COOL ENOUGH FOR LONG SLEEVES

I asked them to smile for this one too, but James said "No, let's be zombies instead!"

STREP'D IN

Yesterday evening Cora walked up to me with her headlamp and asked me to look at her throat. Unfazed because we'd had the headlamps out all afternoon due to a 6 hour power outage, and because we tend to "play doctor" a lot at home, I dutifully checked her over and expected to see nothing. Imagine my surprise when I spied a bright red, swollen throat covered in white splotches. Dang. When I asked her if it hurt, she said no. But then, why ask me to look at it if it didn't hurt?... No fever. No lack of appetite or energy. We consulted Dr. Grambot, who said to take her in the next day regardless of the lack of fever or other symptoms, since it could be strep just getting started, and like usual, Dr. Grambot was right. Her strep test was "barely" positive, but the doc put her on a round of antibiotics and had her spend the day at home (she gets to go back tomorrow since she never had fever and will have been on antibiotics for a day). I spoiled her with ice cream while we waited on her meds, then we spent a few hours snuggling and napping and cleaning house before we had to go get James from school (Jay had taken the kids to the dentist for their cleanings and Cora to the doc, so it was only fair to switch out). Her throat already looks a LOT better (there aren't even white splotches anymore), so we're excited that she'll be clear for a busy week of activities... Corps Day, school field trip to the pumpkin patch, and our annual Halloween party.

MORE FROM RUSTON

A few more camping photos from Christina:

Will and Cora with their birthday cake bucket (mud cake and pine needle candles)

One of the toads that lived in the stump near the fire pit

Best buddies :-)

If only they'd been sleepy...

The older Lauren gets, the more fun Cora has with her. I envision tea parties in their near future.

LINCOLN PARISH PARK

Despite poor predicted weather conditions, we hightailed it out to Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, Louisiana for a couple nights of camping after the Over the River Run and soccer games. It was already sprinkling when we arrived, so we threw the kids their buckets and shovels and trucks and got to work setting up camp. Things were mostly dry Saturday night, but we had a significant rain come through Sunday morning (while Jay was out running the trails) and again that evening just as we finished up an early dinner (in anticipation of the coming storm). We managed to have campfires and marshmallows both nights, indulge in standard camp fare and beer, run and hike the trails with the kids, take them fishing and to the playground, and spend lots of time at camp just hanging out and talking and letting the kids play together in the dirt. Christina even put together a nature scavenger hunt for them that was really fun. Everyone was very well behaved (even Jay!) and we were disappointed to have to leave super early Monday morning (we'd have preferred to linger, go for another run, then stop at Curry Farm on the way home). Since we were awoken at 4:52am by a giant tree limb slamming to the ground too close for comfort, we decided to just pack up and head out though. We were at Starbucks just after they opened at 6:00am! The storm ended up moving very slowly and we definitely could have stayed, but there was no way to know that at the time, and it ended up being nice to get home so early and have the entire day to unpack and unwind from a very busy weekend.

We were at the same exact campsites that we used last time we camped here, with the Sanchez crew, and we definitely missed them on this trip!

Snack time

Men cooking

Boy cooking (mud pie, steaming in the campfire smoke...)

Felt like a gourmet dinner to us!

Puzzles during breakfast

Watching the rain start to fall...

Hiding out in the van during the worst of the downpour

Using the Barbie fishing pole that the Jungs gave her for her birthday

Scavenger hunt time!

The rain made them happy because they had an excuse to play their LeapPads

And eat Oreos in the tent...

Last man standing (or, sleeping...) as we packed up camp

Single track as far as the eye can see... we'll be trying to spend more weekends in Ruston this winter!

OVER THE RIVER RUN 2014

Just like last year, the Over the River Run (my favorite local race) took place in the midst of my marathon training plan. However, unlike last year when it was at the beginning of my plan, this year it was very near the end of my plan (next week I have my last really long run, then taper). Summer has not yet ended, hanging on with every last day of heat and humidity it can manage, and my last 4 weeks of long runs have gone 16, 18, 20, then 13.1 at race pace, so I really had no idea how I'd fare today. Leading up to the race, I planned to do a normal high mileage week, but it ended up not working out that way and I thought I might have "fresher" legs this weekend. Well, I did. And I didn't. Lingering soreness was there, but I definitely felt better than I had expected to earlier in the week. So my plan was to go out strong and see where it took me...

I ran as part of the EL Super Moms this year, a team of lovely mamas that I work with:

Katie as Wolverine, Dawn as Wonder Woman, Michelle as Batgirl, me as The Incredible Hulk, and Cari as The Punisher

 As Michelle and I toed the line near the front (not because I think I'm fast, but because I know what a cluster the start of this race can be, so it's easier and safer to start ahead of the majority of the 700 or so racers), I spied some of my 5am running buddies, so we sneaked over to them and I started to get excited. I knew I couldn't hang with Francine, and as badly as I wanted to use Mack as a pacer, I didn't think I could hang with him (even though he's one of the few people known to successfully run negative splits at this race, which is really hard to do with the downhill start and uphill finish). So I focused my efforts on Lori. In past races, I have at least been able to keep her in sight through the finish, so I figured she'd be a good rabbit for me to chase. 

The excitement of running down the ramp onto the bridge among all those people didn't disappoint and we quickly found ourselves weaving this way and that to get ahead and get some elbow room. I kept Lori right in front of me and Mack at my side. I was feeling good, and even my heel bruise (or plantar fasciitis, as I'm now thinking the issue is) wasn't bothering me much. We hit the one mile mark and the volunteer at the water station yelled "1 mile. 8:04." to which Mack promptly replied "8:04?! What the he-ell!" and dropped his pace. Yup, there was no negative splitting to be had after that start! Oh well. I chased Lori for the next 3 miles, keeping her right in front of me and laughing at the fact that every single person running, walking, or volunteering cheered for her and knew who she was (she's the PR person with Ameristar casino, who sponsor the event). I also laughed at my fleeting idea to get a little closer and draft off her... if you don't know her, she is TINY and there was no drafting to be had. 

All was well during miles 2 and 3 (and I later discovered that my splits for those miles were also faster/similar to last year), but mile 4 (the bear, where you're turned around to face the rising sun and have to climb back onto the bridge) was HOT sunny, and the aid stations had already started running out of water (luckily, I decided to carry my handheld during the race, something I've never done for a 10K or below before, and I actually drank almost all 20 oz of it!) I watched my pace drop, and drop, and drop. Discouraged, I let myself walk 12 steps, then tried to suck it up and get back on pace. No such luck, but at least mile 5 was faster than mile 4 (by about 30 seconds). By that point Lori was done. She hadn't had any water and she was feeling it. When she realized I was behind her, she asked for some of my water, then told me to go on ahead, so I did. While I was sharing water with her, Dr. Sadler (another 5am runner) passed me and I made it my mission to catch him by the end. I ended up getting him on the final sprint up the finish hill, so I was pleased (even though my legs were shaking and I badly wanted to just stop and vomit - you can't exactly stop within sight of the finish line, especially when your kids and husband are yelling so loud that people can hear them inside the bathroom nearby). 

The heat and humidity was rough on everyone today and I heard that overall people were finishing about 2 minutes slower than last year's times. Going into it, I had no idea if I could even meet my time from last year, let alone PR below it (due to the point of my training cycle that I was in), so I wasn't too disappointed when I finished almost 30 seconds slower than last year. A little disappointed, sure, but I'd be lying if I said I was surprised. I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't pleased about beating Mack and Lori (and Dr. Sadler)!

2013 Splits: 8:14, 8:29, 8:33, 8:56, 8:40 (unofficial 42:52)

2014 Splits: 8:06, 8:22, 8:35, 9:24, 8:55 (unofficial 43:19)

I was listed as 43:25 in the paper, earning 4th place for my age group.

I love this race because 1) the downhill start makes you feel like a superhero (until you crash at mile 4 on the return, anyway), 2) it's then basically flat until you get back on the bridge, 3) there are always lots of volunteers and they all cheer for all of the participants, 4) the view is pretty great going over the bridge both directions (if you can look up long enough to enjoy it!), and 5) the after party is one of the best in town as far as post race food and adult beverage, and a bouncy house for the kids.

Playing with Emma and Coltin in the bounce house.

 These little monkeys did not do the 1-mile fun run this year. We stuck to our guns about not paying for them to race after their whining and crying at Watermelon Classic (and they didn't seem to mind in the least today, honestly). Plus, we wanted them to save their energy for soccer anyway. Though that didn't really work out so well since we let them bounce in the bounce house for 45 minutes...

See ya in 2015 Over the River Run!

And if it's not too much to ask, I'd like to pre-order clouds and fall temperatures rather than the 75-80 degrees and 90% humidity we partied with today!

DANCE BROTHERS

James gets so excited when Hazel's brother Adler shows up for him to play with during Cora's dance class! We've had to talk to him about bubbles and personal space, but Adler is thankfully a very good sport and seems to have a lot of patience for his adoring fan.

SCHOOL PORTRAITS: FALL 2014