Catching up

The summer session of the Running Fit 501 Marathon Training team is in full swing, with early Saturday morning long runs and Tuesday evening workouts. Asia and Katie are officially training for the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October. Today they ran 16 miles in the pouring rain with their team and nobody seemed to mind a bit. There are 120 members of the team this summer.....such a large group that coach sends them out in waves. We had a visitor last week from San Francisco who was visiting Ann Arbor for a wedding. He Googled "running groups in Ann Arbor" and found us. He was amazed at the size of the group, the organization, the website, and the "catered water stops". Coach Gina is up at 3:30 on Saturday mornings to stock the water stations every 2-3 miles along the course. Each station has water, cups, and Ultima enough for all the runners, going in both directions.

Today's course wound through the North Campus of U of M, down Broadway hill, around by the Huron River to Bandemere Park, and up into the Barton Hills. The road to the Country Club is about 3 miles long, all uphill, and with lots of switchbacks, then reverse the course. Coach's philosophy is, "If it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger." This course, in the downpour, thunder, and lightning proved what a tough bunch this team is.

Katie's challenge has been to get Asia to slow down on the long runs. Today Katie said Asia ran with her perfectly until about mile 12, then she began to slow a little. But that was about at Broadway, going UP this time, so all is forgiven.

We have finally found something that works to help prevent Asia's terrible blisters. The $300 orthotics just hurt her feet, but the $12 roll of Kenesio tape works wonders!! I put 3 strips across the bottom of her feet, starting at just behind her toes, all the way to the heel, and extending up the inner arch and it totally prevents friction blisters from even forming! She has a history of nasty blisters and we've not been able to find shoes or socks that totally prevent them. This tape is a God-send. I know this isn't what it's designed for, but it sure works! Thanks Coach!!!

2 other new tools this summer......sunglasses.....we've never found a pair that fit while she is running, because she has no nose to hold them up. We got her a pair by Serfas Optics that come with 3 interchangable lenses, and then got a piece of plastic, like aquarium tubing, to go on the earpieces behind her head to hold the glasses on her face. Works like a charm, and she doesn't mind wearing them, because her team does. Another addition this summer is a fuel belt. Since Asia doesn't do Gu, or Shot Blox, or the Energy beans or anything like that (and the experience trying them is another whole story), we discovered mixing Chocolate Outrage Gu with water. Thanks again Coach! At the Martian Marathon, Aaron and Katie carried Asia's "Chocolate Water" since she had never worn a fuel belt, and we didn't think her first Marathon was the place to start. Earlier this summer Katie let Asia try hers. My fears were unfounded.....seeing so many of her teammates use fuel belts made it a non-issue for Asia. She just did it.

Asia has competed in 2 5-K runs since my last post. The Gallup Gallop and the Rutka 5-K, both in Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. Her times were nearly identical, 23:40 and 23:43. The next race is The Crim 10 miler in Flint, MI. on August 22. There will be 51 Running Fit 501ers competing in that race! Hopefully all in their new blue 501 singlets. I'll post pix and results after.

Asia is featured in the July issue of the Train 4 Autism Newsletter

http://www.train4autism.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hqLQIXOzGrF&b=5079713&content_id=%7BF0BBA70F-763B-4399-8E80-51347E99CFAA%7D&notoc=1

More Pix from Plymouth Father's Day 5K and 10K

Pix from Plymouth Father's Day 5K and 10K

Water Stations at Saturday long run.

On Asia's very first long run with the Running Fit 501 team, back in 2006 Jerry and I raced to the 2-mile water stop to see how things were going. Since we arrived by car, we had some time to kill before the runners arrived, so we decided to make ourselves useful as well as ornamental, and we started filling the cups with water and Ultima and lining them up on the fence. The runners thought that was pretty cool, so we kept doing it. I think Jerry and/or I have made it to almost every Saturday practice since 2006. We love seeing all the runners, playing tunes for them in the summer, and in general being cheer leaders. It's a small thing we can do to help out a team that has done so much for Asia.

These pictures are of 2 of our favorite water stops. The first one with the fence is *the* first one. The other one is at the top of the Arb hill in Ann Arbor.

TOTALLY OFF TOPIC...I didn't know birds had brakes.......

Those who know me know that I work for a wonderful company. One of the fringe benefits of my job is that I get to care for the 5 bluebird houses on the grounds. The houses have been up for 5 years and in all but one year we have had at least one nest of bluebirds. But it is a constant struggle with the English sparrows, who will chase the bluebirds out of the nest, even after eggs are laid, and will kill bluebird babies, build their own nest on top of the BB nest, and take over. I mean, these birds will nest in Kroger signs.....why do they need to take my bluebird houses? But I digress.....

In years past the fight consisted of checking the houses several times a day early in the season and ripping out sparrow nests. They are easy to spot, as they are messy, disorganized, and full of trash (some might call it recycling, in this case I call it trash), bits of plastic, yarn wet newspaper, parts of paper cups, theater tickets.....TRASH! Bluebird nests, on the other hand, are neatly constructed of like types of grass and twigs and lined with fluff and tiny feathers.

The idea is to rip out the sparrow nest as soon as they start building, keep ripping, and hope the bluebirds get in in the meantime to start their own nest. There have been days when I have ripped out 4-5 started sparrow nests. I've enlisted the aide of fellow employees to help when I'm not here.

Last year Jen at work gave me an old bluebird book that belonged to her mother. In it the author discussed the sparrow problem and one person's solution. They took a toy snake, rubber in the book, I think, and put it inside the nestbox. The sparrows never came back, but the bluebirds were unphased.

*Cue the lightbulb over my head* Jen had a toy snake, but it's wooden and segmented and wouldn't fit into the box, so we draped it over the top. Lo and behold....the sparrows avoided that box like the plague but the bluebirds and swallows couldn't have cared less. The swallows claimed 1 nest box and were very vigorous about defending it. They would dive bomb humans who came too close and the sparrows gave up. We moved the snake to another house and the sparrows wouldn't come close but the bluebirds just lit on it like it wasn't even there. Bluebirds moved into that box, with the snake on top, and raised a clutch of 5 babies!

This year it worked again, and I actually got to see it unfold. The 5 bluebird babies had just flown over the weekend and on Monday the sparrows thought they'd move into the house. They just started moving their crap, er...junk..., er....scraps in on top of the old bluebird nest! So I ripped the whole thing out at 8am. (The snake was currently in residence on top of the swallow house.) By 11am the sparrows had started another nest........RRIIIIPPPPP - gone. At 3pm, when I went to get the mail, another nest was under construction. At that point I decided to risk the wrath of the swallows and walked over to claim the snake. I came up behind the box thinking, wrongly, that I could sneak in and get the snake and get out like some comando, but nooooo. Mom and dad swallow shot out of the box, circled around behind and began dive bombing my head. It was like a scene from The Birds, but I was laughing so hard I could barely untie the yarn holding the snake to the house.

Finally the snake was free and I carried it back across the lawn to the bluebird house. Before I could get there, the sparrow landed on top with stuff in his beak, ready to start construction again. The little devil! I'll show him! I tied the snake in place and artfully draped him across the top of the box before dropping some mealworms in the bluebird feeder under the house and turning to leave. I had taken no more than 5 steps when I saw the sparrow streak past me. I turned just in time to see him spot the snake and screech to a halt in mid-air before wheeling around to fly off. Honestly, it was like a cartoon bird applying brakes mid-flight WHOA!!!

Almost immediately the bluebird pair returned. The male sat on top of the snake while the female munched on some mealworms underneath. They began their new nest that afternoon and as of today have 3 new eggs.

Haven't seen the sparrow since. He's probably in Canada by now.

And the moral of this story is: Don't mess with a stubborn Irish woman and her snake.

Running Fit 501 Summer 2009

The 2009 summer session of Running Fit 501 is officially underway. Asia always hates the break between sessions. She still runs every day but misses her team.

Tuesday night the new members and some of the old from the Ann Arbor and Dexter/Chelsea locations met at the Running Fit Warehouse in Ann Arbor for 2 mile timed trials. Coach uses this to determine which color/pace group is the best fit for each runner. The Red Group trains at a 7:00-8:30 pace, Green Group, 8:30-9:30, Yellow 9:30-10:30, Blue 10:30-12:00, and Purple 12:00-14:00. Note: this is NOT the race pace, but the training pace. Asia is in the Green Group, and ran her 2-mile timed trial in 14:47.

After the timed trial, Coach introduced the Color group coaches, gave everyone instructions on using the website, staying hydrated on summer long runs, passed out registration packs with team hats and coupons.

The group has grown from 70 or so in 2006 to nearly 200 this summer, including all the stores.

This morning the Ann Arbor group met in the Huron High School parking lot at 7:15 for instructions before taking off for their first long run. The course was 5 miles, out and back, with 2 water stops, and included both Broadway and Sunset hills! Coach made sure all the new runners knew who their color group coaches were, and that they had running partners if they weren't familiar with the course. It was raining lightly, but Coach assured us that it would stop *any minute now*. (After what these folks ran in this past winter, a little light rain is nothing!) After making sure everyone was paired with like-paced runners going the same distance, Coach sent them off into the mist and I took off (by Jeep) for the first water stop.

The Red Group arrived first with a few new members, including John, Katie's husband, and Francisco and Andrea who *graduated* from the Green Group. Everyone looked strong and enjoying their run. Mandi, Jen, Katie, Asia and 2 new guys arrived next, had their water and Ultima and took off again.

The turn around point was 1 mile past the 2nd water stop, so I actually got to see most of the runners as I waited for Asia and Katie to come back. The Kinesio tape was holding up well on Asia's feet and blisters were no problem today.

I was amazed that the new runners looked so strong after the 5% grade on Broadway. I don't know the grade on Sunset, but I've been told it's the highest point in Ann Arbor, and it's long, and steep. I found a website last night that will calculate the grade of a hill, much like a pace calculator for a race. Plug in the horizontal distance and the vertical change and, voila, it calculates the grade.

Back at the high school, runners arrived sweaty and tired but smiling! There is a new runner, Linda, who has a son with autism. She's running the Chicago marathon to raise money for autism. It will be fun getting to know her and her son this summer.

It's going to be a good summer.

501 Members DxA2 10K Results

0.47.13 (7.36 pace) F3539 Smalheer, Sarah PR
0.50.23 (8.05 pace), F2024 Woolls, Heather
0.50.34 (8.05 pace) F4044 Fike, Jennifer 3rd Place AD Award Winner
0.54.29 (8.47 pace) F4044 Schroeter, Melissa
0.55.12 (8.54 pace) F4044 Koenig, Kara PR
0.58.18 (9.25 pace) F4044 Haite, Heidi
0.58.19 (9.25 pace) M4044 Kowalski, Matt
0.59.15 (9.33 pace) F3539 Remke, Beth
1.00.00 (9.40 pace) F3034 Hoey, Maureen
1.00.34 (9.45 pace) F4044, Kowalski, Jill
1.01.21 (9.53 pace) F4044 Pike, Shelly
1.02.56 (10.08 pace) F4044, Winebrenner, Patricia
1.03.49 (10:17 pace) F5054 Kong, Barbara

501 Members DxA2 Half-marathon results.

1.23.12 (6.22 pace) M3539 Salas, Claudio PR 5th AD Award Winner
1.25.01 (6.30 pace) M4549 Schrage, Mark
1.27.10 (6.40 pace) M3034 Sytniak, John
1.28.48 (6.47 pace) M4044 Morgan, Rob PR
1.30.52 (6.57 pace) M2024 Close, Evan
1.33.32 (7.09 pace) M3539 Nguyen, Thien
1.34.01 (7.11 pace) F2529 Roehm, Stephanie
1.34.51 (7.15 pace) M3034 Palomino, Francisco PR
1.34.59 (7.16 pace) F2529 Walrath, Andrea PR
1.36.13 (7.21 pace) M5054 Neubert, Rick
1.36.24 (7.22 pace) F3034 Wolfgram, Marie
1.36.55 (7.24 pace) M5559 Pratt, Aaron
1.39.23 (7.36 pace) M4044 Brandly, Chris
1.39.43 (7.37 pace) M4549 Johnson, Al
1.40.33 (7.41 pace) M4044 Cioffi, Jon
1.41.15 (7.46 pace) M3034 Kellogg, Ryan
1.41.19 (7.44 pace) M4044 Quilter, Shawn
1.42.15 (7.48 pace) M5054 Mester, Michael
1.42.51 (7.52 pace) M3539 Sloan, Greg
1.43.02 (7.52 pace) M2529 Kokoszka, Alek
1.45.18 (8.03 pace) F4044 Lete, Gianna
1.45.25 (8.05 pace) M4044 Straka, Eric
1.46.17 (8.06 pace) M5559 Cutler, Dan
1.46.19 (8.07 pace) M3539 Buquet, Jason
1.47.06 (8.11 pace) M4549 Robles, Javier
1.47.44 (8.14 pace) M4044 Douglas, Stephen
1.50.08 (8.25 pace) F2529 Sytniak, Katie
1.50.09 (8.25 pace) F2529 Renning, Asia
1.50.46 (8.25 pace) M5054 Greff, Glen PR
1.51.39 (8.32 pace) F3539 Hartman, Laurie
1.52.39 (8.36 pace) M4549 Gossiaux, John
1.53.02 (8.38 pace) M5559 Smith, Mel
1.53.35 (8.39 pace) M4044 Toth, Marc
1.54.34 (8.39 pace) F4044 Evans, Julie
1.55.43 (8.50 pace) M3034 Salim, Irwan
1.55.43 (8.50 pace) M3539 Johnston, Andrew
1.57.03 (8.57 pace) F2024 Hengesbach, Heather
1.59.07 (9.06 pace) F3034 Eleby, Michelle
1.59.09 (9.06 pace) F3539 Lindsay, Harriet 1st HALF
1.59.14 (9.07 pace) M2024 Kowalski, Larry
1.59.50 (9.09 pace) M6064 Reichman, Rick PR
2.05.53 (9.36 pace) F5054 Walton, Sue
2.12.30 (10.07 pace) F6064 Shepherd, Naomi
2.13.44 (10.13 pace) F6569 Swaney, Carol 2nd AD Award Winner
2.16.06 (10.24 pace) M4044 Czarnecki, David
2.16.55 (10.28 pace) M4549 Gaunt, Gene
2.20.32 (10.44 pace) F5054 Meeks, Pat
2.21.30 (10.49 pace) F4044 Zhang, Ge
2.22.23 (10.53 pace) F4044 Srinivasan, Meena
2.23.00 (10.55 pace) F2529 Lacasse, Beth
2.32.23 (11.38 pace) F4549 Scott, Melanie 1st HALF
2.33.51 (11.45 pace) F4044 Kleinschmidt, Pamela 1st HALF
2.39.26 (12.11 pace) F4044 Randolph, Joanne 1st HALF
2.48.31 (12.52 pace) F4044 Hutchins, Tonya

Post-Race Pix

Still MORE pix from DxA2 race

More pictures from DxA2 run

Dexter-Ann Arbor Half-Marathon 2009

After a fortifying breakfast of Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage and scrambled eggs, Asia's typical race day breakfast, we left for Dexter. After meeting up with Katie and John, and Katie's best friend Pam, in the parking lot we walked to the school to meet the rest of the team. It was a gorgeous, clear, cool June morning and everyone was ready to run. The team had received their new race singlets the day before, so most of our people were in blue.

Because Asia has a tendency to go out too fast at the beginning, Katie has been working on keeping Asia with her during practice runs. This is not an easy task. It's not so critical on the local runs, but will be very important at the Detroit Marathon in October, when the course carries them across the Ambassador Bridge to Canada and back thru the Windsor Tunnel. Rather than keep calling her back, or urging her on faster, she and Asia decided on a code word that would mean, "Asia, slow down" or Asia speed up a little" depending on the circumstances. The code word was BURRITO. I could only imagine what would go thru the other runners' minds if Katie had to shout out "BURRITO" at the top of her lungs several times on the course!

After some pre-race pictures John took off for his warm-up run and the rest of us made our way to the starting line.

Katie and Asia found their spot in the mass of runners and I made my way to the front, close to the timing mat so I could get an accurate start time on my watch.

There was one wheeler entry this year, but I'm sorry to say I can't find her name. The crowd of runners and spectators sent her off with cheers and applause. There were 2434 runners waiting at the start.

As soon as Katie and Asia crossed the start Jerry and I took off for our car and raced to the 2 mile point. We realized quickly what a difference it made having our team dressed alike. We could look for the distinctive blue singlets and THEN look at the faces. We were able to see, cheer for, and photograph many more of our runners. We spotted Claudio, who looked strong, and incredibly fast. That was the last time we saw him......he beat us to every stop. We saw Rob, Marie, Stephanie, Michael M., Gianna, Eric, Aaron, Rick, Andrea,and many of the others. After Asia and Katie passed us, We made another mad dash for the car and headed for the 5 mile point.

We had brought "chocolate water" (Gu + water) for Asia and an extra water bottle for Katie, even though there were water stations at every 2 mile point along the course. Katie grabbed Asia's water from Jerry and kept on going.......and so did we....on to the 8 mile point.

At mile 8 everyone still looked good....their excellent training paying off! After a quick water bottle handoff, from Katie to me this time, we took off for downtown Ann Arbor and the finish line.

The crowd lining the street was almost impassable. We could see that Andrea and Claudio had already finished but had no idea of their times. Heather caught up with us and filled us in on their amazing finishes. Claudio finished in 1:23:12 and Andrea in 1:34:59.

We finally found a thin spot in the crowd and elbowed our way to the front to watch for our girls. Katie and Asia finished in 1:50:08 and 1:50:09...PR times for that race for both of them!! Katie was thrilled that she didn't have to use the "secret word" once! She said later that she felt they had evolved into a great running team.

We made our way to the team area to wait for John to find us and for pictures with the team and their medals. As we left the group to go have some lunch Jerry and I marveled again at our great good fortune to have found this amazing group of people. They have not only embraced Asia as one of their own, but also accepted us as part of the running family too! And then there's Katie, who has gone beyond being a running partner and become a true friend to Asia (and us).

Thanks to you all in Running Fit 501 for another great season. The short break will be harder for Asia, who misses you all terribly. See you in a couple of weeks!

More pix from the "Graduation".

Winter 2009 Running Fit Team

Asia and Coach Gina

Running Fit 501 Winter 2009 Graduation

Today was the last long run of the winter 2009 session of the Running Fit Marathon Training Team. To celebrate, several members baked for days, decorating cookies and cupcakes with 501 frosting in all the color groups. Coach gave awards and certificates to Color Group coaches, Top Dawgs and Experts. Asia got an award for her nearly 11 years of consecutive days of running. Coach shared a story with the other team. After she finished her first marathon, the first words out of her mouth were, "I'll NEVER do that again!" When she met Asia as she crossed the finishline at the Martian Marathon in April, the first words out of Asia's mouth were, "How much do I run tomorrow Coach?"

For many of the members, the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run tomorrow http://dexterannarborrun.com/ is their destination event......the one they have trained for all winter. Some are running their first ever 5K. Some are doing the 10K, and others, like Asia, Katie, Aaron, Claudio, Andrea, and others are running the half-marathon. In all we have 61 team members competing in one of the races tomorrow, down scenic Huron River Drive. There are 3 places along the route where Jerry and I can see the runners pass. It's a point-to-point race, so Jerry and I will drive on a road parallel to the race and cut over at several intersections to take pictures and cheer.

After picking up Asia's race packet, with her bib number and timing chip, we picked up Chinese food from Saigon Garden in Ann Arbor. Asia can't carb-load on pasta, so she eats rice......lots of rice. And Kung Pao chicken.

The batteries are charged in the camera, her feet are wrapped, to hopefully help prevent blisters. Next is making the "chocolate water", GU + water, pinning the bib number in place and securing the timing chip. And then resting for the evening.

The finish line is in downtown Ann Arbor, and the race coincides with the "Taste of Ann Arbor" a food fest, featuring local restaurants who sell their specialties in booths lining main street. Food, and lots of it......Asia's favorite way to end a half-marathon!

Stay tuned tomorrow for results and more pix.

Prom 2009

Last night was Prom for the 2009 graduates of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District Young Adult Program and alumni. As an alumna, Asia was invited, and she skipped practice with her running team to go!

The ballroom at Weber's Inn was beautifully decorated and there was music and snacks. You've never seen a more enthusiastic group of dancers in your life. Unfortunately, you won't see this one either, because the battery died in my camera after I took the pre-prom pix. .....sigh.... I am not yet used to the fact that it doesn't charge from the computer, when downloading pictures....I have to take the battery out and charge it separately. All part of the learning curve. But I WILL have it charged for the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon this Sunday!

Anyway, Asia had a grand time, dancing and snacking and seeing many of her teachers and old friends from school. Her teachers knew her running history and many knew that she had run a marathon. Some may even be at the half marathon this weekend!

For Women Only Race 2009

Asia ran the For Women Only 5K race yesterday, for the 6th or 7th year. This year was quite different from the recent years. There were no "Girls on the Run" http://girlsontherun.com/ this year. Their group had gotten so large that they will have their own race in 3 weeks.

Asia ran with Julie from her team. Carmen started out with them, but finished a little ahead. Asia finished 2nd in her age group, with a time of 23:38, a 7:37 pace. She was the 22nd finisher out of 342. Carmen finished 2nd in her age group and Julie was 3rd. Another fine showing for the Green Team of Running Fit 501! Julie is running 2 1/2 marathons in the next 2 weeks. YIKES! She's doing Bayshore Memorial Day weekend and the Dexter-Ann Arbor 1/2 marathon on the 31st.

The Dexter-Ann Arbor half-marathon will be Asia's next event. She and Katie are running it together. That will be the last event of the Winter 2008 RF 501 session, with a short break until the Summer 2009 session starts.

The Weekend of Two Races

Asia ran a 5K on Saturday and a 10K on Sunday. She was supposed to run 10 miles with her team on Saturday, but chose to run the Discover Milan Day 5K. This is the 3rd such race, put on by Asia's cross country coach from high school days. It's a good chance to run with the current crop of Coach Porter's elite runners as well as other folks in Milan who just like to run.

Following the race is a pancake breakfast.........which is not Asia's preferred race day breakfast, even tho she loves pancakes. On race days, Asia wants scrambled eggs with sausage.....and not just any sausage..........Jimmy Dean's Hot sausage. No bagles and peanut butter for this kid, uh uh. No banana and toast, no way. Sausage and eggs, and maybe a little fruit, if we have home canned peaches, or the canteloupe is especially fresh and tasty. And Asia is not one to eat breakfast twice, so we were stuck with waiting for the pancakes. Pancakes are closer to her normal PRACTICE breakfast of French toast.

Anyway, the morning was cool, but dry and clear. The runners took off about 7:30, and Asia was done in 25:04, which is closer to her daily running pace than her race pace. No PR, but she did place 2nd in her age group and got a medal and a hug from her old coach. It was a good morning, followed by pancakes!!

On Sunday was the 30th Annual Burns Park Run, in Ann Arbor. Asia has run this race several times, and last year PR'd there. There is a 5K run, which several of her teammates ran, and a 10K, which Asia and several more teammates ran. The course loops thru beautiful Burns Park and is very spectator friendly, which *I* like! This time we had the correct race day breakfast........sausage scrambled with eggs and a few slices of home-canned peaches, before driving up to Ann Arbor. Asia lined up with some of her buddies, and after some chip/mat issues, they took off. Jerry, Grizz, and I took off for the first spot to see the race. Asia always runs faster when we/others cheer for her, so we try to place ourselves around the course for maximum cheering advantage. And we're not above enlisting total strangers to cheer for her too! Gives her that little extra kick. We saw her 3 times before the end of the first loop at 5k, and her time was already better than the 5k the day before. She was looking good, and each time we cheered, she sped up. On the second loop, she was closing in on some of the faster runners from her team, and by the finish, or 400 yards from the finish, she still had a good kick, because when she saw Jerry up ahead taking pictures, she blasted past Heather. (To be fair, Heather had just done a Duathalon the day before! On a good day, no way Asia would have gotten that close.) Heather closed the gap as they blew past me to the finish. Asia beat Heather by 1 second. Heather was first in her age group and Asia was 3rd in hers. Andrea, another from the team, was the first female overall! And Michael finished 3rd in his age group. It was a great showing for the Running Fit 501 team!

And I learned not to mess with Race Day Breakfast!