Martin Luther King Day off as a Holiday

Oddly enough, I have today off as a holiday. I decided to run and do some snow shoeing with friends. Erin and Tammy joined me for a wonderful run on some hard packed snow. It was awesome. It allowed me to catch up with Tammy about her life. Erin and Tammy are two people that are always up for a run no matter what the weather. I have been very fortunate to have both as running partners throughout the years. They each bring there own running style and qualities. At the same time they are very alike. Both are avid outdoors people, funny, love food, quick to smile, listen and understanding of what each other goes through in daily life. We all have families, work and outside challenges. During the run its good to hear some of their stories and tell mine it makes the run go by sometimes too quickly.

Later in the morning Jennifer was ready to go snow shoeing. What alot of fun. I have forgotten how much fun it is to tromp through the snow. I did run here and there and I may have to run a race soon for snow shoes. I may do well.

Later in the day, I went out to lunch with Beth at La Bravo. A very nice lunch. Nothing like a delicious lunch with the one I love. We went to the book store and Beth found a book I would like. She was right and I bought it. I ended the day with a nice beer and made dinner.

Christmas and a New Year

Christmas was very nice this year. Very little traveling which is always good. Anika has new skiis that she really likes. She also has many new toys. Beth and I went clothes shopping. I have new dress coat that is warm and rather nice. Beth Anika and I went to the Tundra Lodge with Ma and Chuck and Rebecca and Matt. We all stayed in the same suite. Tight but it worked. Everyone had fun at the water park and we played spoons. A very intense game. No one was hurt though.

Beth and I had a pleasent night going out with friends and enjoying a nice meal at the Black and Tan.

Anika and I have gone skiing the last two days when the temps were in the single digits. A little hard but she was a trooper. She also has new skiis this year. Her other ones were just too small.

News Year day Joe G. and I went out biking. I was trying out the studded tires I just received and man they are sweet. I never slipped once on the ice. The gripped and cornered well. Joe took one digger on the ice but was A-ok. I did jump on the trainer on the 2nd just to get some decent spinning into the legs.

A couple of surprise results and big snow.

Its been a very busy couple of weeks.  We are entering into the Holidays.  I was looking at the results for the Stump Farm Classic Trail Run and realized that I took third place for my age group and won a jar of Gourmet Pasta Sauce.  I am thinking not bad for throwing up twice during the run.  Do not drink the Gatorade. 

Next surprise result was at the Noodleini.  This was a 9.3 mile (15K) run.  I went into the run with very few miles in the legs over the past several weeks.  Work has been a bear.  My goal was just to finish with a 8:15 pace or a sub 9 at the worst.  I ended up with another PB for that course and that distance with a 7:44 pace.  I was very happy and pleasently surprised.  On top of the nice result was a second place trophy for my category.  This is the first year I have ever placed in anything. 

The other nice thing is the 14-16 inches of snow that fell in Green Bay.  I went riding in it the night before and it was alot of fun.  The next day shoveling was a tough but my neighbor Rob gave me hand with his snow blower.  The snow was very nice for the Nellib and again I had a very good run,  Billy Goat and I ran for the first 4 miles and then up Green St I pulled away and gave a hard effort.  I had a 8:24 pace which on snow is very nice.  Finish the season in good shape. I hope to kee it up into the next year.

Stump Farm Classic

Bill and I just before the Stump Farm Classic. Bill beat me this year. I had a great start to the race until I drank some nasty power drink. It made me throw up twice during the run. Bill caught me at mile 7. The nicest thing was being able to run with Tammy for the first 4 miles. I just wonder how it would have turned out if I did not drink the power drink and stuck with water. Oh well I had fun and ran with some great friends (Tammy Wagner, Bill (Billy Goat) Withbroe, Cheryl Noel, Barb K., Nikki W, Jennifer). The nice thing the money goes the Ashwaubenon Ski Team for travel expenses etc.

Halloween 2009. The pciture with Anika as a Pirate was during the Heritage Hill Halloween Party. A good time. Stories were told and candy handed out. Even apples on a string to catch. Anika's favorite part was the haunted maze. The other pictures were taken during Halloween Night. Our neighbors cam over and all the kids had fun collecting candy. We even had Doughnuts and cider at the Schwenk's house.

Lapham Peak Cross Race.

Its been awhile since I blogged.  I have been super super busy with work and life this summer.  I had goals setup and was slowly conquering each goal.  I am having a pretty good year with running and biking.  I had one set back or maybe a reality check.  Cross racing.  I entered my first cross race in about eight or nine years.  I did not come in last place but pretty close to it.  In hindsight though I had worse cross races.  In my first ever cross race I was dead last and was lapped not once but twice.  The race at Lapham Peak I was in the mid pack for the first two laps but a mis step on one of the barriers really set me back.  I rebounded only to implode on the next run up.  I faired better than others though.  I at least did not break any bones.

I am in San Diego, California visting my sister-in-law.  This is giving me sometime to write and relax.  I am going to try and maintain a blog presence.  I do have some changes to make so stay tuned.

Green Bay Cellcom Marathon.

This is the night before the marathon.  This is my one A race of the season.  I shooting for a good time. My original goal was a sub 9 but maybe even better if my training runs are any indicator of my fitness.  After the marathon I may focus more on the bike and all around training.  I need a better core to compete well. 

I plan on being a bit more puntual on my blogging.  I have been absent for awhile with work and training and family life.  A hectic time period right now.