Polar Bear Plunge & Via Marathon

TGIF, everyone!  In lieu of my usual Friday Loving Lately  post, I thought I would share a little bit about what I am doing this weekend with a few colleagues from work.  At approximately 1:00 pm, you can think of me while I plunge into the icy, cold waters of the Delaware River for a quip dip, or more likely, a very fast run in and back out into the warmth of my Uggs.  

Why, do you ask?  I am one of many {like over 3,000 many} to take the Polar Bear Plunge to support the benefits of Special Olympics.  This “Plunge” is a fundraising opportunity for people in the community to raise money and gather donations for Special Olympics of  Pennsylvania, the state’s largest year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics benefits thousands of adults and children by helping them improve physical fitness and motor skills.  The organization also helps their members gain confidence and obtain a more positive self-image through their year-round trainings and competitions.  All of this is at no cost to them or their families.

My team plans to arrive early to register with lots of hot beverages and food in tow.  Shawn {another 4^th grade teacher} will have a table for the refreshments that are being donated by a few families from our school.  Parents and students alike will be in attendance to watch and join in the festivities of this Plunge…all for a good cause. 

I am a bit nervous for the cold water, but I plan on having lots of extra clothing and hot coffee.  Rumor has it that a person only has to dip their feet in the water for it to count as plunging so that makes me feel a little better.  Fred is having a hard time believing that I will actually touch the water, yet alone go in because it has to be seriously hot for me to get into my own pool during the summer months.  We shall see…only time will tell. 

If you are interested in checking out my personal donation page, you can find it here and see why I’ll be “freezin’ for a reason” on Saturday afternoon.  

On another note, if you remember back in September I posted about my affiliation with Via, an organization that helps children and adults with disabilities develop social connections and gain employment in the community.  I serve on the Via race committee that plans/coordinates their yearly marathon, half-marathon and relay held on the second Sunday in September.  

Via's Boston certified course was designed by Runner’s World’s Bart Yasso.  It has a net descent and runners can choose to run a full marathon, a half-marathon or compete on a 5-person relay team.  This year's date is set for Sunday, September 8, 2013 and it’s a great community-wide event that runs from Allentown to Easton.  Check it out and register today!  

Here are a few of the posts about last year’s Via event:

LVHN Marathon for Via Recap Part One 

LVHN Marathon for Via Recap Part Two 

Via and Special Olympics have a similar mission and I feel really good to be a part of both fundraising events.  I will be sure to capture Saturday's plunge on film because it will be the first, and quite possibly the last time I will wade in a river in the middle of January.   

Have a great weekend!

Via Marathon/Half Marathon/Relay Recap Part 2

Good morning!  Today I have part two of the LVHN Marathon/Half Marathon/Relay for Via recap.  If you missed part one, you can check it out here.

The report time was around 5:00 am, so with my coffee in hand...I arrived at the start of the half marathon.  There were a few people milling around the streets and about a half dozen others setting up the water stations, packet pick-up tables, etc.  At that point, I met my co-captain {Adam} and we headed to our exchange zone.  The absolute worst part of the WHOLE day was stepping in a dead bird on the side of the road.  The road kill was right where we needed to set up the water station tables and I didn't see it since the sun wasn't up yet and it was still dark.  The mushy feeling was so disgusting and the smell was so bad that I thought Adam was going to get sick.  Luckily, one of the volunteers was a "farm girl" and took a box, scooped it up and removed it from the scene.  Thank goodness the grass was still wet from the night before so it removed all traces of residue from my shoe.  The thought apparently stuck in Adam's mind because my husband knew before I even had a chance to tell him.  Yuck! 

A little while later, my kids arrived on the scene, ready to "sell" water and Gatorade.  They did a great job setting up and handing cups of water to the runners. 

At 7:15 am, the half marathon started.  Here come the lead bikers...

Dr. Gilroy {my chiropractor on the right} ran the half...

Lots of runners!

My friend {Lecia} in the half as well...

Here's a morning view of the canal tow path.  Soon enough, runners were going to be covering this area of the trail.

The Moravian XC gals {and guys} volunteered to help out.  They did an amazing job cheering for all of the runners!

My college coach {Mark Will-Weber} and me as he waited for his team member to finish the second leg.

Payton was an excellent cheerleader!  She had a blast passing out gel to the marathoners. 

A view of the exchange zone, and Adam, my cohort.  Adam informed me that he will be running a marathon the week before running the "Hat Trick" at the Runner's World festival in October.  I told him that he is nuts!!   
 

Bart Yasso of Runner's World showed up to check out the race because his brother {Gerry} was one of the race coordinators.  When I was a little girl, I can remember Bart arriving to my house for a Lehigh Valley Road Runners meeting.  He would bring a whole pizza and eat the entire pie himself!    

My husband {in the orange} and Channel 69 Sports Anchor, Troy Hein, were the MCs at the finish line.  

The girls were fooling around at this cool metal sculpture.  

Jesse was one of the lead bikers for the marathon and relay.  We picked him up at the finish and took him back to the start to get his car. 

Afterwards, we headed to Jeannine's house for a post-race party and her relay team, the Running Rovers, were there to celebrate.  They are a fun group of women who teach at Easton Area High School.  

Jeannine and me...

Of course, I asked her what I could bring, and she said "nothing."  And, of course, I had to bring something...so I made Ina Garten's Rosemary Cashews.  If you've never had them, try this recipe.  It is a winner!

It's the perfect combination of sweet, hot and salty because of the brown sugar, rosemary and cayenne pepper.  

I believe that Sunday was an overall success for Via... 

Here are some highlights from the Race Directors:

• Spectator response hit an all-time high.  We had gridlock conditions at some relay exchange points.
• Many qualified for the Boston Marathon, and many ran personal records.
• We had a great volunteer turn out!
• Over 150 of the cutest kids you ever saw ran in the kid’s races on Saturday.
• Hundreds of high school students turned out to participate as volunteers, cheerleaders and community advocates.
• Relay team participation hit an all-time high. 
  

Congrats!!

As for running, I did a nicely paced 5.5 miles last night and tonight, I am meeting Jesse for a workout.  It is unknown at this point what I will be doing, but I will be sure to share with you after it is complete.  We are also going to discuss my fall race calendar.  I have some ideas in mind, but I need to decide ASAP so Jesse can accurately prepare my training schedule.  It's all so exciting!  Enjoy your Tuesday!

LVHN Marathon, Half and Relay for Via Recap Part One

What a weekend!  Yesterday morning, the LVHN Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay for Via was held in the Lehigh Valley.  If you read my blog, you already know that I am a committee member and volunteer for this amazing, community-wide event.  Like any race, we have been planning this run for months and months and it was finally here.  If you missed some of my previous posts, you can check them out here, here, and here.

On Saturday, Payton and I headed over to the race packet pick-up to gather our relay exchange zone supplies.  Our packet was complete with a bull horn, which was very enticing for a seven year old.  In addition to all of the festivities {the walk, expo, etc}, they had a kid's race for children ages two through ten.  Of course, they divided them up by age and distance.  Since Payton is seven, she ran approximately 100 meters with five to seven year old kids.  Here she is, posing with her number in front of the Bethlehem Steel Stacks.  I love how every kid got a #1 on their bib!  

A view of the old Bethlehem Steel furnaces...A few years ago, one of the Transformer movies was shot right here in this area.  Hollywood adorned these buildings with amazing lighting, which still remains today, and it is so pretty at night when it is all lit up. 

 Always the supporters, my parents came to see Payton run. 

Proud mom!!!

The start....

And they're off...I really didn't get a great action shot.

My girl, with her finisher's medal...so cute!  Unfortunately, Payton still isn't sold on running...but she is still young.   

 

Since the post about the actual event will be quite long, I decided to divide the race recap into two parts.  Log in tomorrow to see photos of the run itself!

Have a great Monday! 

VIA Community Spotlight and Charity Event

Hello Guys!

How is everyone today on this {gloomy} Friday?   Here in Bethlehem it is rainy and 64 degrees, but I am kind of digging this weather as a change of pace from the heat.

This morning, I did an easy three and then hit Laurel's yoga core class for 75 minutes.  It felt so good!  

Let's get on to the fun stuff...yesterday was crazy!  In the afternoon, I had the chance to do a taping for RCN's Community Spotlight, a local TV show that focuses on events and organizations in the Lehigh Valley area.  For this show in particular, Via and the LVHN Marathon for Via was featured.  Here I am getting ready for the show and reviewing my script.

It was very relaxed and casual and the host, Dan Mowdy, was great with asking questions and prompting us on what to talk about next.  

Getting microphoned....

As you can see, it was like sitting and chatting in a living room.  It was a neat experience all for a good cause!


Later that night, I was one of four hosts for a Celebrity Bartender event for Via at The Apollo Grille.  For this, I served as a guest bartender and was able to chat with people about Via, what they do, and especially I was able to promote the race.  In case you missed yesterday's post, you can catch it here.  

Here I am in full bartending action!

My parents came...always the amazing supporters...

My husband, Fred!
 

Longtime friend and Moravian College Athletic Director, Scot Dapp...
 

Mark Will-Weber, my college coach...he's a legend!

I was so happy that my friends Sue and Heather showed up.  They were my room mom cohorts this past school year!

Local elite runner, Kathleen Jobes, and her adorable daughter.  We have known each other a long time!

Our good friends, Jim Wills and Ina, also stopped by to show their support for Via. 

I had such a wonderful evening and I think everyone else did too.  It warms my heart to think that those who showed up at the event, came to support Via and all of the amazing programs and services they provide for children and adults with disabilities.  I don't have a lot of free time in my life, but volunteering for Via has really made me appreciate what they do for my community.  

Again, for more information about Via, please click here.

For information about the LVHN Marathon, Half Marathon, or 5-person relay event on Sunday, September 9th, please click here.  Registration closes on August 17th at midnight.  

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Tracy

 

Charity Night Invite

Hello!  I have a fun event if you are in or around the Lehigh Valley area.  Tonight I will be hosting a Celebrity Bartending event, along with a few others from the committee, to benefit Via of the Lehigh Valley, as well as the Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via. 

As you can see from the flyer, there will be drink specials, and free appetizers will be circulated around the bar area of the restaurant.  Plus, $1.00 will be donated back to Via for every specialty martini sold.  We came up with a signature drink called the "Via-tini" where vodka, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and a splash of Gatorade will be shaken together to make a special concoction just for us!  It should be a ton of fun and I look forward to seeing you there!  

As for running, I got in 5 miles in this muggy, icky heat.  The humidity was awful!  I remember back in February how I used to curse the cold.  Now, how I wish we could have just one day of that weather.  

After my run, I stretched a bit and drank my SmartWater.  This stuff is great...you can replace the electrolytes lost without the sugar or calories of Gatorade.  

I was playing with the selective color setting on my camera again.  Anyway, off to take Willsey to the vet for his check-up {he doesn't know it yet}.  Have a wonderful day!

Do you have any tricks for surviving summer running?  

Summer Clothes Cleaning

Good morning!  

How are you today?  I'm ok.  This morning I set out to do a 4 mile run, my most since this whole Achilles tendonitis thing started, but I only got in 3.  I am starting to get really bummed because the pain has gotten a little better, but with everything I am doing {stretching, icing, PT}, it should be gone...in my opinion.  I asked John {the PT} today and he said it is just taking longer to heal due to the location of the inflammation.  I have a follow-up doctor's appointment on Monday with the orthopedic surgeon, so I will have a few questions for him when I go there.  

While at PT, they put me in this "sling-like" contraption to really get a thorough stretch.  They can adjust the level of intensity, and once they have it at the desired setting, I sit there for about 5 minutes {it seems like 55!} while my Achilles stretches.  Take a look...

Let me just say...I'm glad when the timer rings! 


As for today's post...I did some clothes cleaning yesterday.  It took me all afternoon to go through my closet, drawers and bins to try on and decide to whether keep, pitch or sell my wardrobe.  Since Christmas, my workouts have really picked up and by doing so, I lost at least a size...maybe two.  So, most of the clothes in my closet are too big.  I know that's not a bad problem to have, but I did have my work cut out for me while going through the process.  

After it was all said and done, I am giving away three full garbage bags to the thrift shop and I have all of this to sell at our yard sale in a few weeks...

  
My husband thinks it looks like a store!

I have to admit, I am not a neat knick.  Nor do I need things to be in perfect order.  But when I do get to go through my things, it feels so gosh darn good to toss things out and put things back in their places.  This is something I do every summer with not only my clothes, but the girls' clothes as well.  As a matter of fact, in the summer, I am pretty much a tornado that spins through the house.  


Among my clothes and accessories, I found these...

...my old college uniforms.  You see, school always ended at the beginning of May, but we didn't have the NCAA meet until the end of the month so school was closed by the time we were finished with our season.  Hence...the collection of singlets that I still have and cherish.  


Last night, Payton and I had a girls' night.  Fred went to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs game to see Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley rehabbing in the minor league.  We decided to do our favorite...Panera Bread and a Red Box movie.  I got my usual...Chicken Tortilla soup and a piece of bread, while Payton got her fav...Broccoli Cheddar soup.   

And for dessert...Low fat Peanut Butter Pie yogurt with graham crackers and peanut butter cups on a cone {obviously}!

  
On the agenda for today: baking a few treats for our cabin retreat this weekend and a committee meeting for the LVHN Marathon for Via, plus Laurel's yoga class in the evening.  I hope you have a great day!

Enjoy!

Tracy