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.