my first mistake was thinking I could go out and totally run that distance. . .the second mistake was starting out too late.  By the time I hit the streets in our neighborhood it was already 7 a.m. and HOT!!  

I ran the first mile, which included two biggish hills (3rd mistake. . .should've just concentrated on flat areas for the first time to totally run the 5K distance).    At the top of the 2nd hill I'd hit the 1 mile mark....and a wall!  I stopped and drank water and walked a tenth of a mile, then started again.  I think I took 3 more walk breaks  during the last two miles.

The picture below is from the top of another challenging hill. . .a spot I always look forward to reaching on my route cuz it's our church steeple.  On Monday morning I decided to skip running that hill. . .I walked it.  I've learned, over the last 5 years of running, that it's OK to give myself permission to do what my body says I need.   At that time it didn't need the challenge of a fourth hill. . .three hills were plenty!  :) 

 

 

 

On Wednesday evening, our little running group met.  The weather has been soooooo wet lately that our normal running venue was pretty sloppy wet (most of the surface there is crushed chat) that day.  We switched over to the asphalt/concrete route of the Bass Pro Trail.

The clouds looked threatening the whole time out, but the rain held off.   Karen and I decided to shoot for another non-stop 5K attempt.   This time, it happened (mostly...I had to walk a few steps at mile 2 to sip some water).

It felt awesome to be able to do that again!   That is now a goal for each week....totally run the 5K distance at least once.  On the weekends we will continue to do our "long" runs as we increase our distance in preparation for the 1/2.   Right now our plan is to run it with 3/1 intervals.

 

 

Wednesday was also another big day!!  Our Grand Boy #1 turned 6 years old!!

His mom made him yummy pancakes for breakfast and served them up on the "You Are Special Plate". . .complete with berries, whipped cream and a candle!!

 

 

This morning (Friday), Karen and I were back at running again!!

Our goal was to do 7 miles with 3/1 intervals!!   We also tried something a little different. . .we ran the first 1/2 mile, then started our run/walk intervals.

As it turned out, our half way mark of 3 1/2 miles was where the south trail ends right now since a lot of road work is being done in that area.

 

 

We passed the time by counting bunnies (19 today) and enjoying the wonderful wildflowers!!  We started out at 5:30 a.m.. . . .such a great time of the day for running in the summer.  The temps were in the 60s and the sun was just coming up.

 

 

On Thursday, one of our kind neighbors brought us a basket of fresh picked peaches!!   They ususally head to Lexington, MO, for these.    I'm assuming that's where these were purchased.

THE STONE RABBIT is anxiously waiting til they  reach the "perfect" ripening stage!   Right now they are pretty hard, but before long they will be sooooooo yummy!

Their "peach" color is sorta "pinkish". . .right?  :)

 

 

Hope you had a "peachy" week. . .full of many blessings and very few bumps in the road!

Please visit Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

DANA

 

Winter SPARKLES!

 

  January through March are my least favorite months of the year.  I've always wished I could close my eyes on January 2 (cuz I do like New Year's Day  :) and open them and it would be April 1st!!  

I hate the cold and the snow and the slush when the snow melts and the icky sand on the sides of the streets and my always dirty looking car. . .and I get sick of wearing layers INSIDE the house cuz we keep the thermostat down to save money........ok, I'll stop with what I don't like about January through March!

What I do like during those months is when, inspite of the cold and wicked weather, we can see little SPARKLES .

This last week was actually a pretty sparkling winter week!!

It started on Saturday when we watched our 8 year old Grand Girl play basketball (she's number 11)!   The photo shows some of the girls waiting for the rest of their team to be introduced!!   It seems like deja vu. . . so many, many years ago I was a younger mama watching her little girl play basketball.  It's pretty fun complaining of "bleacher butt" again!  :)

 

 

 

We got a wonderful SPARKLING winter weather break on Tuesday and Wednesday!  What a TREAT to take our running time  back outside and on to our great crushed chat trail!!  My daughter, two running friends and I ran or ran/walked over three miles!  L to R:  my daughter, Kay, Melita and me!

 

 

 

I have a spring sale quickly approaching. . .and what a little helper Twiggy has become!!  She does like to help me by flipping the pins out of their magnetic holder!!  She SPARKLES 24/7.

 

 

 

One of the happiest winter SPARKLING moments. . . . when I can actually see the progress of longer daylight hours!!  Here I am on my way to our running class last evening. . .still some daylight at 6:15 p.m.!!

 

 

 

I am a lucky lady to have found BOOST Physical Therapy and Sports Performance. . .and espeically Nathan (front row, green shirt) who leads the "running classes" I take there. (Click HERE for the BOOST RUNNING Facebook page!)

Here is a photo of SPARKLING faces. . . many of us who took this session.  Nathan, a PT and running coach, along with Connie (same creditials, but at a different location) have combined forces to create programs geared to those who like to run and want to improve their balance, flexibility, core, and form.  These areas will hopefully keep us from becoming injured or at least help us work through or manage injuries.

 

 

Below are several of us from the fall session doing a dreadful exercise where we have to walk out to a plank, then take little steps forward til our bums are sticking up in the air, then using our hands to walk out into a plank again. Then repeat and repeat as we go up and down the floor in the room. We always do this exercise.  We did it last night.  It still exhausts me!!    I'm in the PINK shirt and visor!  

 

 

 

My final "winter sparkle" occurred when I found PEEPS eggs at JoAnn's!!  I've never seen PEEPS EGGS!!  Oh how my heart went pitter pat as I snatched that package off the shelf and tossed it in the basket!

THE STONE RABBIT and I are huge PEEP fans.  :) 

 

 

Hope you are finding "sparkles" in your wintry days!!  I know you will find even more when you visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  There you will see all of the other bloggers who are ready to share their PINKS with you this week!

DANA

 

 

 

 

 

My First 5K in 2015 . . .BATTLE OF THE BEAN!

 

 

This was the first year, since I started running, that I signed up for a run in JANUARY!!  

I was worried about what the weather would be, but last Saturday, the temps weren't too bad!  Actually, we've had a pretty warm string of January days this year. . .so it wasn't terrible at all. . .but it was still chilly. . .I can't lie to ya!    :) 

 

It was an especially great run as my daughter signed up for it, too!  She isn't in this photo as she's not as kind  about letting me take a bunch of run pictures (with her included) as my running buddies are.   Anyway, I took the "selfie" of me and my crooked hat and the folks behind us as we waited our turn to "run"!!  

I wore a PINK visor, but because my ears were cold, I brought an ear warmer/headband thingy to wear over it.  Obviously I did not pay attention to how bad it looked!  

 

 

 

The organizers of the run, The Kansas City Running Company, had photographers placed along the route and at the start/finish lines.  I can always pretty much count on my race photos looking bad. . .not because of the photographer, but because of the way I look while trying to run whatever distance we are doing.  

I recall this spot on the course.  It was around the mile marker and we were hauling it up, what I felt, was a "forever hill".  If I went back to look at it now I'd probably see it differently as I did that morning.  At that point of the run I was really pooped.  I'd started out going WAAAAY faster than I'd been doing on practice runs. . .not ever a good thing.  Sadly, I pretty much do that every race.  Can't help myself.  :)  Anyway, I was slogging up the hill at that point.

 

 

 

 

This is when I "spotted" the photographer and I mustered a weak smile.  :)

I think it wasn't too far from that point that I decided to take my first walk break.  My goal had been to "not walk", but I knew if I didn't walk a bit I'd be crawling over the finish line.  It was also at that point that I lost sight of my daughter.  She was definitely having a good run!

I recall taking a few steps through the "water line" at mile 1 1/2 and again at mile 2 and 2 1/2.  However, I kept checking my Garmin watch and I was really happy that, even with the walk breaks, I was having a good run for "me".

 

 

 

 

It felt so awesome to make the final turn that led to the finish line. . .and to run down that shoot and hit the timing mat.

 

 

 

 I also just HAD to check my watch cuz that's what "we runners" do :)

 

 

I tried to take a picture of the time on my watch. . .but between my post run trembling and the glare, it was a bad shot.  HOWEVER. . .it did document that my watch time was exactly the same as the official chip time!  I was so happy.  It had been a long time since I was under 33 minutes to finish a 5K! 

 

 

 My daughter did agree to this great post-run photo!  She was waiting for me at the finish line. . .and that was such a great feeling!!

It's just go awesome to have her interested in this sport again. . .we've really enjoyed some great running times together recently.

 

 

This is a picture from a post I shared in October 2010 when I ran my very first 5K ever at the KC Marathon.  My son ran every step of the way with me that morning.  I still tear up thinking about what a special time that was for me!  (By the way, he just texted  he just ran FIVE MILES with his Friday morning running group!!  Wow!  And it was in the teens at that time!)

Anyway, I'm a very lucky mama to be able to share the same love for running as do my kiddos!!

 

 

 THE STONE RABBIT loves my division medal and my shirt, but he REALLY loves the insulted tumbler we received for doing the run!  I told him he could borrow it anytime he wanted. . . just to not lose it!!!

 

 

 

 

I hope you're having a great PINK SATURDAY weekend. . .and that you will stop by Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!    There you will  see all of the other bloggers who are ready with their PINKS as well!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

DANA

It's STILL Blue in KC!!!

 

As I type this, the KC ROYALS fans are still a happy bunch!!!  Our Boys in Blue will be playing their third game in the World Series tonight !!  On Tuesday, they lost the first game to the San Fransico Giants 7-1, HOWEVER, on Wednesday they bounced back (in typical Royals style) to capture that game 7-2!!

There is so much BLUE in this city right now that it's hard to think PINK!  :)  However, I hope I can still tie the theme of this post to PINK SATURDAY as we can also link seasonal items....and boy oh boy is this a seasonal topic!  The Play Offs and the World Series has definitely been a fall extravaganza for us!!  It's been 29 years since our ROYALS last played this far into October!

I have to say there was plenty of ROYAL-NESS and BLUE-NESS going on at the WADDELL-REED Marathon, 1/2 Marathon and 5K in KC last Saturday!!!

My daughter and I worked the Packet Pick-up the day before the event and we certainly saw lots and lots of race participants who showed up sporting their Royals attire!

This great balloon creation was one of two at the entrance of Packet Pickup.  It was made by Johnna and John Perry, local artists, who own UP UP and AWAY!  And would ya look at that....I was wearing PINK that day!  

 

 

 

 We were encouraged to wear BLUE during the run on Saturday, so I had a great excuse for buying one more running shirt!!   I purchased the ones Karen and I wore from the awesome booth of KC RUNNING CO!  They also host our Wednesday night running group!

 

 

The Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, and 5K all started in the area of Crown Center, a local shopping venue and home of Hallmark Cards.  They had turned their fountains Royal Blue!!  The photo was dark because it WAS dark!!  Karen and I arrived around 5:30 a.m.!!  However, it was still not quite day break when the race started a little after 7 a.m..

 

 

 

 My husband was getting ready to get a picture of Karen (on the right) and me in our new Blue KC Running Co. shirts. . .while my son was getting a kick out of photo-bombing us!!  :)

 

 

 Here we are with Mary. . .sporting her Blue jacket AND she also had on a BLUE KC Running Co shirt!  It was pretty nippy before the run started and a bit on the breezy side!  However, it was much warmer than last year.  I believe the temps were in the low 30s for the start of the run in 2013.  

 

 

 

The start time for the marathon and the 1/2 marathon was a little after 7:00 a.m.. This is a picture I took as we gathered with several thousand other runners/walkers, waiting for the "start".  The sky was starting to lighten a bit. . .it was going to be a beautiful BLUE sky as the morning went on!!

 

 

We had awesome supporters along the way of our run!  I loved this great supporter and her "RUN FOR THE ROYALS" sign!!  We had just hit the 3 mile mark which was located at the Liberty Memorial, home of The World War I Museum.  

Only 10.1 more miles to go!!!

 

 

 I took this photo near the 7 mile mark, in the beautiful  Country Club Plaza area. . . which had been festooned with great Royals flags!!

 

 

We were greeted by several groups of musicians along our route!   These guys were also in the Plaza area and several of them were sporting their Royals caps!!  

 

 

This is not a great picture. . .remember, I was running!!!  However, our city is known as the City of Fountains. . .and yep. . .many of them are running Blue right now!!!  This particular fountain is the JC Nichols Memorial Fountain, located on the East side of The Plaza, next to a great park with an awesome running trail!

 

 

See how beautiful that Royal Blue sky was that day?  We were at the 12 mile mark when I took this photo of the flag!  I can tell you we weren't thinking about the Royals at that point!  :)  We were pushing ourselves to keep on running cuz we were almost finished with the 2014 Waddell-Reed 1/2 Marathon. . . and we were getting a bit tired !!

1.1 mile to go!

 

 

Next week I will post more about our 1/2 marathon running experience and share other photos. . . but this week I wanted to focus on how our town is embracing  the Royals and all of the fun they have brought to us. . .including while we were traveling 13.1 miles by foot through this happy town that is filled with BLUE-NESS!!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT has really hopped on the Boys in Blue Bandwagon, too!  Actually, he's always been a Royals fan. . .even when there wasn't a whole lot to cheer about!  Along with the rest of us, he's really enjoying this special time. . . there's so much to celebrate in KC right now!!   And as I said before, even if the Royals don't (gasp) win the Series, they've done something far greater. . .they've won the hearts of so many this year!!

We love the ROYALS!!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  She will have lots and lots of other bloggers who are ready to share their PINKS and SEASONALS with you this week!!

Happy Pink Saturday and GO ROYALS!!

DANA

 

 

 

Pink Soccer Shoes. . .and a movie!!

 

I believe this is the latest I've ever posted on Pink Saturday. . .but I'm finally here!   We were having internet issues for a day. . .and then I was out and about having birthday fun with some buddies yesterday!!

Here is my amazing Grand Girl. . .at soccer practice!!! Note those fabulous PINK soccer shoes!!!  Her dad let her choose the color!!

 

 

 

The Grand Kiddos spent last Friday night with us and for the occasion, I bought the DVD FROZEN for all of us to watch together.  The Grand Girl had already seen it, but the Grand Boys hadn't.  What a great movie!!!

After the Grands went home, THE STONE RABBIT and a few of his concrete friends watched it, too!!!  They agreed it was really good!!

 

 

Something else that's really good is PINK SATURDAY!!!  If you visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, you will find lots of other bloggers who are sharing their PINKS with you this weekend!!

DANA

 

Oh Christmas Tree. . . 2013

 

 

On the day after Thanksgiving, we went to the Christmas Tree Farm with our son and his family, to cut down our trees....a tradition we've been lucky to carry out for the last few years.

 

The tree always looks so different in the house than it did in the field!!  This one had the shape I liked, but I didn't realize just how sparse the lower branches were until we put it in the stand!!  Another Christmas tree decorating challenge!!  :)

 

My little "assistant" appeared the moment I started putting on the lights!!

 

 

For 47 years, I've put red glass ornaments on our live trees.  I still have many of the "Shiny Brite" ornies my room-mate and I bought the first year we shared an apartment together.  Over the years, my husband and I added more red ones as our trees got bigger and as a cat or two knocked them off the tree and broke some!!

The other decorations I've put on the trees have varied from shiny garland to plaid bows . . .so many different touches that I don't recall right now.  However, over the last two years I've used the sheer gold ribbon, the glittery reindeer from The Dollar Tree, and glittered pine cones.  I've also used a hand-fashioned, glittery star made by my hair stylist's sister!!  In a fit of creativity, I stuck some gold glittery picks behind it!!  :)

 

 

Here it is on Christmas Eve.  All ready for our family gathering the next day. . .and present opening!!  Sadly,  our son and his family were sick so we had to postpone our Christmas celebration for a week.

 

And here it is on New Year's Day. . . still waiting for our family to arrive for our Christmas Gathering!!

 

And HERE they are. . .having fun opening their gifts in front of one of the trees we had cut down the day after Thanksgiving!!!

 

Our tree is still beautiful, but it looks so lonely now that the gifts have been removed.  Even THE STONE RABBIT is a bit sad.

 

Since we don't actually decorate our tree until about a week or two before Christmas, I always leave it up longer than most of you folks in blog-land!  I love having the time to really enjoy  beauty it during the slower paced time right after the holidays. 

THE STONE RABBIT and Little Twiggy feel the same way, too!

 

 

 

I hope you had a great Holiday Season and that 2014 will be filled with peace, blessings and a lot of fun.

 

Please visit Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  She will have a lot of other bloggers all ready to share their holiday or PINKS with you once again this weekend!!

Happy Pink Saturday!!  

 

DANA