Running and Soccer

 When I tell you that I ran a half marathon last Sunday (Nov. 3) I need you to be extra impressed. It rained almost all day Saturday and Sunday morning the forecast was more rain. 

I am the definition of a fair weather runner. This is about the time of year I hit the treadmill because it's too cold outside. When it's raining outside, I go back to bed! 

So it's a good thing I signed up for this one with a friend. I texted her on Saturday and said if you don't want to run anymore, I understand and I concur! She didn't let me off the hook, she said she was all in. Ok then, here we go. 

It rained for the first hour then after that we were just dodging puddles. It wasn't cold, all the runners on the course agreed, "it could be worse!" If that isn't Midwest logic, I don't know what is. 

My official time for my first time running the Kansas Half Marathon: 2:19:15 10:38/min mile pace 

That's a good run for me in nice weather. I'll take it! 

This week Alex started his first Middle School soccer season. He had a game on Monday and one on Wednesday. He was unsure all year if he would join the team or not but I'm glad he did. He is really enjoying it! Cheers for staying active when we would rather be under covers!!

This race came through with the free pictures!

Little Apple Half Marathon

 Yesterday, I ran my 3rd half marathon of the year and by far my best of the year! I have been pretty good with my training runs getting all but my last long run in. I decided not to go in with any time in mind but to just run as fast as felt good. The race director started the race an hour early because of the unseasonable heat. It was the right move because the temperature was perfect! My time was 2:13:35 with a 10:12 pace! My last half result was 2:22:03 with a 10:51 pace. 

On a normal race day I get up super early, (would have been around 4am for a Manhattan race), to pick up my packet race morning and make sure I had plenty of time to park and get all my pre race routines completed. I told Jeff that plan and his idea was to just stay in Manhattan for the weekend and pick up my packet Friday night. Maybe alleviating that race morning stress also made for a better race? I got to wake up at my normal 5:15 and our hotel was only 15 minutes from the race. He was also the best cheering section a runner could ask for! 

Bonus, we got to spend all day Saturday just exploring Manhattan restaurants and sites. I went to Pillsbury crossing for the first time and I got to see the Math building at K-State. I made Jeff take a picture in front of the sign (he didn't want to) because that is where he spent countless hours getting his Masters in Math. 

The places we ate at were Tallgrass Tap House, Nico's Little Italy and Aggieville Brewing company. All were excellent! 

So here is to a great weekend before a crazy month starts. We got this! 

The waterfall was more of a trickle but still very cool! 

I did it! 

It was funny to see how close Umberger is to Cardwell and neither of us had any knowledge of the other. LOL 

 

2023 Bill Snyder Highway Half

 I figured we would round out a busy month with a half marathon. Why not? This is the 3rd time I've run the Bill Snyder half and I slowed my pace and had a really nice race. 

I didn't really train seriously since I had run the TopCity half five weeks earlier. I also knew I wouldn't beat my TopCity time because the last 5k of the Manhattan half is up hill! 

My win from this race is I didn't walk up any hills! Yay! I don't have another race on the books but I still have my monthly mileage goal so I won't be sleeping in anytime soon. Happy summer break everyone! 

I really liked my finish photo this year!

Congrats to my friend Kirby for getting
An age group award! She killed it!

2023 Topcity Half Marathon

 Yesterday was great weather and luckily race day for the Topcity Half Marathon! My goal was to run a sub 2:10 race and my official chip time was 2:08:53! The course was changed this year because of road construction but the new out and back route was enjoyable. The spectators were great this year! The course volunteers cheered loud and I got an applesauce pouch and twizzlers from new friends, aka nice strangers. Lol

My cousin came from Dodge City to run with me and she rocked it as well. That's two Dodge City cousin visits in one month! April 2023 was pretty awesome! 

We are ready to go! I woke up 2 hours before race time, Kayleigh only needed 15 minutes. Lol

I'm not fast enough to run with this girl but she always has a post race beverage with me! 

Photo credit of my finish to Alex!

Bill Snyder Highway Half

Yesterday, I ran my second half marathon for 2021. My goal is four so I'm halfway done with this goal. The Bill Snyder Highway Half is a challenging course even in good weather. The first time I ran it last year it ended in town and was very downhill then flat. This year we ran the traditional course that ends on the KSU football field and that means the last three miles are a climb. I would say I have a love/hate relationship with hills but I actually just hate them. 

My goal was 2:05 and my official time was 2:05:25, so I'm calling that a win! Add rain and humidity to the hills and I'm even more proud of that time. My next race is in August and I'm going to try for the elusive 2 hours time. I've only broke two hours once and I would really like to do it again! 

Most races I go to by myself, so I was really happy to ride down and back with my friend Kirby. We met at the Topeka race and we have so much in common it's crazy! So glad to make more running friends to help keep me motivated!! Kirby you PR'd on a crap day! Yay you!! 

We look pretty good for having run 13.1 miles in 
icky humidity! 

Last year the  course was flatter and my time was 2:10
so I have definitely gotten stronger this last year! 

My first time finishing on the field and I 
was on the Jumbo Screen! Thanks Kate for
getting this picture for me! 

TopCity Half Marathon

 Last Saturday was the 2nd running of the TopCity Half marathon. However, due to Covid it was virtual in 2020 so this was the first in person running of the race. It is so much fun to have a race in Topeka, I didn't have to get up a couple hours earlier to drive to some place and try to figure out pre race breakfast and bathroom when I'm away from home. These are serious decisions that can make or break your race! LOL 

The weather was perfect Saturday and I ran comfortably for the whole race in a short sleeve shirt and capri running tights. Since is snowed on Tuesday weather was one of the things I was worried about! 

The course went through many parts of Topeka and for the first time I ran over the Topeka Blvd and Kansas Ave bridges. I wasn't even that mad about finishing on an uphill! 

My goal was sub 2:10 since it was my first race of the year. My Official chip time was 2:06:33! That put me 93/194 of half marathon finishers and 16/82 for the women. I'll take that! I didn't plan my race calendar that well because my next race is in a month in Manhattan for the Bill Snyder Half. It will be another uphill finish by my goal for that race is 2:05. Just trying to constantly improve! Then I get a break before my Half in Sioux Falls SD in August. :-) 

Let race season begin! 

The race medal doubles as a bottle opener. LOL

Best part of an in town race was post race celebration with friends!

Notice how I went a little over 13.1? I did miss one turn
around a school at the end. Oops! 

Two Races and Two Hats

At this time last week, I was freezing in Kansas City waiting to start my second half marathon for the year. If it has been this weekend, the temperature would have been perfect! But it wasn't snowing and on Nov. 1st you have to consider that a win. I drove myself, ran my race and took my tired butt home. Having someone to watch me finish is nice but I can do things by myself too!  

My race in Manhattan I lined up with the 2:15 pace group and felt that they really helped me not go out too fast. I chit chatted most of the time and was laughing and having a good time. Since that race I have been running faster on my own so I decided to leap frog the 2:10 pace group and I lined up with the 2:05 group for this run. I have never spent the majority of a race trying to keep up with my pacer! There was very little talking and when the pacer told me at mile 10 "If you feel good, you should just go!" I said, "I don't feel good." LOL 

I ended up speeding up at mile 12 and finished with a 2:04 time! My PR is from May 2014 and it is 1:56:28. Not sure I will ever get back there but getting under 2 hours will be the goal for 2021! 

Daryl ran a political race last week. He decided to run for 6th grade rep for Middle School Student Council. He had to record his speech and all the 6th graders watched the speeches and voted. His speech was right out of a 1950's presidential campaign. I gave him a hard time for ending his speech, "God Bless You! and God Bless America!" I told him I didn't think that was going to resonate. But he proved me wrong and was elected one of the three reps out of six running. Way to go buddy!  

For some reason I caught a knitting bug and I have been turning out hats like crazy! After finishing my fingering weight hat last month I casted on with worsted weight. I was so giddy about how fast it was going I finished it in five days! Then I gave up looking for more gray yarn and finished another half done hat with yellow yarn. On Friday, I cast on another fingering weight yarn hat because I need to slow down a bit. LOL! 

GOING TO KNIT ALL THE HATS! 

39 degrees and here we go!

Two Hours later I was ready to go home! 

Photo Credit to Ariel, she takes great photos!
Pattern: Barley Yarn: Universal Worsted and some scrap yellow 

Pattern: Christian's Hat Yarn: Paton's Wool

Newly Elected Daryl enjoying a celebratory steak dinner!

Bill Snyder Highway Half

Yesterday, I ran my first half marathon for 2020. I was signed up to do the Top City Half in April but I lost all my training mojo and had to switch to the 5K. Originally, the Bill Snyder Highway half was supposed to be in May. I was relieved it was pushed back to Sept., I was not going to be ready to attempt it in May. 

Imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail with race details in Late July about the Sept. 7th race. I had COMPLETELY forgot about this race that I had already paid for. I knew it was coming up but I had failed to write down the new date. I had been running all summer to hit my monthly mileage goal of 50 but wasn't doing long runs. So I had to decide if I was going to be able to do all my long runs in one month to be ready for a 2+ hour race. 

With the encouragement of my friends I decided to give it a try. I completed a long run every weekend and got all the way up to 10 miles the week before the race. I was feeling good! 

I lined up with the 2:15 pace group hoping to clock a 2:14 time. My last half marathon was the KC Half Marathon in October of 2019. I ran a 2:16 in that race so I thought it would be good progress to knock 2 minutes off of that time. 

I was so glad this was the pace group I decided to go with. The pacers and other runners with the group were so supportive and gave great running advice. I learned so much running with them! The hills were in the first five miles and then we started going down hill until we hit town and then the course was flat. So at 8 miles the pacers encouraged us to speed up if we felt good. I did and I did feel really good until mile 12. OMG I started to feel it that last mile, and it was my slowest mile of the whole race! 

Was pleasantly surprised to see that my chip time was 2:10:46, I knocked almost 6 minutes off of my 2019 time! So happy with this race and I have my running mojo back. Last night I actually signed up for another race in November! LOL I just hope it doesn't get too cold before then. I don't like to run in the cold. I said what I said! 

Also, took the best race pictures I have ever taken. Ya, this race was a total win. 💖

Yay, Finish line! 

Best pace group 2:15! 

My official results. Not too shabby! Can I break 2:10 in November??

Ran a Thing, Wrote a Thing & Knit a Thing

I haven't blogged for awhile, and I've been a "little" busy. Last Saturday, I ran my first half marathon in three years! It rained almost the entire race, but I still enjoyed it. I did my training plan and I knew I could do it. It was the Kansas City Half Marathon and oh man, did it have hills! We climbed so much that the last mile was a downhill and my legs cramped almost immediately.

I am already planning on my next half. It is my perfect distance and the training is not impossible. I wasn't sure if I would make it back to running halves, but I did it! Now, I'm just going to work on my time. I wont' race again till next year. I do long runs, but I don't do cold!

Yesterday, a whole day early, I submitted my portfolio for graduation. It still has to be graded but that is out of my hands. I started my Master's program three and a half years ago, it was a long and hard journey. I'm ready to read for fun, not worry about writing papers on the weekend and spend that much more time at home and not in class.

The boys cheered for me when I said everything was in for my portfolio. They have gotten the short end of the stick of me going back to school. I'm looking forward to giving more of my time and attention to them!

When I was taking study breaks and sitting in conference this month, I also finished a hat! That is just the cherry on top of the sundae. It was a good month folks, a VERY good month!

Barley Light hat 

My writing corner for the last three weeks. I still need to put the books away....

I ran a race and I knit a thing!

Long time no blog! Things are getting a little hectic around here but that's ok, when we work as a family the manor can conquer anything. :-)
Last Saturday I ran my half marathon that I had been training for. I fell off the running wagon about two weeks before the race but I was still happy with my result. I wanted a sub 2:05 time and I'm happy to report I ran a 2:03:59! My next half (TBD) I would like to get back under 2 hours. I did that once and I think I can do it again.
I ran the race without my cheering section, but I was OK with that. Race day for me means a work day for Kelly if him and the boys are going to watch me finish. I had to leave at 5:30am and if that's not painful enough, they have to wait 2 hours for me to finish. With a 7 year old and 3 year old in tow that's like 10 hours.
So the boys stayed home and pampered me appropriately for the rest of the day! ;-)
Ps-It was soooooooo cold, I'm more proud that I didn't say "screw it," and stay in bed than hitting my time goal.
A couple of weeks ago I also finished a silly hat for a co-worker. I don't know if he got it yet, but I'm hoping he saw the hilarity in the project. It's not easy being a state worker these days so we will take the laughs where we can get them!

Do I look cold? I was freezing!!

Pointy hat with a pom pom!
Held worsted yarn double and it took 4 skeins!

Graduation & Heartland 39.3 Series

This past Saturday I completed the Heartland 39.3 Series. This series is 3 half marathons in five weeks. It was a challenge and I was so happy to complete all the races.
The last race was Running With the Cows and this is the race last year that I learned about the series. I enjoy the RWTC because a grade school puts on the race and they have the best hospitality. From the decorated school, to the aid stations with Oreos, to the amazing after race food, it is a family friendly event.
My cheering section had to get up at 4:45am to watch me cross the finish line. I'm just thankful that my boys like to be on the go! Once they realized we were getting in the car they were all excited. The icing on the cake is we got to ride on a school bus from the parking to the starting line. Alex thought that was pretty awesome, Daryl was all smiles too!
If you like race medals the series is a must for you. I'm happy to say I placed 158th in the women's division!!

Tonight was Daryl's Kindergarten music program and graduation! It was such a fun program. All four classes sang together and they even had dance moves. Grandma and Grandpa Meerpohl also brought a graduation cake. It was a fun evening and Kelly is still trying to get the boys to bed!

Not really what I was going for...

My owlish Cordell

Sometimes you see a knitting project and you think, that is so cute! I need to make that! Then what you make is not cute, and it doesn't look like the picture. That is what happened with Cordell.
He is supposed to be an owl but he is kind of a cross between a pelican and an angry bird. Not an owl.
pattern can be found at http://www.knitazoo.com/



The sort of owl was my only hiccup this weekend. After two months of training I finally ran my first half marathon! My time was 2:07:45 and I even had to stop to go to the bathroom!! I really wanted to finish under 2:15 and finish before any of the marathon runners. I hit both goals so I couldn't be sad about my run at all!
I took today off to recover and hang out with the boys. Daryl still went to preschool in the afternoon but Alex and I were together all day. He slept on me twice...awww..... I can't remember the last time he napped on me so I am going to cherish our mom/al day!



I've never taken a good running photo.