Monthly Archives: May 2015

The Waiting Game …. Cuz I Can’t Fix This

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The seasons are always changing.  Things are always happening.  We don’t have control over what happens but we do have control over our reaction.  

in charge

If you are like me, then maybe your reaction, isn’t always thought out.  It might be a bit harder to control the “reaction”.  I’m a fast thinker.  Fast talker.  I sometimes react before my thoughts have fully developed and that isn’t necessarily to my benefit.   I’m an Aries and the sign fits me well. 

Aries

Looking at those adjectives associated with the sign, a couple pop out at me.  Impatient.  Impulsive.  Blunt.  Detached.  I don’t like to wait.  I want to react now.  If something is broken, I want to fix it.  I want to fix things now.  Or yesterday if that’s an option.  It has to happen so let’s just do it.  Now.

ones who find happiness

Yet the older I get, the more I realize that so many things are out of my control.  Especially how others react to a situation.  As an Aries, to me, things are pretty cut and dry.  For others there is wiggle room.  Their reaction is subject to interpretation after I’ve already made my decision and have moved onto the next thing.  They move slower.  They think.  They speak cautiously as if the words they choose are a matter of life and death.  In fact, so slow and so cautiously that I want to pull their words out of their mouth or better yet, tell them what to say.  It’s almost painful for me to await their words and/or reactions.  Sounds dramatic?  It certainly feels that way.  And in so, it makes me …… Impatient.  Impulsive.  Blunt.  And sometimes …. Detached.

I’ve spoken previously about depression (Depression Hurts) and confidence (Strong Enough) issues.  It seems as if there is almost always someone very close to me who is struggling with mental demons of some sort.  I can’t say that I’m immune to those things but I frequently feel detached from them.  More as if I don’t have time for my own mental demons so it’s hard to understand how debilitating they can be for others.  I think God puts these people in my path to keep me humble and to slow me down.  To teach me things about savoring the moment.  To help me realize that some things can’t be fixed now, or yesterday.  To put my impatience on hold because this is something which I can’t control or fix.

I can't fix

I’m at one of these junctures now.  A place where I can’t fix what has gone wrong.  I can’t make someone happy.  I can’t take away their pain.  I can’t make them love themselves.  I can’t make them feel worthy.  Or strong.  Or beautiful.  Or smart.  Or amazing.  Or even normal.  And that sucks.  Miss Fix-It can’t fix this.  So I’ll wait.  And I’ll pull out a few of the better Aries characteristics.  I’ll be strong, optimistic ….. And loving. 

I know people go thru these things every day.  And it’s not fun.  If you’re the one struggling with mental demons that are leaving you feel worthless and alone, go get help.  Talk to someone.  You’re not alone.  If you are the friend, daughter, mother, wife or neighbor to the one struggling, just be there and try not to obsess over the fact that you can’t fix everything.  Don’t take it personally.  Dry those tears and be ready when they need you.  I’ll be waiting it out with you.  Smile

** The Waiting Game ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Adventures In Running ….

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I’m am always thankful to be a runner.  Always.  Running has taken me places I would have never gone without it.  Running has introduced me to people I would have never otherwise met, both in person and virtually.   Running has made me realize that I can do things that I never thought possible.  Running is always an adventure, good, bad or indifferent. 

Today I ran a new area. Because I was afraid if I didn’t get my run in early, I wouldn’t get it in at all.  Yeah, it’s been a crazy week!  So I parked the car and ran right after I dropped Michael off at school.  I didn’t drive to familiar territory.  Didn’t want to waste anytime.  I just parked the car and ran.  Visor or no visor?  That was my only thought.  I grabbed the visor because it had been raining all night and more rain was predicted.  Now where am I?  Got my bearings and took off down a long sidewalk that Michael and I always talked about as we passed it every day.  The long sidewalk took me to a country road where I proceeded to run out of Small Town USA.  It was at that moment, less than a 1/2 mile from my car when I realized that I didn’t have my Personal Savers Pepper Spray.  I always take my Wrist Saver on new runs.  On most of my runs to be honest.  But I didn’t want to go back for it.

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When you run in the country, it’s inevitable there will be loose dogs.  It’s only a guess as to whether the loose dog will be friendly or not.  I’ve been bitten 3x by unfriendly dogs so I now assume if a dog is charging me and barking that it will be followed by a bite.  Beware, if your dog charges me, I will spray it with pepper spray.  Not because I want to hurt your dog but because I don’t want your dog to hurt me.  I love dogs.  Have 3 of my own.  But that doesn’t mean I’m stupid and want your dog to bite me.  So ……how long do you think it was before a loose dog saw me?  1.95 miles.  I was in a time crunch so I had planned to run 2 miles out from my car and flip to make the return trip.  Just enough mileage to shake out the tightness from my landscaping duties this week.  But alas I had a potentially crazy dog between me and my car.  UGH!  Said dog didn’t see me until I was almost past his house, then he had to run the long yard to the road to get to me.  By that time, I was far enough past that he didn’t give chase.  Thank goodness.  But he was laying in the yard, by the road, awaiting my return.  What a sweetie, right?  Yeah, probably not.  So I kept running forward to WhoKnowsWhere.  Scenery wasn’t too bad.

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I was immediately thankful that not only am I a runner but a MARATHON runner.  It doesn’t matter that I’m on a road to nowhere, I’ll eventually get back to my car.  I quickly calculated that I was a half marathon or so from my house.  I wasn’t really sure how to get home but I knew the general direction, like as a crow would fly.  Smile  I also knew that my car was just to the right of that creek (pictured above), no more than a mile away across that field.  Worse case scenario I could cross that wet, muddy field.  But let’s just bag that idea for now.  I’m not lost.  I just don’t know exactly where I am at the moment.  I’ll just keep running down this road and see where it takes me.  And that’s when the rain began.   I immediately gave thanks for my visor!  Running in the rain.  Refreshing.  I think.  If I knew how to get back to my car it would be a bit more refreshing.  But alas, I’m a marathon runner.  I’ll get back there eventually.

Fortunately, most country roads are set up in a grid like pattern.  Usually with each segment between intersections being a mile (or so) in length.  I tried to focus on the grid and hope that these roads followed the general rules of country road infrastructure.  I was assuming I could run a rectangle and be back to the car.  That’s why I wasn’t panicked and didn’t feel the need to tromp across that wet, muddy field.  I just didn’t know any of these roads and the north end of “the grid” was the key.  The road eventually curved away from the direction I needed to go but without a cross street/road I just followed along.  It eventually popped me out on a busy road that connects our town and the one where Michael goes to school.  It wasn’t a road that I would normally run (or bike), due to the heavy traffic volume, but at least I knew my location and the direction of my car.  I managed a mile down the busy street.  In the pouring rain.  Trying to look smooth and as if I were enjoying myself.  Ignoring all thoughts of what people must think of this crazy lady (me!) running along a busy road in the rain.  Turned back into town at the first opportunity, the rain eased, and I found my long sidewalk that was the start of this running adventure. 

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All runs are an adventure.  Some are just more interesting than others.  Keep running and keep making memories.  As I see it, I’m just banking stories for the grandkids! 

** Adventures In Running ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

Fox Island …. Ft Wayne, IN

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IFox Island Nature Perserve

7324 Yohne Rd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46809

As you  know, I like to explore new trails.  I particularly like ones where I can take the kids and a dog (or two) and get everyone out of the house just stroll along in the fresh air.  Fox Island County Park is one such place.  See excerpt from the Allen County Parks Department webpage below:

Fox Island is a 605 acre park located in southwest Allen County. Within this park, 270 acres are dedicated as State Nature Preserve, which protects areas having unique plants, animals or geographic features. Hundreds of species of animals and plants live at Fox Island because of the relatively natural condition of most of the area, with its habitats of marsh, seasonal ponds, wooded sand dunes, wetland forest, old fields and restored prairie. The park contains the largest contiguous forest in the county and a glacial sand dune

When I moved to Indiana, just north of Fort Wayne, many people suggested I visit Fox Island for running.  After reviewing the maps and website, I was thinking it would be a better place for a family excursion verses a running adventure for myself.  There are 7 miles of short trails winding thru the forest but they are flat and perfect for a family hike.

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The trails never venture too far from a road or intersection.  There are markers throughout the park identifying trails, trees, plants, flowers and even a bit of history.  Some trails are dirt, others grass.

foxislandtrailmap

Wildlife is buzzing on and off the trail.  Perfect destination for the family and most trails are groomed well enough for a 3 wheeled jogging type stroller. 

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And there are bridges.  And a beach on Bowman Lake for playing and swimming (stock photo).  Plus fishing areas.

IMG_6735   Fox Island Beach

Fox Island has a beautiful Nature Center with a classroom, which is available for rental.  We went on a Friday night and if I remember correctly, there was a scrapbooking event in the Nature Center.  I neglected to get a photo of this area because Michael was super excited and starting running toward the docks behind the Nature Center which have a great view of the pond, wildlife and the surrounding trails.  Even if you have a member in your group who isn’t able to walk the trails, you can always drive them to the Nature Center and have a look around in that area without doing much walking.  Very nice. Scenic.  Handicap accessible.  And peaceful unless you have a 5 year old screaming and yelling with excitement. 

There is an entry fee for Fox Island.  When we were there, nobody was at the gatehouse taking admission but we stopped and dropped our $2 per person fee into the drop box.  I did notice that most were just driving in without paying and while it’s easy to do that, I always try to support these types of forest preserves because I know that funding is hard to come by and I enjoy being able to explore new areas.  Without funds, places like Fox Island will close and be lost to the public.  If you drove in and forgot to leave your entry fee, you can join or make a donation to the Fox Island Alliance.  Winking smile

See you on the trail!

Amanda – TooTallFritz

Pittsburgh Marathon Review – #RunnerOfSteel

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I’m not really sure how I became this “crazy” marathon runner who’s current goal is to run a marathon in each of the 50 states.  If someone had told me 2 years ago that I would be running more than one or two marathons a year, I wouldn’t have believed them.  In fact, I would have thought them to be the “crazy” one.  Somehow, something changed. Maybe it was the fact that I would train so hard for ONE marathon a year and then never get the desired result due to injury, training fatigue, life, stress or weather.  Maybe I woke up one day and decided there were so many great marathons and too little time to run them.  Maybe my kids were driving me crazy and I decided to run more and drink less to blow off steam.  Maybe and most probably, I decided that if I ran more marathons, I could run fewer of those unsupported, boring, long runs.  Yeah, that’s probably it. 

Regardless, I’m on a journey that is taking me places.  Some of those places weren’t exactly on my “must visit” list.  And that makes things interesting in a fun and adventurous way.  On that note, we picked the Pittsburgh Marathon the way that we pick most of our races.   Julie said, “Hey, I’d really like to run a marathon at the end of April or beginning of May.”  I said, “If you wait til the beginning of May, I’ll go with you”.  Then we looked at the marathon calendar and tossed out a couple options.  I saw that Pittsburg was on May 3rd, pulled up google maps and discovered that it’s only 4.5 hours from my new home.  We registered a month in advance because Pittsburgh is in PA and that’s a new state for us.  Done.  Pittsburgh, HERE WE COME!!

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Pittsburgh, we came to find out is the City of Bridges.  I love bridges.  There are varying reports as to the exact number but according to Popular Pittsburgh, there are almost 2,000 bridges in the area!  More bridges than Venice, Italy!  What?  Really?  Check out this article HERE to see some of those amazing bridges and the history behind them. 

Race weekend.  We enter the city and it’s a pleasant surprise.  Nice city.  Lots to see & do.  Great expo.  Bridges, bridges & more bridges.  And hills.  Hello hills!  Smile  Course map below.

PGH Course map

Elevation chart, showing elevation climbs up to 985 ft.  That’s a lot for us Midwestern flatlanders! 

PGH Course map

Regardless, we kinda laughed about the hills cuz what could we do?  Nothing.  No need to ruin the experience by stressing about the course.  We’ll run Pittsburgh the way we run every race, mile by mile with one goal in mind, the finish.

First some sightseeing:  The Strip District for shopping and walking around.   Market Square which we found a little too late, lots of bars, restaurants & shopping.  Home of the Pittsburgh Steelers & Steeler PRIDE everywhere.  University of Pittsburgh.  Carnegie Music Hall & Museum (pic 1 & 2).  The University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning (pic 3).  The Heinz Memorial Chapel (pic 4).

Carnegie Music Hall  IMG_6836  IMG_6842  IMG_6840

Race day came and we were excited and ready to run!  Temps were warm and the sun was shining.  There were 4 corrals.  Staggered start with 5 minutes between corrals.  Start was crowded and we spent the first several miles running on the sidewalks to get around the walkers.

Julie & I_start       start

Then came the bridges and hills.  16th Street Bridge.  9th Street Bridge.  7th Street Bridge.  West End Bridge.  Birmingham Bridge – which isn’t yellow by the way!  It’s green.  Why isn’t the Birmingham Bridge yellow like all the rest? 

     IMG_6867  FullSizeRender  IMG_6857

The most difficult hill to climb was at mile 12.  I stopped running the climb about 1/2 way up.  Good decision on my part.  It was too much for my body so I took my time and ate a few of my Sour Patch Kids and watched everyone else struggle up the hill.  Smile  Best downhill was at mile 24.  One LONG downhill that I was thrilled to see, then it flattened out for the last 2 miles to the finish.

Great spectator support by all 13 communities!  I loved the music and bands.  The kids and volunteers.  So many great homeowners put out sprinklers and dug out water guns for the kiddos, fed us oranges, licorice, candy, pretzels, offered beer and handed out water in little dixie cups .  Many thanks to the firefighters who opened the fire hydrants for us!  Temps climbed to 78 degrees and it was full sun, all day long.  I was beyond thankful for the plethora of water stations, ice stations, cold rags, multiple fueling stations that offered either Carb Boom Energy Gel or Pure Protein bars.  This was a great race.  Not easy but a big city race, done right. 

There was never a dull moment.   Pittsburgh, you rocked this marathon and I thank you! 

Numbers: 

  • 14,635 Half Marathon finishers
  • 4,317 Marathon finishers
  • 2,316 5K finishers
  • 1,124 Relay Teams

Nice Shirt & Finishers Medal:

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Great race.  If you’ve been thinking about trying Pittsburgh, I’d highly recommend it.  Expect a big city race with great crowd support and plenty to see while you are pounding out the miles.  Try to take your time and enjoy the city and what it has to offer.  Lots of amazing buildings and homes with beautiful, old architecture.  Go run Pittsburgh!

** Enjoy the Race, No Matter the Terrain ** Amanda – TooTallFritz