Live Races are Back! And so much more!

Races are back!  And this Slow Runner is back on the Road!

Catching up

It has been a long time since I last wrote here and sooo many things have happened! 

Moderate travel returned for us before we were really ready, due to family issues.  We had planned to visit Glenda's family in October.  We had barely determined to suck it up and go (while being very careful) when we were told that her father was ill.  At that point they had thought it was a sinus infection and cough that just wouldn't let go.  Of course we were concerned it might be COVID, but he had a negative test and the doctors were quite sure that that was not the case.  And we felt we definitely had to go. 

It was clear that my father-in-law, Robert, was quite ill.  A week or so after we came home we got a definitive diagnosis, sarcomatoid mesotheleoma (lung cancer).  We went back to help with some things in early November and Glenda went again by herself around Thanksgiving.  Several days after this third trip, in early December, Robert Adams passed away.  From an active 80 year old who travelled the world and shepherded young boys through all manner of projects when volunteering to run the boys' club at church, to gone....in less than 3 months. We went back to St. George, separately and together,  a number of times since then...for the funeral, to help with some clean-up projects, and just to visit Glenda's mother, Janice. And of course Glenda did the St. George Half Iron in May. 

Winter was rough. Within a few week's of Robert's passing, my mother's last remaining sibling passed and my son's family lost a beloved pet (a puggle named Drucker) rather suddenly.  Right before Christmas my daughter was diagnosed with COVID-19.  She did reasonably well despite being one of those people who tested positive (with no symptoms) for months.  Spring couldn't come soon enough for us!

Running continues...virtually and in person

We were what you might call "early adopters" of the return of in-person racing.  Our first one was a trail race in late October.  However, it was different from earlier races.  Masking was required when near others and start times were broadly spread out to ensure maximum social distancing.  Still it WAS a race with other people.  What didn't change was our penchant for costumes! 

Cookie Monster chases a Girl Scout for our first in person running race

The virtual races continued, from September 2020 to July 2021, I did 20 or so virtual races, everything from 3k to sprint dus and tris.  It helped me keep my sanity, but I'll admit, I was plenty ready to get back to in-person racing more regularly.

Just some of the virtual races, in costume and not during the time that live races were very rare

After the October trail race we took another brief hiatus from in person racing until the socially distanced spring race series...three 5ks in March and April.  We got even more brave in May and drove to Mackinaw Island for the Fort to Fort 5 miler, then 2 5ks on Memorial Day weekend and one on the 4th of July.  Each had some new rules in an attempt to keep everyone safe and healthy....but they felt more and more like the real thing.

As live races resumed, the costumes continued....

Pleasure travel is back

Given the rate of our travel before the pandemic got in the way, we were beyond eager to do some traveling.  A brief winter weekend visit to a cabin an hour from home helped, but by Spring we really wanted to get away a bit. Sooo, even before we were vaccinated we signed up for the Mackinac Island Fort to Fort 5 mile race and made plans to stay isolated and masked up (the race itself already had a good social distance plan).  

Fortunately, by May 15, the day of the race, we were both fully vaccinated, making the trip even safer (though we definitely had qualms on and off).  So off we went on a road trip, and some fun adventures. Highlights included a spur of the moment trip to Kitch-iti-springs (Big Springs) in the Upper Peninsula and, of course, the race. (Fort Mackinac played a role in the War of 1812 and our costumes were based on uniforms from that era).

Glenda on the view boat at the springs

What you could see from the boat

In addition to racing, we took a bike ride around the island

...and enjoyed the view and the food at the Pink Pony (a popular local restaurant)

In July Glenda's mother, Janice came to visit and we took her and my mom, Jeanne on a road trip to Door County.  More adventures!

Mom, Janice, me and Glenda enjoying a sunny day in Door County

And of course there were S'mores!

Now that we've caught up...what's next?

Well for one thing, we've gone back to live racing...carefully.  And we have further plans for that. 

Glenda has retired at the grand old age of 54, and I will be retired (again, ha!) by the time I publish this. So there will be new and different adventures.

My daughter Melanie is "between places" in a respite nursing home setting, and what's next for her remains to be seen.

My son and his family built a house and got a new puppy during the height of the pandemic...and I'm sure there will be more stories and adventures from that quarter too.  

Glenda's sister is going through some life changes, part of which involves her moving further from their mother.  So I'm sure there will be plenty of issues, stories and adventures for us (and them!) too. 

In other words, I am unlikely to run out of things to talk about. And so, until next time......

A Strange Season

Glenda personifies the current oddness of life

Since my last installment, pretty much everything that was on the calendar for 2020 was cancelled...but that doesn't mean we just gave up.  Sometimes you have to embrace the strange and do what you can with it. So this blog is a catching up for this strange season an there will be more focused posts going forward. I think it mainly goes to show that life changes, but at least for me the REALLY important things haven't stopped (just maybe gone a bit virtual).

VIRTUAL VACATION SHENANIGANS

In June, we took a virtual running cruise to Alaska!  It was appropriate, since Alaska is one of our favorite places to go...and running cruises are one of our favorite ways to travel.  The "trip" included a FaceBook page where there were several activities such as telling jokes on hump day and karaoke on friday as well as just general sharing.  

We definitely went all in on the jokes...here's an example

There was also Karaoke and other photos and videos. 

And at the end of the cruise we got an "Oscar" for all our shenanigans...and Shenanigans Studios was born.  (A bit more on that later)

And of course there were virtual races.

The first virtual Alaska was the Moosehead 5k.  We repped for Bullwinkle Moose's alma mater (and it was my latest 5k so far this season)

Who better for a treasure hunt than a pirate and a prospector

A couple of well-fed Ravens (in honor of the Skinny Raven running store in Anchorage) ran a trail predictor race the "Ward Lake Loop"

Claiming to be "Fittish" for the final 5k 

MORE VIRTUAL RACES (AND ONE REAL ONE!)

Besides the Alaska Races, there have been a number of other virtual races including a Summer series put on by some of the same people that do the Virtual (and real, when it is possible) running cruises.  As such they each had a different way to win the race, which I find very appealing. 

The Summer 5 x 5k series

Race #1 was a patriotic themed "treasure hunt" that we did on July 4. (I also added on to complete the Have a Blast 4-miler)

Race #2 was the Lemonade 5k...a prediction race (I never predict well!) So of course we were lemony!

Race #3 was the Ice Cream 5k, to win you had to have the median time.  I was slower and Glenda was faster, but we definitely had the ice cream gear

Race #4  The Lightning But was all about speed (and Glenda won!)...we ran in at dusk with firefly skirts and blinking lights

And finally, race #5...the Roller Coaster.  Cue the hills, the rollercoaster skirt and the silly shirts

Plus 2 Virtual 5ks, a Du and a Tri (or 2)

Also in the last couple of months, I did a couple of other virtual 5ks which appealed to me, the 2nd in my progressive Du series, and a Virtual Triathlon that replace a travel race slated for October.  I also did another tri, but I'll talk about that later. 

On July 13 I did my second du of the year, one I completely made up, based on one I did years ago...The Suellen's a Tough Cookie Du

On July 28, I repped for Wisconsin in the Big Ten Network 5k, a race I've been meaning to do for awhile that was virtual this year

On August 7, I completed the Ramblin' Rose Virtual Tri (250 yds/9 mile bike/2 mile run) which took the place of the race I was to have done in Chapel Hill, NC.  Incidentally, I got one of my favorite run pictures of the year so far

August 18, 2020 was the hundredth anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment "Women's Suffrage" ...I ran a 5k to honor the day.

And a racetastrophy

And then there was the real life Du that wasn't.  I signed up for the Screw City Du months and months ago.  It was actually held on the 26th of July (after a postponement from May).  There were lots of precautions in place and masks were required except while actually racing.  The day came and the heat index at the 8 am start was over 90 degrees and the heat was oppressive.  By the end of the first run I knew it wasn't my day...so I dropped to the 2 mile run option.  Probably my worst race day ever. 

Masks and medals at the hottest race(s) ever

A BIG BIRTHDAY REIMAGINED

On July 8, 2020 my Mom turned 90 years old.  Originally we had planned for a big party, but COVID-19 put a stop to that. So the family "divided and conquered" to come together

The birthday girl on her 90th...doesn't she look great?

First came the "card shower" before the birthday...she got cards and letters from many.  There were signs in her yard and on her door into the hall in her condo. 

On the day of her birthday, my son's family brought candy and the girls made a giant card, my brother and his wife brought her a steak dinner, and later we stopped by with cake. 

A few days later there was a firetruck parade, photos, another cake and a family Zoom meeting with special guest appearances by several old friends and co-workers. After all of this Mom declared herself more than sufficiently celebrated.

SUCKING IT UP FOR MY KIDDO

On July 21, 2020 my daughter. Melanie was scheduled for back surgery to extend her spinal fusion.  She was allowed one support person and I was elected.  

I hadn't been able to see Mel for some time as for several weeks her group home was being very careful about visitors. But once the surgery was scheduled, I attended her last two pre-op appointments. I also spent the night in a hotel the night before the surgery and sat in the hospital most of the day of surgery.

I was glad to do those things for her, but the anxiety about these visit was pretty overwhelming. 

Pre-surgery photo in her stylish chapeau. After a month, she is healing well, through inpatient rehab and back home.  Surgery appears to have been a success.

TAKING A CHANCE WITH A SHORT TRIP

We had MANY trips cancelled this year.  One of them was a trip with our granddaughters and their parents to Branson, MO in July.  At that point the virus was high in our area and blowing up in that area of Missouri/Arkansas, and none of us was comfortable with the trip.  

So we decided that we needed to try to find something safer.  We settled on a big house in Door County, WI with amenities that meant that we didn't have to interact with the rest of the world any more than we wanted. We were fortunately able to be quite certain that no one had the virus before we went.

There was fishing both in Sturgeon Bay (directly behind the house) and the stocked swimming/and fishing pond in the front of the house. 

Fisher Ellie

Fisher Maeve

Some of the fisher crew

Swimming was another favorite activity

The pond had a floating dock

And we put on our own triathlons,  one for us and one for the kids

Ellie finishes the tri

Maeve dashes to the finish

Glenda and I preparing to start our tri

And of course, there were s'more...because, s'mores!

S'mores!

BECOMING UNRETIRED

About 18 months ago I announced my retirement from adjunct teaching,  mostly because helping to deal with all of Melanie's issues before, during and after her major bladder surgery was consuming. Between that and our athletic and travel pursuits I couldn't really give my work the time and energy it deserved.  But I really never fully adjusted to being retired, I frankly did not like it.

Once Melanie was settled not quite a year ago, I told just one school (that I'd been adjunct for for almost 9 years at that point), that I might be willing to teach again. I early August they contacted me to see if I would teach a class...and by the time all was said and done I was teaching two, and have been assigned two more for the Spring. 

MORE SHENANIGANS AHEAD!

So what's next?  Lots of things.  For instance starting August 30 we will be doing another virtual cruise...this time Hawaii! And there will be more videos and races and general goofiness. All of our videos are now "credited" to Shenanigans Studios, an idea born in the wake of our Alaska videos. 

Keep Er Movin'

Pictured is Charlie Berens of the the Manitowoc Minute

A few blog posts ago I talked about all the world travel and fabulous races planned for this year.  We got one trip in...and then, like everyone else, we were stymied by COVID-19.  It sucks...I mean REALLY sucks to be sure.  And we are not alone, I know many of you reading this are in exactly the same boat.  But at the end of the day, we are adaptable...and as a Midwesterner born and bred, I found myself needing to heed the words of Charlie Berens (it you don't know the Manitowoc Minute...click the link above and see an episode from late March/early April of 2020)...and find a way to "keep 'er movin'"

Glenda and I both kept working out, kept hoping for the best for our races, even when sometimes it felt futile.  

Easter Virtual Ash Dash/Cottontail Classic 5k featured Little Bunny FooFoo and a Chomped Chocolate Bunny

We ran a 5k (combining two virtual races) in our neighborhood and that was nice.  And we decided maybe we could run the odd virtual to help keep us motivated. Glenda had already said that she was going to run the distance on the day of her London Marathon, just because...

Glenda's London Marathon got picked up by the local news...click the link in the paragraph below to see the story

But THEN Glenda did something that kicked us in the right direction. She went big, and we did a lot of planning and she ran the London Marathon, in London, Wisconsin!   The news coverage was a surprise....but we were prepared to do it large.  I made lemon blueberry scones the day before, we made reconnaissance drives to pick out pubs (the local tavern), cathedrals (the local church), rivers (Koshkanong Creek became the River Thames), ships (someone's fishing boat became the Queen Mary), etc. along her route...we put up banners, a toilet paper finish line, got flags for spectators, procured cut outs of Her Majesty and Big Ben.  I made Glenda a skirt and of course we had masks with the Union Jack.  We invited friends to run along or cheer from a social distance (several did and all were respectful and careful).  And we ate fish and chips when it was done.  It was a glorious day...and I (along with Glenda) decided that in big and small ways I needed more of this. 

Glenda and I running to honor my mom...Mom took the photo!

Before long Mother's Day rolled around.  I wanted to find a way to honor my mom, but she is almost 90, and though very healthy for her age,  has some pre-existing health issues.  So hanging at her house or going out together seemed ill-advised.  We have been seeing her now and then, but alway at a distance and either outside or on her screened in porch.  I saw an ad for a Mother's Day Virtual Race with a good (anti-domestic abuse) charity...and a light went on.  Why not run a 5k for Mom...and do it at her house where she could watch and chat from the screen porch.  We put on our heart skirts, pink shirts and homemade bibs (mine was 2, as I am Mom's second child and Glenda was +1, because she is my +1)...took my Mom a homemade card and some homemade cookies and ran 7.5 hilly laps in her condo's circle drive.  Mom came out, took pictures and had a bit of a walk...again all great fun! 

Ready to roll on my self-made duathlon

But I haven't been training just for running...I had a duathlon on my schedule (and I still have triathlons coming up, no idea if they will happen).  My duathlon changed their schedule, rather than having a virtual option.  So I did a little research, and found a few dus...but the most popular were longer distances than I felt ready to do.  So I decided to create my own, and looked back at some of the duathlons I had done in the past.  Thus, the Suellen's personal progressive duathlon series was born. The first was based on an early season du I had done a couple of times in Texas...the TriGirl.  I called this version the "(I'm a) TriGirl Minisprint Du" .5 mile run/8 mile bike/2 mile run. I even gave a donation to an animal charity (The Wisconsin House Rabbit Society), as TriGirl usually partnered with animal charities.  (I'd have done the original TriGirl virtually, but they postponed, too).

 While Glenda did the USAT standard distance virtual...I did my minisprint.  We carefully planned a course and a place to park our transition area, and though her race took longer than mine, we were able to see each other on course and cheer each other.  I didn't know if a completely made up event would work for me, but it did!  The second in the series titled "Suellen is a Tough Cookie Du" will be 1.5 miles/10 miles/1.5 miles and is currently scheduled for July 11.

In June we have signed up for a virtual "trip" that includes weekly virtual races...so more shenanigans to look forward to and blog about!

Keep 'Er Movin'!

The rest of the cruise and home again

Pontouf examines Glenda's yellow hat once we are home

In our last installment, Glenda and I had swapped stories and were headed for San Juan.   I would be remiss if I did not tell one of Glenda's stories, as it became one of the stories of the trip.  

Glenda's bike ride had a beach stop on the French side of St. Maarten Island.  What she didn't know until she was off was that the stop was at a nude beach.  The group was told before the stop...but thought the guide was joking.  He wasn't.  

Glenda's Facebook description of the experience

John talked about it at breakfast the next morning, whereupon "just don't look for their race bibs"  became a catch phrase within the group.  It was also at this breakfast that Glenda received her coveted yellow hat for being the fastest woman in the 10k on St. Maarten.

Seen in the Streets of Old San Juan

Our event in Puerto Rico was an "Amazing Race"  which is essentially a teamwork-based race in which you have to find and document various locations.  Each location is worth a number of points, and the team that gathers the most points in NO MORE THAN 60 MINUTES is the winner. The timing is important, because it adds a wrinkle to the race.  In fact I heard one team got the highest point location, but arrived back 3 or 4 minutes late...disqualified. Our strategy was to walk this one, and go for the low-hanging fruit and enjoy the sights and sounds of Old San Juan.  It was the perfect choice for us. 

The amazing race was pirate themed and there were a variety of pirate costumes.  We had ours too, but with a twist that turned out to be important. 

A particular type of Pirates takes to the streets in Old San Juan

What we had not thought about or really realized is that Roberto Clemente played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and he and his son Roberto Clemente, Jr. continue to be very popular here, so the Pirates are well known in Puerto Rico.  We got cheers everywhere we went.  Not only that, we were stopped by one gentleman who had to tell us about how he'd met Clemente as a kid,  as the baseball player was a friend of his abuela.  And another stopped us to tell us how Jr. was his friend and customer...and pulled up a selfie on his phone to prove it.  We didn't win the race, but we won the day in terms of connecting with the locals and having a fabulous time.  And we saw a lot of sights like...

The colorful streets of Old San Juan

This was not an official checkpoint...but it is an important landmark!

The view from a checkpoint at the top of the city (Old San Juan is "hill-ish")

After the race, we met up at Señor Frog's near the port for a Running Cruise Celebration...including food, drinks (who doesn't need a margarita at 9:30 in the morning?), a DJ and various other shenanigans. 

We were presented with fashionable headwear

Glenda reminds us not to look for the race bib

Yep, I even got on stage to help lead Sweet Caroline and YMCA...did I mention morning margaritas?

It was an early day in Old San Juan as we had to be back on the ship by 1 pm and off to our next and final port.  Originally we were to go to Coco Cay in the Bahamas, but weather patterns did not allow, and we went instead to Labadee, a Royal Caribbean private port, in Haiti.

A view in Labadee

First order of business in Labadee?  A race of course! This time a relay.  To win this one, you needed to  choose 2, 4 or 6 miles and then predict the finish time for your team of 2.  Each runner had to run a half mile loop and hand off to the other to run the same loop (continue back and forth until you reach the miles...must be between 30 and 60 minutes). Glenda and I chose 4 miles and made our prediction. 

Getting ready to start the relay

Of course we had costumes for the race, as well. We have worn these on a couple of cruises, but they are a favorite.

Mermaids in Haiti

We ran our best and came within a little over a minute off our prediction...not bad, but other's were closer on their predictions.  We then received our medals for the cruise and went off to explore. 

Artsy shot of the medal, which is also a coaster

Afterward we spent the rest of our time in Labadee doing all kinds of tourist things, like...

The splash pad (HEY, why didn't we run through here on our relay??)

The amazing teal ocean

And the best kind of beach time

On the final day of the cruise, we were at sea.  The day started with a wonderful talk by Coach Jenny about her coaching philosophy and ideas about making workouts work with your life.  It was very interesting and enjoyable.  It was followed by lots of laughter as John told stories about his life as a runner and columnist. 

The rest of the day was packing and lounging until the evening when we had our final social and awards ceremony.  Always a good time, as we made a final toast to each other and had one last chat.  

The end of another great trip!  Will we be back next year?  You betcha!  Already signed up!