Marathons are Easy

Brandon completed his first marathon in Akron on Sept 29th. The girls and I dropped him of on a random street because we were late and he hurried to find the starting line and 4 pins for his number. He must have made it OK as we saw him running around Mile 3 looking strong. At mile 10 we gave him more sharkies and the girls were both screaming for madness. By the time we made it to the Kids 1 km Fun Run, Bryn had thankfully fallen asleep(no more screaming!). Elle was wishing she was asleep, but once she heard the music she started to dance with the cousins (the Andersons were there too). Both Bryn and Elle got free race T-shirts and goodie bag that had coveted colored band aids (which Elle pasted along her arm) and slinkies...along with a nasty brownie and other treats. It was a success! Elle took off running and shortly realized that she didn't know anyone around her and started to freak out until I caught up with her. She was sobbing and found it hard to sob and run simultaneously. I've never tried that. So...we took a break until she regained her vigor and we were off! Brianne won the cousin race followed by Braxton, Derek, Elle and then Carter. We made it back to the end of the race in time to see Brandon finish his 26.2 in style. He seems pretty much healed now except for a killer blister on his foot. At around mile 9 (I think) he felt a blister coming so stopped at an aid station and put Vaseline on his foot. That was a mistake and by the end of the race his little blister grew into a massive square of disgust on the bottom of his foot...gross. Last night he said he can almost ride his bike without pain. See...marathons are easy.

Red Lights

Riding to playgroup this morning I found out Seneca Falls was doing construction on my normal route. I made a mental note to go a different way home. It would require a venture across the main bridge to turn left at Seneca Falls' almost singular light to the '5 &20', which is the busiest road in SF. I wasn't looking forward to this as I'm always faced with a dilemma at lights. Brandon told me once that if you're the only one there and it's clear, to just go cause the weight of your bike wouldn't prompt a light change. Sounds logical. So, today I turned left when the left turning light was most definitely RED. No one was coming from any direction, nor was there anyone behind me. I thought it a safe move. As I continued west on the '5 & 20' a man yelled out of his Dodge Caravan, "YOU JUST RAN A RED LIGHT!". He was right, I had. Maybe he thought I was color blind? I'm sure he had my safety at heart, but I was annoyed. Why can't people mind their own business? It's not like I go around yelling, "You're fat and should exercise!". That would be for his safety...he was overweight. That's DANGEROUS!

This experience has concreted the fact that I will NEVER buy a Dodge Caravan.

Today I Became a Runner

This is a post extracted from Brandon's journal:

Today I became a runner.

When I was in junior high school I ran a mile in 5:55, but today I became a runner.

When I was a freshman in high school I went to a cross country team practice, but today I became a runner.

When I was a sophmore in college I ran my first race, it was a 5k, but today I became a runner.

Three years ago I spent $100 on a pair of shoes for the first time in my life (Mizuno Alchemy 5), but today I became a runner.

Two years ago I bought a $10 dri-fitlike t-shirt, but today I became a runner.

I ran my first 10k and 20k in 2006, but today I became a runner.

Last year I bought some shorter shorts at Walmart to run in, but today I became a runner.

I ran the Seneca Falls Convention Days race in back to back years, but today I became a runner.

I ran the Deuce, but today I became a runner.

My nipples have chaffed and been incredibly sore following multiple races/runs, but today I became a runner.

I signed up to run a marathon on September 29, but today I became a runner.

Last month I bought a new pair of running shorts (Pearl Izumi, 5 inch inseam, built in briefs, a pocket for GU) on clearance in California, but today I became a runner.

I have run 20 miles 3 times, but today I became a runner.

Today was my last "long run" before the big race. It was to be a fast 12 mile jaunt through the back roads of Seneca Falls. I put on my fancy shorts, fancy shirts, old school Oakley's, my worn "I took it all off for cancer" hat, laced up the mizunos and my runner specific socks, taped my nipples, and set off.

I was somewhere along Farron Road headed north, and running at "an incredible rate" when I felt something inside me...it was telling me that when I got back to the school I would need to visit the little boy's room then...

I realized that this was a feeling that I could not hide, and in a matter of 10 seconds, I had left the road and was like a bear in the woods between a soybean field and a row of trees along the side of the road. I looked around and grab a leaf from a near by oak tree. That didn't get the job done, so I reached for the soybean leaf, it was a little furry and wet, but I didn't care.

After half a clean up job, I continued on...I felt terrible like I should stop, but the runner inside me urged me to carry on, and my feelings soon changed from "oh, crap" to "what bliss." I couldn't believe how happy I was to be out there running after having the runs on the side of the road. Let's just say I'm not going to be eating any Clif bars an hour within the marathon.

Dancing

After hearing that Zac Efron would be staring in the remake of 'Footloose', Elle couldn't resist.

Hoodies

Elle and Bryn found the joy of the corner covers of our couch.

Candy Necklaces

A special thank you to Adelaide who sent via her Dad a candy necklace kit for Elle.

Hair Pull

Yesterday I found Elle straddling Bryn pulling out chunks of hair....3 times! What brought on these violent acts? Here are some thoughts:

1. Elle woke up cranky. She didn't sleep enough and wouldn't sleep anymore. This could cause ANYONE to pull out a younger sibling's hair.
2. Bryn has been particularly annoying. I hesitate to say that my child has been annoying, but she has. She is whining and is super cranky herself (teething!). So, perhaps Elle is just annoyed with all the racket Bryn is making. Pulling hair should quiet her down.
3. She watched Terminator 3 the night before.