Thursday, November 01, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Fever
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| Getty Images/Michael Hickey |
At the start of Game 3, the Lynx and Fever had the series tied at 1 game a piece. Game 3 was won by the Fever 76-59. Game 4 took place on Sunday night. Just an hour before the game started, I finished the USATF 50 Mile Championship/Tussey Mountainback in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Just before dinner, the guide on the TV said that Game 4 of the WNBA finals would be on ESPN. I wanted to watch some of the first quarter before leaving. I turned it to the ESPN channel and the game wasn't on. Instead was an NFL wrap up show. Highlights of the NFL games were being shown and talked about. The NFL program was still on 10 minutes later and none of the other ESPN channels were carrying the game. I decided it was time to go eat dinner.
I was really tired after dinner. When we got back to the hotel, I washed up and went to bed. I read the next morning that the Fever defeated the Lynx 87-78 to win the WNBA title. I was disappointed that I didn't watch a single minute of the last two games. I was hoping the Lynx would win the game to force a Game 5. I just wanted to watch one more game between two fantastic teams. With women's college basketball starting soon, I shouldn't have to wait too much longer for some exciting games to watch.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Conference Cross Country Championships
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| Photo credit: Pac-12 |
The Pac-12 Cross Country Championship took place Saturday in Santa Clarita, California at the Robinson Ranch Golf Course. The women's team championship was won by the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks placed three runners in the top five to win their first cross country title since 1995. Oregon won with 47 points, runner-up was Arizona with 69, Stanford with 82, Washington with 92 points and Colorado rounded out the top five with 124 points.
The women's overall champion was Stanford's Kathy Kroeger in 20:06. Jordan Hasay of Oregon was second in 20:10, third was Elvin Kibet of Arizona in 20:11, Oregon's Alexi Pappas was fourth in 20:12 and fifth place runner was Allie Woodward of Oregon in 20:16.
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| Photo credit: mgoblue.com |
The men's overall individual winner was Arizona's Lawi Lalang in 22:49. Coming in second was Lalang's Arizona teammate Stephen Sambu in 22:50. Running in third place was Trevor Dunbar from Oregon in 23:28. Oregon's Parker Stinson was fourth, finishing in 23:28. Rounding out the top five was Lane Werley from UCLA in 23:33.
In East Lansing on Sunday, the Big Ten held its conference championship at Forest Akers Golf Course. Michigan women's cross country team won the title with 55 points. Runner-up was Michigan State with 75 points, third was Penn State with 96, fourth was Minnesota with 134 and Wisconsin was fifth with 147 points.
The overall champion was Michigan State's Sara Kroll (20:12.4). Second place was Mareike Schrulle of Iowa in 20:16.8. Michigan's Rebecca Addison came across the line third in 20:21.7. Fourth was Leah O' Connor from Michigan State in 20:24.6 and fifth was Rebekka Simko from Penn State 20:26.5.
In the men's race, Wisconsin won their 14th straight conference title with 33 points. Michigan was second with 65 points. Third was Indiana with 79, fourth was Illinois with 86 and Minnesota was fifth with 141 points.
Indiana's Zachary Mayhew was the overall champion in 23:29.2. Coming in behind Mayhew was Wisconsin's Maverick Darling in 23:34.1. Darling's teammate Mohammed Ahmed was third in 23:35.2. Andrew Bayer of Indiana was fourth in 23:38.0 and fifth was Michigan's Dan Lowry in 23:39.7.
Michigan will compete next at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on November 9 in Madison, Wisconsin. Oregon will run their regional on November 9 in Seattle, Washington.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association District 10 Equestrian competition VII - Adrian, MI
Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association
District 10 Equestrian competition
District 10 Equestrian competition
Adrian, MI - Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds
September 16, 2012
September 16, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
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
Riding the Rap, Elmore Leonard
Raylan, Elmore Leonard
The Coffin Quilt, Ann Rinaldi
A Life Without Limits, Chrissie Wellington
Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, John Le Carre
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Clearing Hurdles, Dan O'Brien
The Sugarless Plum, Zippora Karz
Girl in Motion: A Novel, Miriam Wenger-Landis
Breaking Pointe, Miriam Wenger-Landis
The Cranes Dance, Meg Howrey
The Eighty-Dollar Champion, Elizabeth Letts
Renegade Champion: The Unlikely Rise of Fitzrada, Richard R. Rust
That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, Anne Sebba
The President's Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity, Nancy Gibbs
Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir, Clint Hill
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever, Martin Dugard and Bill O'Reilly
Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath, Mimi Alford
Mary's Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer and Their Vision for World Peace, Peter Janney
Currently Reading: Finding My Distance, Julia Wendell
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Run with Us - Every Mother Counts
You can join the EMC team by gathering friends and family to join you on a 5K run/walk.
Ways to join the EMC Group:
Share photos and stories with Every Mother Counts at facebook.com/everymothercounts or by email at: info@everymothercounts.org
Purchase the EMC team shirt from Oiselle. Forty percent of the process will go to EMC.
Download the free Charity Miles app at charitymiles.org and every time you run/walk you can raise 25 cents for EMC.
Friends and family can sponsor your run by making donations at crowdrise.com/TeamEMC5k.
Think about joining EMC on November 4. Participate in a 5K for a great cause.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
USATF 50 Mile Championship
Being a Michigan girl, this was the first time I had ever run in the mountains. I knew the race would be a challenge when I saw the elevation chart was over 5000 feet. I really didn't even want to look at the race description because I didn't want to think about the tough spots of the course.
The race started out with a 3.2 mile climb. The course description said it was gently climbing. You could tell that it was. Around every corner was an incline. The next leg was easy. It really felt easy and I actually started to run faster. It felt good to actually run fast. Leg 4 was a struggle. It was a 6.2 mile run. With three miles of climbing and hills and three miles going down. It was at this point, I had issues with my left leg. My hip was throbbing. I had a shooting pain coming down from pelvis. My knee was starting to hurt and my quad was in pain. I decided to walk and keep going. Here, I was seriously considering not finishing. I kept moving and was going to decide at the next aid station if I should continue or stop.
At the next station, the pain went away. That meant I would continue. The next couple of legs were OK. I walked them because my legs felt like cement. On the way to the next few aid stations, I did pass some other people. We chatted for a bit and then I continued on. Most of the others said they would keep going until they were told to stop. I kept telling myself the same thing.
Legs 8 and 9 were very easy. It felt good on my legs. During these legs, I started running again. It was difficult, but I managed. Heading into the aid station that started Leg 10, I was told I was within the five minute window of the cutoff time. I asked volunteers how long the to next aid station and what time I had to be there. They gave me the time and asked if I wanted to continue. I turned around and started walking the next leg. I was told it was 5.3 miles and it was challenging. Challenging meant there were going to be some hills. The volunteers yelled to me as I was leaving that I only had a half marathon to go. I was so worried I wouldn't make the cutoff time. I started crying while walking. After sobbing for a short time, I told myself crying wouldn't get me there any faster. I needed to keep going and see what you could do.
I made it to the next aid station with five minutes ahead of the cutoff. I quickly took what I needed from the station, had workers fill up my handheld water bottle and was on my way. Leg 10 was the hardest one yet. Just when I thought I was done walking up huge, long hills and inclines, around the corner was another. The huge hills didn't stop for a mile or two. I was trying not to look ahead at how much longer I had until I crested the hill. I mainly just looked at the ground in front of me. Slowly, I made it over all of the hills.
I made it to the second to last aid station. The volunteers said I just made it in time. As I was heading out on a two mile out and back, I passed a male ultra runner. He said to me, "only two more hills." I don't know what that guy was talking about. There were more then two hills. At that point, it felt like 1000 hills. The long and winding road felt just like that. It felt like I was walking forever. As I was getting closer to the turnaround, there was an clearing in the trees. The clearing was the prettiest view I saw all day. It overlooked so many colorful trees. I didn't look at it too long because I had business to finish. The path leading to the turnaround had long jaggy rocks sticking up and out of the ground. I kept looking at the ground to make sure I didn't trip over any of them or step on them wrong and twist my ankles. I was so relieved to make it out of the jaggy rocks in one piece.
I made it to the last exchange at 6 p.m. A volunteer told me I did make the final cutoff time. She said I could stop or keep going. I told her I would keep going. I said if I make it to the finish at 7 p.m. great, if not I would get in a vehicle and have someone drive me back in. She said she would meet me in a while to see how I was doing. The last leg was 4.2 miles. I had one hour to go before the race was officially over. I came all of this way, my plan was to finish it. At mile marker 36, I started running again. I haven't ran in hours, but I knew it was the only way I was going to make it. I was surprised my pace was decent and though my legs hurt, I knew I could handle it. The lady volunteer met me and another runner in front of me at mile 37. She said she would stay with me until the end because it was getting dark. She said that she has done this for the last 4 years and she would do anything to help us finish.
She ran in front of me and told me I was doing good. Soon we passed mile 38. Only two miles to go and a half hour left on the clock. She told me to keep on her shoulder. I told her I was trying. Thirteen minutes later, we passed mile 49. She told me that this was my mile. It was mile 49. My bib number was 49, so it did feel like my mile. I kept looking at her back trying to pull her in. With a half mile to go, she said that I was almost there. The finish line had lights around it and we could see them. She told me that I was going to make it. When the finish line was in sight, the volunteer pulled off to the side and told me to go. I ran as fast as I could toward the finish line. Other volunteers and my husband were waiting for me. I crossed the line in 11 hours 50 minutes and 46 seconds, unofficial time. I was so happy that I could finally stop moving. I was handed a medal, a blanket and everyone was so happy for me. I posed for a photo with my husband underneath the finish line banner. With my finish, I was the official last runner.
So many times over the 50 miles, I thought about quitting. I didn't because I didn't want to say to people that I didn't finish the race. That would have been awful to me. I have never dropped out of a race. I didn't want to have my first DNF at this race that I traveled so far to. I'm glad that I didn't give up. I am very proud of what I accomplished and my determination.
EDITED: My official time was 11:50:50. I finished in 108th place. In the USATF Women's Open, I finished in 17th place. In the women's open (under 40 years old), I finished in fifth place.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association District 10 Equestrian competition VI - Adrian, MI
District 10 Equestrian competition
Adrian, MI - Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds
September 16, 2012
September 16, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
WNBA finals - Game 2
Seimone Augustus lead the way for the Lynx with 27 points. Augustus scored 23 of her points in the second half. She also had six rebounds, two assists and three steals. Maya Moore also chipped in with 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. The Fever committed 24 turnovers for the game. Fifteen of those turnovers happened in the second half. Leading scorer for the Fever was Tamika Catchings with 27 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Fever was playing without guard Katie Douglas. Douglas suffered a sprained ankle in the Eastern Conference finals against Connecticut. The Fever lost another player in the game last night. Jeanette Pohlen left the game after hurting her left knee.
Game 3 will be played in Indiana on Friday. The game starts at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.Photo Credits:
Top — Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson (32) goes up to the basket against Indiana Fever forward Erlana Larkins (2) in the first half of Game 2 of the WNBA basketball Finals Wednesday in Minneapolis. (Associated Press/Stacy Bengs)
Bottom — Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) and guard Lindsay Whalen (13) celebrate after a scoring play against the Indiana Fever in the second half of Game 2 of the WNBA basketball Finals Wednesday in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 83-71. (Associated Press/Stacy Bengs)
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Books read in 2012
I read Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath by Mimi Alford in a day. It was such a great read. Alford was only 19 years old when she started interning at the Kennedy White House. Soon she was getting invited by Kennedy's special assistant, Dave Powers, to go for a midday swim in the White House pool. There she met Kennedy in the pool and had a chat. Later that day, she was invited upstairs for a staff get together. Alford had a drink with co-workers then Kennedy entered the room. Soon Kennedy was giving Alford a tour of his private residence. The tour went to his private bedroom and that was the start of their two year affair.
The book was not all about the physical aspect of their affair. It was about how Alford was feeling and what happened to her after Kennedy was assassinated.
This was a very good book. I recommend it as someone who is fascinated with the JFK presidency.
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
Raylan, Elmore Leonard
The Coffin Quilt, Ann Rinaldi
A Life Without Limits, Chrissie Wellington
Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy, John Le Carre
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Eat and Run, Scott Jurek
Clearing Hurdles, Dan O'Brien
The Sugarless Plum, Zippora Karz
Girl in Motion: A Novel, Miriam Wenger-Landis
Breaking Pointe, Miriam Wenger-Landis
The Cranes Dance, Meg Howrey
The Eighty-Dollar Champion, Elizabeth Letts
Renegade Champion: The Unlikely Rise of Fitzrada, Richard R. Rust
That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, Anne Sebba
The President's Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity, Nancy Gibbs
Mrs. Kennedy and Me: An Intimate Memoir, Clint Hill
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever, Martin Dugard and Bill O'Reilly
Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath, Mimi Alford
Currently Reading: Mary's Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer and Their Vision for World Peace, Peter Janney
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Random things
My husband and I arrived around 9 p.m. We decided to wait until 9:30 p.m. to see if anyone else would be coming. At 9:30 p.m. I was going to tell the waitress that we were ready to order. Then like a miracle, I looked out the window and a few on my classmates were walking in.
I was a little disappointed that more people didn't show up. I do understand that people are busy and live out of state. For the group that did show up, we did have a good time. We stayed until the restaurant closed at 11 p.m. Most of us thought that the restaurant stayed open to midnight. Not anymore. The workers turned on the houselights and started cleaning. That was our cue to leave.
The reunion continued on Saturday afternoon. We gathered at house and ate lunch together. This time a few more classmates showed up. This was a family lunch, so everyone brought their children. My husband and I and another classmate with her boyfriend were the only one's without kids. I talked to everyone that showed up for lunch. I had a good time. I always look forward to our class reunions. It is always nice to see everyone again and catch up.
The WNBA finals started on Sunday with Game 1 between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx. Since Detroit doesn't have a team anymore, I have to root for someone. I actually like both teams. So whatever the outcome is, I'll be happy.
Indiana went to Minneapolis and defeated the reigning WNBA champions Minnesota 76-70. Indiana played without their leading scorer Katie Douglas. Douglas went down with an ankle injury in Game 3 against Connecticut. Tamika Catchings was the leading scorer for Indiana with 20 points. Seimone Augustus scored 23 points for Minnesota. Game 2 will be in Minneapolis Wednesday in the best of five series.
I noticed recently that my hair is now parted on the right side of my head. Hanging on a wall in my living room is an engagement photo with my husband. In the photo, my part is on the left side of my head. Somehow between 1999 and today, I switched my part. I don't remember doing that at all.
When I was drying my hair Sunday morning, I decided to switch my part back to the left. I wore it over there for the day. As I was washing up for bed that night, I was looking in the mirror at my hair. I really didn't like my part over on the left. It didn't look right to me. That is when I switched back to the right side. I guess whenever I switched in the first place, it was the correct decision.
Photo Credit: Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings (24) goes up to the basketball after charging through Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) in the second half of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball finals Sunday in Minneapolis. Catchings lead her team with 20 points as the Fever won 76-70. (Associated Press/Stacy Bengs)
Monday, October 15, 2012
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