Random Pictures!

Because I got so far behind on blogging, I decided just to post a bunch of random pictures from the fall. They give you a glimpse into what our fall consisted of on more of a daily basis. We had a fun, but very busy fall!

Who needs a doctor? Sally Sharp was extremely proud of her "doctor" hat!

She was also very proud of her fireman hat. Her class was doing a unit about community helpers :)

The girls found that playing house in the laundry room was fun. Didn't you know laundry baskets and stainless steel carts make great beds?

We went to a volleyball match one night at MSU. It ended up being a great match, and the girls enjoyed cheering on the bulldogs.

We had some cooler (for the South) weather days in the fall, and we were able to take advantage of them playing outside a lot. Sally Sharp was waiting on Avi to come down the slide so it would be her turn. This is how she waited every time that particular night. It made me laugh.

We sang If You're Happy and You Know It :)

LOVE her curls (can't say this enough times)

We cheered for the Bulldogs (football)

We spent time at the park (again, there were some really nice fall/cooler days).

And, we went to church. Avi participated in choir on Wednesday nights at our church, and she also participates in AWANA at my mom's church. Sally Sharp will start both next year :).

Pinhoti Race Report and Pictures

100 Miles is a LONG WAY

Many things can happen when trying to run 100 miles.  I made it through all the training with no injury.    Unfortunately,  my day was cut short by severe right knee pain.  The whole entire experience was very rewarding and I learned a ton about how to run this type of race.  I wish my body was as willing as I was on this day.

Start to mile 28.  The start was in the dark for the first 45 minutes.  I started conservatively and felt really good. There were many people to run with and everyone was very talkative.  I was eating well and enjoyed seeing Kelli at 3 aid stations.  It was starting to get hot and the race was spreading out a lot.     From time to time some runner would come flying by and it would make you think what race they were  running.  I was in about 33rd out of the 190 or so starters at mile 28.

Mile 28 to 41.  The main thing that I remember about these miles was the heat.  It was over 80 degrees and thankfully we were in the tree cover most of the day.  I came upon a large creek crossing and several people were laying in the 18 inches of water just trying to cool off.  I was moving good still and passing several people especially on the uphill sections.  At mile 41,  I had  moved up to 28th place.

Mile 41 to 55.  There were some rough mile in here.  My knee started hurting.  At times, I felt like was trying to run with the flu and stomach virus all at once.  From time to time, I hurt just about everywhere and my stomach felt most unsettled.  I was still running pretty well on the flats and downhills, but all the pain began to all localize to the outside of my right knee. I was hiking the uphills really strong and amazingly was passing people really easy on the uphill sections.  As bad as i felt,  It seemed everyone else was just in just about as bad of shape.  Everybody that I passed, would say how good I looked and how well I was moving, but i felt terrible.

Mile 55 to 68. By now I realized that my knee was not going to get any better.  Walking was starting to get really painful and I realized that my time was limited.  I suffered through these last few miles but was in a lot of pain.  Amazingly, very few people were passing me.  I was in 24th place when I had to quit.  Except for my knee, I felt really good.

Start of the race and I was all smiles.

Aid station # 2 at mile 13 and still smiling.

Running the trail into aid station # 3 at mile 18.  Very smooth trail here.  Let me assure you it was not all this flat and smooth. 

Leaving #3 feeling great.

Aid station #5  at mile 28.  All that I could think about here was how hot it was.  Over 80 degrees and I was feeling it here at the sun exposed aid station.  Thankfully most all the trail was in the shaded canopy of the woods. 

Headed out of #5.  Not looking as fresh.

The boardwalk leading down to the overlook off Mt Cheaha -- the highest point in Alabama.  The race runs right up to the top of Mt. Cheaha and down the boardwalk to the aid station at Bald Rock Lodge.

Aid station #7 at mile 41-- Running off the boardwalk.  Really excited to see my family here.  Seeing them provided a lot of motivation to get to the top.

Trying to rest and fuel up.  I was here in exactly 8 hours and right on my goal pace.  

Avi was feeling a lot better than me.  She asked my dad "did he have to pay for this".  She got a good laugh out of everyone.

Aid station # 10 at mile 55.  Really starting to feel it here.  Still on my goal pace at right around 11 hours.

Aid station # 12 mile 65. Rubbing my knee and trying to figure out how to keep going.  I was using my hiking poles which really helped but the pain while walking was getting intense and it really hurt bad to bend my knee.

I changed shirts and tried to eat up. There was a 750 foot climb that awaited me in the first mile out of the aid station.  

Walking into aid station #13 and hurting a lot.

Icing my knee and contemplating my withdrawal.

Conclusion:  During the race, I said that I would never do this again.  Thank goodness for short memories as I am already planning for the next one.  I hated that I could not finish, but it has taken me about 10 days to even be able to bend my knee without pain.  I am feeling a lot better now.  I had diligently stretched, iced and rolled my left IT band to prevent this from happening again to my left knee.  I never expected this to happen to my right knee as it did.  At least I know how to rehab this injury although it did take about 6 months before I could run without limits again.  Based on how things went, I know that I can finish 100 miles and likely still be running well.   Thanks again to my wonderful wife for supporting me in my adventures.