Happy 5th Birthday Alli!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

On Sunday, October 19, 2008 we decided to make our annual trip to Waterman's Pumpkin Patch. We had quite a crew this year, 22 in all!

Dawn, Adam, Alli, and DrewCrystal, Todd, Ethan, Cassidy, Mya, Cole & Hudson

David & Nicholas

Susannah, Jamie, Jessica, Phil, Jennifer, Chad, Breeonna, & Reagan

It was such a beautiful fall day, I don't think we could have ordered a better day. We got there about 12:00 and thank goodness beat the rush because by about 1:30 the line to get in was very long. After some pictures we let the kids play on the blowup slides and then they played on the haystacks.

We then went through the corn stalk maize.

Every year we measure Alli against the Pumpkin meter and so now that Drew and Hudson are here they get their turn as well. My how they grow!

It was then time to take the hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumkins. Alli had trouble finding the most perfect pumpkin. She always thought she saw it way on the other side of the area and when she got there she realized it wasn't the perfect pumpkin. She finally found one she liked.

We all had such a good time and I think we wore the kids out which is always a plus! Can't wait until next year.

I DID IT!!!!!

Well the long awaited Indianapolis Marathon & Half Marathon was Saturday October 18, 2008 at Fort Benjamin Harrison. I have been very nervous about this the last few months and kept wondering why I thought it was a good idea back in May when I signed up for it. I thought that I would try and follow the training program so that I would be ready for it but unfortunately I didn't do that. I wish I would have been as disciplined as my friend Tina who was also running the half marathon with me. She followed the training plan and did her 4 runs a week and made it up to her long run of 12 miles! Way to go Tina, I'm very proud of you! I ran maybe one to two times a week and the longest run that I did was an 8 mile on the treadmill. I was very disappointed in myself because when I signed up for this I planned on running the entire half marathon which is 13.1 miles. Well as it got closer and since I hadn't been doing the training program I had resigned myself in realizing that it was a very lofty goal, especially for someone who was 48 years old and didn't even start to run before April of this year. I realized that my true goal should have probably have been just to finish the half marathon, so I rethought my goal and said I just wanted to finish in less than 3 hours. Well of course in the back of my mind my first goal was still lingering. As the race got closer I had told my family that I would really like it if they could be there to cheer me on. I found out that they were also going to have a 5k race as well so I talked Ron, Dawn, Adam, Crystal, David & Cathy into doing the 5k while Tina and I did the half marathon.
Friday night we went to Olive Garden to carb load and I think everyone that was running on Saturday was there too.
Saturday morning I got up at 5:45 so that I could get something to eat and drink some water before the run. Tina had told me that it was best to stop drinking water an hour to an hour and a half before the run so that I wouldn't have to stop during the run. Thanks for the hint Tina!

We met Tina at the parking lot at about 7:30 and headed to the start of the race. It was a little chilly, probably around 48 degrees but it was good running weather. I was getting very nervous and was stretching a little bit and jumping around a little to warm up and then my walkman stopped working. It was 3 minutes before the race and I started to panic. I thought back to how I hadn't been training like I should have and then how I didn't get out of work when I wanted to on Friday so we didn't get to eat where I had originally planned, and now my music wasn't working and thought things were just stacking against me. Then I took a deep breath and thought I could try and see if my radio still worked on my phone and then I could just listen to it. Well luck was finally on my side and my radio worked! I tuned it to 95.5 and listened to country music for the run and I felt a sigh of relief. Well now it is only 1 minute before the start and I was getting really nervous. Tina and I gave each other a big hug and wished each other luck and waited for the gun. We decided that we were going to get in the coral of the 11 minute mile since the timer didn't actually start until you crossed the starting line and then that way quite a few people could get out of the way. It was almost 4 minutes before we got to the start line (hence the reason on my finishing picture had a different time than my actual time) and got to start the run. As we started out Tina and I were looking for the family and I spotted them off to my left and I could see them standing there smiling and so I gave them a big wave and was so excited that they were there. The start of the race was very difficult because the path was a little narrow for how many people were running. There were a bunch of walkers and we couldn't get around them very easy. We finally got around some of them and started our pace. As we made our way through the Lawton loop at about a mile and a half we saw the family standing there again smiling and cheering us on. That was such a good feeling and I knew then that no matter what had happened up to that point on all my mishaps it didn't matter any more. All was good! I have to say that I felt really good 4 miles into the run and it didn't seem like I had been running for 40 minutes. At about mile 5 1/2 I came around a corner and was trying to miss a manhole cover and got bumped by someone and landed my left foot on the side of it and kind of twisted my ankle and knee. It hurt a little bit but I didn't let it stop me. I stayed with Tina for the first 6 1/2 miles but then I started falling back a little. I had told her before we started that I would stay with her as much as I could but not to wait for me if I couldn't stay with her. I know she had her own personal best that she wanted to beat as well. Tina had run the mini marathon in May and finished in 2:25 and so she wanted to finish in less than 2:15 on this one.

I was surprised that I was still running at mile 7 because the longest I had run was 8 miles so I wanted to try to at least run to that 8 mile marker. Once I got to the 8 mile marker I thought "hey, I only have 5.1 miles to go, maybe I could run a little bit more". So I sucked it up and kept running, and then about mile 9 we headed into the bike path and it was a little hilly at first. That made it very difficult because we were 9 miles into it, the good thing was that a lot of the hills were down hill runs but it was a little difficult because I kept thinking that as tired as I was I was afraid that I would trip and just fall down the hill and take out some of the other runners. Well I was tired and wasn't thinking very clearly but everyone knows what goes down must go up - RIGHT? Well up it went. At about mile 10 1/2 it was a very steep hill and it was very difficult to get up that hill. I have to say that I did walk a little bit of this hill because everyone around me was walking and I was so stinking tired and my legs were killing me. I didn't walk much of it but I can't say it was a run either but I did finally get up it. When we got to the top everyone just cheered. I'm not sure what they were thinking about having that hill so late in the run! After we got through that there was just a little over 2 miles to go. I thought that if I could just get to mile 12 that the last mile I could get through on adrenaline. Well I think I had already spent all of my adrenaline because after I reached mile 12 I really struggled to get it going. Just as I was coming up on mile 13 I saw Ron, Dawn, Adam and Cathy and they had signs that said they were proud of me and they were cheering me on and ringing a cow bell. I can't tell you how that made me feel. Even though I was exhausted I couldn't help but smile. It felt so good. I tried to kick it in the best I could but there wasn’t much left to kick in. When I got to the finish line I just threw up my hands and was so excited and then I saw Crystal cheering me on and she got a picture of me at the finish line. I ended up finishing the half marathon in 2 hours 22 minutes and 2 seconds (10:50 per mile) which was 50th in my age group out of 121 people and not to mention I met my goal of running the whole thing! Tina met her goal as well and finished in 2 hours 12 minutes and 48 seconds (10:07 per mile). Dawn finished the 5k in 39:40, Dave in 39:48, Ron in 41:07, Crystal in 47:44 and Cathy in 1:00:18. It was so great that all of us could do this together and I’m so proud of everybody and so happy that they were all there for me. I guess I’m going to try and sign up for the mini in May now, I think I'm officially hooked!

Turn up the Volume

On Saturday, September 28, 2008 WISH TV was a sponsor for the Turn up the Volume run in support of Ovarian Cancer that was held at Victory Field and it was 66 degrees and sunny. Dawn got 3 free entries again so Dawn, Dave and I did the run. Dawn & Dave did the 5k (3.1 mile) and I did the 4 mile run. All of us had decided that our goal was just to beat our past times and we accomplished that. Dave finished in just a little over 38 minutes and Dawn finished in about 38 1/2 minutes. Dawn was very upset because she said that she could have finished stronger but she thought she still had at least 1/2 mile to go when she turned the corner and saw the finish line. She was trying to conserve some energy for the last 1/4 mile but didn't realize she had already ran that last quarter mile - see I told you I was getting her hooked on these runs! I finished my 4 miles in 38 minutes 22 seconds which was a 9 minute 35 second mile. The really cool thing about this run was that I finished 1st in my age division!!!! I guess it pays to be in that 45-50 age group. This was the first time I finished in the top 3 which was something that I really wanted to do and to finish 1st was a definite plus. Well I only have 3 weeks until the mini at Ft. Ben and I haven't been doing my training like I need to be doing. About the only time I have been running has been on the weekend for these runs so I guess these next few weeks I'm going to have to do better. I don't believe that I have any more runs before the mini so I better get busy. Wish me luck!

Race for all Races

On Saturday September 20, 2008 WISH TV was a sponsor for the Race for all Races which was held downtown at the City Market. Dawn could get 3 free entries so I talked Dave and Dawn into doing it with me. It was 67 degrees and sunny. Dawn & Dave did the 5k which is a 3.1 mile walk/run and I did the 5 mile run. This was the first run that they had done in a while and they both finished pretty good. They finished right around 39 minutes and 30 seconds. so that was just a little over a 13 minute mile which was very good for not actually getting out running in a long time. I did the 5 mile in 48 minutes and 25 seconds which was a 9 minute 41 second mile. I cut about 33 seconds off of my 6 mile time that I did the week before. Either I was actually getting a little faster or that extra mile in the 10k the week before took a toll on me. I actually think I'm getting Dawn hooked on these runs even though she won't admit it. We have another run that we are doing next week so hopefully it is getting me better prepared for the mini.

Dick Lugar Run

On Saturday, September 13, 2008 I did the Dick Lugar 10K run. Dawn was going to do this run with me but we didn't get back from St. Louis until after midnight and Adam had to work so she didn't want to get the kids up that early so I did it my myself. This run was at Butler University and was a neat place to run. This was a 6.2 mile run and when we started mile 6 it was uphill so it was very difficult. I was very excited to say that I ran (okay - jogged) all the way up the hill while others resorted to walking it. The was the first race that I have done that ended up finishing on a track so that was kind of cool. It was 71 degress and very humid. This was the longest run that I have run so I was somewhat happy with my time. I finished in 1 hour 3 minutes and 39 seconds which figures to be a 10 minutes 14 second mile. I'm still working on that Mini Marathon on October 18 but I'm definitely having second thoughts!

Snapperz

A week ago Friday I was listening to WIBC on the way to work and heard them talking about the grand opening of a new place called Snapperz Family Fun & Sports , and guess what? It is owned by Justin Snow, long snapper for the Indianapolis Colts! As Dawn says it is kind of like a Chuck E Cheese on steroids. For $10 per kid you get the use of the inflatable slides,

inflatable play areas, and a 4 story soft play area,

and then for an extra charge they can do the bungee jumping trampoline, laser tag, rock climbing wall, and cosmic bowling. They also have a lot of arcade type games and a little restaurant. Alli could have spent 4 hours just on the inflatable slides. It is a lot of fun!

Well besides all the activities of the place Justin Snow invited a few of his buddies to join him in signing autographs on Saturday, August 30, 2008. Hunter Smith, Adam Vinatieri and Jeff Saturday were all there!!!! Well I asked Dawn and Adam if Alli could go with me on Saturday so that she could play (wink, wink). Thank goodness they decided to come along because I was standing in line to get autographs so someone needed to watch Alli. I was in seventh heaven because I got my picture taken with them! Well, Dawn called me a stalker because of my picture with Hunter Smith and Jeff Saturday - they weren't exactly looking at the camera!

But Adam sure was. Don't Adam Vinatieri and I make a cute couple!

Justin Snow isn't bad either!

Jeff Saturday is a cutie as well!

I was excited because I got to add 4 more autographs to my helmet and football!

We had a great time and I would definitely recommend the place even if the Colts players aren't there!

Personal Best 5

On Saturday, August 9, 2008 my friend Tina Magyar and I ran a 5 mile run for the Personal Best 5 run supporting Anna's Celebration of life. It is an organization that helps children with special needs. This was the first run that Tina and I have done together so I was quite excited. We had a goal to run an 11 minute mile and much to our surprise we actually did it in 50 minutes and 32 seconds which was a 10:06 minute mile. I'm sure Tina could have gone faster but I'm glad that for our first run we stayed together. She definitely kept me going. That is only the second or third time that I had ran 5 miles at one time so I was very happy to finish.

Tina and I are training for the Indianapolis Half Marathon on October 18 at Ft. Benjamin Harrison. I haven't been doing very well lately with my training so I better get busy. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I signed up because 13.2 miles is a lot to run. I think I should have started running when I was much younger because it sure isn't easy. My goal was to run the full 13.2 miles but maybe my goal was a little much and I should have made my goal just to finish! We will have to wait and see how it goes. I did actually run 8 miles (all at one time) on the treadmill on Monday, September 1. Alli had spent the night with me so I couldn't run outside so I put a movie in and we watched the movie and I ran on the treadmill. About half way into my run Alli looked at me and said "Mama, you can take a break if you want too", oh how I wanted to but I didn't. She was so good and just sat there watching the movie and finally got a little bored the last 20 minutes. I could have told her I was bored also because running for and hour and 10 minutes up to that time was very boring. Dawn and Drew came walking in on the last 2 minutes of my run and just as the credits to the movie were running so they cheered me on so that I could finish - and finish I did! I was exhausted but it actually did feel good after it was all over. Until I realized that the half marathon was an additional 5.2 miles on top of the 8 miles! I better step up my training because I only have 5 1/2 weeks to go. I actually have a 10K run, which is a 6.2 mile run that I am going to be doing this Saturday, September 13 - it is the Dick Lugar Run/Walk at Butler. Dawn is doing this one with me but she is doing the 5K run. WISH TV is a sponsor so we are going to be doing it with the WISH group. Wish us well!

Thompson Family Reunion

We always look forward to the second Sunday in August because that is the Thompson Family reunion. This is my mom's side of the family and they have been having the reunion at New Castle Memorial Park since she was a little girl. I think that I have only missed 2 reunions in my 48 years and I hope I don't miss any more. There is always so much food and I get to see all of my cousins and Aunts and have a great time. This is one time of year that almost everyone gets together. After we get done with lunch the big thing is to go down to the park and go down the Curly Q slide. I have always looked forward to it and just because I'm older that hasn't changed. We all get just as excited about going down the Curly Q slide as we did when we were little. Following are pictures of my cousins Wesley and Toni.

I'm not sure but Dad may have the record for the oldest person to go down the slide at 81 years young. I guess it goes to prove that you are never too old to have fun!

Drew and Hudson both had their first trip down the slide as well. We have to start them early and we will make sure they have a trip down the slide every year like the rest of us!

After going down the slide we ventured over to the monkey bars to give a try at crossing it. The past few years I haven't done very well but I was very excited to say that this year I made it all the way across and so did Wanda!

Wanda and I felt pretty good about crossing the monkey bars in 3 minutes but then Sammie's boyfriend Joe gets up there and grabs a hold of the first bar and then I blinked and he was at the end. I think he went all the way across in about 4 seconds flat! Show off!

Even little Drew had his shot at crossing the monkey bars!

I always enjoy our family reunion but unfortunately it goes way to quick so I guess I just have to wait until next year for another trip down the Curly Q!

Movie Night

For anyone who doesn't know, Ron loves chic flicks and kids movies so Camp Rock and Hannah Montana-Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert - 3D movie were on sale at Meijer so Ron bought them for Alli (or so he says). Ron and Alli had watched Camp Rock a few times but we hadn't watched the Hannah Montana 3D movie yet so Friday night, August 29 we decided to watch it. We put on our 3D glasses and watched the concert. We all fell asleep so I can't say that it was that good. I'm sure we all looked a little silly sitting around in our glasses but we had fun.

Laughlin or Bust

My mom (being the gambler she is) had a free trip - airfare and hotel stay for 4 days 3 nights for 2 people to Laughlin, Nevanda and she asked me if I wanted to go with her - well I jumped at the chance. We left Saturday (June 21) late afternoon and arrived in Laughlin around 6:30 Nevada time or 9:30 Indy time. We hadn't eaten since lunch so we got something to eat and then played the slots. We ended up playing until about 2:00 in the morning (5:00 Indy time) and then called it a night. When we got up we ate breakfast and then played the slots a little and then I went out to go swimming and mom stayed and played more slots. It was 105 degrees in the shade so it was very nice to get in the water. The cement was stifling hot and you had to run across it if you didn't have your shoes on otherwise it burnt the bottom of your feet. I laid out in the sun a part of the time and sat in the pool part of the time relaxing and reading a book. It was just what I needed. It was so relaxing. Mom of course relaxed by playing the slots. We ended up going up to the room by about 8:00 because there was a Cubs game on that mom wanted to watch and we ended up falling to sleep so we didn't come back down that night. We got up Monday morning and ate breakfast and played the slots a little and then I went out to the pool again for more relaxation, swimming, sunbathing, and book reading. I ended up finishing my book. That is the first book that I have read in quite a while because I usually don't take the time to read. It was very nice to be able to do that. After being outside for about 5 hours I went back in to find mom. Of course she was at the slot machines again. We had been wanting to try the Texas Hold'Em in the Poker room so they had one getting ready to start so we jumped in. It was a lot of fun, so much fun that we ended up not eating dinner until about 9:00pm. We ate and then turned in for the evening. The next morning we got up and ate breakfast and then it was time for us to get ready to leave. We had such a good time and it was nice to be able to relax a little bit and I'm glad I got to spend some time with my mom. Thanks Mom!