Thanksgiving Day Reunion

This is Ally and Sophia (Trimama's daughter) at Target Center Thanksgiving morning.

Sophia: ALLY!

Ally: SOPHIA!

Sophia: How r u?

Ally: Awesome! How r u?

Sophia: Awesome!

Ally: What's that?

Sophia: I brought a Webkinz.

Ally: Cool! Can I see?

Sophia: Sure!

Ally: Neat.

Sophia: Thx. He can run the 5k with us.

Ally: Cool!

Sophia: LOL

Ally: LOL!

They hadn't seen each other much since our vacation in Washington state, so here is how their excited reunion went when they saw each other at the Target Center. It was so funny seeing them texting each other while they were right there. So cute. Little girls love their phones.

We all ran together until about the last few blocks or so when the Soapinator took off and finished strong... but Ally came in at 38:50 - her Personal Best! Way to go Ally! Not bad for an 8 year old!

Here she is running with Hugo and Baby Owen:

And here is a group shot after we all came in:

front: Baby Owen in the stroller, Ally and me

middle: Erik (Sarah's hubba - it was his first 5k and he was WAY ahead of everybody!), Laura's sister Sarah (who runs pretty much all my marathons with me), Kelli (Baby Owen's mom)

back: Hugo (Owen's dad), Laura the bride, Greg the groom, Christy, and TriNick in the way back.

Time to get to the best T-day dinner EVER. We ate at our church - no fighting siblings, no drunk Uncle Eds, no quibbling over the dark meat... and Pastor Dan had us all playing Bingo for "valuable" prizes, and we even had a scavenger hunt, so there was a lot of running around inside and outside the church - the perfect thing after a big meal.

After that, Laura and the bridesmaids headed back for the rehearsal while I stayed back at the house getting everything ready for the after-rehearsal party at our house. It was great! About 30 or so of Laura's and Greg's family and out of town friends came over for little sandwiches and cocktails. Greg made the most beautiful toast to Laura - everybody wanted to cry. He is such a prize!

After the guests left, Christy and Laura and I got in our pj's and talked until Laura kicked us out of her room so she could get to sleep.

After I get more pics, I'll post more about the weekend...

;-)

They did it!

Iron Greg and IronLaura got married last night! I don't want to steal any thunder from pics Laura will probably want to post, so I will just give you a glimpse here:

It was a beautiful wedding - so many friends and family members came out, Laura and Greg both looked gorgeous, the weather was great. If you missed TriNight, you would have had a second chance to see all your friends at the wedding - a jillion triathletes were there.

Hugo and Kelly and 4 1/2 month old "Baby Owen" came from CA, and Christy from CT and stayed at our house. My kids just loved having the baby around, and we are so bummed that they all left this morning!!

The guests began to come to town on Tuesday and we had a great time eating, drinking and catching up, going for group runs on the trails and doing all the prep work for the event. Sure was a lot of love floating around. There are lots of great pictures on other people's cameras... hopefully I will get some of them soon.

Here is Bobby at the reception cuttin' a rug with one of the flower girls.

... and me dancing with my hubba...

... and all the kids were breakdancing:

It was really a great weekend.

Congrats to two of the nicest people I've ever been so lucky to know!

Ahhhh... the memories

Here's what we used to do in Minnesota in the winter. 

Where's the snow??????

:-(

I knew we were on to something...

Remember when a few of us registered for Ironmans and listed our occupations as silly stuff? One time Tim was a "Leaf Raker", Joe Bobby was an "Underpants Inspektor", I was a "Smokin'Hot Nascar Wife"... etc. 

I see from the list of registrants at Ironman Arizona that the trend has really taken off . Check these out...

Cat Herder

Grave Digger

Hustla!

Master Chihuahua Wrangler

Mine Sweeper

Moustache Jockey

Mullet Designer

Ninja

Pirate

Pragmatist

Prime Minister

Prospective Eccentric Billionaire

Rapper

Supreme Allied Commander

I keep wondering when Mike Reilly will start announcing them as he calls their names over the finish line.  Some of these are great!

What have you been?

Tri Night - 2008

Well, that was fun! 

Last night a bunch of local triathletes hosted the end-of-season banquet. Once a year we get to see everyone with combed hair, and even smelling nice. Our guest speaker was the one and only Olympic triathlete Hunter Kemper. Here he is below, flanked by Jeremy Baker (one of my FCA teammates) and me.

He regaled us with his Olympic and other race stories. Hunter is hilarious. 

Truly. 

I would hang out with this guy in real life if he lived in my neighborhood. 

He used this platform to talk about the charity he supports, A-T. It's a genetic and fatal disease which afflicts only about 500 children in the U.S. each year. The disease causes progressive loss of muscle control, immune system problems and a strikingly hight rate of cancer. He met two little girls, sisters, who both have it and they really touched his heart. They will die in their teens, unless a cure is found.

He is also a Christian (and even told the crowd that he could feel the hand of Christ on him as he raced in Beijing this summer)!  I thought it was really cool that Hunter openly embraces his faith, especially since anti-Christian sentiments are what's popular, and especially harsh in the last few months. Anyway, you can read more about A-T at www.atcp.org. Help if you feel driven, as most of us did last night.

Jeremy is opening a new bike shop in Chaska, MN in January. Actually, he is taking over an existing shop, Get Your Gear, but will be changing it up a lot... it will now also offer a great assortment of super fun women's running and tri clothes. So Laura and I decided to wear some of it last night. I am in a SkirtSports running dress, with tri shorts underneath, and bolero-style arm-warmers with matching headband from Sheila Moon. Laura is in arm-warmers and headband. The fabrics are soft and wicking, they fit true to size, and they are nothing short of seriously hawt. I mean, c'mon. Just look at us. ;-)

There was also a blogger reunion of sorts: Taconite Boy, Trimama, me, Andy Mork (serious cyclist and cross-country skier), Kate Monster, and Mark Evenson. As usual Mark is hamming it up. Back in the old days we used to run "throwaway" races together, but now he's really fast, so we can't run together anymore. I mean he's really, really fast -- he even has his last name printed on the butt of his Fastskins. But I still remember when he used to stop for group pictures during races. Maybe I can dig one up and post it... te-he.  Kate is also an amazing athlete by day, and they are the cutest couple EVER.

Speaking of super fast, Jen Lenarz was also there. I love this girl - like other local speedsters, (how did I not get a picture with you Jules???), like our own "Just-back-from-Kona-Cathy", 

 

...Jen always smiles, waves and cheers for you, when she spots you on the course. 

I love Minnesota. It may be cold out, but the people are so nice and fun. I love you guys!!

Ski Season begins!

Yesterday I initiated ski season with a 30 minute ski on the rollers (no snow yet). Ally came along on her rollerblades.

I didn't ski at all last season due to the heart condition, but since it's not going away (and I can still run, bike and swim), I plan to ski this year.

Didn't fall, so at least I know I can still stand on them.

Laura - you want to go to Baker Park tomorrow after B/S at Shannon's?

Below is Bobby getting in a cold weather trail run/treasure hunt this week. As many of you know we switched schools this year, and I have to say it was the best thing we could have done. Last year Bobby rarely had less than 4 hours of homework, and this year he has had about one hour. Maybe a bit more on occasion, and sometimes a bit less. But he plays after school now. Really! Who knew! He enjoys the trails, he plays his Wii, he goes to friends' houses, he sits by the fire-pit with us.... he even stopped biting his fingernails. He made A's at the old school, and makes A's at the new school. But he loves his teachers and his classmates, and he's just so happy now.

Here he is showing off his loot - an old whiskey bottle that he pulled out of the stream (it still had something stinky in it - hopefully that was whiskey ;-)), a rock with cool dual colored moss on it, and a few sword-worthy sticks. We were out there until after sunset. Life is Good.

Let's make this guy famous

My friend Erik was taking pics of Julie (10:32!!) at IM FL over the weekend and saw this guy with flippers on the swim. At the turnaround he dropped them in the water, exited and ran over the mat, and retrieved them when he entered for the second lap. The official said something to him, took his flippers, and THEN LET HIM CONTINUE THE SWIM. (What the...???)

Cheaters have reached an all new low. C'mon folks, Ironman is not about Cheating-to-get-there. It's about courage, strength, perseverance, and integrity. What is the world coming to???? 

Let's find out who this guy is and make him famous.

P.S. - Congrats again to the following Real Ironmen: Julie, Terri, Erin, Tim, Michelle, Shelly and Lana (whose time I predicted) ;-)

IM Florida

Julie Hull - you are doing AWESOME!!!! What an amazing bike split and your first leg of the run is smokin'!

Terri - wow - isn't IM fun when you don't have a herniated disk? It must be like a whole other experience!  Keep up your strength on the run and I will win the predicted finish time!

Erin - you're doing it!!! Can I call you IronErin yet? I hope you have your phone in your bag at the finish because I will be ringing it until you pick up!!!!

Shelley - looking good!!! You are a pro. But what is the deal with listing Accountant as your occupation? Veterans are supposed to be funny things - like Nascar Wife, or Leaf Raker, or MultiTasker... ;-)

Tim - I wish I were there to high five you on the run - you will do a great time!

Lana - Holy Smokes! Great swim. Great Bike. STill checking on your run, but you are clobbering the course!

Michelle - wow! Twenty-plus mph on your second split of the bike... and a strong swim - and you're makin' me proud with that T2 --- can't wait til you post a run split.

Boo!

My little monster has gone trick-or-treating ... grrrrr.

Somebody forwarded this little quote so I thought I'd pass it along.

Times sure have changed, but the message still resonates with me.

Have our goals, aspirations and expectation of ourselves really changed all that much?

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves"

--Rev. William J. H. Boetcker (thanks for the correction, P. !)

PR for Bobby!!

The whole fam damily came out to do the Monster Dash 5K around Lake Harriet on Saturday. Bobby has wanted to get under 30 minutes all year and he did this weekend! Woo-hoot! His net time was around 29:42 - not sure what his gross time was, but he was so excited!

Below is the fam with Laura, Greg and Zurich. Laura would be the hippie chick. ;-)

Below is Bobby on pace for his PR.

Here we are at the finish - that's Ally's Monster "Grrr". She came in around 45 minutes.

This is a view of Lake Calhoun - an adjacent City Lake to the one we ran around (Harriet). Minneapolis is called the City of Lakes because we do indeed have these beautiful lakes right in the center of the city. It was a gorgeous day.

Fall in Minnesota

Here are some recent pics from The Upper Midwest. Soon to be referred to as The Tundra.

Pics from Whistlestop Marathon in Ashland, Wisconsin:

Guy, Marty, me, Diane, Holly, Chae, Merrilee before the race. We really did have trees this bright for the whole marathon. Only once we were on the trail there were lots of reds and oranges displayed as bouquets nestled in with the balsams. It was gorgeous.

After the race we drove over to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a GREAT Italian dinner.

Holly, me, Chae, Diane, Merilee and Guy. Marty went home after the race but Guy stayed as our man-guest for Girls Weekend. He said he would do Girls Weekend anytime!

Bobby invited his 5th grade class over for a Fall Harvest Party. Sixteen kids came and it was so much fun! We went on a trail hike in the back yard, collected interesting stuff for a contest with cool prizes. (Stacea won with her big hairy mushroom; second place was a truly perfect fall leaf). We played games like apple toss, ate pizza, played flashlight games after dark and made s'mores at the firepit. It was about 62 degrees and clear - a perfect fall day.

Yesterday Bobby and Ally and I hit the trails again - the leaves have really fallen - but that in itself is pretty as it looks like a golden carpet in the woods.

Saturday ten of us went on the Ride For Pie. It's a 65 mile HILLY ride along the St. Croix River -  to the most amazing bakery, where we all ate pumpkin pie and then biked back. Andy got a flat in his rear tire; then a flat in his front tire 2 miles later (seriously); then another flat in his front in another 2 miles (TOTALLY serious). He ran out of supplies, so IrongirlNyhus had to go get the car and pick him up! It was a 6 1/2 hour ride with the stops and hills, but it was so pretty!!

Finally, yesterday Susan and I were out on our 6am run and saw 4 shooting stars. We couldn't believe it! So I got home and googled the stargazing page and lo-and-behold it's a charted meteor shower. Only TODAY (the 21st) is supposes to be the really good viewing day, in the  morning and in the south. So Bob and I got the kids up at 5:30 this morning, got all bundled up and watched the sky for an hour and a half before school. We each saw at least 8 or 10 shooting stars... the first ever for Bobby and Ally -- they were so excited! I will be running again tomorrow so if it's clear, maybe I will see some more. Cool!

Redemption

Yesterday's Whistlestop Marathon went better for me. From the start I wanted to just take what the day brought me, mile by mile. Last weekend's TCMarathon left me feeling unsure and out of control. But I did feel better the second half of TCM, and managed to negative split by about a half hour. 

Anyway, here are my splits from yesterday at Whistlestop (also a negative split!):

1- 10:26

2- 9:23

3- 9:20

4- 9:19

5- 9:29

6- 9:13

7- 9:09

8- 9:19

9- 9:06

10- 9:16

11- 8:55

12- 8:48

13- 9:17

14- 9:04

15- 9:04

16- 9:40

17- 9:14

18- 9:34

19- 8:44

20- 8:35

21- 8:37

22- 8:55

23- 8:42

24- 9:20

25- 8:50

26.2- 10:24

Total time - 3:59:53

For my age group, the Boston qualifier is 4:00:59.  ;-)

I ran with a guy named Tom almost the entire way. I was wearing my FCA-Endurance Team(Fellowship of Christian Athletes)  jersey, and when we passed one other guy who said, "love your shirt!", Tom and I had the opportunity to talk faith a little. He studies lots of religions so it was really interesting and the miles clicked off one by one. I told him that I like endurance sports because I can bring Jesus with me out there and He keeps me company when it's great as well as when it sucks. About the halfway mark, when I was still feeling great, I quietly said a prayer that "if You want to finish this marathon with me, it'd be great to go under 4 hours. But if that's not the Plan, just bring me in feeling good, ok? Amen."

Looking at how fast I got at the end, I can only think that power came from somewhere outside of me. 

Any which way you read it, it was a great race for me and I'm not even sore. (Don't hate me for that, ok?)

I had so much fun with the friends I went with - hugs to Holly, Chae, Diane, Merilee (p.s. - Merilee - you over paid for gas so I owe you some money), Guy, and Marty - you guys are awesome! I also got to see Trimama at the prerace dinner and we did start together, but separated right away. She is going to do great at AZ IM  in a few weeks. Can't wait to follow you and Merilee!!!

Yea!!! Boston! After 29 marathons, I am finally qualified!!!

Twin Cities Marathon

Well, the first half sucked because I could NOT control my heartrate (191 - 230 when I ran; back down to 129 or so when I walked). And did I mention rain? Oh, yeah - pouring. Like, completely and totally pouring rain with thunder and everything. Some people were trying to run around the puddles and others were just jumping in them and singing songs. Anyway, I spent much of the first half hanging with the 5:00 folks, freaking out while my chest exploded in arrythmia.

But after about mile 12 I felt much better (suddenly) and ran strong the rest of the way in. So my first half was 2:29; second half 2:05, for a final of 4:34. So it was my personal worst for TCM, but I guess that I just have to take what the day brings me, and be thankful for that. Right Commodore?

It was awesome seeing Steve in a Speedo and the rest of his Animal Farm. Pharmie, I missed you altogether, so I hope you put up your race report soon!

Jumper did his first marathon - woo-hoot! And considering he pretty much took the summer off of training after his crash, he should be very happy! You're a marathoner, Tim!

Sarah, Laura's sister, whom I usually run with, did her PR for Twin Cities - great job Sarah!

Thanks IronGreg, IronGirlNyhus, Betty and IronZurich for cheering! And Susan, Laurie and Margeaux; and Terri and Erin for coming out, too in the pouring rain to cheer - you guys were the best and it was awesome to see you out there!

I am heading over to Wisconsin tomorrow for the Whistlestop Marathon on Saturday. Hopefully I will have better luck there.

Mac Server

Any Mac users out there who have not received any emails for the last 24 hours?

I am receiving them on my PC via MediaCom, but nothing on my iPhone or Mac frm MobilMe...

I even sent myself an email from the other side of the house and it left the PC just fine, but has not been received in this room yet... hmmmmm.

How cute is this one?

... and it's red corduroy on the back. So adorable.

Thank you to Sheila for your donation to Kona Shelley's fundraiser!

I think I may have to make one of these for myself someday...

Coffee Talk, Sunday Sept. 28, 2008

Jenny: I miss it.

Bob: I know.

Jenny: It was really important to me.

Bob: I know. That's why you should do it.

Jenny: It's just too expensive.

Bob: By then we'll have money again. If not, we'll have bake sales.

[kiss - kiss - hug-hug]

 

Gosh it's gorgeous here! Today it was about 68 degrees and clear. Susan, Shannon and I ran for an hour while it was still dark out - you could see brightly, the constellations Orion and the Big Dipper. How cool!

A little later, after school drop off, Terri and Erin and I rode our bikes out to St. Michael and back.(about 35 miles) I got my first flat on a sew-up.... and I am proud to say I had it changed and on our way in EIGHT minutes. I had no idea it would actually be easier to change than a regular inner-tube tire.

Tomorrow is a swim day - we've been going about 3500 yards of assorted masters drills, sets twice a week. 

Also today is the 4th day IN A ROW that I've done my pushups, situps and lunges. I just hafta do it. At my age it is SO easy to get all soft around the middle....

About races - I have two more marathons and I'll be done for 2008. I'll have to post my 2009 stuff once I start getting registered...

Here Am I

This video is 10 minutes long, but it will answer a thousand questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVN0PTnro_0

Enjoy and God Bless!

xoxo

Jenny

Here I am!

.... Just been busy I guess - Here's my recap of the past several weeks:

1). My tri season is over, but I have been training anyway! I actually did two swims each of the last two weeks. Those of you who know me, know that as school was winding down, I was only swimming 3-4 times per month, then only swam in races during the summer (plus a whopping two lake swims for fun), and was struggling to get my lazy arse in the water at all. But I am baaaack! Workouts were 3300, 3700, 3200 and 3300 yards. At the end of the w/o of the third day, Jean had us do a timed 100yd sprint and I got a 1:18. Which normally I'd be bummed about. But not now - knowing that I only lost 9 seconds by being lazy for 4 months? Lazy's cool.

2). I've done 3 x 20-milers in preparation for Twin Cities Marathon next month. Am planning on 21 or 22 this weekend, since it's three-weeks-out and that is when I try to do a long-long one. I don't know - there is just something comforting about having more than 20 in my back pocket come race day.

3). Speaking of race day, I am carrying a large flag for the Special Olympics (with my friend Jen Lenarz!) and a couple others for the Twin Cities Marathon. Luckily, it will be passed between us all day, because I assume it will get pretty heavy. Jen is super super fast, so the only time in my life I will ever get to run with her is if I do this, so I am in.

4). I am also doing the Whistlestop Marathon the weekend after TCM, and I will try to go fast for that one.

5). I've been biking well - no aches and pains, but boy is my bike getting old. It squeaks and creaks and stuff, but it still gets me around. I can't wait until I can get a new one... so many Specialized Transition Pros online to drool over.... :-)

Terri and I did our secret-weapon spring-training in the pre-season and we both have been faster for it.  If you want to know what our secret weapon is, I shared it in a comment with both Tri-Rob and Momo so you have to go hunt for it! But it has worked great for two summers in a row. 

6). We switched schools this year and the kids are happy as pigs in mud. Bobby especially loves it. As many of you read last year, it was a painful year for us at Providence Academy, where the kids have gone since pre-K. But Heritage Christian Academy is a much better fit for us. I've been told that what we believe in is "cheap grace" but call it what you like, it works for us and we fit in much better here, so please be happy for us!

7). I took the kids to the state fair a couple weeks ago - I hadn't been in a few years. I hate the fair! It's like a sea of grossly overweight, sweating people all walking really, really slowly, eating huge buckets of cookies, gigantic greasy turkey drumsticks, 12-inch long hot dogs and cheesecake on a stick. Gross! Those who aren't eating, are smoking and drinking until their eyes are all glassy, and it's dusty and dirty - blech. But the kids wanted to go and I felt it was my parental obligation. We actually ate something called Pig-lickers: crispy bacon strips dipped in dark chocolate. Hey, when at the fair, eat the fair food, right?

It was really cool to see all the animals, though - a baby cow was born when we were there - see above pic!- and if we'd waited around just a teeny bit longer we'd have seen piglets born, too. The kids went to the Haunted House but were so scared that a guide with a flashlight had to usher them out. Ally didn't stop crying or squeezing me for at least a half hour... ;-)

9). I passed my room at Florida IM over to my friend Julie Hull - watch for her that day - she's an uber-athlete! and I requested the portion of my registration fee to be refunded, so I am really and truly not doing Florida. I'm sad, but it just is what it is. Erin and Terri will be racing, and I will have lots of other people to cheer for.

That's my update! Now I am going to head over to Greyhounds site to get the latest on his hurricane Ike reports...

I'll close out with a few family pics..

Ally figuring out how long it will take to earn enough points to get another Webkinz.

At the fair.

Snuggling up by the fire-pit.

Ally's pet Lucy the caterpillar moments before we put her outside to be free.

Twenty Days?

Looks like it's been twenty days since my last post - ugh!
It's not like nothing exciting has happened - it has! - life has been going at its usual warped and chaotic speed.

I'm still training for the Twin Cities marathon in October, but that will be the last thing on my calendar. Yes, that means I am not doing Ironman Florida. Here are my top two reasons:

1). Money. I know I already spent the $500-ish on the registration fee. But I still can't see spending an additional $2000 on airport parking, bike fare, airfare, condo, rental car, etc. Bob's in real estate and if you haven't picked up a newpaper in the last year... :-(

Fortunately there are still a number of people that want million dollar (+/-) custom homes, but business is down about 50%. Seeing that I prioritize private school, staying at home, NOT tapping into our retirement money or the kids' college funds... you get the picture. I just think it would be silly to NOT tighten the budget belt.
2). I have done IM Florida twice already. And I love it! And I would like to do it again soon, but just not this year.

I know there are several people that I will miss terribly by not going, but it just is what it is, and I can't swing it.

On another note, Bob's sister Joan passed away rather unexpectedly on the 15th. She had had a liver transplant several years ago. It is quite common for the anti-rejection drugs that organ recipients take, to can cause cancer. That is what happened to Joan, and she kept it to herself for a long time. Bob's and Joan's nephew Adam is heading back to Iraq for a second tour and she didn't want everyone at his going-away party to know how sick she was. She fooled everyone, and it wasn't more than a month between her Oscar-worthy "I feel great" performance at Adam's party and her passing. She had cancer in her brain, spine, throat, liver, and pancreas. Her kidneys shut down and within a week we said goodbye to her. She will be missed very much. At her funeral, she had several friends that she's been friends with since they were all 17 and 18 and were rooming together. It says a lot about a person to have such longevity (45 years!) in friendships. Her family loved her; and no one ever heard her say an unkind word about anyone - ever. She was a good person and a kind soul who loved to laugh, and had a special affinity for children. Most importantly, she knew her savior.

Anyway, that's the important stuff. I will hopefully blog again soon, and I am so sorry that I will miss those of you who are doing IM Florida!