But I'm back in action!...ish. I'm thoroughly enjoying the freedom of not HAVING to bike or HAVING to swim or HAVING to run x number of miles each week that I'm experiencing right now, and I'm planning on soaking it all up through the holidays. That said, there's still some quality (and lots of fun) blog-worthy activity going on in my world this fall. Some of the highlights of the last five weeks since my Tour de Shunk post:
* Spectating! I spent the last weeks of October, first weekend of November doing one of the things I love most about running...cheering for others doing it. Mike's xc girls team qualified as a team for the state meet, and after going 1,2 in the District, NEB's two all-star boys earned 4th and 16th place medals in the state. We'll be off to do more spectating as those two boys run the Nike regional meet in New York this weekend!
* Becoming a Wine Baron. All those who ran the wineglass marathon (or half marathon) the first weekend of October and also the Red Baron half marathon the first weekend in November (both races in Corning, NY) earn special "Wine Baron" membership. (By membership, I mean a tech shirt. Cool, fun, new tech gear, and no one wants me to attend meetings, vote on things, or volunteer for crap...my kind of club membership). This was my 2nd Red Baron half, and I LOVE the run. I ran a 1:31:39, a little more than a minute slower than I where I was at last fall, and I could have cried I was so happy. I knew I wanted to race to see where I was at fitness wise, but I was scared to see where that was exactly - I had no clue what to expect. 1:31 was not on my radar of possibilities, and I went home 2nd overall (albeit I'm the first to admit that place is always obviously relative to who shows up) and a very content runner!
* Track work. What?! Yes! The high school I went to (and now teach at)'s record holder in the 800 and 1600 who went on to run in college and then in Europe for a year is home for a while. Not only is she completely lovely and enjoyable to spend time with, but she is also super motivated. And smoking fast. Thanks to her and the school's xc coach planning after school workouts, I have actually ran my butt in a quick fashion around the track a number of times at a number of paces. How novel!
* Running with a frozen turkey in a back pack! A fundraiser for frozen turkeys for our local people helping people food drive put on by a senior at the high school and mentored by me:) You bring a frozen turkey. You run a mile with it. 10 seconds is deducted from your overall time for each pound the turkey weighs. Holy back ache the next day. Holy heart swell seeing 50 people in a little town run a mile toting turkeys for the community.
* Cyclocross. Mike, Jon, and Julie do it, (and very well!) I watch, take sub par pictures, sorry video footage, drink coffee, and talk running and lack of swimming skill with a run, bike, boat tri friend of ours. It's a phenomenal way to spend a Sunday:)
* Crocheting. The antithesis of physical activity, but I'm so tickled with myself I have to mention it. Youtube is an incredible teaching tool. I'll try to post pics when I'm not feeling too lazy to get off the couch and get my camera and take a pic and upload and....I have lofty goals of hats for 5 nieces and nephews by Christmas though!
*DIAMONDS! Ah yes, tomorrow is the day. I grew up a Thanksgiving lover. The smell in the house, the Macy's parade, family, food, Miracle on 34th street, naps on the couch, more food. However, on February 13th, 2010, when I vowed to love, honor, and cherish Mike for all the days I lived, I also committed to altering the fate of turkey day forever. For the Murphy's, Thanksgiving starts with a 9 mile road race in Berwick Pa, the historic (the 2011 edition will be the 102nd running!) Run for the Diamonds. It's only my fourth year (and only 2nd since I made a VOW in front of friends and family to do it forever), but it's already a tradition with Mike I love:) And bless my understanding, sweet, and wonderful mother's heart, she's convinced my entire family that 4pm is the best time to eat Thanksgiving dinner. Geesh, add pumpkin cheesecake baking the night before (the smell is wonderful in our house right now) and the invention of the dvr (if I really cared that much about the Macy's parade which I in fact, do not), I can actually still have it all!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
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