Baby and all

Last week we drove to Baltimore to visit my son and his wife to celebrate the birth of our grand daughter, Arianna.
She is a bundle of sweet joy with an inquisitive mind of interest in all her surroundings.

My off-season Core training workouts finally paid off this past weekend. We had record snow fall and I was left to shovel my way out of my drive and then a couple of other neighbor drives. I didn't get sore from all the shoveling but I did get mentally whipped and I didn't have the strength to run my scheduled 7 mile tempo run for today. I was able to take an afternoon nap in the recliner while reading and all I could see when I closed my eyes was me lifting shovel after shovel of heavy snow and yet I wasn't making any progress in clearing a path. How frustrating was that.

I am looking forward to running my 3 key training runs outside rather than on the treadmill. The temperatures are suppose to reach in the high 40's by Thursday and maybe by then the track and trails will be clear of ice and snow. Running on the treadmill has been easy for me to hit my target times but I think running outside will be different. I can't wait to test my progress on the track soon.

Buckle down for Boston

The holiday time I had with my family flew by this past week. My gift and blessing I have is my children. I enjoy watching them grow and become who they are day by day. I am declaring the "people of the year" award goes to my children. For my oldest son serving in the Navy for his hard work and service. My other son serving as a Marine who recently came home from Iraq completing his third tour. For my daughter who graduated this December with a Masters in Physical Therapy (at the age of 22). And finally for my youngest son who I am glad to see enjoy life as an 8 year old kid should.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas time with your family and friends. We sure did.



My official 16 week Boston marathon training schedule begins today. Today's workout was a 2 mile easy jog followed with 3 X 1 mile fast runs with only 1 minute rest between each mile. I finished with a 1 mile easy jog. Each mile was run in 5:56 per mile pace.

Welcome Home!

My son arrived safely home today after serving his third tour in Iraq. We love you and are glad to have you home.

Lego Room

For the past two 2 weeks we have been preparing, demolishing, and installing walls in one of the kids bedrooms. We decided to make an official "Lego room" for the kids which we hope would restrict the thousands and thousands of Lego pieces that have been strewn over the house to one room.

This wall has got to go.













Ok, lets knock it out.

It was a mess to get the wall out!


We made a hole in the closet wall too.







Framing it in.


Insulating the new walls.


Dry walling.



The closet has a dresser in the wall.


The bed and shelf are in the wall.


And we did it!





We were able to gain an additional 40 square feet of floor space by knocking out the walls and placing some furniture in the knock outs. All so the kids can have a lego room.

Meet Captain Jack Sparrow Jr.

Don't mess with captain Jack he's dressed to kill. This was his way of reporting to the blackboard jungle today. Thanks to his lovely, but sorry to say ill mother, (she's had strep for the past 3 weeks)who helped the captain don his outfit for today.
He did manage to come home with some treasures to share with the rest of his mates' Although, I am on a dark nugget (dark chocolate, hint-hint) diet these days so I didn't enjoy any of the spoils.






He thinks he's going to get away with that imported Tokai from Hungary. Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin, or his. That's a spoil his grandpa acquired for us while out on his adventures in the old country. Captain Jack, didn't need the intoxicant to obtain any goods for the day anyway. And he had a Happy Halloween!

Godspeed

On Saturday, I ran 18 miles in 2:10:34. It rained on and off but the last 3 miles, which is pretty much up hill, was in a torrential down pour. The rain was refreshing to run in.
On Sunday, we drove to Baltimore early in the morning to spend time with my son and to wish him Godspeed on his 3rd tour duty to Iraq. Again, we are hoping and praying for a safe journey and to return home soon.

Alaska

I think we got what we wanted to see and experience in Alaska and more. I would have to say that my wife and I were one of the young couples on the cruise ship and tour. We began with a 3 day cruise ship from Vancouver to Juneau Alaska. On one of the mornings while on ship most of the people woke up to being sea sick including my wife who had scheduled a yoga class that morning but had to cancel. I had fun with a 40 minute spinning class followed with 5 miles on the treadmill. The treadmill run was the most difficult run I ever experienced. It was like running on a roller coaster ride. The food on board was exceptional along with the service.
The land tour of 7 days was a jam packed whirl wind site seeing of the Yukon Territory and Alaska. We traveled by train, motor coach bus, and boat to follow the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. We visited many historical towns and learned about how a romantic life was like to live in the wilderness at that time.

We also did a lot of walking and hiking up mountains.

This was a hike to the Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska.

Under a glacier!

Smallest desert in the mountains.

Alaska is calling all those who love the true wilderness and want to experience the last frontier. Don't wait until you retire. You need all your young strength to enjoy the vastness of Alaska.
I wanted to add more pictures but Blogger would not accept more pictures. We are off for a family reunion during the 4th of July week at Deer Creek State Park, Mt. Sterling, Ohio. Anyone want to come visit me for a bike ride along the Deer Creek Triathlon course or swim in the lake can email me for more info. I'll bike Wednesday & Friday. I'll run Tuesday & Thursday. And I'll swim just about every day.