I’m a marathoner!
August 27, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 6 Comments
Hello everyone!
Now that I’m a little bit mobile, I thought I would write a post to let everyone know that I successfully finished the Quebec City Marathon yesterday. My time was just under 4 hours which was within my goal.
The run went very well for the first 20 miles. I stayed with the 3:45 pace group who were doing a run/walk mix where you run for 2 kilometers and walk for 30 seconds. I didn’t join in the walks until we had passed the 1/2 marathon point which I crossed in 1 hour, 50 minutes. After that, the walk breaks were just a good idea. I tried my best over the entire run to stay hydrated and cool. I usually drank a gatorade and a water at every station.
At mile 20, someone put a grand piano on my back, my legs got shorter, and the air got significantly thinner. This was the mythological “wall” that you hear about. Nothing in my training prepared me for
the next six miles. At first, I didn’t think there was any way for me to finish. My hamstring, quads, and calves were cramping; my pace had slowed to a shuffle. But I pushed on one kilometer at a time. I would usually run for a 1/2 kilometer, then walk for a minute, then run again. These last six miles took me 1 hour, 10 minutes with a
pace of 10:30. Although I had absolutely no energy and wanted so badly to walk, I ran the last 2 kilometers so that I would cross the finish line running… which I did.
Ashley was waiting just before the finish line, and seeing her gave me that final push that I needed (you can see my smile in the pictures.) She then ran down to the finish line to get pictures of me getting my medal and then to help me get home. My legs didn’t want to work anymore, but we still had to walk up a huge hill back to the hotel.
Once we got back to the hotel, I got a shower and then napped for 4 hours. Ashley worked… go figure. Then we managed to walk (err… shuffle) back down the hill to get dinner at a local pub where we could get some local Quebec brew.
Today everything hurts but I think I’ll manage. We are going to go jump in the hotel pool for a bit to let my muscles relax before doing some sight-seeing.
Oh, and don’t expect me to say that I’m training for another marathon any time soon. I’ll stick to 10ks and maybe 1/2 marathons for a while. And it’s definitely time to play some more frisbee.
Happy Birthday, Ashley… watch where you eat.
August 19, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 2 Comments
We spent Ashley’s birthday relaxing around the apartment because Murphy is recovering from getting fixed – which explains the cute “onesie” she is wearing. I got up early in the morning for a 12 mile run… my last big run until next Sunday!! Apparently, while I was on my run, Murphy wrapped a gift and wrote a birthday card. I have no idea how that happened..
After my run, I made birthday breakfast and gave Ashley my gift, a LeCroset dutch oven. While Ashley watched Anne of Green Gables in preparation for our vacation to PEI next week I headed up to Chelsea Markets to pick up everything that we needed for dinner. When I got back, I spent the afternoon cooking and baking a birthday cake. We had a pork tenderloin roast in an onion and raisin sauce with mashed potatoes and sauted squash. Except for Murphy being really groggy and pathetic, it was a very enjoyable and relaxing day. And Murphy is already improving… she just hates the itching.
Marathon training
August 9, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 1 Comment
For the last 8 months, I have been training to run my first marathon. I’ve run for countless hours, gone through four pairs of running shoes, and recently hit the 500 mile mark on nikeplus.com… (I’m actually at 555 miles right now and there are a lot of miles that didn’t get recorded on the ipod.) On Saturday before Carl and Uncle Jim come to visit, my training runs peak with a 20 miler (say WHAT!) And then I taper for the next two weeks before the finale on August 26 in Quebec. Wish me luck… well, actually wish me a safe run.
If you’re interested to know more about my training or if you are interested in training for a marathon yourself (John?, Jay?,) drop me an email or leave a comment.
Murphy, bike rider
July 3, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 7 Comments
You are going to have to get used to posts about Murphy because we find her cute and interesting, so we make the assumption that you will too simply because you know us.
Anyway, Murphy went on her first real bike ride last Sunday following an afternoon in Prospect Park on Saturday. Pictures from the park coming right up.
Carolyn and Jeannie’s Trip to NYC
May 29, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 3 Comments
Carolyn Guy convinced Jeannie to do a girls weekend out in New York. They bought hotel reservations at the midtown Hilton and Broadway tickets to see Wicked. And they were even gracious enough to let us spend some time with them. We went to Mama Mexico’s on 103rd/Broadway which we’ve mentioned is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the city. We did the infamous Staten Island ferry ride that we do whenever someone comes for a visit, and then made some delicious pasta for dinner. Sunday was the Five Boro Bike Tour where 35,000 cyclists bike through all the boroughs. We met them in front of their hotel which was on the route for our goodbyes.
Murphy is Home
May 28, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 5 Comments
This is our new puppy, Murphy. She’s half bear, half land shark. We say “bear” because just look at her. “land shark” because she could puncture a lead pipe with her puppy teeth or possibly chew through concrete. We’re still working on the whole “what’s okay to chew on thing.” Her chews toys – OK. Ashley’s ring – NOT OK. Her ball – OK. My fingers, toes, face, clothes, fingers, and other fingers – NOT OK.
Easter at the Bakers
April 22, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 1 Comment
I will be updating this post soon, so don’t worry. You’ll get more than a single picture.
Dear Taylor
April 20, 2007 | Filed Under rant | 1 Comment
I hope that you will excuse us for not writing on our blog in such a long time. You were justified in your criticisms like this one:
WHY HAVE YOU NOT UPDATED YOUR WEBSITE?
You’re such a snorton norton.
You are right. I am being a total snorton norton. We (as in the royal We meaning Daniel in this case) have been really slack. Ashley has been asking for a post with pictures from Easter, and I will get to that shortly. Of course, Taylor, you, like other readers of this blog, have already seen the pictures because we uploaded them to ofoto. That doesn’t mean that I should make writing a post a lower priority.
So, besides now, I will update this blog soon. (Does this count as an update by the way?)
New York, Baby!
March 11, 2007 | Filed Under activities | 3 Comments
(line courtesy of David Harris and oft-repeated by Jerry Osborne)
Double Your Fun - Jeannie and Jerry
February 13, 2007 | Filed Under nyc | 4 Comments
I say double your fun because we had two visits from the Osbornes in January. Jerry and David Harris came up for the weekend to go to a Thrashers/Rangers hockey game. We also went to a really funny sketch comedy at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater. There was also much Wii playing… naturally.
Jeannie flew up the next weekend to go to a ballet performance with Ashley (for a full review, contact Ashley.) I met them after the performance for some shopping and dinner. Jeannie also had the additional pleasure of staying at the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park City.
