And It Snowed

Today was the Region 6 - Cross Country Running High School race and we all woke up to snow! So much for raking leaves this weekend, perhaps this snow will melt while I am away this coming week.

Four races were held today, with Megan's race being the last. Definately a "spike" day. During the 2nd lap, the leader had pulled away by about 15 seconds in front of Megan's pack of four. This group of girls ran tight like this for most of the race.

It was a tough race and Megan looked great finishing third overall. Due to the muddy, snowy conditions and the fact that this course was one of the more difficult courses, no PR for Megan today. After the race, some sisterly love.........

I think Heather and Christopher have a lot in common when it comes to having their pictures taken! I have no idea what Heather was doing but Megan's coaches, Kevin and Liz look on somewhat concerned.

The top 10 girls going right to left. Yeah Megan!

The Lathrop snowman looking out over the stadium. It's on to State next weekend in Palmer.

Fall Equinox in Fairbanks

This September, the Fairbanks area has had wonderful weather with several days in a row of 70 degree weather. Usually during this time of year, it's rainy and windy reminding one that the dark of winter is fast approaching; however, I have always loved this time when the air is cool and crisp, the leaves have turned yellow, and the brush is dying off allowing one to really see through the woods. I guess that's why a few years ago, I decided that if I was in Fairbanks and was in shape enough to at least walk, I would do the Equinox marathon. It's a fall thing to do in Fairbanks! (come join me....there is the 50th coming up...there is a three person relay division!)

Check out the course and more info at: www.equinoxmarathon.org

Here's what I found as far as historical information for the marathon in the UAF Sun Star published Sept 18, 2007: The marathon, sponsored by the Running Club North, was originally designed in 1963 by UAF cross-country skiers who wanted to run a challenging course, according to Steve Bainbridge, Equinox race director since 1995. "We've been running pretty much as it was originally designed for 45 years," Bainbridge said. According to Bainbridge, in the 60s, the marathon consisted of mainly walkers, and the community embraced the event, not so much as a race, but as a celebration of the fall. However, the Equinox later evolved into a sporting event. "The marathon got big in the 70s and it became more about running," Bainbridge said.

So on Saturday, Sept 19, my friend Cathy, her son Alex (age 8) and I participated in the 47th Annual Equinox Marathon. I was quite pleased finishing in 5:07:50 even after flying all the previous day home from Florida and that the longest run I had done all summer was 13 miles. Cathy and Alex finished in 6:33.....Alex was the youngest male to finish. What a great time for his first marathon! Cathy wasn't planning on running a marathon this year but after Cathy and Alex had run with me on various parts of the Equinox trail in August, Alex got it in his head that he wanted to run the marathon.

Some happy finishers.......



On Friday, Sept 18, Megan ran in the Salcha Invitational and had a great race finishing 2nd in a time of 19:34.4. Once again she had to sprint for the finish.

Next weekend is Regionals so stayed tuned!

5th and 1st Times Two

What a day of racing it was for both Heather and Megan. Both placed 5th overall in their races and came in 1st for their teams. Mom didn't get to watch either daughter but thanks to other family members, both had their own fan clubs cheering them on. Meanwhile back in Fairbanks on a beautiful fall day, I was watching the clock and couldn't wait until Daddy and Kristin would call me.

Near Yakima, Washington, Heather was racing at the Apple Ridge Invitational hosted by Central Washington University. Daddy and Jean drove up to watch the event. The following pictures were taken by Jean and from what I understand Michael spent some time in helping with the effort to get these sent to me tonight. (Much appreciated Michael, Jean and Daddy!) Here's Heather on her first lap of the 4K race.




Heather coming in for the finish. (The finisher's last name right behind Heather happens to be "Fairbanks.") Daddy told me that temperatures were in the low 90's. I can't even imagine running fast in hot weather as "one-speed" mom does have even a slower speed in hot temperatures!

A happy finisher with her grandfather.....

The course is run through an apple orchard and spectators/racers were not to pick any apples. Just look at the apples!

I think race results can be found at....or at least try on the CWU website.
http://www.wildcatsports.com/statistics/crosscountry/2009/cwu091209w.htm

Poppop and Jean gave Heather a box of apples to bring back to us but we will see if they actually make it from the dorm to my house. :) How cool that Heather raced near Pendleton (if you call near 2-2.5 hours...), thanks so much for watching and cheering her on!

Megan's Race.....Several hours later, Megan started her 5K race in Palmer with her own fan club; Kristin, Gary and Dave. Kristin called me when Megan was on her 2nd lap and gave me my own broadcast for the remainder of the race. At the point of the race when Kristin called, Megan was in 15th place and then towards the end of the race had at one point worked her way up to 4th but right at the finish her good friend Hannah Boyer caught her by less than .3 of a second! Megan once again broke a personal best finishing in 19:26.

Megan's results can be found at the following site..you have to scroll down to the Girls Varisty 4A. http://www.athletic.net/crosscountry/Results/Meet2.aspx?Meet=19197

So there you have it, both girls came in 5th overall and 1st for their teams. Amazing!!!

Steve's Pad

So at some point this summer, Steve got tired of the mud in front of our house and when I was out of town, he apparently had a concrete guy come and give a quote for some work. I came home from ANC last Friday night (after spending some quality time with my siblings & families at the Alaska Acoustical Camp Instructor concert one night and a Dowland Bach event another night) to find the last load of concrete being delivered.

Additional earthwork will be required to get the drainage just right but hey, that gives Steve an excuse to rent a cool toy. He did mention to me that other night that Daddy got an excellent deal on his tractor...I think there is some envy going on!

Tonight the lament was that sooner or later, there will be an oil stain on the pad and oh what a sad moment that will be.

:)

Megan Wins!

The weather has been absolutely wonderful since Friday. Clear blue sky and temperatures reaching the mid to high 70's in the afternoons. Of course it doesn't last too long and once the sun starts to set, it chills off quickly. Heather's classes started on Thursday but she was off in Hawaii for the Hawaii Pacific University Cross Country Invitational. I don't have much information yet on her race to report but meanwhile, back in Delta the girls varsity race was getting ready to start. I drove down with some other Lathrop moms' and we made it just in time to the start somewhere in the back fields of Delta.

My good camera that has the "sports" mode is broken and will be out of commission all of the cross country running season so my picture taking abilities will be sorely lacking this season. Megan's coach took this picture of her leading the race coming up the hill.

Megan coming in for her first win of her High School career and another PR!

Megan's time of 19:41 moves her to #5 on the all-time Lathrop list and #3 on the sophomore list. As West Valley's varsity girls were away for a race, Megan was commenting after the race, that it was hard to push herself running alone.

from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner: Lathrop takes Delta Invitational

Sophomore Megan Edic claimed the first race of her high school career to lead Lathrop High School to a team win Saturday afternoon at the Delta Invitational. Edic set a personal best and broke 20 minutes for the first time with a mark of 19:41. She is now the fifth-fastest cross country runner all-time for Lathrop. North Pole senior Christi Schmitz took second in 19:52.
Rounding out the top five were Jessica Wright of North Pole in 20:44, Lizzy Bennett of Monroe Catholic in 21:11 and Kim Fitzgerald of Lathrop in 21:16.

Stay tuned for next week when Megan races in Palmer and Heather races at Central Washington University.