Hello all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year and had a great time! Deb came on Wednesday to help me get ready for my first time hosting Thanksgiving. We had grand plans for all of the extra desserts and breads and yummy things we were going to make, but then the day kind of got away from us! We did make a very yummy pumpkin cheesecake though!
Thursday morning Deb and I ran the "Smoke the Turkey 5k" in Toledo. We had to get there around 8-ish to make sure that Deb could get her race packet and we could be ready to run. Dad and Lauren met us there (Lauren was running too) and they brought a surprise for Miley - Oliver (dad's great dane/shepherd mix)! Oliver was not too crazy about all the people at the race! He kept hiding behind dad's legs and trying to get back in the Explorer. It was chilly, but I warmed up quickly once the race started. I kept up with Lauren for about a minute, then she sped ahead and I didn't see her until after I crossed the finish line. Deb was sad because by the time she registered there were no shirts left, and then Lauren and I kind of took off without her. If I can talk her into running again next year, I will run with her the whole way (I promise!). I was pretty proud of my time, I came in 458th out of 1058 people total, with a time of 27:10 and finished 16th in my age group out of 68 other 30-34yr. old women.
Thanksgiving was great fun, besides me, Chris and the kids we had Dad, Deb and Lauren (and Oliver) and then Aunt Jodi and Jamie and Kara. Miley and Oliver had great fun playing and running around the yard (until Miley wore Oliver out, then he tried to get away from her to sleep!) There was so much good food! I ate enough for 5 people! I can't wait until next year!
We were not very good this year at picture taking, this was the only Thanksgiving picture with people in it! Kara, trying to hide in the chair, and Jamie not hiding on the chair. The other 4 pictures were of the dogs sleeping. We didn't even get any pictures at the race! (Dad thought I just wanted him to hold the camera, he didn't realize it was for taking pictures!) Oh, well. There's always next year. . .
Last night I ran the Holiday Hustle in Maumee, OH. It is a 5k race that they do every year and it was so much fun! The race started at 5:15pm and if you beat Santa or Mrs. Claus you won free movie tickets to the Maumee Indoor Theater. I missed Mrs. Clause by about a minute and Santa flew past me about mile 1. I was happy though, I did beat a giant lit-up Christmas tree :oD I finished in 26:05 and finished 6th in my age group out of 26 30-34 women. (I missed fifth place and a prize by 40 seconds!) I have no idea how I did overall because they didn't post an overall list. I do know that there were over 1000 people, though! After the race we stopped inside the Maumee Indoor Theater for some bagels, bananas and hot chocolate and then headed outside to watch the Maumee Christmas parade. The kids had a blast! David said he wants to run next year, maybe Chris and I will put Lauren in the jogging stroller, put a leash on Miley and all run. that would be great fun!
This is the finish, the tree/present that I beat (Chris just missed me!) and me, after the race (with a lady walking in front of me.) Photographer is not Chris' favorite role. Maybe we'll get a few more next year!
Not too much more to tell right now, the weather today is pretty nasty, it's been going back and forth between rain, snow and sleet. I'm resting up and getting ready for the Jingle Bell run in Columbus next Saturday. It is another 5k, it benefits the Arthritis Foundation, Central Ohio Chapter. It looks like it should be a pretty big race and it will be fun because all of the participants wear jingle bells on their shoes :oD I'll let you know how I do. I've got to run, Lauren is trying to climb up storage shelves in the basement!
Love,
us!
