Jingle Bell Run

We signed in at the registration table at the State Arboretum of Virginia for their annual Jingle Bell run.  The Orland E. White Arboretum was established in 1927, and registration was in The Quarters building, where from 1825 till slavery was abolished on the property, was part of the Tuleyries plantation. 

After pinning bells to our shoes and a warm up run, we ran alongside dormant dogwood trees as we watched our breathe steam from our mouths and nostrils.  The race begin with temps in the low 40s, but got colder before the 5K finish.  

The first leg was on loose gravel and after a couple slides I thought I'd break my neck.  But then I remembered our Broadway runs through the pea gravel track along the park and thought, "I know how to do this.  Just run where the gravel is packed the hardest and be prepared to 'dance' when you slide.'"  After the gravel piece, there was a section on asphalt and then the race ended on hard packed gravel -- more dirt road than gravel.  So that was a bit easier, too.

I watched the markers as we ran past a variety of plantings -- my favorite evergreen is the Normandy spruce with swooping branches that brush the ground.  

This was race #51 for the year and I finished in 29:15, very slow for me.  But I didn't fall!

Thaddeus Charles -- the reason for the Avoca run

Grammie & Thaddeus (above) and Dad, Mom & Grammie with Thaddeus and Ebony (below).
We also got to have dinner with my virtual running buddy, Steve Bragg (below in blue shirt) and my friend Camelia.  This was at Sis's Diner, of which half is a renovated railroad car.  The service was better than I've gotten at restaurants costing twice as much, and there was plenty of food to take home because the servings were large.

The Caboose

Guests at The Caboose can stay in these train cars during the summer.  Each car holds 4-5 and contains train berths as well as a regular bed.  These also have the other necessary amenities a traveler needs.  This motel was at the low end price-wise, but at the high end when it came to hospitality and cleanliness.  The room even had a refrigerator and microwave, plus cable television.  Nestled in the valley between two mountains, the scenery was stunning -- even in the winter.

A brave, but not so rave run. . .

Revised 21Dec08 (after an attitude correction from my NY running buddy):

Runners World posts a "Rave Run" in each issue.  We found last weekend's run in sleet and cold (mid-teens) to be a bit rough, but we did it anyway and now can include a winter run in Avoca amongst our list of 2008 adventures.  Slipping feet in plastic bags before sliding them into our running shoes (above) kept our feet dry.  That's a trick I learned when growing up without boots as a child in Iowa.  Butch suggested taping the top kept the snow from sneaking in from the top.

It was in the mid-teens when we ran the mile from hotel to my daughter's place.  The temps were in the mid-teens and the wind at our back as we left.  Even so I took one step forward and half a one backwards on every icy hill.  So we didn't add on the extra half that, upon returning home, would have met our three mile goal for the day.  We were worn out!

On the way back the wind burned and the sleet needled our faces.  My ski mask protected me somewhat, and, as you can see in the above photo, Butch found a combination of running gear that kept all but his face safe from the stinging ice needles.

Photo below:  Returning to the hotel, named The Caboose because, in the summer, guests can stay in train cars instead of the typical motel room.

Richmond Run

We know in our heads that no moment in time will ever be repeated.  That fact was very evident when running on the Richmond Spiders' Fred Hardy track after I took exams there on the weekend of December 5 & 6.  A sign on the gate said that the stadium (below) was being torn down starting Monday, December 8.  Above is a sketch of the new stadium.  

Paralegal Certification Exam

Well I'd have rather run a half marathon than take that test.  Sitting still goes against my grain, but I noticed it was hard for the proctor.  He refilled his drink bottle half way through each exam, and the entire time he sat in front of the room, his feet were tapping.  While it may have been nerve wracking to some, it actually calmed me -- it helped me to know I wasn't the only one having trouble sitting still. 

Morning exams didn't seem too rough, but afternoons were.  On the first day, I had plenty of time for the exam, so I actually closed my eyes for about five minutes and took a break.  On the second day, I got up and took a walk down the hall, grabbed some water, and returned to finish. And after two days of sitting, my post-test three-mile run on the track at the First Market Stadium at the University of Richmond was especially sweet (it is being demolished beginning Monday).  

Runners always want to know the results of a "race" the same day; we're not real patient when it comes to late results.  But sometimes we have to behave in a way contrary to nature, and sometimes those late results are good news -- like this week I received a plaque for earning first place in my age group at the breast cancer race.  I sure hope my February surprise is a similar outcome and I that I learn I'm one of the 60-70% who passed, as I won't be reimbursed for my expenses until February.

 

T.C.'s Race through the Chute

First grandson T.C. tried hard to race through the chute Tuesday, but he just couldn't squeeze through.  So he had some help by way of an emergency Ceasarian section on Wednesday morning.  T.C.'s doing fine now, as is his thoroughly exhausted momma.  But both should be coming home from the hospital today (Sunday). --photos complements of Noyes Memorial Hospital.