High School Swimming and Running a PR

In order to get a couple of thoughts "out there" this afternoon, I am combining topics. First and foremost, Colin swims in his first HIGH SCHOOL swim meet this evening. Yes, that rug rat has grown a bit and aged a few years to become a full fledged freshman in high school - at Lincoln High School to be exact. Tonight he swims two of his favorite events: the 200 yard Freestyle and the 500 yard Freestyle, along with at least one relay. We, being his parents, are anxious and excited to see what he has hiding under his swim cap for the other competitors tonight because we KNOW it isn't hair.

Correct, no hair. He shaved his head completely bald last night for the beginning of high school swim season. I will keep you posted on how long it lasts, and how long it takes to grow out, AND on whether or not he chooses to keep it this way. I am thinking it will grow out for winter training.

Then, lastly, I ran a little bitty (619 runners) 5K on Monday to benefit the Red Cross - yes, my father-in-law is just thrilled. I ran ... drum roll, please ... 3.1 miles in 24 minutes and 23 seconds. YAHOO! FYI, that averages out to 7:46 minutes per mile. WAAAAAYYYY faster than I have ever run anything longer than one mile in my life. I was so excited. I was fourth in the Masters Women division (40+) and would have been first in the 40-44 age division if awards had been given for that. The only pictures are horrible, but I have put one here just to show that I did indeed run the event.

By the way, have a great week!

A Garden in Full Bloom

I sat in the backyard of my friends The Crutchfields yesterday afternoon watching countless children, teenagers, and adults have an absolutely fabulous day of "summer time" fun. It wasn't anyone's birthday. There wasn't a wedding going on; nor was this a back-to-school celebration. All of these people had gathered to celebrate everything good about being young, having friends and family, and enjoying life. It was a perfect day: clear skies, gentle breeze, moderate temperatures, a grill, car loads of coolers, and more food than necessary. Life, my friends, is truly a gift. It can be snatched away from you without warning and in the mere blink of an eye. I kid you not.

It has been a year since we, and I say this from the heart when I say we, lost Mac. It was the worst of all scenarios and conditions. Nothing positive can come of rehashing what really happened. Nothing good can come of dwelling on the moment, the hour, the day, the weekend. Let it suffice to simply say, that Mac is gone. The lucky ones among us are granted a glimpse of him every now and then in our mortal and every day lives. I swear I saw him just the other day (as an egret if you recall). Coach Terry has seen Mac as an Eagle. Jean and I agree, and anyone who listened and watched yesterday will have no choice but to also agree, that Mac was there with all his friends. I could hear it in the laughter and see it on every face in the bright eyes, and generous smiles. No one spoke a harsh word. There was no arguing, no fighting, no "Girl Drama" and calm and peace prevailed as the dominant attitude. Savannah seemed more like herself than I had seen in a long time. Charlie, bless the strong and silent ones, appeared to be comfortable with the gathering and the attention showered upon him and his family. Maggie was, well... Maggie was in her element. The kids all love her. There was not a child present who didn't feel as if they were Maggie's favorite. She just exudes that emotion onto them. They calm down; they begin to glow; they love her and she them.

Maggie and Charlie have taught me a great deal this past year. How I should be stronger in my faith. Without their faith and God, they would have been lost and swallowed before the first 24 hours had even passed. They, Maggie especially, have taught me how to better embrace each moment and cherish it. You truly never know when the last time will be that you lay eyes on your child. I believe as a part of that lesson God gave me a summer of unemployment to spend with my boys. I may never again have time with them like I did this summer. It was wonderful. I would not trade it for the most lucrative job on the planet. I learned that it's okay to not answer a phone call or an e-mail until you are ready and can handle the response. But, I also learned not to stop calling or texting or e-mailing just because there has been no response. Sometimes the message just needs to get there, now answer required. Yes, I have learned a lot. I can only hope that it makes their loss a bit easier to know that someone outside the immediate took something positive away from the tragedy - if that could be...

Last year, a friend of Maggie's told her that her job was not over. She had been given a garden to tend, not just two plants. Her job was now to tend her garden (of children) not just the flowers of her two children. Her garden was in full bloom yesterday. Not one of those flowers will ever forget yesterday.

Track Flats, Pink Hats, and Blueberry Pancakes

So, just exactly what do track flats, blueberry pancakes, and pink hats have in common? Well, they are all important pieces of a successful Breakfast on the Track in Tallahassee, Florida, in August.

Every August, just before school begins, the Gulf Winds Track Club hosts a unique event which is attended by all walks of life - literally. The Breakfast on the Track event is a one mile run. That's it. One mile. "Once" per person. For time and ranking. Last year Colin, Aidan, and I all ran this for the first time. This year Aidan passed the run up for the opportunity to go fishing with Mike while Colin and I sweat the morning away waiting for our respective heats. It was a great morning for everyone, runners and fishers alike.

The morning started out cool and a bit breezy, but not cold. Overcast skies made the humidity a bit more bearable than normal for mid-August. Colin and I arrived at Maclay School about 7:15 a.m. turned in our registration forms; received our embroidered aprons (in lieu of t-shirts); signed in for the appropriate heat (based on predicted finish time); and waited for our friends to arrive. Maggie and Savannah, her daughter, and Alex - a swim buddy of Colin's - arrived very soon after that. We all ran our warm-up laps and sat back to wait it out until our heat(s) were called. Colin was signed into Heat 4: predicted finish times of 6:05 - 6:35; I was signed into Heat 6: 7:00 - 7:25; while Maggie, Savannah, and Alex had all signed into Heat 8: 9 minute miles. These choices were very reasonable based on last year's times (Colin - 6:21, Me - 7:20) and with our training during the year we were curious to see where we would fall.

Colin ran a 5:50, placing 10th in his age group (10-14) for which he claims he has a "teeny tiny trophy" in his swim locker, and I turned in a 7:00 which was fast enough to put me 2nd in my age group (40-44) and earn a PINK running hat. Placing at this event is a big deal as it earns you Grand Prix points for the year, with 10th place and under earn the highest number overall. Yippee for us! Not to mention, those times were great improvements over the times run in 2008.

Below Left: Colin as he screams into the finish area.
Below Right: Me, as I huff and puff to pass the girls that Colin has "instructed" me from his position in the infield: "Pass them! Mom, pass them now!"

Maggie turned in a PR Mile time at 8:05 and Savannah finished her first timed mile in 9:17! Outstanding on all fronts. Alex won the "Chef of the Event" award for running his mile in his apron and long, long shorts. He cracks me up, that kid. Once we had all five run our heats it was time for watermelon and pancakes. After all, this was the Breakfast on the Track event - it includes home made pancakes: buttermilk and blueberry, and lots of Georgia watermelon. Yummmmmmmmy!

Below: Savannah Crutchfield (center) with her two "adopted big brothers" Alex Dehner and Colin Abbey as she comes into the finish area of her mile run.

Above: Me and Maggie Crutchfield (Savannah's mom) as we approach the finish of Maggie's mile run. She PR'd by the way.

After the run, we all came back to our house and the kids took off on their road bikes for a short neighborhood jaunt. Not really like a Triathlon transition, but still a brick work out for the day. It was fabulous without a doubt; hands down. Mike and Aidan did have a great time out on the water even though they caught nothing of note. It would not have mattered anyway if they did, they simply enjoy being out there on the balmy briny sea.

Coming Out of the Shoe Closet

When someone divulges a long held secret, I am told it is called a "coming out" or sometimes "coming out of the closet." While I shy away from sharing this particular secret in dread that it will never take place, I have decided to let you in on my "little secret." Shhhh, don't tell anyone...

Remember the girl who said she'd "never" run a full marathon? I do. Remember that same girl said that "going Goofy" was just that - GOOFY? I do. Do you remember that same girl running Goofy and then 5 weeks later running 26.2 with Donna (in a P.R. time)? I do. Remember that girl saying that "going Goofy" once was more than enough? I do. Do you also remember her running Goofy AGAIN and "Donna", again? I do. What you probably don't remember, or maybe didn't even know was that this same girl, once upon a time, said that "qualifying for the Boston Marathon was not important" to her. Well, that silly, dain-bramaged girl has changed her mind, as is the prerogative of a girl, and now plans an attempt at qualifying for the 115th Boston Marathon (April, 2011).

Whew, I said it! The cat's out of the bag. My hope is to train and cross-train adequately, safely, and in a smart, well thought out way with the goal of running a Boston Qualifying (BQ) time (3:50:59 or better) at either the Tallahassee Marathon (2.7.2010) or 26.2 with Donna (2.21.2010). God willing and with His blessings, along with the love and support of my family, the help and support of great friends, and some much-needed coaching I will be more than ready to make that goal in 6 months. If, and that is a VERY, VERY BIG "if", I can run a BQ time in February of 2010, my goal would be to then run the 115th Boston Marathon in 2011.

I guess it's not much of a secret anymore. But, not EVERYONE knows...yet. I hope to be able to run Boston. I think maybe then I could put aside the ongoing craziness of marathon training. Make no mistake, I am giving up running or Half Marathons (I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE that distance), but I could maybe give up marathons. Maybe...

I hope to be able to run Boston, and all my events, with the light of Christ shining from me and the wings of God's eagles carrying me to the finish line.



I Corinthians 9:24-27
²⁴Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. ²⁵Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; ²⁷but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

The 2,000 Mile Mark

The summer has been busy, busy, busy on the run and bike. By mid-July I had "traveled" more than 2,000 miles in training rides and runs. WOW! That's all I can say. My summer training plan has seemed to work very well. I have been able to manage 3 days of riding and 3 days of running that includes one LONG run and a very LONG ride. As the school year approaches I feel I should, yet again, reevaluate the dreams and goals for the upcoming "season" as it were...

August, 2009
8.15.2009 - Breakfast on the Track 1 Mile Time Trials
8.18.2010 - Dad-in-luv (Stuart's) Birthday
8.22.2009 - Tri States 100 (Dothan, AL)
8.24.2009 - Our 18th Anniversary!!!
8.29.2009 - Miller Landing Madness (8K)

September, 2009
9.2.2009 - Daddy's Birthday
9.19.2009 - Women's Distance Festival 5K
9.30.2009 - Mike's 46th Birthday!

October, 2009
10.3.2009 - Atlantic Coast Triathlon (70.3)
10.3.2009 - Pine Run
10.17.2009 - Spaghetti 100 (ride)
10.31.2009 - Boston, GA Mini Marathon

November, 2009
11.22.2009 - The Women's Half Marathon To Benefit LLS (St. Petersburg, FL)
11.26.2009 - Turkey Trot 15K

December, 2009
12.5.2009 - GWTC 10 Mile Challenge
12.13.2009 - Jacksonville Marathon?

January, 2010
1.8.2010 - Colin's 15th Birthday - OMG, he can get his driving permit...
1.16.2010 - GWTC 15K/30K

February, 2010
2.7.2010 - Tallahassee Marathon and Half - Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......
2.18.2010 - Mom-in-luv (Nancy's) Birthday!
2.21.2010 - 26.2 with Donna (3rd Time's the Charm) or Hope to qualify for Boston 2011 here......

Because I Knew You ... For Good ...

I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you -
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you.
For both of us - now it's up to you.

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for Good...

It may well be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
But because I knew you ...

Because I knew you...

I have been changed for Good...

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame for

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
I do believe I have been changed for the Better.

Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for GOOD

One of my favorite songs from the Wicked: A New Musical soundtrack is "For Good." Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (Good Witch of the North) are about to part ways after having been thrown together as roommates in "college" and discovering that they could actually be friends. The lyrics are magical and sentimental and bring tears to my eyes every time I hear them.

Yesterday I rode to "Mac Land" most commonly known as Georgia for my training ride. I was about mile 8 or so when I looked up and saw a gorgeous, grand, majestic white egret - one of the BIG ones. I frequently see water birds along this route but they usually fly out of the bushes or the marshes and get away from me very quickly. Not so this bird - and I will call it a boy now. He stayed fairly close to me for quite some time. He never got closer than 15 or 20 feet, but he wasn't further away than 30 feet or so. He circled and flew "with" me for nearly two miles before he turned south and left me to the rest of my ride. I realized that I had not been fully enjoying the scenery and splendor of God's world until he showed up so I made a note to be more aware as I continued the rest of my ride.

As the egret left my peripheral vision, "For Good" began playing in my ears via my iPod. I knew then that it was Mac. People who knew Mac have said that he "visits" them and almost always as a bird, although usually and eagle or a hawk I think. As I listened closely to the words I took to heart that it had to have been Mac. I don't believe in coincidence, only in God-incidence. I reached the Florida/Georgia state line and called Maggie. She needed to know. I believe that Mac was the egret to show me - just me in my weak human neediness - that after nearly a year away from us he is happy, comfortable and BEAUTIFUL with his new life. Heaven must be "the bomb" for Mac to show up on my ride as a snowy white, perfectly crafted egret. AWESOME!

Thank you, Mac for coming into our lives however briefly. Our lives have been changed for GOOD because we knew you and because we are blessed to still have your family in our lives today.

The Most Awesome Parents ... EVER!

For those of you who don't know Mike's and my parents (Colin's Grandparents), they are absolutely wonderful, awesome, supportive, generous active people who are TRULY experiencing athletics vicariously through their grandsons. Mike's parents do their best to see the boys compete when the competitions are close or "at home." They time when asked, and they follow the boys' progress and success in the water nearly religiously while always cheering them on from afar when they are unable to be present on the pool deck.

My parents have been at BOTH of Colin's trips to the Junior Olympics: February, 2009, in Gainesville, Florida; and July, 2009, in Fort Myers, Florida. They have flown into where ever the competition is being held for a total of maybe an hour's worth (not even that much) of competition time. Make no mistake, they have watched several of Colin's teammates grow-up, and they enjoy watching those "kids" nearly as much as they do Colin and Aidan. Nonetheless, they travel to small southern towns like Dothan, Alabama, to watch the boys swim; to feed them endlessly; and to meet new people and make new friends and camp along the way. They suffer through hard bleachers ("bench butt"), standing around for hours, chlorine gas at indoor pools (Dothan and Gainesville), blazing sun, cold, rain, storms, and what I swear were the hottest 4 days in Fort Myers history! They sweat buckets alongside all the other parents; they follow the heat sheet; and they cheer for all ATAC swimmers at all times. They truly are among the best out-of-town ATAC support team.

Below are my parents "sweating it out" under the tent waiting for one of Colin's events at the Summer 2009 Long Course Florida Swimming Junior Olympics held just this past weekend in Fort Myers. Did I mention that it must have been the hottest four days in Fort Myers' history?