Friday, May 31, 2013

No, Thank YOU!

DL 10K Course

Disneyland 10K course has been leaked :) Looks like more in the parks than I was expecting :) Pretty pumped, even if I will be taking it easy since the following morning Ryan and I will be running the Disneyland Half Marathon together :)


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

God Appointment

God works in mysterious ways... HOW CRAZY!!


Woman buys used Bible, finds childhood essay she wrote 65 years ago




COVINGTON, Ky. - Five months ago, Marion Shurtleff, 75, walked into a tiny bookstore and bought a used Bible. What she found inside the Bible moved her to tears.
When she took the bible home, she noticed a yellow folded letter inside -- but didn't think much of it.
But after two months went by, Shurtleff took a closer look.
“And then I opened it up, and instantly I saw my name,”  10News Scripps sister station WCPO reported. “I recognized my handwriting. I hollered. I started shaking. I cried. I had goose bumps."
Stuck between the pages was an essay that she wrote 65 years ago to earn her merit badge for Girl Scouts, when she was living in Covington, Kentucky, where she was born. Shurtleff now lives thousands of miles away in San Clemente, Calif.
WCPO reported the letter read in part, “Be kind to animals. Do not pick flowers. Don’t walk on the grass.”
Shurtleff is now on a mission to figure out who previously owned the Bible.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Strawberry Festival 10K

This morning Ryan and I ran in the Vista Strawberry Festival 10K. It was Ryan's first 10K (and longest run to-date). We were planning on using it for his proof of time for the Disneyland Half Marathon (If you don't submit a roof of time, they just stick you in the last corral, which means a lot of weaving and probably not a super stellar time. You have to have proof of a finishing time of a distance of 10K or further [that way they know you can sustain the pace for a while] so we figured this would be perfect.). We ran this race last year, but the 5K distance. This year was the first year they added the 10K, which was nice.



We have been running 6 miles for the past 4 weeks and doing it right around 62-65 minutes. I told Ryan we could try to push it and break an hour (which would be faster than we were doing 6 miles at AND adding an extra .2 miles). He said he wanted to go for it, so we gave it our best shot.

Honestly, if we would have known the course, I think we might have been able to prepare a little better. Mile 3 was about .75 miles UPHILL. We were keeping a decent pace, but I have been sick for the last two or so days, and I just could NOT breath. Ryan powered through it though!



We ended up just missing an hour by a few seconds (Ryan by 13 seconds and me by 17 [his kick at the end was better than mine due to his legs being twice as long as mine :) ]). I think if the hills wouldn't have been in there we would have definitely made it - but hey, it made us stronger! Even though we didn't make the goal, we still ROCKED IT! It was the fastest Ryan has ran and the longest distance. This will DEFINITELY move him up a few corrals for the DL Half (and make that race much more enjoyable).







We brought Walt with us, since we knew the festival was going on afterwards and we could walk him around to the different booths and vendors. Also, we got a free Mother Earth Brewing Co beer with our race, so we figured he could come hang out in the beer garden with us after we ran.








Afterwards we went and got donuts (I told Ryan it was 'his day' since he finished his big race) and ate them at the beach. Then Ryan took Walt down the slide...



And then when we got home, this is what happened (I think they were both a little wiped out).

Workout Recap - Week 21

Sunday, May 19th – Easy 6 miles with the hubby, Foam Rolled & Stretched


Monday, May 20th – Elliptical for 60 minutes, Foam Rolled & Stretched 

Tuesday, May 21st – Strength Training (abs, back, arms and legs)

Wednesday, May 22nd – Stationary bike for 60 minutes (18.45 miles), 40 flights of stairs


Thursday, May 23rd – Sweaty Six miles


Friday, May 24th – Biked 19.45 miles, 2 mile jog with hubby and puppy


Saturday, May 25th – Rest day

Switched up the workouts slightly this week (mostly the order, not the actual workout). Our Growth Group got cancelled this week, which allowed me to get in a run on Thursday (normally my rest day) and bump everything up a day - which was nice since Ryan and I had a 10K this morning. Still in the tapering mode, since I have a half marathon next week (I am slightly worried that I have lost my 'speed', so this might just get chalked up to a 'fun run' because I am not sure if my goal time is actually feasible any longer). I will be posting the recap from this morning's race soon (either later today or tomorrow, depending on what we end up doing). 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Dachshund and Lion?!

Bonedigger the crippled lion forms an inseparable bond with Milo the miniature sausage dog... who even helps him cleans his teeth!


A lion and a miniature sausage dog have formed an unlikely friendship after the little dog took the king of the jungle under his wing as a cub.

Bonedigger, a five-year old male lion, and Milo, a seven-year old Dachshund, are so close that Milo helps the lion clean his teeth after dinner.

The 500lbs lion dwarfs little Milo, yet after the dog took the disabled lion into his protection as a cub, Bonedigger has rarely left his side.

Unlikely pals: Bonedigger the lion gives Milo the Dachshund a loving cuddle at a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.
Unlikely pals: Bonedigger the lion gives Milo the Dachshund a loving cuddle at a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma.

The two have been inseparable over the past five years at G.W. Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. 
Bonedigger was born with a metabolic bone disease that left him mildly crippled.

    When Milo and two other five-year old wiener dogs, Bullet and Angel, sensed that the cub was disabled they sought to comfort and protect him.

    Bonedigger and his pack of dogs cuddle, feast on raw meat and play in the grounds together.

    Park manager John Reinke, 43,works at the zoo where he witnessed the bond develop between the unlikely duo.

    Long friendship: Milo and Bonedigger have been inseparable ever since the Dachshund took the disabled lion, who suffers from a metabolic bone disease, into his protection as a cub
    Long friendship: Milo and Bonedigger have been inseparable ever since the Dachshund took the disabled lion, who suffers from a metabolic bone disease, into his protection as a cub
    Big clean: Bonedigger and Milo are so close that the lion as the little sausage dog clean his teeth
    Big clean: Bonedigger and Milo are so close that the lion as the little sausage dog clean his teeth
    Talk the talk: Milo has even learned how to growl like a lion, copying Bonedigger's way of communicating as he would with other lions in the wild
    Talk the talk: Milo has even learned how to growl like a lion, copying Bonedigger's way of communicating as he would with other lions in the wild

    He said: ‘This friendship between an 11 pound wiener dog and a 500 pound lion is the only of it's kind in the world ever seen.'

    Mr Reinke, who lost both his legs after a bungee jumping accident, added that the friendship between Bonedigger and his pack is unique.

    ‘He wouldn't be so friendly with other dogs - it's all down to them being pals since he was a cub. ‘

    Milo often gives his best lion impression, copying Bonedigger's 'puffing' - a deafening lion growl that can be heard over a mile away.

    Wild lions use it to communicate with other prides in their natural environment.
     
    Dog's dinner: Bonedigger shares a meal with his dachshund friends at Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma
    Dog's dinner: Bonedigger shares a meal with his dachshund friends at Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma
    Just hanging: Despite the lion's title as king of the felines, Bonedigger is happy to relax on the roof of his hut with sausage dogs Milo and Bullet
    Just hanging: Despite the lion's title as king of the felines, Bonedigger is happy to relax on the roof of his hut with sausage dogs Milo and Bullet
    Big cat: Animal handler John Rienke gives a tired looking Bonedigger a cuddle while Milo looks on
    Big cat: Animal handler John Rienke gives a tired looking Bonedigger a cuddle while Milo looks on

    ‘Milo does his best to copy Bonedigger when the lion tries puffing to communicate with other lions in the park ,’ added John.

    'The New Fantasyland' 30th Anniversary



    This Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of an important celebration. The year was 1983, the day was May 25, and a new, redesigned Fantasyland was unveiled at Disneyland park. Of course in true Disneyland fashion, there was a grand opening, including the lowering of the drawbridge at Sleeping Beauty Castle. Read more on the Disney Parks Blog: http://bit.ly/13JrcFu

    Check out the blog: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/
    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/disneyparks
    Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disneyparksblog
    Subscribe to our YouTube channel:http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...
    Find more videos: http://www.youtube.com/disneyparks

    Thursday, May 23, 2013

    Registration Opens SOON!

    Look what arrived in my email box this afternoon...



    THE COLOR RUN!!! Ryan and I had a BLAST last year!! It was seriously my MOST FAVORITOUS race to date!

    But this year we are participating in the Color Me Rad race. My mom will be out for it, so it was a NO BRAINER! Thankfully the sign up is after our Color Me Rad race - that way we can decide if we want a second COLOR race in a year :)

    Puppy Classes


    We started puppy classes this past week. Puppy 2 Classes to be exact. We are doing them through Petco by our house. Puppy 2, not because he passed Puppy 1, but because he was too old for that class (I guess it is really for ‘puppies’ like 0-6 months old and Walt is about 9-10 months). [Which does remind me, I wonder if Walt gets some sort of certificate for passing the class, hehe.]

    We showed up for our class and found out that we were the ONLY ONES in the class. At first I was a little annoyed. I thought to myself that Walt would be real good in class, but that is because there weren’t many distractions around – which is why we wanted to do a class in the first place. After a few minutes I realized that the distractions would NOT be an issue. The trainer has her dog there, not to mention there are always people (and animals) coming in and out of the store, and since we are in the middle of the action, Walt sees, hears, and smells it all.


    The nice thing is that since we are the only ones in the class we are able to dictate the pace at which we go and what we learn. She is able to use Walt in the example for everything, so it isn’t like a big group of 20 dogs and we are hoping that we are paying attention and learning things properly. We are able to work one-on-one. Another nice thing is, we signed up for the class, but even though no one else signed up, we still are only paying the class price (which is $109 for a 6-week class instead of $300 for 4 one-on-one sessions).

    This past week we went over our concerns (pulling on a leash, not coming when called, etc). She said that we would be able to work on all of them – so hopefully after 6 weeks we have a PERFECT dog [I know I am partial, but I have to say he is pretty close to perfect right now, hehe].


    After we went over our expectations we started getting down to business. We went over Sit, Stay, and Come. She also wants us to work on boundary control (he wants to run out of the car as soon as you open the door, so trying to work on boundaries that he cannot cross until we let him know).

    I feel like for the most part it is training us. We need to know a good way to do it and how to stay consistent. Hopefully the trainer can teach Ryan and I (and in turn we can engrain it into Walt). 

    40 Bounces To Freedom

    A little video that Ryan took during the ROC Race (on the 40 Bounces to Freedom obstacle). As you can see, there was quite a hold up on some of the obstacles...


    Wednesday, May 22, 2013

    Official ROC Race Photos

    They have posted the 'official' ROC Race photos [my original recap can be found here]. I was really hoping for one of me falling into the Wrecking Ball pool, but I didn't see it (but then again, I didn't sift through the hundreds of thousands of 'Lost and Found' photos, so they might be out there, I just haven't seen them).

    Anyway, there were a couple AWESOME ones of Ryan and Cassi on that obstacle. [You can see me in the background waiting :)]





    We are thinking we might have to buy one of the ones of Ryan, especially since he made it all the way across.

    There was also one of Ryan and I at the end. And just in case you can't tell, WE WERE SOAKED! But with HUGE smiles on our faces, you can tell it was a fun time had by all.


    And then this is the 'official' picture at the Dr. Bronner's Magic Foam Experience - after they had hosed off all of the foam of course. [I am in the middle center in the green and Ryan is next to me.]


    Tuesday, May 21, 2013

    Photo Booth Fun

    We went to a friend's birthday party two weekends ago and had a BLAST! All of us were saying it was one of the BEST parties we have been to! Got to say, the company made the party (but the planning, the ambience, the details also helps :) )! There was a 'photo booth' set up, so of course we had to partake...

    Me and the party planner

    Me and the birthday girl

    Yes, I am da batman!

    Some of the Growth Group Girls

    Mixing friend groups

    Ben told us we looked like we should be on a cruise ship

    Where is Ryan looking?

    Some of the Growth Group Girls

    Some of the Growth Group Girls

    Trying to get ONE good shot

    Then the shenanigans begins

    Love the laughter

    Funny that Kelly and I had no idea what was going on behind us :) But look at the scared kid in the background...

    Workout Recap - Week 20

    [just noticed this was still in my drafts and didn't actually publish... sorry about that!]

    Sunday, May 12th – Easy 6 miles with the hubby


    Monday, May 13th – Strength Training (abs, back, arms and legs)

    Tuesday, May 14th – Long Intervals on the Elliptical for 60 minutes

    Wednesday, May 15th – Stationary bike for 60 minutes (19.25 miles)

    Thursday, May 16th – Rest Day

    Friday, May 17th – Eight Easy miles, Foam Rolled & Stretched


    Saturday, May 18th – Biked 19 miles, Foam Rolled & Stretched


    Had to switch up the order of the early week workouts because Ryan and I had to switch days for letting Walt out at lunch. Other than that, a pretty standard week. Starting to taper for the craziness of races coming up. (Really my tapering only effects my Friday run, everything else stays pretty consistent) Looking forward to the bling :)

    Happy People