London - first three days

After I ran my half marathon in Killarney, I flew to London late Sunday night.  I had to pay a ridiculous amount of money ($200) for over weight bags and that was AFTER I threw a bunch of stuff away.

I am staying at a hotel chain called Tune hotel - in the Kings Cross area.  It is right by the tube, is clean and safe.  My room has no windows and I had to pay for TV, towels and internet, but it is really cheap for London!

The first day was really hot - 93 and I was super sore from running so it was a rough day.  I started off walking toward the Buckingham Palace.  On the way there I walked through Trafalgar Square and stopped at the National Portrait Gallery.  I'm not a huge art person so I just walked through the portraits, but a few caught my eye - Kate Middleton, Maggie Smith, and Marc Quinn.  Quinn froze quarts of his own blood and made a cast of it.  So there is a blood head bust of him in a special case in the Gallery.  Weird.  I made my way down the mall to Buckingham Palace.

Kate was in labor so lots of excitement at the Palace.  There were tons of news crews there waiting for the birth.  I got there at the tail end of the changing of the guard ceremony.

I rested in St. James park for a bit and continued walking to Picadillly circus, Big Ben, Downing Street, Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, the London eye, St. Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey (the line was huge so I didn't go in the Abbey).  I went to Churchill's War rooms and museum - fascinating.

On Tuesday I slept in a little.  It was hot and sprinkled a little.  Lots of England got storms but we were lucky.  I went to St. Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge, and London Tower.  They did a huge cannon salute to the new heir to the throne who was born yesterday.  The tower was great - a lot of bloody history.  I did not go to the Jewel tower.  My friend Stacy will be so disappointed, but the line was HUGE and it was hot and you couldn't take pictures anyway.


On Wednesday I walked to Kensington Palace and passed Harrod's and Victoria and Albert Museum.  I would like to go sometime - many museums are free here.  I spent some time walking in Hyde Park and the Palace gardens.

It was a little tricky getting to the Palace today. Some roads were blocked, there was lots of security, and lots of news stations because Will and Kate went home with the baby yesterday.  The Palace was good and they told lots of stories, but I can't keep it all straight!  There was an exhibit of some dresses of the Queen, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana.  I went back to Westminster Abbey and there was NO line.  I got right it.  You couldn't take pictures which is always a let down.  The middle part of the Abbey looks like a normal cathedral, but the rest of it is full of dead people and their monuments.   It is an active church - they have services there and of course weddings and the coronations are held there.  I find it odd because it's basically like getting married in a cemetery.  You are walking all over graves.  Many kings, queens, poets, authors, scientists etc are buried there - about 3300 total including Robert and Elizabeth Browning, Lord Byron, Lewis Carroll, Geoffery Chaucer, Charles Darwin, Sir Issac Newton,

It was another beautiful day today.  Really warm for English standards.  I'm going to stonehenge tomorrow :)

meeting Sally Parker

Sally Parker

I travel by myself fairly often and many people say they wouldn’t do it because they would be lonely, bored, or scared.  There are times that I wish someone was with me, but for the most part I’m fine traveling by myself.   You meet people in unexpected places.  At the half marathon in Killarney yesterday I saw a guy with a Houston marathon shirt on and I asked if he was from Houston – he was and we chatted for about 15 before the race.  At about mile 6 I heard a woman talking to a fellow runner and I could tell she was American so I asked her where she was from – we ran and chatted for the next 6 miles. 

Today I met Sally Parker - she went by "Sal".  I went to the train station about an hour before my train and her friend had dropped her off.  She is in her late 70s and had spent a month in Ireland visiting her friend and taking weaving classes.  She had a reserved seat and asked me to sit with her.  I helped her get her bags on and off the train and we chatted for the 3 hour train ride to Dublin.  She told me all about her life in SC and her kids and their spouses/partners and her grandkids and nephews etc… She was a nurse, her husband a doctor and pretty much everyone in her family was a PA, EMT, nurse etc.  Her oldest son died of pancreatic cancer 6 weeks after they found out he had it.  Another son adopted 3 kids from china and Guatamala.  She asked all about India and MAET.  We talked about technology for quite a bit.  She just got a new phone – plain nokia and the lady kept trying to get her to get a smart phone and told her she’d be back in less than a year for one – and now she is thinking that may be true!  Her nephew wants her to get a mac and she said she doesn’t want to learn something new..  but she hears great things about macs and says she’s capable of learning so why not?  Her son told her she should get an ipad and she doesn’t think she needs one – I told her all about what I do with mine – I think she’ll get one soon!  She was such a delightful lady learning to do so much in her late 70s and traveling as much as she can.  She thanked me profusely for sitting with her and chatting.   If I’d been with a friend, I probably wouldn’t have said more than hello to her. 

Why don’t I mind travelling alone?  Because I meet people like Sally Parker.

Maybe I should actually train

When people find out I run races, they always say things like "I don't like to run" "I don't have time to train"  "I could never do it"  Well, I don't train either and it is a problem.  Don't try this at home!!  I was running pretty solid for a month or so in Jan/Feb then nada... This is why I don't run whole marathons - I'd actually have to train for that!!  I can bust out a half marathon with no training, but imagine what I could do if I trained!

About 6 min after the start gun, I was in the last 10 people of the race.  One of the men near me lamented how we were already last and I took that as my cue to be cheerleader for the pack of the back.  The man's brother took off and the other brother said he " was out of shape and drank a lot"  :)  I saw him a few times during the race.  I asked a woman who was a bit chubbier than me and asked if it was her first - she was struggling by mile two.  she said her husband was a massive marathoner and she was "tired of waiting for him at finish lines while he gets the glory of the finish"  She is my new hero!  I chatted with a really big man that you would pass on the street and think he was fat and lazy.  He was speed walking the marathon - his TWENTIETH this year!!!  He also does 50mi bicycle races etc.   Met a man from Houston (He was at the front of the pack - I met him before the race started)  and I ran with a woman for about 6 miles - she was from Ohio and was traveling Ireland with her husband for their 35th anniversary.

It was super hot and hilly.  I finished, took a shower and nap and went back out and people were finishing at the 8 hour mark.   Go them!!!

Today marked my 16th half marathon.
San Diego, Dallas, San Antonio (twice), Chicago, NYC, Williamsburg, Disney (twice), Texas hill country, Collage Station, Bunny run, Clear lake, Mumbai, Waterford Ireland, Killarney Ireland.

5 full marathons - Phoenix, Alaska, NYC, Chicago, Disney.

I will keep running races as long as I can, but maybe I should train :) 

Summer Camp for Teachers

I am currently earning my Masters of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) from Michigan State University.  Last year I went to school for a month in Dublin and this year I was in Galway.  If you do the whole program in the summer cohort, you complete 9 credits each summer and you do one online class.  There are about 50 students in the summer cohort.  We are a mix of international teachers and US teachers (mostly Michigan).  We go to class M-th 8:30 - 3:30 and Fri 9- 12.  We have a ton of work to do after class and on the weekends, but we do get some time to explore our host country.  Jean Pierre is the student life person and handles any non-academic questions we have and plans field trips and weekend outings.

The first weekend I went to Waterford by myself to run a half marathon.

Two of my roomies Janine and Blair

For the 4th of July, the whole program went on a field trip to Kylemore Abbey and other places in the Connemara area.

I had planned to go on a trip the second weekend, but had two much work to do.  On the third weekend I went to the Aran Islands with a group of MAETers.

They program is awesome.  I knew I wouldn't be able to learn technology through online classes so this program fit me perfectly.  We live in dorms and pretty much work, study, eat, and sleep together for 4 weeks.  This year I had three roommates - Janine (1st grade in Jakarta), Jessie (3rd grade in Jakarta), and Blair (art in Michigan).  Janine, Blair and I lived together last year with two other women.  It's nice to have people to have dinner with, go walking with, and work on projects together.  Our class was great this year.  We had 2 fantastic instructors and we had 7 new people in year two that were not with us last year.  It is great to have deep discussion about teaching and learning - teachers don't get to do that nearly enough.  This year we had 2 weeks to put together a technology conference for teachers.  This is us celebrating after we finished.

My greatest adventure with Charlie

I stayed with my sister and her family for a week.  She was 8 months pregnant and uncomfortable so I took Charlie on "adventures" to give my sister a break.  I'd take her in the stroller to the store or the park.   On our walks, she'd say "Aunt Bob, I'm happy"

future marathon runner

getting my purse so we could go 

on our way to the store and park 

On Thursday night, Brianna asked what I wanted to do on my last day in the states.  I said I wanted to take Charlie to the zoo.  Bri and Ben had a doctor appointment so they dropped me and C off at Miller Park (the park near my grandmothers house that I went to a lot growing up).  We played for a half hour until the zoo opened and met my brother Brandon there.  Bri and Ben came later and we all explored the zoo.  The doctor said the baby looked good, but she was still breach.

she loved the "windows"  we spent about 20 min of our 30 min at this one thing

taking a break with uncle Brandon

C saw kids on the carousel and wanted to ride it.  Bri didn't think she'd like it too much, but I got a ticket and thought we'd try it.   She sat on the dinosaur then a bunch of other kids got on so we didn't start right away.  She got bored and wanted "another animal".  I put her on a horse and stood to her side with my arm around her.  When the ride started, I heard her squeal.  I thought she was startled but she was thrilled!!  We waved at mommy, daddy, and Brandon every time we passed.  She LOVED it and of course there was a lot of very upset cries of "again!!" as we tore her away from it.

she has the elephant dress on that I got her

she was far more excited that she looks

 She had so much fun at the Zoo.  I thanked her for letting me take her and she said hugged me and snuggled with me and said she was glad.  We all piled in the car to go.  We didn't know that the day's adventures were just about to start!!!

We drove to my grandmothers old house to look at it and we were talking about what drive through we were going to.  We got about two blocks when my sister said she needed to pull over and she got out of the car.  Movies and TV always portray a woman's water breaking as chaotic and hilarious.  it kind of is!  I had never seen it happen in real life.  At least it happened in the street and not in a store or something!  Ben took over driving and he ran in the house to throw some stuff together - they were not prepared with a bag.  Thank goodness I was there to take care of Charlotte.  Bri and Ben went to the hospital and I tried to get Charlotte to take a nap.  She wasn't really sure about what was going on.
Later Mr. Ron (my father) came to get us and took us to the hospital to see Baby Sister.  Because they had an appointment that day, they knew she was breach and did a C section right away.  Natalie Faith was born exactly a month early and was healthy.

Charlie's life will never be the same!

First Irish half marathon

I am in Galway, Ireland for a month to do grad school.  We get out at noon on Fridays so I took a train to Dublin then Waterford to run the Waterford Viking half marathon.  Waterford is a cute town and I wish I had more time to see it.  I didn't even get to see the Waterford Crystal Factory.

It was a small marathon and not may roads were completely blocked off and there were also many roads with no sign where to go.  I tried to keep up with people so I could see where they went!  I was in such a rush to leave school to make the train that I forgot my running shoes.  I had my walking shoes on, but it isn't the same.  I ran quite a bit in february and a mile here or there in March and that has been the extent of my running!  I have been walking 5-7 miles a day in the last few weeks.  I thought the race would be measured in KM which is easier to pace myself, but no.  It was in miles.  I ran/walked for the first 9 miles.  Mostly running so I was proud of myself!  I felt blisters starting on my feet between mile 3 and 4.  Augh!!!  I can't believe I forgot my running shoes!  I found a civil defense ambulance med station and asked for vaseline to check how bad the damage was.  There was no blood coming out of my shoes so I took that as a good sign!  I have actually had that happen before :(  I pulled my shoes off and there was a big blister on both feet slightly in front of my arch.  They twinged a little when I walked and burned like fire when I ran so I decided to walk the last four miles.  I'm doing another half marathon in 3 weeks and need my feet recovered!  I still finished in 3:15.  Not bad.  There weren't tons of spectators out, but every single one of them said "well done" "You're almost there" and "it's all downhill from here"

It's a little painful to walk but I attribute it to my shoes and not the unpreparedness.  We'll see how the next one goes.

I am on a train right now to Heuston sta. Dublin, but it looks like there is a faster connection to Galway if I get off in Kildare.  I have a lot of school work to do so I will try to get home as fast as I can.

This is the only race I've ever been in where we got the same medals from running the half and the full. I asked twice if I had the right medal and they said yes.

I didn't get to take many pictures running.  Here's what I got.  When I changed my clothes I saw that my socks were bloody.  I chose not to show the very cool picture I took of my bloody foot!

June in Texas

My friend Theresa picked me up from the airport.  She has ran dozens of miles with me for Team in Training. I jabber and keep her entertained and she provides me with a witness so I can't quit :)  She took me to the DMV to get my drivers license renewed.   I went in and got a number and the two ladies next to me complained every time a number was called about how long the wait was.  Who goes to the DMV thinking it is going to take 10 minutes!?!?!?  I had been traveling for 23.5 hours and was waiting patiently.  They called my number about 30 minutes in, scanned my thumbs, checked my sight, took my picture and sent me on my way.  Of course, I don't actually have my license because Texas still mails you your license 6 weeks later.  WHY?!?!  I'm sure it is the only state that still does that.  I put my mailing address as my father's and hope he gets it and mails it to india for me.  Theresa took me to Stacy's house so I could nap until Norma got out of school.  4 hours later she had to come and force me up.  I was out for the count!!  We went with norma to Spring creek BBQ and I had a huge potato!!

I spent one night with Norma.  We went for a walk around a lake by her house.  They amount of space.. and quiet is amazing!  She went shopping with me the next day to get shoes etc.  and we went to Panera!!

I stayed with my friends Paul and Sally for the rest of my time in Houston. They are so sweet!  They let me stay in a really comfy room with and it was nice to take a real shower.  Paul rides his motorcycle to work so they let me use their truck which allows me to be independent and see people, shop, etc.  Their daughter Karin and her husband have three little girls who call me aunt Bob and I basically spent most of my Houston time with them.  They are 4, 3, and 2.5 and they are adorable.  I read to them, played with them, and ate with them.  Melody showed me her swim lesson skills in the tub :)  I bought them a puzzle in Thailand and we put that together a few times.  I also brought them bracelets, pillow cases, and change purses.  Aunt Bob is a hit!

I got to spend an afternoon with Jamili at the Olive Garden. Jamili and I work at a Girl Scout camp in Illinois in 1996 and 1997.  We have been friends through moves to multiply state and India!  and it is always great to see her.

I only got to spend 3 days in Houston and then it was off to Illinois.