Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, Piper Kerman

Currently Reading: Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City, Gordon Young

IAAF World Championships

The IAAF World Championships in track and field started Saturday in Moscow, Russia.

Below is a recap of how the American athletes have fared so far at the championships.

Day 1
The first final of the championships was the women's marathon. It was a very warm day for the ladies. The temperature was 86° and humid. Edna Ngeringwony Kiplagat of Kenya was the winner in 2:25:44. Italy's Valeria Straneo was second in 2:25:58 and Japan's Kayoko Fukushi was third in 2:27:45. Forty year old Deena Kastor was 9th for the USA in 2:36:12. Americans Dorothy McMahan was 18th overall in 2:39:52 and Jeannette Faber was 23rd in 2:44:03.

Associated Press/Misha Japaridze

The other final for the day was the men's 10,000m. Mo Farah of Great Britian was able to hold off Ethopia's Ibrahim Jeilan to win the race in 27:21.71. Jeilan was second with a time of 27:22.23. Kenya's Paul Kipngetich Tanui was third in 27:22.61. Farah's training partner USA's Galen Rupp finished in fourth in 27:24.39. That was a seasons best for Rupp. Dathan Ritzenhein was 10th in 27:37.90. That time was also a seasons best for Ritzenhein. Chris Derrick, who placed 18th, also had a seasons best with his time of 28:04.54.

Day 2
Brittney Reese won another world championship in the long jump Sunday. Reese won the competition with a jump of 23 feet. Americans Tori Polk finished in eighth at 22-1 and Janay
Deloach Soukup was 11th with 21-1.5.

Associated Press/Ivan Sekretarev

Ashton Eaton won the world championship in the decathlon. Eaton lead after day 1 and stretched his lead out over day 2. Eaton accumulated 8809 points. Gunnar Nixon finished day 2 with 8312 points, which is a personal best for him.

Shalane Flanagan was the best American finisher in the women's 10,000m final. Flanagan finished eighth in 31:34.83. She did lead the race for the first two miles, but then fell off the pace. In her first world championship, recent Oregon graduate Jordan Hasay was 12th in 32:17.93. Amy Hastings finished 14th in 32:17.19.

Justin Gatlin finished behind Usain Bolt to claim silver in the men's 100m dash. Gatlin ran a season's best 9.85 behind Bolt's 9.77. Michael Rodgers finished sixth in 10.04.

Day 3
David Oliver and Ryan Wilson won gold and silver in the men's 110m hurdles.  Oliver won the race in 13.00 over Wilson who finished in 13.13. The defending world champion Jason Richardson finished fourth in 13.27 and Olympic champion Aries Merritt was sixth in 13.31.

Associated Press/Martin Meissner

Carmelita Jeter, the defending world champion in the women's 100m, finished in third to claim the bronze. Jeter's time was 10.94. Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won gold by dominating the field in 10.71. Murielle Ahouri was second in 10.93. English Gardner finished in fourth in 10.97. Alexandria Anderson was seventh in 11.10 and Octavius Freeman was eighth in 11.16.

Natasha Hastings and Francena McCorory both came up short in the women's 400m. Both were in position to medal, but slowed in the last stretch to the finish line. Hastings finished in fifth with a time of 50.30 and McCorory was sixth in 50.68.

Brad Walker finished just of the podium in fourth place in the pole vault.  Walker cleared 19-1 to finish just out of the medals. Michelle Carter also finished just out of the medals in the shot put. Carter's throw of 65-5 wasn't enough to hold onto third place. Tia Brooks finished eighth with a best of 59-4.25.

DNS

I was supposed to run the Pittsford Wildcat XC 5K Saturday. I never even made it to the start line. That is a first for me and I don't like it.

While driving home from the grocery store Friday night, my ABS (anti-lock braking system) and traction control lights came on. I parked my car and retrieved the car manual from my glove box. The manual said that if the light stayed on that I needed to pull over immediately and call a tow truck. The race I was pre-registered for is about 45 minutes away from my home. I didn't want to take the chance of having the light come back on while I was driving so far away from home. I don't want to crash or damage my car even more. So I went with being safe.

I took my car to the shop early Saturday morning. I was able to pull my car right in the garage. Unfortunately, I was told that someone made an appointment for 8 a.m. and their car would be seen before mine. The tech asked if I wanted to wait or go home. I asked how long it the wait would be if I stayed. He wasn't sure. I said that I would go home. He asked if I wanted a ride. I said that I could walk. He asked how far it was, I said about a mile. The tech looked at me like I was crazy. A mile really isn't that far. The tech asked a co-worker to drive me home in the courtesy shuttle.

I received a call from the shop around 11:35 a.m. The tech had some very bad news for me. My car's ABS (anti-lock braking system) front and rear brakes had to be replaced. He could have some other parts needed to be replaced as well. I knew when he was telling all of this, it was going to be expensive. Expensive it is. This is going to cost me over $1000. The tech asked if I needed a ride back to the shop and I said yes.

When I arrived at the shop, they had a loaner car for me. The tech said that my car would be completed today. I'm not in a big hurry to pick it up. The loaner car I have is the same model as my car. It is two years newer then mine and its a nice ride. And I also don't want to give up a big chuck of change yet.

I've had my car since 2005. For eight years, I've haven't had very many issues with my car. It was only this past April, that I had the shocks and struts replaced. Now I'm having the ABS system and brakes replaced. That is pretty good for an eight year span.

IAAF World Championships

The outdoor track and field World Championships start Saturday in Moscow, Russia. There will be nine days of events on TV. Which is awesome.

Below is a handy list of each day's events and television schedule.

 

Television schedule of the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Athletics

Sat., Aug. 10 - 1:30 – 5:30 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
Sat., Aug. 10 - 3:30 – 5:00 p.m., Evening Session on NBC
Sat., Aug. 10 - 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

Sun., Aug. 11 - 1:00 – 5:00 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
Sun., Aug. 11 - 12:30 – 2:00 p.m., Evening Session on NBC
Sun., Aug. 11 - 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

Mon., Aug. 12 - 1:30 – 4:30 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
Mon., Aug. 12 - 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on Universal Sports

Tue., Aug. 13 - 1:30 – 5:30 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
Tue., Aug. 13 - 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. LIVE , Evening Session on Universal Sports

Wed., Aug. 14 - 12:30 – 4:00 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports

Thur., Aug. 15 - 1:30 – 4:00 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
Thur., Aug. 15 - 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on Universal Sports

Fri., Aug. 16 - 1:30 – 4:00 a.m. LIVE, Day Session on Universal Sports
Fri., Aug. 16 - 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on Universal Sports

Sat., Aug 17 - 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. LIVE, Evening Session on NBC
Sat., Aug 17 - 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., Men’s Marathon on Universal Sports
Sat., Aug 17 - 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., Evening Session on NBC
Sat., Aug 17 - 9:00 – 10:30 p.m., Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

Sun., Aug 18 - 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., Evening Session on NBC
Sun., Aug 18 - 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Evening Session (Re-Air) on Universal Sports

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody

Currently Reading: Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, Piper Kerman

Horses at the Lenawee County Fair

Orange is the New Black

I have been hearing about Orange is the New Black for a few weeks now. The Netflix original series first aired on July 11. Netflix releases the entire season at once and I like that concept. Netflix also did that with another fantastic series, House of Cards. House of Cards with Kevin Spacey was released on February 1, 2013. I watched the entire HOC series in four days. 

After reading so many positive things about Orange on twitter, I decided to give the series a whirl this weekend. I binged-watched and finished the entire 13 episode season in three days.

The show is about "Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a woman from Connecticut, living in New York City who is sent to the women's Litchfield, NY federal prison for 15 months for transporting a suitcase full of drug money for Alex Vause (Laura Prepon), an international drug smuggler and Chapman's former lover," as described on Wikipedia.

The show was created by Jenji Kohan who also created the show Weeds. I like Orange. The writing and acting are great. I wasn't sure if I would like a show that is about a women's prison, but I do. I will be back for season two.

Addison XC 5K

It was a nice day to run a cross country race Saturday. I ran the Addison XC 5K. This race was run on the high school's cross country course. It is a mixture of grass, dirt and trails. The weather was perfect and a heavy fog was burning off before the race started.

The first mile had a couple of steep hills. We mostly ran up the hills. But we did have one to run down. Besides the hills, some of the footing wasn't the greatest. On cross country courses I always wear my ankle braces. I had to slow down in a couple of spots because I thought I was going to twist an ankle. There were so many holes and low spots all over. When running on grass, it makes it hard to anything.

I was able to chase down the second overall female during the second mile. After running the first mile by myself I thought that I wouldn't have a chance to catch her. I kept running at a solid pace and I started to catch up with her. 

I was able to pull up beside her and pass her with about 400 meters to go. She stayed behind me for a couple of steps and then she pulled out from behind me and passed. I was hoping to hang on to her. Leading up to the last straighaway to the finish was a steep hill we had to run down. I wanted to be careful and slowed down. When I did that, I lost some distance on her. I tried my best to get her, but she got away. I did finish up the race with a nice final sprint.

I finished the tough XC race in 29:28. I was the third overall woman and placed first in my age group.

Voleé team

I was thrilled to join the #oiselleteam back in 2011. To be on a team again was a wonderful feeling. The last time I was on a team was my senior year of track. Having teammates push you to run your best every meet was great. I love a support system.

I'm proud to say that I will be a Oiselle Voleé team member again until 2014. (Voleé is French for Flock.) I'm very excited to be apart of the Flock. I also have more teammates. Over 100 new women were picked to join the team. Every time I put on the Oiselle uniform I feel so honored that I represent such a wonderful company.

I look forward to the another year with so many fabulous women! 

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson

Currently Reading: Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody