Cascade Lake Bike Trail

What a gift!

Oh my, what a beautiful day today. Such a gift at this time of year. The year we built our house, 1991, there was a Halloween ice storm. We got about 1" of ice. We'd just planted trees and they were small. The ice bent the branches and trunks over, froze them to the ground, and they stayed that way pretty much all winter. Tomorrow should be a great evening for trick-or-treating, that's for sure. Anyway, today I mowed the lawn and bagged 4 huge bags of pine needles. Couldn't mow until I removed them. Also cleaned out my perennials and flower pots. Weather permitting, I'll lower the mower one more notch and mow again. A few years ago, Eric scalped a patch of the back yard for a putting green. That patch was the greenest come spring.

The RTC website has been down for a day or so, so I'm going to relay some Bear Creek 5 Prediction Run info to you per the race director. If you email Chris before 5pm Friday with your name, predicted time and whether you're an RTC member, she will consider you registered for the race. Registration starts at 7:30 AM on Saturday morning at Pinewood School. You can register then as well. Contact Chris with any questions. Thanks! Here's a link to a Rah! Rah! Rochester video promoting the race (the 3 best things to do in Rochester this weekend!). Way to go, Chris!

There is no Off-Season Striders run this weekend. We hope you'll all run the BC5 instead!

Register for the Running Room Resolution Run (I have!) before November 2, and save $5. All registrants receive a red and black running jacket. The run takes place January 1 at 10 AM at the store.

Here's another link from Mike Schmitt: 7 Reasons to Start Running . One big one? I've met some really wonderful friends in the running community in Rochester. Another reason? It's good for you to get outside and move your body!

Thought for the day: "You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." --Henry Ford

See 'ya!

Happy (almost) Halloween!

Tonight at Running Room, 6 PM, wear your costume and win a prize! And as long as you're there, go for a run! And then shop the new cool weather clothing!

Chris O'Brien and Chris Kujath participated in the Monster Dash 5K last weekend with their pooches Dozer the Dogzilla and Joker the Skeleton dog last weekend. They had a great time.

Chris O'Brien:

and Chris Kujath:

Saturday is the Bear Creek 5 Prediction Run at Pinewood School. Chris O'Brien, race director, has secured a number of Running Room gift cards. So you could not only win a hand-carved bear trophy ... you might also win a gift card! Everyone has the potential to be a winner at this event. I'll be there helping you register. ;-)

Thank you to Jean Murray, George Huston, and Julie Murray who helped pick up trash around Soldier's Field. There wasn't too much left after those nasty winds of Sunday ...

I don't know if this is a new race or not, but there's a marathon and half marathon in Eau Claire on May 3, 2009.

From the RRCA: I am very pleased to announce this year's RRCA National Journalism Awards Selection Committee. The RRCA is fortunate to have such a distinguished group judging these national awards. I'd like to welcome each one of you to the committee:

Amby Burfoot, Runners World Executive Editor/Editor At Large, 1968 winner Boston Marathon, author of four books, 1981 RRCA Journalism Excellence Award
Kristin Armstrong, Runners World Contributing Editor, author of four books, accomplished marathon runner (Kristin is Lance Armstrong's ex-wife. She has a blog on Runnersworld.com that I enjoy.)
Steve Shepard, Houston Striders – RRCA National Medium Club Newsletter Awards, 2006, 2003, RRCA National Small Club Newsletter Award, 2002.
Renee Saxman – Rochester Track Club, RRCA National Medium Club Newsletter Award 2007, 2004

I'm excited to be a part of this process and to be included in such distinguished company. I believe everything will be done remotely so I won't be able to meet Amby or Kristin (I've met Steve at 2 RRCA conventions). But that's OK.

From my friend Mary: Reach4Deals, another source for coupons for local merchants.

A couple of links from Mike Schmitt: Are the big marathons getting too big? and Music as a motivator during exercise . Mike is a good source for information, for sure!

I'm currently reading a variety of materials. I'm also part way through Omnivore's Dilema (last month's book club selection), but I'm finding the reading very slow and don't know that I'll finish.

Our book club selection for this month, which we're discussing this evening, is Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. It's about France falling to the Nazis in the 1940s. I'm about 100 pages in, will not finish by this evening, but will finish the book. I'm enjoying it. I'm also reading Personal Record by Rachel Toor. She's a writer for Running Times and it's the story of her running life. The chapters are very short so it's a nice one if you want to read a chapter or two (10-15 minutes) before bed. Light reading. Both of these selections are from the Rochester Public Library (a wonderful resource). Also, I'm trying to work through some Norwegian magazines that Jean brought me from Oslo. It's great fun testing my Norwegian skills. They're rusty, and my vocabulary is not very extensive I've discovered.

What a beautiful day today! It started with a 5.5 mile run about 6:30 this morning. Lovely, lovely run. The sunrise was spectacular. I headed east on the new Cascade Lake bike trail, so I could see the beautiful colors of the sunrise appearing behind the Rochester skyline with the silhouette of geese sleeping on the little lakes, and a mother goose with one of her progeny following closely in her wake (or maybe it was her spouse!). Notice I'm assuming it was a female in the lead ... too dark to tell for sure. ;-) When I got home, I decided to rake some leaves while I cooled off. Finally got them bagged this afternoon. Lovely, lovely fall day.

I'm hoping for equally nice weather on Sunday morning for Rails to Trails . I've not yet registered. I'm planning to run the whole marathon, but if the weather looks to be a cold rain, I'll run the half. Those that I know of from Rochester going to the race: Half: Lin Gentling, Judy Weller, Betsy Baartman, Karen Williamson (her first half marathon!), Paula Patterson. Full: Mike Schmitt, Tom Woo, Maureen Jones, me. Running, but not sure which race: Tom Williamson. Also participating from the cities (and RTC member and former Rochester resident) Suzanne LaPalm and her fiance Pete. I'm getting excited.

Well, we hit another snag in our little door replacement project. We went to install the Fypon pilasters during the awful weather Sunday afternoon and found out the new door is slightly larger than the old (by about 3/4 to 1" even though it fit in the opening just fine). I assumed that everything would be the same size (bad assumption, obviously). So the new pilasters are useless. $157 down the drain. Have to order 1 size smaller and will have to trim them besides. Arggghhhh! The crosshead also didn't fit for the same reason. So we had to take a hunk out of it in the middle and fix up the opening (Fypon is extruded polystyrene). Bother, bother, bother. But it did turn out better than I'd expected. Thank you to our friend Kirby for cutting it for us.

I was getting so frustrated that I decided to go to the Y and run 10 miles on the treadmill...

Thought for the day: "People are like stained glass windows; they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within".

Enjoy your day!

Pondering Predicted Paces

At the suggestion of a reader I met at the Spirit Run today, I've added the McMillan Running Calculator link to my list of links at the bottom of the sidebar to the right. Very interesting and useful information. Based on a recent run or race, you can get predicted paces (adjusted for the increased or decreased distance) for many, many other distances as well as suggested training paces for both speed and distance. Based on today's rather pedestrian 10K, I should be able to run a 3:41 marathon. Ha. Won't happen. But one can certainly dream ...

One more little note. Sarah Torchia stopped and talked to me today at the 10K. (They are the nicest kids. How many high school juniors are going to stop and talk, for several minutes, and she initiated the conversation, to an adult??) Anyway, she has FOUR, yes 4, stress fractures. One on the right, 3 on the left. All in the ankle/lower leg. Poor thing. But she was there today in her "boot" to cheer on younger brother Ian in the 5K. ;-)

We've got spirit, yes we do, we've got spirit, how 'bout you?

Remember that cheer from your high school days? I do. Wouldn't want to go back to high school for anything, though. Especially these days ...

But we do have the Spirit Run! 1K, 5K and 10K took place this morning at Holy Spirit School on the top of a nice little hill in far NW Rochester. Gotta love a finish that's uphill and into the wind, not?? I was pretty sure I was still moving forward that last .1 mile, but I wasn't sure. Friday at 3 AM brought more stomach trouble, so I was just glad to be out there running. My morning oatmeal was still very noticeable in my tummy starting about 2 miles, but I finished. ;-)

Congratulations to Jim Hannon and Mary Chestolowski for their wins. And for all of you who ran today ... you're all winners!

I found out yesterday that I'll be a judge for the 2008 RRCA Journalism awards which will be kind of fun. I've never been on the other side of the ballot box, so to speak.

Good luck to Mark Carey who's running Ironman Florida next weekend, trying to break 9 hours. Peter Maves is also scheduled to compete. Wendy Nevala will be competing in Ironman (Ironwoman!) Arizona on 11/23.

Noticed at HyVee Crossroads yesterday that they now carry my favorite bread baking flour--King Arthur White Whole What. Thye've carried the regular whole wheat for a few years and I'm glad to see the White version on the shelves. It's 100% whole wheat, but is milder and lacks the bitterness that some whole wheat flours have.

My niece and nephew went to see Dora the Explorer at the mall today.

Here's a recipe I brought back from Norway in August 1977. Oatmeal Cookies. They're the cakey type, if you like that type of cookie.

Oatmeal Cookies
2 eggs
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. melted butter
2 Tbsp. molasses
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
I added a heavy pinch of salt, probably at least 1/4 tsp.
2 c. rolled oats
3 c. unbleached flour
1/4 c. hot water

Beat eggs. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Drop on greased or parchment covered cookie sheets. Flatten slightly. Bake at 325 for 15 minutes. Optional stir-ins: chocolate chips, nuts, raisins, M&Ms, ... endless possibilities!

“Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” --Dean Karnazes, from Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner

Thanks for stopping by!

Congratulations, high school runners!

Congratulations to all the runners from the Rochester area (including Lourdes girls' and Byron boys' teams) who will be running at state on November 1. I helped at the Section 1A meet up at Northern Hills yesterday afternoon. The rain held off until the girls were out on the course and continued until the boys were done. It was a bit windy, but the temps were good for cross country. Some photos ...

Here's a course map for a 10-mile run tomorrow from Panera South, 7:30 AM.

Mike Schmitt is working on an eNewsletter for RTC members to supplement the printed newsletter. It will include information of a more timely nature (upcoming events, volunteer needs, etc.) I think it's going to be terriffic! Look for more information to come.

Got all my Fypon trim painted yesterday. One more coat today and they'll be ready to be installed. The end is definitely in sight! I get my flu shot this morning ...

Thought for the day: "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package."

Enjoy your day.

No doubt about it, summer is over

Sure looks and feels like fall out there today. Blustery, leaves flying off the trees, wild turkeys strutting their stuff through the neighborhood ...

I counted a minimum of 18.

Any of you who've experienced plantar fasciitis know how frustrating it can be. There was an article about it in the Post-Bulletin this week. I spent a summer in a walking boot a couple of years ago because of it. Not fun!!

asics stability shoe wearers!! 2140s are in!! Stop down at Running Room and check them out. Also in, winter clothing from Saucony, Brooks, asics and Nike. And since the temps are falling, it's a great time to stock up on gloves, mittens, headbands, etc. Wear a costume and bring a treat for the 10/29 6 PM run at Running Room!

There's still time to submit a nomination for RRCA awards. They're due November 1. The process is very easy: it's all online this year. Let's put Rochester on the awards platform!!

There is still time to nominate a runner for the RTC Runner of the Year award--someone who's achieved athletic excellence, overcome difficulties/obstacles to achieve his or her running goals, served as a "cheerleader" for fellow runners, and/or been a promoter of running in the community. Note that this is not a volunteer award--we have other awards for that. Submit your nominations to president@rochestertrackclub.com

Well, Ted and I decided to attempt reinstalling our siding yesterday afternoon. I believe we were successful, but I guess time will tell. Saved ourselves $200. Maybe I should go buy some new running clothes instead ... just kidding, dear!

I don't know if any of you ever listen to KROC AM, but they used to play a little ditty every once in a while from The Story Lady It sounds like it's going to be a cute, sweet little story but they all end tragically with the cute little song playing in the background. Play a couple if you have nothing else to do.

I haven't posted a recipe in a while. Here's a good one if you have some winter squash on hand.

Autumn Butternut Casserole

3 c. mashed, cooked butternut (or buttercup) squash
4 Tbsp. butter (optional, or you can use less. I omit this)
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
Dash pepper
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. butter
6 c. sliced, unpared Jonathan apples (about 2 lbs. --you can use another type of apple)
1/4 c. white sugar
1 1/2 c. corn flakes, coarsely crushed
2 Tbsp. melted butter

Season squash with optional butter and 1 Tbsp. brown sugar, salt and pepper. Heat 1 1/2 Tbsp. butter in a skillet; add sliced apples; sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar; cover and simmer over low heat until barely tender (about 5 minutes). Spread in a 3-quart casserole (9 x 13); spoon mashed squash evenly over apples. Mix corn flakes with pecans, 1/2 cup brown sugar and melted butter. Sprinkle over squash. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

Thought for the day (some Disney lyrics):

"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish will come true."

where did that come from??

Where did what come from? you may ask ... Well, it was just a beautiful day and even though I ran 16.1 miles yesterday, I just had to go out for a couple of miles. I left about noon and decided to head for the new trail through the Cascade Lake area. Went down Fox Valley Drive and up Historic Hill on county 22. Didn't even feel like stopping running up that hill. Odd. I get down toward 2nd St SW and decide to look at my pace: 7:21. Whoo hoo! This is feeling really easy. Crossed 2nd St and headed toward the trail. Check again. 7:38. What's with this? Periodic checks along the trail: 7:31, 7:16, 7:26. One more peek about 1/4 mile from Highway 52: 7:07. OK. I'm not going to ruin this and I decide not to look again, but decide to continue running at my current effort to the trail under 52 which was right at 4 miles. Why is this happening, I'm thinking? Why, the day after a long run am I out of the blue feeling so good? Is it because I'm going short (6 miles)? Because I decided to wear 10-year old running clothes and maybe my legs are feeling 10 years younger (the first 'running' shorts I'd ever bought ... back at Target when it was on 37th St NW. ;-) I'm cleaning closets and have LOTS of clothes to give away. Some tops show a bit more midriff, or fit more snug than I'm comfortable with these days. Size M clothes anyone??!!)? Because I'm running unfettered--no water bottle, waist packs, camera, etc? I don't know, but at any rate, it was a good run, averaging 8 minute pace with some walk/traffic breaks after the 4 mile mark. I'm a happy camper ... (pace is in blue, elevation in green)


More good news ... Dave Morrill qualified for Boston 2010(?) at TCM and Dave Phillips qualified for Boston 2010 today in Detroit running an EXCELLENT 3:38 marathon!! Way to go, guys! You gotta run Boston ...

Theresa and Anne Backlund helped at Nite Lites/Beacons for Babies run on Friday evening at Soldier's Field. On the Y property right by the start/finish lines was the Cardboard Box City event. A drumline called Sheltered Reality was playing on the sound stage and providing very fun background music for the run as well! Theresa sent me these YouTube video links: Cotton-Eyed Joe and Vacation. These kids are great and worth a watch!! Very fun. I've been a long-time fan of drum lines. Thanks, Theresa.

Here's a cute little tale of a running/stair climb competition by some frogs passed along by Chris O'Brien. Cute.

A controversy at the Chicago marathon ... a runner from the non-elite starting field (the mass start) ran the fourth fastest time. What to do ... Thanks, Mike Schmitt, for the link.

RTC member Tish Torchia took at Gander at Eric's photos from Portugal (the last few in the album) and reports that she grew up in a house just out of view of one of the photos. Small world. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it's Lisbon.

Off-Season Striders will be meeting at Panera South on Saturday at 7:30 AM for a run about town! Here's a few photos from yesterday at Dunn Brothers.

There will be a "beverage run" on Thursday, October 23 commencing at Buffalo Wild Wings at 5:45 pm. We will run on the Douglas Trail for a 4-6 mile run. Please join us!

There will be another trash pick-up extravaganza on Tuesday, October 28 at 5:30 pm--parking lot across Broadway from Snappy Stop. Please consider lending us a hand!!

We are making progess on our little home improvement project. My friend Chris Jorde's husband Dave laid the bricks for us yesterday. He did a great job. I finished up the interior painting this afternoon and primed the old, repaired Fypon horizontal trim piece. We will be getting new Fypon pilasters so I'll paint the whole shebang when the new pieces come in early this week. Larson's will be reinstalling the siding, Ted and Kirby will hang the Fypon and interior trim, then we'll finally be done!!! Yippee!! I'll be ready. On Friday, Ted and I made a trip out to the recycling center with a load of stuff: steel (Ted peeled the outsides off the old door), an old breadmaker, compact flourescent bulbs, paint, paper, used motor oil (that went to Greenway/Cenex), an old propane gas grill tank, ... It was great to get rid of that stuff. We then went to Sekapp's and I bought a bushel of winter squash (about 75 pounds for $20--a bargain!!).
Well, I better start thinking about dinner.

Go. Be. Do.

Busy week! Let's start with Monday evening. Cooking Light get-together. We missed Barb and Mary. ;-( Food was delicious, as always. My faves? The Fig and Goat Cheese Brushetta and Curried Cashew Chicken. Sticky Buns recipe is a keeper as well (that was a take home item). We are unfortunately saying goodbye to Kelly, one of the founders of our group, who's taking a 2-year assignment with IBM headquarters in Somers, New York. We will really miss her presence both with our cooking club and in the running community.

My son Eric was back in Valencia for a couple days. I got an email today that he's now off to Malta. I think this program is called Study Abroad, but I'm not so sure at this point ... Here's a link to some of his latest photos. His camera wasn't working in Dublin. He really enjoyed both London and Dublin but made the comment that they were really expensive. His favorite part of that trip was Portugal.

There was a very nice article and photos in the weekend post-bulletin about hiking the North Country Trail by RTC member Don Morrison.

Here's a link to an article about cheering and volunteering (Chicago Marathon in particular). We always need volunteers at our events and there can never be too much cheering!

Off-Season Striders will run from Dunn Brothers on Elton Hills Drive on Saturday morning at 7:30 am. The planned route will be about 8 miles with at least one hill for us to enjoy. Join us!

Thank you to Jean Murray, Julie Murray, Mark, Mary and Kyle Wernstrom, Tom O'Leary, Benjamin and Mike Schmitt for doing trash detail last night. We picked up 6 bags full. Hopefully with the stiff winds today, it's not looking terrible again ...

Nice run this morning. Slightly drizzly, but overall very pleasant. Ran with Bruce and Lisa for 8.5 miles, plus ran to and from the Y so I got in 12.5. ;-)

My husband harvest the rest of our garden on Sunday afternoon while I was at Church Basement Ladies. Several dozen leeks and a couple of bags full of sweet peppers. So I made Potato Leek soup for supper last night. Yum, yum!! It's definitely soup time of year again.

I contacted a friend's husband who's a bricklayer and he's going to repair our stoop for us in the next couple of days. I went out to Rochester Brick after work and picked up some bricks and "mud". I was pleased to discover that the brick pavers were only $.86 each. ;-)

Thought for the day: "Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul.' --Douglas MacArthur

Carry on.

Marathon Weekend

Congratulations to all 40 Rochester runners who ran the Whistlestop events on Saturday. Too many to mention individually, but I will highlight the Feda family ... Dan won the 5K in 17:56 and Jessica was the fastest marathoner from Rochester in 3:37, earning her the right to run the Boston Marathon.

Yesterday was the Chicago marathon. The Habermann family (Jennifer, Ben and mom Mary Jo) all ran. Congrats to Ben for finishing despite an injury of several weeks duration. From the finish times for Rochester runners, looks like it must have been warm and muggy as it was here (high of 81 degrees here). Only 2 people from Rochester ran under 4:00. Here is a link to some wonderful photos on Flickr: Chicago Marathon photos Thanks, Mike Schmitt, for the link.

Also making an appearance at Rails to Trails half marathon on November 2 will be ex-Rochester runner Suzanne LaPalm and fiance Pete, who will be running his first half marathon. We'll be rooting for you, Pete!

Here's a great photo:

Ann-Kristin Gjertsen, Jean Murray and John Shonyo at the Olso Marathon. What fun. Ann-Kristin ran an awesome 3:42 for fourth in her age division.

There will be trash pick-up tomorrow, Tuesday around Soldier's Field at 5:30 PM. We'll begin across Broadway from Snappy Stop.

Yesterday was my trip to the Plymouth Playhouse with a friend for The Church Basement Ladies. Very fun, as was the original which we also saw. The Second Helping had more of a story to it. The actress who plays Mrs. Lars Snustad is absolutely hilarious.

I highly recommend it. It comes with a buffet lunch: orange Jell-O with fruit, mashed potatoes, corn, chicken, a roll and carrot cake. Very church basement type meal. Looking at our plates, the food was all pretty much beige!!

Tonight is our monthly Cooking Light get-together. Here's our menu:

Fig and Goat Cheese Brushetta (Kelly)
Mushroom Walnut Turnover (Mary)
Curried Chicken and Cashews (Margo)
Sichun Green Beans (KM)
Beet and Walnut Salad (Barbara)
Caramel Apple Cheesecake (Barb)
Pecan Sticky Rolls (Renee) - a "take home"
Pam King - wine

Looks good enough to eat, eh?? I've not been eating very adventurously yet, so might not eat too much of this menu but will attempt to sample everything. ;-( A very pleasing side effect of all this is that the pants that have been hanging in my closet for a couple of years collecting dust fit once again. I tried on about a dozen pairs yesterday. ;-) I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe.

One of my favorite programs on TV is This Old House . They started a new project on Saturday's episode. A new timber frame home in Weston, MA. It should be beautiful.

Thought for the day: "It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret." --Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Have a wonderful day, even though it's raining!

Whoo hoo!

Well, I am still hoping to run a fall marathon and the one I'm targeting is Rails to Trails on November 2. So today I wanted to run a 20-mile, and I did! 22.00 I wasn't fast, but I felt good. I left home just after 5:30, brought water and cups to the bike path for the Off-Season Striders, who were meeting at Panera at 7:30, parked there by the gardens and headed out 5:45'ish. I went toward downtown ...

and up to Silver Lake. I went around the lake twice, then headed back down the bike trail and around the loop at Soldier's Field. When I got back to Panera, I had just about 11 miles on. There, ready to run, were Lana Lappi, Mike Schmitt, Mark Holland, Randy BQ McKeeman and Tom Woo. (BTW: Tom, who ran TCM on Sunday, ran 18 miles yesterday, with the last mile being at 5K pace. This guy's a machine! He ran another 9 today.)

So I needed 9 more miles to get my 20 in. I thought going to the end of the trail and back with (some of) the others would be 9 miles, but it was more like 8. So I did that, headed back to Panera to sit with the others for a couple of minutes and then headed back out to where my car was parked, which brought me to 20 miles. Well, I was still feeling pretty darn good, so I went down the path another mile and then back to my car. I still felt pretty good, tired, but good. It was a huge confidence builder to get a 22-miler in. I was nervous about trying GU, etc. as I haven't eaten any sweets in 3 weeks (save for a Great Harvest scone, but it took me 5 days ;-). Over the last half today I did ingest a package of Sport Beans. They sure tasted sweet. I guess your taste buds adjust to not having sugar in your diet. If I do run a marathon in November, I don't think it will be anything close to fast, but if I have a decent finish I have to be satisfied with that. Talked with Dan and Stacy Edwards for a bit when I finished. Felt like I could have gone another 4.2 miles, but there was no one waiting for me with a medal and T-shirt. ;-)

Tom Woo is also tentatively planning to run Rails to Trails, possibly accompanied by Tom O'Leary, who's running Whistlestop today. Our merry little band of Rochester runners going to Rails to Trails is growing! The Whistlestop runners should be getting close to finishing now, with a 9:00 AM start. Hope they had a GREAT run!!

Just put another coat of white paint on the sidelites and another coat of burgundy on the door. The photo below was taken yesterday, after 2 coats. I'd had the paint re-tinted as it was too fire-engine red and I wanted more of a burgundy, and wanted it to match the Pella storm door I will be getting. So, the front door is off again, horizontal in the garage. I'm hoping no critters decide to venture inside again.

Area race results: The Bluff Run for the Arts 5K and 10K were run in Spring Grove last weekend. And guess what? A female won the 5K overall and a female (Rochester's own Marie Boyd) won the 10K overall, even besting her husband Bruce Turlington. WAY TO GO LADIES!! From race director Bob Bergsgaard: "One runner was quoted as saying he found the course to be “the most physically and mentally challenging course he had encountered” and found “UffDa Hill” to be a great term for the “monster hill” near the end of the race but also stated he was coming back next year."

Well, I need to make and photograph my recipe for the November issue of Running Room's eMagazine. Pumpkin Bread. With chocolate chips, of course. Then Ted wants to take down our garden fence. Then I think I'll be ready to sit for a spell. ;-)

Have a great day. Thanks for stopping by.

Fantastic Friday

The falling leaves
Drift by my window
The falling leaves
Of red and gold
--Autum Leaves, old standard

What a beautiful day for the 10th of October. The temperatures are unseasonably warm. The leaves are just spectacular. The smell of fall is in the air. My favorite time of year.

Thank you to the following people who volunteered at the All-City meet/KLM one-mile last night: K.C. Reed (I think he saved the day!), Lin Gentling, Gina Sundsmo, Paul Anderson, John Trolander, Craig and Jodi Weckwerth; Marianne Couser and Leah Holmes (KLM one mile). Both the Mayo boys and girls won the meet. The course, at least the boys, as run was long, so times look slow for a high school CC meet.

Winning the KLM one mile was RTC's own Chad Couser with a speedy time of 6:40! He's a natural.

Running the Whistlestop marathon tomorrow are Greg Heetland, Tom O'Leary, Dan Strain and Lin Gentling (half). Have a great run! It's beautiful up in the Ashland, WI area.

Night Lights 8K on Friday evening, October 17 still needs volunteers. If you can help, please contact Kevin Torgerson.

Clinics start in a couple of weeks at Running Room--everything from Learn to Run, 5K ... to the half marathon. Clinic instructors are still needed. And there is still time to register to participate. Contact the store via email if you are interested in learning more about the clinics.

From Fred Woolman: Fred's son Ben and friend Dan are playing at Crossings in Zumbrota tomorrow (Saturday) night at 7:30 pm. They call themselves "New Roots Duo" and they play acoustic and slide guitar. Fred says they do a great job making music! Check them out.

I went out and picked Concord grapes yesterday before the CC meet. They're beautiful. They smelled fantastic as well. They're now made into jelly.

They still have plenty of grapes for picking if you'd like to make grape juice, jam, jelly, etc. They'll have grapes thru next week. 252-1309 or Sterling fruit farm East on county 9, north on county 11 a mile or two. I taught myself to make jam and jelly. You can too! It's very easy and doesn't require a lot of equipment.

I listen to the radio a lot. Boy, the news on the hour is sure depressing. Stock market is down, down, down the world over. I can't figure out why anyone would want to be president at this time. Talk about a stressful job.

I stayed home all day long ... making two batches of jelly, putting another coat of paint on the front door, painting the mailbox and taping and painting the sidelites. One more coat tomorrow and then I can move the painting inside. This is quite the project.

Remember ... Off-Season Striders Saturday at Panera South at 7:30 AM!!

Thought for the day: "It's choice--not chance--that determines your destiny." --Jean Nidetch

Busy, busy, busy

Chipmunk update: I believe the little critter is no longer scurrying about inside the house. Whether it died or went out the window, I don't know! Thank you to KC Reed for the excellent chipmunk trap idea (death by drowning). We were going to assemble such a device if we'd seen evidence of it's livelihood after Monday.

I ran just over 10 miles yesterday morning in 1:31, so I felt good about that. I'm hoping I'm over whatever was bothering my stomach (knock on wood!). I ran down to 22, east on the new bike path, up to Silver Lake, down to the Civic Center and home. Nice route.

Registration is under way for the Bear Creek 5 kind of the end of the season event for the RTC. The neat thing? Anyone can be a winner! You just have to know how to accurately predict the pace you will run (no watches or GPS devices allowed). Pictured below are the lap throws (fleece) which the volunteers and participants will receive. (I've chosen black.) Hope to see you there!


The October issue of the Running Room eMagazine is now available online. In it is my recipe for Penne Pesto Pasta and Veggies (p. 14). Also included is a 20% off coupon (p. 15). The Rochester store just got in a shipment of my favorite shoe (asics 2130s) so all sizes should be available (but don't wait too long!). The Rochester store welcomes new assistant manager Evan Spee who will begin regular hours next week. Welcome, Evan!!

Rochester runner and RTC Grand Prix sponosor (Northgate Chiropractic) Troy Amdahl was in the store yesterday buying some new shoes and GU Roctane for his upcoming marathons: Las Vegas and Dubai!

The Off-Season Striders (those of us used to running and socializing with fellow runners on Saturday mornings, who want to keep it up when the marathon training runs at the RAC are on holiday) will be meeting at Panera South at 7:30 on Saturday morning. All are welcome to join the run and the fun!

The Rochester Family Y has hired The Final Stretch to direct the Med-City Marathon for next year. The Final Stretch manages many running events in Southern Minnesota.

A Rochester runner who ran TCM as his first marathon reports that it's the hardest thing he's ever done. (He ran very well by the way.) He said that a half Ironman tri has nothing on the marathon. (Read more about his run in the December RTC News!) Yes, marathons are a lot of work. But they're strangely addicting ... Also setting PRs at TCM were Lionel Cheng (about 10 minutes), Sonja Kranz and Kirsten Kranz (an amazing 30 minutes!).

The movie Spirit of the Marathon is available for $19.99 from Amazon.com (a price decline).

This morning, I was out trying to match brick (saw fellow runner Julie Nelson who's building a new house in Dover), match paint, price storm doors, find Polystyrene adhesive, ... Later today, I'm off to pick some Concord grapes at Sterling fruit farms so I can make jam in the morning. I'll also make Ted his Pepper Jelly. Ulp. Don't like the stuff myself, but as long as he enjoys it so much, I'll make it for him. ;-) Then it's off to the All-City cross country meet/KLM one-mile to volunteer then to the RTC board meeting.

Sunday, a friend and I will be going up to the Plymouth Playhouse for Church Basement Ladies II. I can't wait. The first one was so hilarious. It helps to have grown up a Norwegian Lutheran to understand the humor. (Probably true of other Protestant religions as well.)

Thought for the day: "Laughter is an instant vacation." --Milton Berle

See you on the roads. :D

Rainy Days and Mondays ...

Happy Tuesday! But what a wet and gloomy Tuesday it is. But I think we're still in a precipitation deficit for the year, so it's probably just as well that it rains. We got our house watertight again yesterday evening, getting some Tyvek up and taped. The new door is in (yeah!) and I got one coat of red paint on it. It's a bit more of a shocking red than I wanted. I wanted more of a brick red/cranberry color. Oh well, at least the door will be protected. I've learned all kinds of stuff about construction in the last couple of days: red Tyvek tape is super sticky and can almost take the skin off your fingers, how to install a new lockset and mortise the strike plate, expanding foam insulation (aerosol can) is a really fun thing, pneumatic nailers are VERY noisy, ...

I still do not know the fate of our little chipmunk friend. I came downstairs on Sunday and opened the office door and he was sitting on Ted's office chair. He quickly scurried away. We had the window open so that he could jump out, but he hadn't chosen that option yet. I didn't want the window open (screen off) all night, so I closed it. Came down Monday and morning and the bugger had gotten up on the window sill and started knawing at the window sash. So now we have 5 spots where he tried to chew his way out of the house. Fabulous. Something ELSE gone awry. Still don't know if he's/she's alive or dead, in or out.

Yesterday I got an email from my son who's studying in Spain and is on holiday in London, etc. It starts out "Mom, I don't want to worry you, but ..." Well, with that as an opening, would I worry?? OF COURSE I WOULD!! It turns out he got to visit a hospital in London (and he informed me that Michael Moore was right in Sicko, that health care is free in Europe) and he is now on antibiotics and eye drops for pinkeye and an ear infection. He said that London seemed 'cool' from the little bit he'd seen outside the hospital. When it rains, IT POURS!!

One little bit of good news. I kept track of mileage and gas on Friday going up to the expo and I got 44.24 mpg on my Honda Civic. ;-)

Enough about me and my woes. From my little bit of research, the following people qualified for the Boston Marathon at TCM on Sunday: Pete Gilman, Ron Giles, Eric Woodford (10 minute P.R.), Cailie Fura, Scott Helt, Hiro Kita, Tom Woo, Melissa Schultz, Terry Pruszynski, Randy McKeeman (he's already signed up!), Tom Williamson (5 minute P.R.) Julie Vander Schaaf and Lin Gentling. WAY TO GO RUNNERS! You're awesome. Congratulations.

Youth runners (K-8): The KLM one mile run is on Thursday at Century H.S. following the high school cross country meet. It's free! And a great way to introduce youth to cross country. The first 50 registered get a free T-shirt.

There's still time (until November 1) for nominations for RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) awards. The process is very easy this year. Just an online form to fill out. Awards include: Spirit of the RRCA, Journalism, Outstanding Volunteer, Road Race of the Year, ... Please consider nominating some of our volunteers/race directors that make running in Rochester a great experience.

A full report and photos on Henry Walker and Michael O'Connor's roller ski from St. Paul to Duluth over the weekend is available on the RASC website . Those two are really endurance athletes.

Here's a beautiful photo from Chris O'Brien running the Crazy Horse Half Marathon in SD.

Due to some unfortunate miscommunication from race staff, it turns out that Chris wasn't the only one in her family who covered the half marathon distance that day. Read all about it in the next issue of RTC News!

Kevin Torgerson, pictured below far right, ran TCM as part of a symbolic Torch Run for Special Olympics. Also pictured below holding the torch is 2006 RTC annual banquet guest speaker and special Olympian Jimmy Chalmers. They were doing cadence along the way as well, and Jimmy was also providing motivational phrases for the runners. Kevin said it's the most fun he's ever had during a marathon. Read all about it in the next issue of RTC News!

Also coming in December, stories from Randy McKeeman and Tom Williamson on their outstanding runs at TCM.

Ron Giles, avid hunter ...


(that's his family room!) has been telling me for a couple of weeks that he had something he wanted to show me. Finally made it over late this afternoon.
Wow. A T-shirt quilt made by his mom, made out of significant race T-shirts from his running career. It's wonderful and such a keepsake, full of so many memories for Ron. Mrs. Giles did a beautiful job.

That's it for today. I'm at Running Room tomorrow 1-4:30. Stop by and say howdie!

Thought for the day: "Change your thoughts and change your world." --Norman Vincent Peale

it just wasn't meant to be

I didn't run TCM today. I didn't even start. Or travel up to the cities.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the apple orchard with my brother and family.

They were all eating apples. They looked and smelled soooo good.

So I ate half an apple. Within about 10 minutes, my stomach was cramping. Went home and spent another couple hours on the couch moaning. This was not a good sign. I managed to eat about a cup of whole wheat noodles for supper, but I knew that would not be enough to sustain me through a marathon and I knew that I was not propertly hydrated as well. (I'm to the point where I'm scared to eat. I'm afraid of getting cramps again. At least I'm finally losing some weight.) I woke up about 2:00 AM and deliberated for more than an hour as to what to do and decided that I wouldn't go, sent Lionel a text message and then went back to sleep.

At 7:30 this morning getting ready to leave for church I sure was thinking about all of you in the Metrodome ... last minute trips to the bathroom, dropping off gear bags, heading out to the start. :D The weather was actually just how I like it and the weather in which I've run my best ... cool, windy and drizzly. Just how it was for my 35:something Fool's Five last year and my 1:12 TC10 a couple years back (that one was actually cold--wore my winter coat, hat, gloves when I was done!). And I've been thinking about you all for the rest of the day, too. Watched a little bit of streaming coverage on Kare11.com but they were having technical difficulties. I did see Eric Woodford cross the finish line when the clock here said 11:14 so he had a very good run. A PR I believe!

Today I just had to go out for a run. I've had 3 off days this week, including Friday and Saturday, and just wanted to feel normal for a while. So I decided to head around the hill, keeping close to home should my stomach start cramping again. When I got to 1/3 marathon (8.7 miles) I had 1:19 on my watch. Could I have kept that pace for another 17.5 miles today? Probably not. Could I have gone another 17.5 miles in 4:40 to beat the sweep vehicle? Maybe, but I guess I'll never know. I decided to call it quits at 2 hours, getting in 12.6 miles after some walking. Good enough for today. I think I made the right decision to stay home. It just wouldn't have been a good day.

The saga of the door: Our front door, both the door itself and the trim around the side lites, was rotting. It's on the north side of the house and unprotected (no porch or overhang). So I ordered a new door unit a couple of weeks ago. Ted and a friend went to install it yesterday morning. Took out the old door unit and discovered ... carpenter ants had been doing their thing in the rim joist along the front of the house. Wonderful. Now the project just got WAY more complicated. They had to take out and replace all the rotten wood. In doing all this, we had a big 6x7' opening in the front of our house all day and the house was a bit cold. More on a little uninvited guest later ...

The colonial Fypon trim broke while they were removing that (so that has to be ordered and replaced) and they had to remove a row of bricks from the stoop to get at the rim joist so those are going to have to be replaced (and they didn't all survive being uninstalled). We'll have to have someone come to take care of any remaining ants. Great. The day just wasn't going my/our way.

Well, they're at it again today. When I came downstairs from changing after my run, I see something scurry across the kitchen floor. I thought it was a brown leaf blowing around, but I looked after it (it went toward the stove). A chipmunk. It headed down the hall past the bathroom and laundry and went into the office and under SOMETHING. So now I'm barricaded in the office with a chipmunk SOMEWHERE. I'm trying to keep my feet off the floor lest it decide to crawl up my leg. :D I don't want it to leave this room and run around the house!!! I'm not sure how this is going to play out ...

Congratulations to all of you that ran TCM today, or another marathon earlier in the season. It's an accomplishment that a very small percentage of the population will ever enjoy. Bask in your success!! You're my heroes for the day!!

Thought for the day: "Nothing happens ... but first a dream." --Carl Sandburg

24 hours and counting ...

Let's Get It Started, in here...And the base keep runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and... (Let's Get It Started --Black Eyed Peas)

Well, 24 hours I hope to be out on the TCM course along with many others. Hoping that my digestive tract cooperates between now and then. I always get SOOOO nervous this close to a marathon. I'm always wondering when the leg cramps will start, when I'll be reduced to a walk, then a slow, interrupted walk.

It can get ugly. REALLY ugly. Perseverence is the name of the game for marathoning for me this year, I guess. Adversity strikes twice. Yes, I need to work on my positive mental attitude. :D

I went up and worked the TCM expo yesterday. Fun! I walked the floor a bit answering questions, handled a register for a bit, and acted like a Vanna Wanna-be for a bit!

Seen at the expo: Tom Woo (thank you for taking the pictures of me--sorry I forgot to get one of him), Paul Nelsestuen and Lee Jameson ...

and Tonia Mayerle and Angela Cramer (twice!).

Kristin Armstrong, runner, triathlete, Runners' World blogger and Lance Armstrong's ex-wife, was giving a talk when I went to the hospitality area for a sandwich. I can't figure out why they set up the area as they did. The speaker's podium was in the dark and the screen was lit. So my photos were terrible--without a flash, they're blurry, with a flash they're dark. She talked about being a mom and an athlete.

More photos.

From Lisa Pelowsi: Very cute video of a future Olympic gymnast? Maybe. Maybe not. But he's very cute. :D

Well, my very best wishes for lots of running dreams to come true tomorrow at the TCM events! Please consider sharing your stories about any of the races, whether as a participant or spectator, for the next issue of RTC News. I'd be much obliged!

Thought for the day: "The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it's possible." --Rich Devos

It's TCM Weekend

Well, it isn't going to be a stellar year for marathonining for this runner! At this point I'm still going to try to run the TCM, but have no idea how it will go due to ongoing digestive issues. I hope I can ingest enough calories to fuel me for the 26.2 mile jaunt through the cities. The doctor has cleared me to run (pending a normal ultrasound this morning). There are LOTS of you out there running on Sunday, for sure. I can only recall one customer yesterday who was not running, or purchasing nutrition for (she was 8 months pregnant!), someone running TCM. The customer who wasn't was post-partum and doing the AHA walk this weekend, however. I'm working the expo for a couple hours at noon today, which I look forward to. Peg Arnold is living and breathing the expo this week, bless her heart. She is such a hard worker. Good luck to everyone participating in either the 10-miler or the marathon!! Can't wait to hear your success stories! Like Our Daily Bread said yesterday: Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance. Perseverance is all I have this year ...

Starting in mid to late October are clinics at Running Room . The half marathon clinic will be targeting the Lace-Up for Breast Cancer Half Marathon in February. The Learn to Run, 5K and 10K clinics are targeting the Resolution Run on January 1. Instructors are still needed for the clinics. Stop down or email Dan if you're interested in leading a clinic. Help your fellow runners or runner "wanna be"s achieve their goals!

From Tom O'Leary: A link to coverage of always smiling Haile Gebrselassie's world record (2:04:26) marathon in Berlin last Sunday. Tom indicates that the link covers the entire race. I've not viewed it yet, but will check it out for sure during some down time.

From Jim Benike: A photo of the summit of Mount Blank, France. Spectacular.

From inside a Glacier. The Glacier moves many feet a year downhill so they have to keep making a new opening. Cold dense blue ice.


Spotted running at noon yesterday, Jim Postier, Priscilla Smith and Jim Benike. Priscilla will be leaving Rochester for parts unknown on Monday. Boise? Philly? We will miss her.

Happy birthday in October to the following RTC members: Trisha Adamson, Rob Anglin, Aaron Benike, Larry Burgart, Jenny Bushman (milestone), Jim Clennon, Kathy Demmer, Laurie Drake, Gary Dutton (milestone), Brian Erwin, Carol Gordon, Jon Heil, Chris Koch, Don Morrison, Ivy Pike, Carol Prescher, Glen Recknor, Michael Reed, LeeAnn Schafer, Tom Spackman, Henry Walker, Stephen Weigand. Happy birthday one and all!

My son who's in Spain has been in class for 3 weeks. Now they have a "break" and he's off to London, Ireland and Portugal for 10 days with his newfound friends. Life is rough. :D For J-term he's going to German, Denmark and Iceland. Life is really rough. :D

Thought for the day: "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." --Mother Teresa

Have a good weekend, runners one and all!