Towpath Marathon

I ran the Towpath Marathon this morning and am somewhat pleased with my performance, although it could have been better. The Towpath is a bike path minus the pavement in the Cuyahoga Valley Nation Park, so it was easier on the joints and legs. I am however, pretty sore and stiff. I don't know if it was the distance, pace or plain old age, I did however, finish. I ran 3 hrs 17min 23 sec and placed 2nd overall female. I was on a 3:15 pace until the last couple of miles but just couldn't hang on. I was running 5th for the women until about the half way point and then slowly started to pass the other women. At mile 20, I passed the 2nd place woman and was gaining on the first place woman until those last couple of miles. She only finished about a minute ahead of me, I just couldn't get her:( I fell in pace with a man and woman(she ended up third) at the very beginning of the race and it was a big help because we kept pushing each other! A big thanks to the two of them and I will get their names when the results come out. I need to try and train for those last two miles in the marathon, they always get me. If anyone has any ideas let me know. If it is not to late to get into the Columbus Marathon, I am planning to run it as an easy training run. The following week will be Run With Scissors 52+ miles on the trail. Hopefully, I can survive without an injury.
Good job to David Peterman, Ron Ross and Roy Heger who also ran today!!

Tomorrow, will be a easy swim at the Y, if I can get out of bed. LOL

A Little Behind on the Posting

It's been a couple of days since I last posted anything, so with not much time here is what has been happening.

Thrusday - ran a total of 7.5 miles with the C-C team and that included 8 x 400 on the track, all between 90 and 95 seconds, which was fine with me since I have the marathon on Sunday.

Friday - no running but swam a mile and a fourth. Keith and the Loudonville Redbirds beat Centerburg but Keith, personally had another rough game.

Today, Saturday - Complete day off so I can be ready to go tomorrow. Corey is playing at John Caroll this afternoon and Kyle has the weekend off. I'll probably head to the fair soon ,one last time, since today is the last day.

Details tomorrow on how the marathon went.

Taper, Who Me?

Well, so much for tapering before a marathon. Today, I ran 6 miles, did a weight workout for my biceps, triceps, back and did abs. Went to the Y and swam 1 and 1/2 miles. Went to the fair and watched Keith sing in the chior and of course, more fair food. While Keith was at practice, I took a nap instead of doing housework. Then back to the fair to socialize with people I normally only see this time of the year. Tomorrow will be intervals with the c-c team in the morning, since school is out for the fair. I heard we will be going 12x400. Don't know if I should be doing them with the marathon on Sunday, but why not, I just won't run them all out LOL. My plan for the rest of the week will be a swim on Friday and a total day off of Saturday. Depending on how Sunday goes, my plan is to also run Columbus:) Probably will end up hurting myself, but why not run them if I can:)

Loudonville Street Fair

Today the Loudonville Street Fair started and will run through Saturday. If you have never been to the fair you should try to come. It a great time for everyone. I have been going since I was a little girl. I showed market steers and hogs there growing up and passed it on to my boys when they were old enough. Sports eventually got in the way and by the time they were in HS they stopped showing. Two years ago, Keith got Grand Champion Market Hog. We had to keep our animals at someone's farm so it was a real hassle but always fun! I always count on gaining a couple of pounds when the fair rolls around. Hopefully, it won't hurt my marathon on Sunday. Even saw Joe and Dawn Crawford and their son tonight! Maybe I'll see you there, too!!!!!!

In the paper last week there was a poem/song that sums it up for us folks here in Loudonville.


Street Fair Song by Rev. J. H. Kuhlman

I'm going back to Loudonville
I'm going back to stay,
Where beauty blazons ev'ry hill,
And glory crowns the day.
Walhounding's valley beckons me,
'Tis time that I should start '
Where flows Mohican towards the sea.
Where beats Ohio's heart,
I'm going back to Loudonville,
I'm going with a smile;
Of other towns I've had my fill,
No matter what their style,
Here let the great world thunder by,
With all her arts and ills,
I've found, I've wot, my beauty spot
Mid Ashland County"s hills.
I'm going back to Loudonville,
To see her famous fair,
Than which there is, for throngs and thrill,
No greater anywhere.
The big balloon is going up,
The parachutes come down
Oh, what a treat, where thousands meet,
And boy, Oh, whata town!
I'm going back to Loudonville,
Beneath October skies;
The band is out, the barkers shout,
and hot dog odors rise,
"Hold everything"- Oh, what a thrill -
Make way for me, make way!
I'm going back to Loudonville, I'm going back to stay!


I ran 6.5 miles on the trails and it was such a beautiful morning. Came home and lifted weights. Gave the dog a bath, cleaned three bathrooms and did laundry. Went to the fair this evening and ate pizza and lerch's donuts!!!!!!

Decision Made

I have decided to go ahead and run the Towpath Marathon this Sunday. Not sure how fast I'll run it or how much I'll even taper for it but I signed up for it today! Maybe I'll try to do a 3:30. That should be a good pace for me without killing myself.

Today, I ran 6 miles in the morning and I was sort of stiff and sore from yesterday's 20 miler. Lifted weights and swam 1 and1/2 miles. Tomorrow, I would like to run on the trails and just do about 6 miles. The Loudonville Fair starts tomorrow, so I'll probably have to go down and get fair food! HEY!!!

Always a Busy Weekend

The above pictures are of Kyle at the All Ohio C-C Championship on Friday and Kyle and Corey after Corey's game on Saturday in Marietta.

Kyle ran in the open race and ran a 29:27.2 for 39th place out of281 runners. The course was hilly, muddy and very slow for everyone. Kyle did break into the top 7 for Wesleyan so that was a good thing!! The football players in our family didn't fair so well. On Friday night, Keith and the Birds lost to Utica 18-15. Keith is very down because he missed a couple of key tackles and I think he is afraid that it will cost him his starting position. I hope not but we will find out this week. Corey also struggled on Saturday, when Marietta played Capital. He missed a tackle and the guy scored so Corey was pulled out and didn't play again until the fourth quarter. He also missed an extra point on the first touchdown for Marietta and on the second touchdown, his backup kicked and made the extra point. Marietta ended up losing 34-13. I feel real bad for the boys, but in Corey's case, you have to look at the big picture and he is almost done with football and he needs to concentrate on the rest of his life. He has had a great football career and should hold his head up high. We all need to remember that everyone has bad games no matter how good you are!! Alot of praying also helps!

As for my running, on Friday I ran 8 miles and lifted. Saturday, I run 11.5 miles. Today, I ran 20.5. The problem I am having now is deciding if I should run the Towpath Marathon this coming Sunday or do Columbus. Maybe, I'll do both. On October 26, I am running Run with Scissors 52 mile trail race, so the other two marathons I am not for sure.

The last thing I want to add, is to tell everyone to come to the Loudonville Fair this week Oct. 6-10. If you have not been to our fair in Loudonville, you should try to come. What a great time you will have. Until the next time............

A Slow Run

Ran a slow 8 miles this morning. Felt slow and stiff. Maybe it's the cold weather. The bad thing is, it's going to get colder before it gets warmer. Went to the Y and swam a mile and a fourth that included 16x25yd sprints. That's it for the day but the weekend will be another busy one. Kyle runs the All Ohio in Delaware tomorrow afternoon. From there, we have to get home for Keith's football game and on Saturday it's a road trip to Marietta to watch Corey play football against Capital. I just tired thinking about it!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everyone stays safe and performs to the best of their ability. I'm always so proud of my BOYS!!!!!