September Updated

Time to get my blog updated. Looks like there was nothing going on in September when in fact, lots went on in September. I'll start off with the quick weekend trip to Michigan for my cousin Katie's wedding day. The wedding was on September 5th. That morning I checked off my marathon training run. It was a nice long run from my parents house to my friend Audrey's house in Onondaga (15 miles). The weather was perfect and I started off at 7:00 a.m. There was a morning mist and the roads are very quiet out in the country. Matt drove ahead of me and took some photos as I progressed towards Leslie where Kayla (Audrey's daughter) met me for the final 8 miles. She's a FAST girl so I told her just to go on ahead. She came back for me for the last few miles. Matt met me at Audrey's and she made us a waffle breakfast (Yummy... Thank You Audrey!)

Here I am turning off of Fitchburg Rd.

This was about 5 miles from my parents house.

More photos on the RC3 Running Club blog.

Then there was the wedding that evening. I was very bad about taking photos this trip. However I did get this very nice photo of the Newlyweds.

Newlyweds Katie & Christopher Wolcott

Matt & I stayed at my Parent's house and the farmhouse I grew up in. I still love that old house with all the big trees, flowers and my Mom's awesome gardens. Matt just loves the sweet corn and he like the donuts that we picked up at Gee Farms to take to the after wedding, gift opening brunch at my Aunt Jill & Uncle Steve's house.

Brother, Alan, took this photo of the farm house that we grew up in.

One of the great things about growing up on a farm was that we were never bored as children. Especially with so many chores and things to explore. My brother and wife, Debbie, took their Grandson, Logan (I guess that makes me his Great Aunt—talk about feeling OLD!). Needless to say, the farm was a big, new world for Logan. He had a blast going on tractor rides, exploring the farm from corner to corner and getting his first up front and personal with the farm sheep.

Logan and my Dad feeding the baby lambs. More photos of Logan, family and farm can be found by clicking here.

The trip to Michigan was the highlight of September. I got home and immediately went on a HOT 16 mile long run the weekend after. It was incredible how difficult that run was after running a cool Michigan morning run. Luckily, those hot mornings are behind us now and I'm enjoying some of the same weather here. Next up, Matt and I are going on a weekend trip to Moab, October 16-19. Matt's going to do some mountain biking with some buddies and I'm going to run the Moab "Other Half Marathon" on October 18th. I'm looking forward to the run as it will be a nice training run with some beautiful scenery. Look for some photos for that soon.

Note: September was a big month for the running club I helped start. RC3 is now an official non-profit and we are a member of the RRCA (Road Runner's Club of America). We're now up to 50 women and still growing! I'm quite proud of all we've accomplished in such a short time. You will see most of my blogging about running by visiting the RC3 Running Club blog.

Age Is NO Excuse

It's been awhile since I've been blogging on my personal blog. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I've been so involved in establishing a running group and blog. I've been preoccupied but one thing always leads to another. I find that my personal blog is a place where I can be a bit more candid. Today my new found running experience is foder for personal reflection and thus here I am...

First if you don't know about RC3, the running club I helped start you can see that HERE. Currently we are very close to becoming a non profit organization and a member of the RRCA (Road Runners Club of America). The incorporation paperwork is at the Corporation Commission and we're just waiting on approval notification. And we are now introducing NEW women into our running group on a weekly basis. We are growing like crazy. Which brings me to today's post.

I can no longer use age as an excuse...
Today, a new runner joined us for our Thursday track workout. I make it a habit to run with the new people to get to know them and make them feel comfortable. Today it was the other way around. Our new runner, Susie Kramer (who just moved to Cave Creek a week ago from Pennsylvania) made me feel more comfortable. Susie and I ran around the track and I discovered—at a much slower pace than she is used to. I found out that Susie has been running all her life and runs 4 marathons a year. Typically in the sub 3 hour time range. She is my new inspiration. She ran without effort and talked to me and spoke encouraging words the entire time... even when I wasn't sure I could talk. I found that we had a lot in common in our personal lives. She is just a really good runner and I am still struggling to improve. Maybe it might have been easier to accept if she was younger than me. I've always found it convenient to use my age as an excuse when I wasn't running that great or was working through various aches and pains. Most of the girls I run with are 3+ years younger than I am. But not Susie. She is older and she runs like I hope to run someday. She has quite a few years of running behind her and I've only been running for a year. That gives me hope that you can get better EVEN as you get older. Now I have a whole new mindset. I'm never going to use my age as an excuse and I am going to keep running and get better. I look forward to the day where Susie isn't doing all the talking and I converse with her without being winded. I may never do a sub 3 hour marathon, but I'm not going to rule it out.

Thank you Susie!

Refined Felines

Thought I would share a few photos of the new kitty condo. It's very nicely made and sturdy. Looks like a little piece of art—especially with Sparky the cat model. Chili was on it as well, but then he got all belligerent when Sparky wanted on, so we had to pull him off and let Sparky give it a try. Needless to say, Chili is off trying to figure out our early demise.


Sparky is always the first one to try out the new stuff. He settled in as soon as it was assembled.


I like it!

Pepper & Sparky checking out the cubby and padded cushion.

Shameless Promotion...

A little promotion for the other blog I set up for my running group which is now becoming a club. We got to where we had 8-10 girls showing up to run and 20 on our e-mail list that were all actively participating. We were all thinking it and then I just said it. "We should just start our own running club". EVERYONE was on the same page. They just needed the suggestion...

I set up a new blog and we are on our way. Now we're talking shirts, events, and all the other things clubs do. I think it's fabulous. That being said check out RC3 (Running Chicks of Cave Creek).

Home Improvement Update-Matt's Office

Matt's office was the last room that needed some paint and flooring. I completed that task along with fixing a lighting issue by putting in French doors. I loved how this room turned out and I now think he has one of the nicest rooms in the house. The results are below.


Here's a photo that shows the paint colors well. It also shows the solid doors that were replaced.


A view of the floor and with the old doors on.


With the new doors. What a difference they make. My neighbor, Tom, helped me hang them. They were unfinished pine doors from Home Depot and cost $100 per door. Tom and I routed out the hinges etc (I now know how to use a router--which means I'll probably be doing some window sills next). I contemplated staining them but decided to just paint them white to match the other doors. We've had to go with round door knobs (you can see one of the old door knobs on the closet door) because our cat, Chili, can open up the lever type. He's still trying to figure out the round knobs as he is annoyed that he can't just get into the rooms whenever he likes.

Good Dam Run

This morning I participated in the Lake Pleasant, Good Dam Run/Walk/Hike with a couple of boot camp girls. Wow... what a beautiful morning it was. The weather was nearly perfect and the run was certainly a change of pace as a good chunk of the 7 mile course was through rocky washes, and over streams. It was a quasi trail/road run. We also got to run across the Waddell damn that is not open to the public. Really the run was called a run/walk/hike as it wasn't competitive. However, my BC instructor Jodi and husband Craig both came in first from the 4 mile course and they did give out medals to the first place finishers. I'm proud to say that Jodi kicks my butt at boot camp at least twice a week.

I did the 7 mile course with BC friend Heather. We certainly were not pushing it and enjoyed the hike/run. I have a long run tomorrow and so today was a perfect warm up for that. AND I made sure I took my camera this time (forgot it at the St. Paddy's Day run).

Kim, Heather, Me & Jodi

Mark (Kim's Husband), Kim, Heather & me again. Oh and what's with other people cutting off our legs in the photos....sheesh!

Bountiful Basket Morning

This is my second week participating in Bountiful Baskets. It's a produce food co-op that buys organic and/or conventional vegetables from the growers/distributors at deep discounts. For a participatory contribution of $15(conventional) or $25 (organic) you can get a basketful of produce. One would pay much more at the grocery store for the amount of produce received. Every other week they distribute the baskets to various Valley locations.

Below are a couple of photos of what was in my basket this week(I purchased the conventional basket). I had a friend that got the organic. She got beets, raisins, zucchini, kale, oranges, apples, peaches etc. I think I got a bit more in the conventional basket, but am going to go organic next time to mix it up. The fruits and vegetables vary depending on what can be purchased and what is in season. I was happy with my basket this week because I got strawberries and lots of bananas. I also got a huge bag of potatoes that I'll have to divvy up between the neighbors. Way too many for Matt and I. You can also purchase bread (However, you get 3 or 5 loaves and I don't have enough room in my freezer to store the extra loaves). They had rounds of cinnamon bread, a tuscan crusty bread and multi-grain. Something else to try but maybe after I clear some room in my freezer. At times they will offer extras like an "Asian Pack" with bok choy, green onions, snow peas and more. They had that the first week I participated and the next time they have it, I'm definitely getting one. It looked fantastic.

What I love about my Saturday morning pick-up is seeing all the different people that show up to pick them up. People really do see the value of eating healthy.







Sparky is our farm kitty. I think if he were still on my parent's farm he would be lying in the garden, all summer long, nibbling on all the vegetables.