Congratulations Graduate!!

Friday was graduation day for John's younger son, Lee. It was a very proud day for John and also just a bit sad, the last 18 years went a little too fast for him. The following pictures speak for themselves. Congratulations Lee!

Happy Birthday Mother!

Celebration season is underway in our household. It kicked off with Mother's Day and quickly morphed into Mother's birthday. My birthday is only 12 days away , followed by Leslie's birthday five days later. Then, of course, we have Father's Day, the parents' 63rd wedding anniversary and Carol's birthday. By the time the celebrations have concluded, I have generally gained 5-6 pounds and developed a sweet tooth that takes a month to get under control...the downside of celebrating.

So with all of that said, Happy Birthday Mother! Auntie Sue and Uncle Joe showed up on Tuesday to participate in the food fest and fun, they left this morning. Below are a few photos from our celebration yesterday, a day early cause everyone was off work.

Daddy opening the yummy "Eva's to Go" caramel cake!! Thank you Eva, where ever you are, the caramel cake is incredible.

Auntie Sue and Carol. Taking a photo into the bright light makes for a dark photo.

Auntie Sue and Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe and me

Leslie and Carol

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a nice family celebration on Mother's Day including Mother's favorite lunch of Kentucky Fried Chicken takeout and a nice caramel cake from Eva's to Go. Lots of running needed to work off this meal.

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mother! Below are a couple of pictures, more are posted in my Smithposts Gallery.

Haiti Run for Health 4 Mile Race Report

It's over, the 2008 Haiti Run for Health 4 Miler is in the books. I placed 3rd in my age group! I don't want to diminish my accomplishment by saying that there were only 4 women in my age group, but, there 4 women in my age group. Number 4 must have walked a lot because she came in some 6 minutes behind me. That's okay, my 3rd place finish netted the fine coffee mug in the first photo below.

I arrived in Oak Ridge about 7:20 AM, Saturday morning and followed the big orange cones around the race route to the start-finish line. Not much activity but I noticed a couple of people setting up folding tables so I stood around for a few moments and watched racers warm up along the turnpike. In a duh moment, I decided to actually read the race menu and discovered the bib pick-up was in the basement of the Catholic Church across the street. I jogged to the church, picked up my bib, stood in line for the bathroom and returned to the start line.

As I waited with the other runners for the start gun (actually shout), I ran into Shirley who worked beside me at the Covenant Health Expo in March. We chatted for a few moments about her finish in the Knoxville Marathon and Boston Marathon then I moved toward the back of the group. About 20 walkers for the 2.5-mile course were behind me so I wouldn't be the last on the course.

The start "shout" occurred almost on time. This was not a chipped course and I noted it took me about 7 seconds to cross the start line. Remember I said I was in the back of the runners pack, there were only 82 runners in this race!

The first mile went well. On my training runs this week, I payed close attention to my breathing and this race pace breathing felt about the same, a little rapid but still comfortable. As I crossed the mile marker, I looked at my watch and couldn't believe it read 9:44 minutes. WTF? Too fast for me to maintain with my current level of training, I slowed the pace a bit.

The first water stop appeared shortly after mile 1. The course was a double loop and I knew I would pass this stop again, but the temperature was warming up quickly and my body was heating up even faster so I slowed and grabbed a cup. The cold water was refreshing and I happily wasted a second or two aiming the empty cup into one of the laundry baskets on the street, strategically placed for garbage. The second mile clicked off in a more reasonable 11:13 minutes.

Mile 3 included a little hill. At this point that I looked around and realized I was running next to a runner-walker (R-W). As I ran up the hill, I passed the R-W who was walking. She flew by me on the downhill, she was an incredibly fast runner. I slowed for water as we looped around the bottom section of the course again, the R-W slowed for water too and I passed her. At this point I was getting pretty hot. I tucked my short sleeves under my sports bra straps and tried not to listen to my mind, which kept telling me to walk. I don't remember what my 3 mile pace was.

The R-W was still close as we started the 4th and final mile. I was counting at this point and knew I had only 600 or so steps to the finish. I realized I was going to finish the race running and attempted to pass the R-W just before she took off in a sprint. There was no catching up. I finished in 43.15 minutes by my watch, 43.21 official time.

John usually acts as my support team and race photographer and we don't stick around for the post race festivities. Since he was getting in a bicycle workout instead of attending the race, I decided to take the opportunity to grab a snack and watch the awards. Imagine my surprise when I received an award for coming in 3rd in my age group. Second in my age group? The R-W. I talked to her after the awards and she told me she was a sprinter; she could not keep up the pace in an all out run.

All in all, this was a very good experience and I will consider signing up again next year. Many thanks to the volunteers from the Oak Ridge Track Club, who worked so hard. Everyone was encouraging and friendly and the race was well run.

John and I closed the evening with a wonderful dinner "in the country" with friends. A very pleasant evening indeed.

Pictures from the race are below:

Picture hijacked from the Oak Ridge Track Club's photo page. I am almost directly behind the guy front in the cap (next to the lady in the gray shirt who came in second)

Picture from the Oak Ridge Track Club webpage again. I am a couple of people to the right of the girl in the orange shirt and white shorts.

Start-finish line

Really bad sweaty post race self photo!

Did I Really Sign Up to Come in Last?

I have been having some running related motivation issues over the past several weeks so I decided to sign up for a race in effort to force my legs out the door. After looking at my calendar and available area runs, I selected the 4-Mile Annual Haiti Run for Health and stuffed my registration form in the mail box. The cause is good and the mileage is different for me.

Here is an interesting point. Participation in this race has been dropping over the past few years. Last year the total number of registrants was 74. Based on LY race results, it is probable that I will come in last. So the question is, when the gun goes off at 8:00 AM next Saturday, can I run fast enough to come in 2nd to last? What a goal!

This is my running week in review so far (yikes!). I quit early on Friday's run. Started feeling funny, it didn't go away so I decided to stop. Feel fine today...go figure.

Tuesday
2.1 miles outside, 23.36 minutes, 11.12 mmp (hills)

Thursday
4.0 miles treadmill, 43.30 minutes, 10.83 mmp :-)
Strength training 35 minutes

Friday
3.5 miles outside, 41.22 minutes, 11.77 mmp (hills)

In my non-running life, Daddy and I planted a pot garden on his patio this week. Besides a couple of tropical flowering plants, we potted a couple of tomato plants. I also planted my pot garden, which includes sweet basil, spicy basil, cilantro, thyme, Italian parsley, 3 heirloom tomatoes and one regular. I also have mint and sage that come up in their pots year after year. Below are a few pictures of Daddy's plants.

Spring flowers are coming to an end in my gardens. Below are some of the last things to bloom until the daylilies burst on the scene in a couple of weeks.

Jack in the Pulpit

Iris

Blue Columbine

Prom Night!

Saturday night was prom night for South Doyle High School. John's son, Lee, was suited up and ready to go. We don't often see him dressed up so this was a real shutter opp for John!

Running Downtown

Another beautiful day in Knoxville. The decision to run this morning was easy, but I really didn't want to run hills so my best option was to head downtown and run riverside on Neyland Drive. Neyland Drive is a mostly flat 5-mile out and back with a couple of options to add mileage. I varied the route and came up with a nice 5.5 mile run.

Henley Street Bridge and the Tennessee River

Knoxville Riverfront. The Three Rivers Ramble red caboose is visible on the right . Neyland Stadium, home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers is in the middle of the photo. Behind the stadium, barely visible on the left, is the arena and home to Tennessee's winning Ladies and Men's Basketball teams.

The Canadian Geese are back. Before long the geese and their babies will be stopping traffic on Neyland Drive as they cross the road from one feeding ground to another.

I have a nice variety of wildflowers in bloom in my garden. Above is the Foam Flower and the Dwarf Crested Iris (Tennessee State flower). Unfortunately, dandelions are in full bloom too.

Variegated Solomon Seal

Dwarf Crested Iris

Tuesday Workout
Run: 5.5 miles, 63 minutes, 11.45 mmp
Strength Training: 30 minutes

Maude's Crack and No Business Backpack

We had a great backpack! In spite of Saturday's early rain and gloom, the weather front had moved out and the sun was shining by the time we hit the trail. The temperature remained very comfortable for the entire trip.

The trailhead was located somewhere in the maze of gravel forest roads that wind deep into the Big South Fork. We started hiking near Terry Cemetery on a relatively flat trail along the Big South Fork plateau.

At the trailhead. From left, Kim, John, Ed and Steve.

Me, starting down Maude's Crack

Within the first mile, we hit Maude's Crack, our passageway down to No Business valley. Many mountain landmarks are named by (for) past residents and Maude's Crack is no exception. The generally accepted story is that the crack was named for Minnie Maude Roysdon who, after her house burned down, used the crack to travel between her homestead and the temporary rock shelter that she and her husband lived in during reconstruction.

A recent Knoxville News Sentinel article by Morgan Simmons, says "being in Maude's Crack is not unlike being in a cave. The footing is muddy and slick, and the gradient is nearly vertical." Boy, amen to that! The opening in the rock formation was barely wide enough for us to get through wearing our internal frame packs. We absolutely could not turn sideways. Steve, who was shouldering an external frame pack, had to carry it in his hands because the frame was too wide.

I put my camera over my shoulder and took this picture of John. You can barely see the light behind him where the crack begins.

Will (in front) and Kim preparing to exit out of the crack. I, for one, was really happy to be out!

We continued on the trail for a while and finally stopped on the river banks of the Big South Fork River to enjoy lunch amidst the wildflowers.

Kim and Will enjoying lunch

Giant Yellow Trillium

Woodland Violet

My favorite flower is the violet. As a child I use to make bouquets from violets in the yard. These days, I wait as long as possible before spring mowing so I can enjoy the rich purple blooms (yes, I have a yard full of violets).

This is a piece of foundation from one of the homesteads that once dotted the No Business Creek community. The rugged mountain community consisted of a homes, a small store and a post office. Mail was delivered by a postman on horse back. The name of the community is rumored to come from the often heard comment "we have No Business being down here."

Steve headed up the trail (actually he is turned around looking backward), We have just crossed No Business Creek for the 3rd or 4th time.

John and me in camp, under the tarp. At 4:00 PM, just as we pitched our tents and set up the tarp, it started raining again. It rained for a while then quit before bedtime. We stayed nice and dry.
Our tent along No Business Creek. We were camped just on the other side of another home site in the No Business Creek Community.

Sunday morning, John made a fine breakfast of sweet potato pancakes and bacon. The bacon was the precooked variety so we has no refrigeration issues. Yummy!

Our hike out included a stop at the Boyette homestead. The Boyette home was the last one in valley and on one of the nicest tracts of land in the community.

Ed sitting on the Boyette homestead foundation. Rocks from the foundation, pieces of rock wall and the incredible chimney are the only remnants of a life once lived here.

Ahhhh!

Trail to the Boyette homestead

Additional photos are located here: http://smithposts.smugmug.com/gallery/4763353_PTkUZ#282420521_qYSoi

and here: http://picasaweb.google.com/theskeltonview/NoBusinessCreekBackpackApril19202008

Where Did This Week Go?

Don't know where this week has gone! The yard is not mowed and a number of household projects are still incomplete, but I did get another resume out, the house is relatively clean and I spent some very pleasant time with Mother and Daddy.

My workouts were sparse, a 4-mile run on Monday, a 10 mile bike ride with John on Tuesday, a 4-mile run and weights on Thursday. These are not the fine efforts that make a strong athlete but that's okay; next week will bring another opportunity.

Tomorrow we head out on a backpack with friends. With a 70% chance of rain through the morning, we are not anticipating the effort with much enthusiasm. Not so long ago, we couldn't wait to shoulder our packs, the nastier the weather the better. These days we do it mostly to spend quality time with friends, and to take advantage of the exercise opportunity.

This evening we are going out to dinner, followed by a trip to our local Kroger. While recent backcountry cooking efforts have been tasty, we are looking for something different. We just don't yet know what that will be.

Below are a couple of pictures from the yard this week. With warmer temperatures, the flowers in bloom change quickly.

A cloud white Azalea by my front door

The Easter bunny is still lingering in my yard. Too bad he didn't bring a basket of Cadbury Eggs!

I Heart the Treadmill, Again

This morning was cold, overcast and I had a lot of things to do, so I slipped out just after 8:00 to go for a run at the gym. My hip discomfort (actually glute) is better but not gone so I hoped making tracks on the treadmill would be gentler. I have a love-hate relationship with the treadmill. I run on it for a week or so and I can't get away fast enough. A week or so off, I am back, proclaiming the treadmill to be just the greatest. Go figure.

The gym was not crowded when I arrived but the 20 some treadmills quickly filled up. I plugged in my iPod, turned on the treadmill fans and began to crank up the speed. No too long into the run, a lady about my own age climbed on the machine next to me with a phone held firmly to her ear. I could hear her over my iPod, doling out marriage advice to her daughter. Don't know why people feel the need to talk so loud while on a cell phone. I could have done without some of the details.

Regardless of the chatterbox, I had a nice run. Went in with a goal of 4 miles and completed the mileage at an 11:19 mmp for a 45.16 minute run. My hip/glute did not act up too much (though I expect I will feel it later) and I did not feel any tightness in my legs. It was a nice way to get in a quick run and I once again heart the treadmill, until next week anyway.

Met up with Daddy and my sister, Leslie, just before noon. We had a yummy but unhealthy lunch at Daddy's, hot dogs with chili and onions, french fries and coleslaw. I was not a member of the "clean plate club" but had to apply some discipline. Then it was errands, errands, errands.

The entire family met up again around 5:00 PM to enjoy a "Night of Fine Dining" with Mother. This is a special affair that Shannondale offers about once a month in the cafeteria, for residents and family members. It is by reservation only. We enjoyed dining to classical music with white table cloths, fresh flowers and waiters. The food? Well, local Chef Walter, who was dining with his wife, would probably not give the meal a 5 star rating for taste, but he would probably award 5 stars for effort!

A fine looking family, from left, Carol, me, Mother, Daddy and Leslie

Just thought I would drop this photo in :-) Daddy celebrating St. Pat's Day....