A Year in the Life

Jan 1, 2009 started with a run with the guys at Soldiers' Field ...

followed by the 2009 version of the Running Room's Resolution Run.

And a very pleasant ski out at Quarry Hill.

Winter brought its share of frosty morning runs as it will this winter as well.

February brought a cookie baking extravaganza for Lace-Up Against Breast Cancer as this year will too.

February brought an end to the OSS Saturday morning runs with a breakfast run at my house.

February 14/15 brought the winterfest Trifecta (Broadway Plaza Stair Climb), the Polar Plunge

and Lace-Up Against Breast Cancer.

Lace-Up was a beautiful weather day, followed a week later by a very memorably cold run with good friends. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right guys??

(I'll digress here...I take a certain amount of grief for always having my camera at the ready and taking so many pictures. But you know what? I wouldn't trade these photos for any amount of grief. Enough said. :-)

The end of February brought my first steps into the world of Triathlon by agreeing to participate in the Rochesterfest sprint triathlon. Swimming laps for exercise (and time) was a whole new world for me. I was scared stiff, but willing to give it a try. The last week of the month found me on a trip to Florida to visit my dad and stepmom.

Dad brought out all his old photos and I enjoyed seeing pictures of me as a "little tyke".

March brought the start of the race season, including the Human Race 8K followed by the Get in Gear 10K which I hadn't done before. By Get in Gear, I was a member of the St. Cloud River Runners women's USATF circuit race team, one of the best decisions I made all year.

April brought the Fetzer 20K and 2-mile which I've directed for several years now.

 

Everything about the day was perfect: the weather, the volunteers, the turnout. Every little last thing went completely without a hitch. A race director's dream.

May brought more racing, including Spring Classic 15K and TCM 1-mile, helping Sharon with the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon ...

and my oldest son graduating from Luther College on May 24.

May also brought a trip to a Twins' game with the boys ...

and the inaugural Minneapolis Marathon (I ran the half).

June brought farewell to Lionel and Carolyn. :-( I thoroughly enjoyed sharing many miles and smiles with Lionel over the previous couple of years.

June saw the return of All Comers' track meets, which I thoroughly enjoy for 6 weeks each summer.

June brought my first Grandma's marathon, and a very humbling experience on the roads leading from Two Harbors to Duluth. But  ... I finished.

June saw the return of berry picking season, a favorite time of year for me.

June 28 I participated in my first triathlon, Rochesterfest.

And even managed to place in my age group.

Well, let's call this part 1 of two. Enough for tonight. There's lots to be done before 11 AM tomorrow.

Good night my faithful bleaders ("blog readers").