Ivy - Adrian, MI

Books read in 2012

I have been reading books written by Elmore Leonard that the FX TV series Justified is based on. The main character in the books and TV series is Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. The description on Wikipedia describes Givens so well: "Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is something of a 19th century-style officer in modern times, whose unconventional enforcement of justice makes him a target with criminals and a problem for his superiors in the U.S. Marshal Service. As a result of a controversial but "justified" shooting of a mob hit-man in Miami, Givens is reassigned from Florida to Lexington, Kentucky, a district that includes Harlan County, a rural mining area in the east of the state, where Raylan was born and raised."

The books are well written and are a fast read. Maybe they are a fast read for me because I love the TV show Justified. Either way, they are both good entertainment.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Pronto, Elmore Leonard
Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard

Currently Reading: Raylan, Elmore Leonard
Up Next: Kindle purchase or library trip

Looking ahead

The 2012 race season is just getting started and I am already thinking ahead to 2013.

I check the Mad City website probably once a month to see if a decision has been made about bringing back the Mad City 100K, which also serves as the USATF 100K National Championship. I was planning to run the 2012 Mad City 100K in Madison, Wisconsin. But it didn't happen because the race was suspended in 2012.

Tim Yanacheck, race director, announced on the website in late 2011 that the 100K race wouldn't take place in 2012. Only the 50K solo race and the 50K 5-person relay will be run. The reason that the race didn't take place in 2012 is because "The 2012 World Championship 100K race will be run in Italy on April 24. A US national championship 100K race in early 2012, but before April 24, is just not feasible. Considering the athletes' recovery time and travel expense, America's best ultramarathoners would have to skip the Mad City race in order to perform up to their potential at the Worlds. We can't stage a national championship that would exclude America's best," Yanacheck said.

I typed in the address to the Mad City 100K on Sunday morning. When the page opened, there was an announcement on the top of the page. It said that the Mad City 100K will be the site of the 2013 USATF 100K Championship on Saturday, April 20. I was thrilled. I mentioned to my husband that the race I wanted to run this year would be held again in 2013. I said that I wanted to run it. My plan for 2013 was to also run the USATF 24 Hour National Championships again. If the 24 Hour National Race is held the same time in 2013 as it was this year, it would be about two weeks apart. That meant I would have to skip the 24 Hour race. My husband asked why couldn't I run both?

That got me thinking. After the 50 mile race in North Carolina in March, I took a week off from running. Following the 24 Hour race in April, I was running again two days later. If I can bounce back that quickly from 85.5 miles, why wouldn't I be able to bounce back from 62 mile race? My goal for 2013 is to on the starting line of the both the USATF 100K National Championship and the USATF 24 Hour National Championship. It would be a fun way to start the 2013 racing season.

Favorite photos from May 21-25, 2012

Track talk

The deadline has been extended. Hurry ladies, you still have time to enter Oiselle's Totally Trials giveway!

You and a friend can win a chance to fly to Oregon to attend the Track and Field Olympic Trials with the Oiselle Team. Besides hanging out with the Oiselle team, you get to stay with the Oiselle ladies a few blocks away from Hayward Field. Also included in the grand prize are VIP tickets to an Oiselle party and fashion show, tickets to days 6-8 of the Trials and airfare.

Email your application by midnight, Tuesday, May 29. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 4.

Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan will be hosting an elite vaulting competition on Sunday, May 27. The competition will start at 6 p.m. at O'Laughlin Stadium. The competition is for men and women who are trying to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials and need to reach the A or B standard. The admission to this event is a donation to the elite vaulters.

Siena Heights University is located at 1247 East Siena Heights Drive; Adrian, MI 49221

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio
The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Pronto, Elmore Leonard

Currently Reading: Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard
Up Next: Raylan, Elmore Leonard

Overnight

I woke up to the sound of people talking outside early Sunday morning. I rolled over to the other side of the bed to look at the clock, it read 2:45 a.m. I rolled back over and got out of bed. I looked out the window and saw about 15-20 people standing on the sidewalk across the street. I looked down the street and saw a firetruck. I could only see the firetruck. I had no idea what was going on.

I got back into bed and tried to go back to sleep. I couldn't get back to a solid sleep. The people across the street were really talking loud. I could have shut the windows and turned on the fan in my bedroom, but I didn't want to. The night air was cool. About a half hour later or so the people across the street finally went home. Even though it was quiet again, I really couldn't sleep. I was still drifting in and out of sleep.

I woke up again around 4 a.m. and thought of just starting my run early. I stayed in bed and drifted off into sleep until 5 a.m. Looking at the clock again, I decided that was enough. Time to get out of bed and start the day. I waited for my husband to come home from work before starting my run. When he got home shortly after 6 a.m., I asked what happened a couple of houses over. He said that a car ran through a stop sign, proceeded into the intersection and ended up driving into a house.

I wanted to see what the house looked like. I didn't get a good view when I was backing out of my driveway Monday morning. As I was heading to the grocery store in the afternoon, I passed the house. There was a huge hole in the front of the house. It was boarded up with wood, but you could see all of the damage.

Before this happened, I felt bad for the people living there. Their house is across the street from a fairly busy t-intersection. At night, vehicle headlights shining into the front windows on the house. They always have their shades closed, even during the day. Besides headlights shining into their window every night, they had a person drive a car into the front of their house Sunday morning. How awful. I haven't read anything about the crash. I hope no one was hurt. A house can always be fixed, but not people.

Associated Charities of Lenawee County Inaugural Charity Chase 10K

It was a lovely day to race last Saturday. The sun was shining and the weather was just a tad warm. Before the race started, I met up with some running friends from Ann Arbor. I met Bob and Jocelyn when I ran with the Ann Arbor Track Club. I ran a short warm up with them and walked and talked before the race started.

There was the a nice sized crowd for the inaugural race. Most of the people there ran the 5K. There were a few of us running the 10K. When the horn went off, all racers and walkers started at the same time. The 10K group ran a block with the 5K group and then split. When the split was made, I was behind two ladies and a guy heading up a incline. After we were over the incline, I ended up passing one of the ladies and the guy.

I was very familiar with the first half of the route. These were the streets that I ran on when my treadmill was out of commission back in the winter. The streets were mostly flat. I knew I had to take advantage of that. I went as fast as my legs could take me. I could feel myself slowing down at some points, that is when I told myself to pick up the pace. I needed to keep up the pace because I knew that people were behind me. I didn't know how close, but I knew they were there.

The second half of the race took us through a local cemetery in town. I have run races through that cemetery. It is not flat. It has plenty of rolling hills. When I made the turn into the cemetery, I took a quick look back. The lady and man I passed were closing in on me. I tried picking up my pace on the flat straightaways. When running up a hill, I tried turning my legs over as fast as I could. I just kept telling myself to keep going. It seemed like we ran in the cemetery forever and I just wanted to make it back out onto the road without one of them passing me. On the driveway leading us out of the cemetery, I was caught by the woman behind me. She just passed me and started to cruise. She kept getting farther away from me. Running into a downhill, I told myself to go get her. I started to pick up my speed.

Following the downhill, the course turned us right. We had one long country road to run before making another right hand turn into another long straightaway to the finish line. Before making the final right turn, I was pulling closer and closer to the woman ahead of me. Just before turning, I had her within 10 feet of me. When we made the turn, I was still on her. It was then, she started pulling away from me. I tried to pick it up to stay with her, but the rubber band broke. She was gone. I ran as hard as I could and crossed the finish line in 54:44. With that time, I placed second in my age group of 30-34. I was second behind the overall woman's winner (my running friend, Jocelyn). I think I was fifth overall woman. I'll have to wait to see the final results when they are posted online.

This race was fun and I thought I did well. I was able to speed up early in the race. It wasn't until hitting the rolling hills in the cemetery when my legs didn't want to respond. I wish I was able to catch the woman at the end of the race. Even though the lady passed me, I was able to keep the guy I passed in the beginning of the race behind me. That is always good.

Favorite photos from May 14 - 18, 2012

Random things

I will be running in the Associated Charities of Lenawee County Inaugural Charity Chase 10K tomorrow. Since this is the inaugural race, I'm not sure of the course. I have run other races that started at the same place. I'm figuring we will probably run one of those courses. The race starts at 8:30 a.m., hopefully I can finish the 10K before it gets too hot. The high for the day is supposed to be 85°.

Enter to win a trip to the Olympic Track and Field trials in Eugene, Oregon with Oiselle. The prize is a 3-day tip for you and your girl friend to join the Oiselle team in Eugene. The winner receives airfare, a place to stay, VIP tickets to an Oiselle party and fashion show, tickets to the trials and Oiselle apparel kit. Go here for details. The contest deadline is midnight, Sunday, May 27.

The AMGEN Tour of California started on Sunday. There are a total of eight stages. The eighth stage ends in Los Angeles on Sunday. I've been watching the race on tape delay on NBC Sports Network. Since the start of the tour, Peter Sagan has worn the yellow jersey for four stages. Stage 5 was an individual time trial. Sagan is no longer wearing the yellow jersey. American David Zabriskie is now wearing it. He is leading second place rider, Tejay Van Garderen (USA) by 34 seconds. Other US riders that are close behind are: Andrew Talansky (+48 seconds), Tom Danielson (+1:07), Lawson Craddock (+1:30), George Hincapie (+1:30). Well-known US riders Levi Leipheimer is behind 1:44 and Chris Horner is back 2:50.

Lot S - Rochester, NY

Mt. Hope Cemetery

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio
The Help, Kathryn Stockett

Currently Reading: Pronto, Elmore Leonard
Up Next: Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard

ITU World Triathlon

The ITU World Triathlon series was in San Diego over the weekend. The women raced on Friday and the men on Saturday. The events did stream live on universalsports.com. I didn't watch them online, I wanted to wait to see them on TV. Universal Sports channel will air the women's and men's triathlon this weekend. Even though I have never done a triathlon, I love to watch them.

Besides the ITU being a triathlon racing series, it was also serves as an Olympic team qualifier. Great Britain's Helen Jenkins won the event with a time of 1:58:21. Australia's Erin Densham was second in 1:59:26 and Laura Bennett of the US finished third in 2:00:11. With her finish, Bennett claimed the final U.S. Olympic spot. Bennett qualified for her second Olympic team and finished fourth in the triathlon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Bennett will join previously qualified Sarah Groff and Gwen Jorgenson on the 2012 US triathlon team.

On Saturday, two US men also qualified for the 2012 London Olympic games. Hunter Kemper and Manuel Huerta. Kemper finished fifth (1:49:17) and Huerta was ninth (1:49:31) Saturday in San Diego. The winner of the ITU World Triathlon San Diego was Jonathan Brownlee from Great Britain in 1:48:46.

This will be Kemper's fourth consecutive Olympic team and it will be Huerta's first Olympic games.

Photo Credits: Zimbio.com (top) & Donald Miralle/Getty Images (bottom)

Favorite photos from May 7-11, 2012

Random things

After last week's driving to/from Cleveland and participating in an 24 hour race, this weekend is going to be different. I'm staying home. My husband and I have plans to spend tonight together. I went to Cleveland alone last week and I missed him. He was supposed to come with me, but he was unable to get the days off of work. So tonight, I will enjoy dinner and the evening with him.

The return of the IAAF Diamond League is also tonight. The Diamond League is an annual series of world class track and field meets. The first Diamond League meet will take place in Doha, Qatar. I will be able to watch the action this year on Universal Sports. I will be out with my husband when the track meet airs on Universal Sports, but my DVR will be recording it for me. I will be watching it Saturday morning when running on the treadmill. A couple of my favorite ladies will be running in Doha: Molly Beckwith (800m) and Allyson Felix (100m).

Mother's Day is on Sunday. Last year, only a few of my siblings and I were able to take Mom out for dinner. Everyone else was working. Looks like it is going to be the same again this year. I think only one of my sister's and her husband will be able to join Mom and me for dinner tomorrow evening. It is very rare to have all seven children and Mom together on a holiday since growing up. Sometimes I miss what we had back in the day. When all seven of us kids, plus Mom and Dad being together on holidays. Boy, how things have changed.

Fox - Welcome, NC

Richard Childress Wildlife and Conservation Gallery

While walking through the Richard Childress racing museum back in March, my husband and I walked through Childress' Wildlife and Conservation Gallery also. I saw a fox and thought it was adorable. It was a lovely shade of red and it's eyes matched. I thought I would take a photo of it because that is the closest I'll ever be to a fox.

Books read in 2012

I put the book Pretty Little Secrets by Sara Shepard on hold. I went to the library last week looking for a couple of books. Since the library had them, I figured I would save money by borrowing them instead of buying them on my Kindle.

I picked up the book Fairy Tale Interrupted by Rosemarie Terenzio in the new books section. If it is a new book, you can only borrow it for two weeks. I decided to read that first. I love to read anything about the Kennedy family. I read this book in just over a day. It is a very quick and interesting read. Terenzio worked as JFK Jr.'s assistant. I liked reading about her interactions with him and his wife, Carolyn Bessette and how he was when he was not in the spotlight.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard
Fairy Tale Interrupted, Rosemarie Terenzio

Currently Reading: The Help, Kathryn Stockett
Up Next: Pronto, Elmore Leonard

USATF 24 National Championship

I ran in the USATF 24 Hour National Championship Saturday-Sunday in Cleveland, Ohio. The .90075 mile course was in Edgewater Park right on the bank of Lake Erie. It was a windy, but nice and sunny day to run in the park.

The race started at 9 a.m. It was a little cool and windy with the breeze coming off the lake. I started the race wearing a jacket. I took my jacket off probably 10 miles in after warming up. At that time it was still cloudy. Soon the clouds disappeared into a sunny day. I forgot that I didn't put any sunscreen on, I stopped at my car to put some on. I put on SPF 50. That saved me from getting burned more than I already had.

The loop was a paved path around the park. It was flat except for a small incline heading out of the aid station and the timing area. The incline wasn't too steep, so I always ran it.

When the race started, I promised myself a break after I ran 50 miles. After 9.5 hours, I had run 50.4 miles/56 loops. I walked back to my car and sat down for a half hour. After the break was over, I was back to running. I ran another 10.1 miles (60.3 miles/67 laps) in three hours. Around 12:30 a.m., I decided to stop again and take a nap. I slept in the backseat of my car for 1.5 hours.

I stepped back on the path and started running again after my nap. During the loops, I ran the entire way. The only time I walked was through the aid station to pick up drinks, food and take electrolyte pills. I would eat and drink on my way out past the timing table and start running again. The start of lap 79 was just like the others. I was walking and it was time to run up the short hill. My legs didn't want to. I walked up the hill. When I was back on the flat surface, I tried to run again. My legs didn't want to do that. So I walked.

During the run, we could find out our lap count from the officials. That is how I knew I ran 50 and 60 miles. On my last lap running, I found out I just finished 78 laps. I ended up losing count while walking. A couple hours later, I asked how many laps I have completed. I was told 55. I said that was wrong. The officials said that they probably didn't add the results from the first six hours. They said they would straighten it out. A while later I was walking by the timing table, they said that I had 66 laps. I said that I ran 50 miles in 9.5 hours and 60 miles at 12.5 hours. And I said I was told I had 78 laps a couple of hours ago. I was so frustrated. Just before they told me this, I was having a hard time staying awake. I was swerving all over the path and could hardly keep my eyes open. It was then I decided after hearing the awful news, I would just to go back to my car and take a nap. I ended up taking a nap for almost three hours.

With less then two hours to go, I got back out of my car and started walking. I walked by the timing table and said that they had news for me. They now had an accurate count of my laps: 88. I was happy that they finally had the correct count. I got back on the path and finished the 24 hour run walking. I finished my last loop (95) with less then a minute to go.

I ran/walked for a total of 95 laps/85.5 miles. My goal coming into the event was 100 miles. According to the results, I was 33rd out of 94 people. I was a little sad that I didn't make it, but very happy with what I accomplished. I ran/walked for 19 hours. That is a long time to be on your feet and moving. Besides the sunburn I got, I wasn't in too much pain after the race. I was walking pretty normal, which really surprised me. No limping or hobbling around.

This race has a good chance of making it onto my 2013 schedule. It depends on a few of the other races I'm looking at. Besides the lap mix-up that was resolved, it was a very well run race. A nice and flat course. Wonderful views of Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline. Tons of food and drink to go around at the aid stations, which it was very well stocked. Doctors and physical therapists were on-site if needed and plenty of portal-potties. I had a great time at the USATF 24 National Championships. I got to spend the day running with some awesome people.

Photo credit: John McCarroll

Favorite photos from May 1, 2012

24 Hour National Championship

I will be driving to Cleveland, Ohio today and staying through Sunday morning. I will be running in the USATF 24 Hour National Championship Saturday and Sunday.

The 24 hour race starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and ends on Sunday at 9 a.m. My goal heading into the weekend is to try run over 100 miles. Back in March, I ran/walked 50 miles in just over 11 hours on a hilly course. This course is not hilly. It is a flat loop. I'm hoping I can meet my goal since it is a flat course.

Besides trying to meet my goal mileage, I want to stay awake as long as I can. I was part of a Ragnar Relay team Chicago back in 2011. I only slept for 1-2 hours for the entire relay. I'm hoping to have the same kind of success of staying awake this time around. If not, I can walk off the course and take a nap in my car. If I choose to take a nap, it won't be for long. I need to get my miles in.

I'm looking forward to this new experience. It will be different from Ragnar Chicago because I'm depending on myself and not teammates. I want to see what I can do.

NASCAR Hall of Fame III - Charlotte, NC

Books read in 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Winter Season: A Dancer's Journal, Toni Bentley
Chasing the Runner's High, Ray Charbonneau
The Perfect Mile, Neal Bascomb
Cleopatra, Stacy Schiff
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Summer in the City, Candace Bushnell
Forgotten, Cat Patrick
Deja Dead, Kathy Reichs
Pretty Little Liars, Sara Shepard
Flawless, Sara Shepard
Perfect, Sara Shepard
Unbelievable, Sara Shepard
Wicked, Sara Shepard
Killer, Sara Shepard
Heartless, Sara Shepard
Wanted, Sara Shepard
Twisted, Sara Shepard
Ruthless, Sara Shepard

Currently Reading: Pretty Little Secrets, Sara Shepard
Up Next: Kindle purchase or library trip

Decisions made

I decided on some races for the next couple months over the weekend. Of course I will be running plenty of 5/10Ks over the summer and fall months. But they are not listed here. Only the biggest races of the year.

I have officially entered three races: Dexter-Ann Arbor Run (13.1 miles - June 3), Ann Arbor Marathon (June 17) and Tussey Mountainback/USATF 50 Mile Championship (October 21).

I am very excited to run all three of these races. I like the variety of distances. All of these distances are challenges and I can't wait to tackle them.