HM Recap: Ole Man River Half, Gretna, LA, December 19, 2015

...Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

This was a race jammed into a busy schedule and not one for which I prepared well, but it turned out to be a good experience anyway. Race location was Gretna, across the river from downtown New Orleans. There are quaint houses lining the streets beside riverside shipping yard clutter. I went back the day after running via the ferry to take in a little more of the scenery.

While I didn't run very fast (a sluggish 2:41), other highlights from the race weekend:

• Cold, windy race day. 46 degrees at the start. Felt chilled to the bone all day long.
• Celebrated 20 year wedding anniversary in New Orleans
• Ate more cajun spices than ever in my life, including delicious Crawfish Etouffee at Pier 424 Seafood Market on Bourbon Street
• Met a runner named Katie from Rapid City, SD who is a Navy Reservist currently stationed in New Orleans--we mutually motivated each other near the end of the race

Winter Run in New Orleans

At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. ~Albert Schweitzer

The Ole Man River race is just days away. Louisiana will be the 9th state, last state for 2015. It's been a year marked by many achievements and blessings.

A week ago my son had his 4-month post-surgery follow up visit. 3-D imaging revealed no recurrence of the cyst and some bone regrowth. Wonderful news! Many prayers have been answered. We are truly blessed.

We have many things to be thankful for, including a home, cars, warm clothes, plentiful good food, and loving family and friends. In recognition that abundance should be shared, I've thought about how I can share through my goal to run 50 half marathons. I've determined that I'm going to pair my running with a campaign to feed hungry kids. Rather than collecting donations, I'll be gathering customers for services they pay each month, and each month a bill gets paid, a meal will will be donated.

Moving VA Half

Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room. ~Christine Todd Whitman

Virginia will have to wait. I have lots of excuses--none of them good. This time of year, the shortened days, the time change, post-season volleyball, school and work commitments. You name it, I could use it as an excuse. The real reason: procrastination. As much as I wish I had embarked on planning the trip and registering for the race a month ago, I didn't. So now, I have to move it.

Good news is there's a trail race in Virginia in February that I can put on the calendar in 2017. Two things to do today: update race calendar and register and plan December's Louisiana trip.

HM Recap: Bellin Women's Half, Green Bay, WI, September 26, 2015 (WI#2)

It isn’t what you did in the past that will affect the present. It’s what you do in the present that will redeem the past and thereby change the future. ~Paulo Coelho, Aleph

This was my first race where runners were transported to the race start, not an out-and-back or a loop. The bus ride from the downtown hotel was convenient, though the driver needed a little help with directions. There were plenty of porta-potties at race start. The sunrise was beautiful, and though a little cool at the start, the weather was great for running, 60s with a breeze.

I had a great pace going until about mile 10. That's when I suffered my first side stitch during a race. It took the better part of two miles to work it out. Nothing helped--not walking, not stretching, not drinking water. I finished with an official time of 2:31:39. It could have been a PR had there been no side stitch.

Race positives:

• Was able to run half marathons back-to-back weekends and survive
• My dad was there for the finish
• Discovered a nice dining spot in downtown Green Bay, Angelina Italian Restaurant

Navy-Air Force Half Pics

HM Recap: Navy-Air Force Half, Washington, DC, September 20, 2015

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body. ~Joseph Addison

Wow! Whether for a half marathon or for a work conference (as I was just a few months ago), DC is a remarkably tourist friendly destination. Saturday's only obligation was to pick up my race packet. The rest of the day was spent site-seeing--visits to Arlington National Cemetery and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The blessing of good race day weather continued. At race start, the temp was around 70 with a slight breeze and overcast. The course, which went from Washington Monument to East Potomac Park to Smithsonian National Zoological Park (nearly) and back to Washington Monument, was slightly hilly, with more gradual downhills than anything else. There were 7,088 runners, many either in the military or with a military affiliation. The national anthem and opening comments were special in comparison to other races; there was courtesy and respect among the runners like I hadn't previously experienced. Also, during the race, and with the large quantity of runners, there was a refreshing observance of runner's etiquette.

Official time: 2:32:39. Overall: 4419/7088, Gender: 2210/3017, Division: 143/217
RunKeeper time: 2:29:04. RunKeeper distance: 13.51.
(At the start, the porta-potty-to-runner ratio wasn't good. A stop at about the 5-mile mark cost me on my official time. Why did I have that extra half cup of coffee at IHOP before the race?)

Highlights of Washington, DC:

• Traveling by Metro - daily passes were well worth the cost, saved a lot of time and money for getting around town
• Staying at Westin Arlington Gateway - conveniently located near Metro station and lots of restaurants
• Big Buns - interesting burger joint, great truffle fries, though not such great buns
• Seeing the changing of the guard and wreath ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknowns - silent, reverent honor for servicemen and women
• Touring the exhibits at the Holocaust Memorial Museum - the horror of this reality is beyond words, left me in tears

Check out the cool finisher medals (plane spins on vertical axis):

Registered for Sept 20th NAF DC Half

Life is but a fleeting moment so do not waste a second on something that doesn't make you smile ~Jamie Hall

Today I made travel arrangements and registered for the September 20th DC event. The race starts and ends at the Washington Monument. It's a military race that's open to civilians. The medal cost extra, but it looks more beautiful than any of the others I have so far (and my collection wouldn't be complete without it).