Akron Half Marathon

Where to begin, and what to say about this whole experience. I guess you can say it began at 2:00 a.m. when I first woke up. I went to bed around 10:00 and for the first 4 hours slept great. After 2:00 I woke up every hour until I decided to finally get out of bed after 5:00. It was a bit of a struggle to get Ky and Keiout of bed but they made it.
We arrived at the race a little after 6:00 a.m. and I was dying to go to the bathroom. When you are trying to hydrate before a race you do nothing but go to the bathroom and after drinking a few more bottles of water that morning, I HAD to go again. Ky thought it would be great to take a pic of me standing in line to the porta potty. As you can see it was still dark and a good indicator that we should still be in bed! In fact when the race first began it was still dark and didn't get light until mile 2.5 or so.

I started the race out slower than I anticipated but it was better than starting too fast. I quickly picked up my pace and felt great. My friend Dulcey came to the race with us and she had the race mapped out and a strategy for seeing me run at several different mile markers. I loved that I saw all of them 6 different times. They were all enjoyable but the last! As you can see I shed my layers early on. I was getting ready to throw Dulcey my clothes and gave Ky the peace sign. I did that several times and I'm not sure why. I guess I didn't know what else to do. This was just before the mile 3 marker and I'm feeling good.

I'm not sure what mile I'm at, but I was still feeling great and I got energized every time I saw those guys cheering me on. Kei came out to the street to give me a high five. He was yelling "Go mom" and the runners next to me would smile and say that he was cute. He is cute.

Where am I now? Who knows, by mile 9 I lost track of where I was in the race. I couldn't believe how good I felt. My feet were starting to get a little sore but overall everything was o.k. Maybe that is why I'm sporting the thumbs up!
This was the last moment they would see me with a smile on my face until after the race was over.

The first 10.5 miles, AWESOME, feeling great. The last 2, pure HELL. Running the last 2 miles really wouldn't have been bad if they weren't completely up hill. Who makes you run up hill for over 2 miles when you've just ran over 10??????? I was not happy. I was thinking that I was going to finish the run around 1:45:00

and then I started up the climb of doom. I tried to remember a tactic my sister in-law Kirsten told me to use and I tried it for the first mile and it helped but after that all I could think about was putting one foot in front of the other. My legs were on fire. My pace was all but a walk, and I'm now mad because I'm not going to finish as quick as I thought I would.

This is when I'm still climbing but almost to the the stadium where FINALLY, I'll be able to go down hill for 150 yards (couldn't we reverse that, 2 miles of down hill and a couple yard up). Kei was running beside me just before this picture and I didn't even know it, I was oblivious to the world. I did look up in time to give Ky this nasty look of death, before heading into the stadium and towards the finish line. No high five'n here. All of them were cheering me on telling me I could do it and it did help. I was so grateful for their support. It made the run more enjoyable and besides the last couple miles I was loving every minute of it. Now that it is over and my legs and feet (I have blisters all over) are recuperating, I'm less upset about the climb at the end compared to when I was suffering through it. Isn't that all trials? They are unbearable when you are in the thick of it but once you persevere, the accomplishment or what you gain from it is far greater than if you hadn't struggled at all. I finished the race at 1:49:55. I was 221 overall out of 1131. Out of 539 women I was 48th and 10th in my age division. Not too bad for my first outing. My girlfriend Dulcey wants me to train for a marathon and try and qualify for Boston (she's ran it a couple of times). I'm not completely ruling it out!

After race, party pictures. I love that these guys got up soooo early to come cheer me on. Ky was so proud, mainly because he wasn't sure how good I was going to do, so he was pleasantly surprised.

Kei and I giving our "double pound" sign. It's a family thing.

You can only appreciate this sign Dulcey is holding

if you read my butt clincher story back in Aug. I ran

by and saw her holding this and started laughing in the

middle of my run. It was a great poster and she is a great friend.

49ers VS Rams

The rams couldn't run away fast enough! Kei had an amazing game. First he had a "sick" interception that he snagged out of the air and ran for 63 yards, to only in the end, fall 2 yards short of a touchdown...BLAST! Ky and I were cheering him on and thought he might have it. He was playing on a bigger field today so he ran out of steam towards the end. Oh well, he has a couple more games to try and get a touchdown. If never gets one, we don't care, he still rocks. He also had a fumble recovery today. I've attached the links to two of his runs he had that were 15 yards+. For a kid who got up at 5:30 in the morning to go cheer his mom on during her race, he played like he had plenty of energy and some to spare. It will be tomorrow morning when he is suppose to get up for church that he will act like his eyes are glued shut and he just can't muster up enough energy to get out of bed. =)

Final score was 28-0. The defense is relentless.
No mercy.

Here are the links to the videos. Enjoy
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1232860zX7AN25T

http://www.veoh.com/videos/v1232888enpDNAmA

Life Savers

I haven't been nervous at all about my race...until now. I guess I just haven't had the time to think about it. I go to Akron tomorrow to pick up my race packet and drive the course a couple of times so I know what I'm in for. I keep telling myself it is only 13.1 miles and I've ran that far several times, so I know I can do it. I say it doesn't matter what my time is as long as I finish, but the competitive side of me kicks in and wants to go faster than I should. I can't burn-out before I even hit mile 8. That will be miserable. I'm really going to have to watch my time at the mile markers and pace myself. It won't be like my other run when I had my friend Dulcey there to help me finish. I'm going solo, unless I can find a buddy along the course to run with me.


There are three things that I can't do without on race day: My once upon a time, black hat. It
usually has white salt marks all over it
from my sweaty runs. You can tell it gets
used, and may not last another race.

I haven't decided if I'm going to wear my Brooks shoes or my newer Adidas. I love Brooks and wish I would have stuck with them when I bought my new running shoes. Now I know.

Thanks to my brother

Robert, I have the best energy

snack for my run. These tasty

jello blocks are much better than

the GU provided on the course.
Thanks to these little life savers, I might just make it Sat. Wish me luck, and I will report when, or better yet, IF, I recover!

Life is always interesting at our house. Kei is always saying or doing something entertaining.
While Kei was in the bathroom getting ready for bed, he randomly started talking about Ky and I going on a cruise with out him (we're trying to plan a trip for graduation). He was rambling about how it was completely unfair and "wrong, just plain wrong". He then realized that he was going to be at his grandma's house and she would spoil him rotten. Kei told Ky and I "while you are living the high life eating gourmet meals and shrimp, I'll get to go to McDonald's and have stew!" He really thought he was the one getting the better end of the deal. It's so funny the way kids think. Thank goodness for the dollar menu!
So another bit of info. Ky had his two week rotation in Tulsa cancelled because they are not accepting any ENT applicants this year. I guess he could have gone anyway but it would have been a waist of time. He has decided to go to Idaho and spend two weeks with an ENT doc in Idaho Falls. He will stay with my sister and her family and will be able to visit his family and friends while he is out there. My sister in-law is so good about planning things just at the right time (the one who had her baby while I was there) so Ky will be able to be there when she blesses her baby. I can handle two weeks compared to the six he was gone for last time. I can't wait until this residency junk is over and we know where we will be. Ah-but at least all of my tv shows are back on!!!

Jackson Shock VS Revere Rampage

Kei had a busy weekend. He had both his football game and another soccer game this weekend. Keeping up on my blog has made me a camera natzi (is that inappropriate to say?) and when I forgot to grab it for Kei's soccer game, I was so tempted to turn around and get it, even though it would have made him late. I wish I would have.

Kei scored the first goal of the game. It was fantastic, of course! His team played great together and did a much better job at finishing on goal. They ended up winning the game 3-0.

Sigh- If only I would have had my camera.

49ers VS Packers

Today it was the Packers unfortunate day to play the 49ers. If you've been keeping up on the blog you know Kei's team ROCKS! The deflated Packers were "packin' " their bruised egos all the way home.


Kei played the entire game both ways and only got a breather when they were on punt return. He didn't have any carries today but had a shweeeeet tackle. A kid who went for a long pass on 4th down and caught the ball for a split second until Kei came from across the field (the play wasn't to Key's side but his teammates, which makes it that much better) and hit the guy, making him drop the ball. It was AWESOME. Kei the Defensive Dominator!

It was another defensive hold out. I think it will be awesome if they can go the whole season without having a point scored on them.

One of the moms planned a tailgate party for after the game. Yes, you usually do this before the game but she wanted the players to be able to participate. It was quite the party. Who isn't up for a gathering when food is involved?

Peach Cobbler

I love the fact that I am horrible at taking pictures and almost equally horrible at baking. So what in the #&** am I doing posting this?
Well never mind that, I have a no fail treat to share. Not only is this tasty but it's also extremely simple to make and to top it off inexpensive!
That goes along way on a med student budget.
Ky liked the darker more crunchy crust. I like anything sweet so it was all good. (I was suppose to only eat something sugary once a week while training for my half marathon. Once a week, heck I couldn't even make it once a day, so I quit that rule!) Kei doesn't like very many sweet things, so opted for ice cream only.
















Ingredients:
2 (16 ounce) can peaches (if your ambitious you will opt to do fresh peaches, I'm not.)
1/2 lb. butter
1 yellow cake mix
1-2 tsp cinnamon
sprinkle of brown sugar and nutmeg

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Pour peaches and juice (drain one can) into 9x13 pan.

3. Pour cake mix over the top. Pat cake mix down until it mixes with the juice.

4. Take butter and use a grater to shave butter evenly over the top. If you want you can just slice it and layer it on the cake. (if you use the grate make sure it is frozen or very firm.)

5. Sprinkle your cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar on top.

6. Put in oven and bake for 45 minutes or until brown.

Serve with ice cream, whip cream, both or nothing at all. We used vanilla bean ice cream. You know that if I say this is easy, then it truly is. The one I made in the picture is actually half the recipe. If you end up making this and it tastes like crap...well it's not my fault!

Jackson VS International U-11

Kei had a soccer game last night against the International Girls U-11 team. Don't let the fact that they were girls fool you. These girls were a force to be reckoned with. The boys dominated field position most of the game, but unfortunately in the end the girls scored more points. Kei's team just couldn't capitalize when they had the chance. The game ended 3-1.

Kei stepped on one of the girls legs (on accident of course) and she started to act like she was crying but got right back up. He told me she was a baby (aren't all girls babies to boys his age?). I think he was just mad because they lost.

You would think this dog is upset because the boys lost but in reality she was torqued because her owner stuffed her in this shirt and it was 80+ degrees out! Poor puppy. I guess like most females- it doesn't matter how miserable you are in something, if it makes you look good then you can suffer through it. (4 U Dulcey!)

With school and all of the extracurricular activities I have going on in my life, I have become stressed to the max. Last night I just ABOUT had a melt down, no wait, I DID have a melt down. Unfortunately for Kei, he was a source for me to take out my frustrations. Now, he wasn't completely innocent in the situation, but nonetheless he didn't do anything that warranted the wrath that I delivered. I was spewing out words that made no sense, and jumbled fragments that were completely incoherent (similar to Miss.Teen South Carolina). At one point, Kei actually started laughing because of the ridiculousness that was coming out of my mouth. Thank goodness for humor. It is definitely my surviving mechanism. As hard as I tried to keep a straight face and maintain my anger, it just melted away and I was left laughing at myself. The rest of the evening wasn't perfect but today is a new day and I'm feeling much better. I couldn't help but remember another time when I got after Kei and he made this note for his bedroom door. He couldn't find the tape, but was too mad at me to ask, plus he wasn't ever going to talk to me again, so he had to improvise and this is what he came up with-

He used sticky notes! How could I ever get mad at such a clever kid?

This is a picture of Kei and his teammates from soccer.

I love this quote and thought it fit perfect with the diversity

of this group. I wish everyone in the world could act more like

children and realize we are all more alike than different.

Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color, choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable.

49ers VS Falcons

Another Saturday full of football. Kei had a great game today. He made an awesome tackle on a kid who thought he was going to have a touchdown and then, WAH BAM, he met the master of disaster, KEI! Kei also ran the ball a couple of times and made some great plays.


We are still holding out for a touchdown. No pressure!

WE WILL, WE WILL, ROCK YOU. BRING IT ON. IS THAT ALL YOU GOT? (you are all going to be stuck singing we will rock you all day long)

Gotta love the cheerleaders. You can't see my favorite girl but you can see her hair!

Kei was one of the captain for the game today and the coach made them hold the banner for the cheerleaders to run through. I don't think he was very thrilled about that. Final score...Another blow out!

Is there going to be anyone to challenge this team? We'll see here in the next couple of weeks but if Kei has anything to do with it, no one will ever score a point the whole season. =)

Should It Stay Or Should It Go?

This is Kei's favorite blanket. Do you think he uses it a lot? Ky says that it's time that it goes. I hate to think that Kei has to get rid of it because this blanket goes everywhere with him around the house and everywhere we travel. Just because huge chunks of stuffing are starting to come out and there is a hole big enough for Kei to fit inside, is that reason to put it away for good? Kei can survive with out it but as you can tell, he loves to use his blanket.
He takes the blanket when he goes down stairs to use the computer, especially in the early morning hours when we are still asleep and he doesn't have to fight with us for computer time.

In the car on long road trips.

In the family room while watching t.v.,movies or playing video games.

In the kitchen while he eats breakfast and reads his books (he's like an old man reading the newpaper in the morning w/breakfast).

And this is what happens to his blanket when his friends come over! He stuffs it behind a chair in his room. What blanket? Where? Oh, that's not mine.

So is it time to retire the blanket? Great Grandma McBride made this quilt and the one he had as a baby, (it is now retired to a storage bin for the same shaggy reason this one should be) and there are no back-ups this time. It just stinks getting older.

We Remember

We are proud to be American all of the time but especially today in remembrance of 9/11. Kei came home and reminded me of the date and we had a good talk about what it means to be American and how grateful we are to live in this country with all the privileges it provides. The Peterson family still remembers and we are proud to be American!

Obsession

I'm obsessed with collecting the seeds from the plants I have growing in our front yard. I go outside 3 or 4 times a day to collect the seeds. I know it sounds like a lot, but every time I go out, there are more to be found. I hate that I feel like I can't miss a single one. It's an annual and the seeds will not survive the winter. The thought of that just doesn't settle with me, I want every little seed to have a chance, is that so much to ask for?

If anyone wants some seeds for next Spring let me know, I have hundreds!!!

In this picture you can see the little, round, green seeds. They aren't ready to be picked until they are dark brown to black in color. You can see the empty pods where I have already snatched seeds out this morning. I really need to get a life.

Marathon Inspiration

My brother Robert, and his wife Kristi just ran the Pocatello Half Marathon. It was their wild idea to get me to run the half marathon that I will be doing at the end of this month. What am I thinking???
They both did well in their race and like a good husband, Robert stayed with Kristi till the end. I wish I had the cheesy picture of them crossing the finish line holding hands! It's ok Robert, we know Kristi made you.

Aren't they a cute couple? I wish I could get Kylan to run with me but that will only happen if there is an indoor marathon on the treadmill. Not going to happen.

I can't stand to run on the treadmill. The only thing more torturous is listening to myself sing. (Oh those poor primary kids!) I'm jealous that their race is over and they no longer have to worry about getting all of their miles in. I'm struggling right now not wanting to do my long runs. I'm pumped that this next weekend is my last 13 miler and I won't have to do a long run until my race. YEAH! For those who have asked, I'm doing the Akron Road Runner September 29th. Ky will be there just long enough to see me run before he takes off for Tulsa (his last out rotation). I'm sure you will be hearing more of this as time closes in on race day and if I'm still alive after...I'll let you know how painful it really is. Anyway, congrats to the bro. and sis in-law. I'll be cursing the two of you on mile 10 of my race!