The ING NYC Marathon

Gamma brought her homemade spinach lasagna for J.T.'s special pre-race dinner.

"Go Daddy!" J.T. is the 2nd runner in this photo (blue tank top).

We enjoyed a post-race dinner down the street from our apartment at a Greek restaurant (in honor of our 2010 Greece marathon trip with 7 close friends).

From Wikipedia: "The New York City Marathon (branded ING New York City Marathon for sponsorship reasons) is a major annual marathon (42.195
km/26.219 mi) that courses through the five boroughs of New York City.
It is one of the largest marathons in the world."

"The 2011 Marathon was held on November 6. The men's event was won by
Kenyan athlete Geoffrey Mutai in a time of 2:05:05, breaking the
ten-year-old course record. Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia won the women's
race in a time of 2:23:15.
Edison Peña, famous for keeping up his running routine during the 69
days he was trapped in the 2010 Copiapó mining accident, ran the
race."


This was J.T.'s 16th marathon. He qualified for the race in
February's Myrtle Beach Marathon.
The first New York City Marathon was held in 1970, the year J.T. was
born. He filed this race report:

Finished in 3:11:40, my third fastest. I was very pleased with results.

Bobby you nailed it in your analysis, in many ways I ran the same race
you did a few weeks ago. Was a bit hot on pace in early middle miles,
but felt like I intentionally pushed and consistently challenged
myself to take what was available by course, crowd and how I felt. I
passed people throughout. Wanted to give myself a shot at a PR, and
stayed on that through 18 I believe. Fairly challenging course
(though nothing like Athens) which seemed to always be slightly up or
down, with a few tough bridges. I was real encouraged through 14.
15 was long heavy uphill on lower level of Queensboro bridge with only
sound the feet and breathing of other runners, I backed it down a lot
but began getting concerned as I descended into mile 16 and didn't
feel any better while emerging into the full throated 5+ deep crowd at
mile 16 on First Avenue. By 17 and 18 I could tell it was going to be
a really hard last hour as legs felt deadened and stride was faltering
when I hit an uneven spot and I realized a PR was out of question but
math was not working as well in my head ... Decided to just see if I
could hang around through 22, and seemed to hold it together pretty
well. But by 23 it was really rugged and I thought I would be winning
the struggle to hold 8 MPM, particularly when all of 24 was a slow
uphill with my family waiting at the top. Somehow as I descended
through 25 in Central Park I "rose up on wings like Eagles", saw a
virtual Herr Booze come rapidly into view, and surged through one of
my fastest miles of the day into an exultant slightly rising finish.
Alive!

Some memorable scenes:
- the African-American church at mile 12-ish in Brooklyn which had a
mass choir on the steps singing Glorious!
- the hard rocking band in the Orthodox Jewish section with the
beards, dark jackets and the Shalom and Be Kosher! sign behind them
- the lady with the sign "Black Toenails are SO COOL!"
- the classic sign "Run like you stole something!" which somehow took
on added meaning in the middle of Harlem.

Really remarkable event here in NYC, just tremendous environment,
following the best marathoners in the world through classic scenery of
all five boroughs (the day started with a ferry ride past the Statue
of Liberty at sunrise ... Incredible, goose bumps. From race start by
crossing the Verazanno-Narrows bridge to mile 17 running up first
avenue in Manhattan and miles 20-24 down 5th ave before finishing
through Central Park), cheered on by huge crowds (biggest I've ever
seen - 2 million reported), thick field of quick runners surrounding
you the whole way (45,000 in all), perfect sunny cool weather with
just a bit of swirling wind.

All in all a great day and great trip.
Headed to see Ellis Island and Lady Liberty tomorrow.

Thought of our Greek group as we had a Greek dinner tonight ... No Ouzo however!

NYC Family Trip Nov. 2011

We met J.T.'s parents in NYC for a 5-night stay in this apartment just west of Central Park on 95th Steet.

Sightseeing is not all fun and games.

We enjoyed the view from "The Top of the Rock" at Rockefeller Center.

J.T. with his dad.

We stopped for lunch and a cupcake then we stopped by the American Girl store with Gamma.

We visited Wall Street (above) and passed through the Occupy Wall Street protest there (below) en route to the 9-11 Memorial.

The Popover Shop.

We brake for all pressed penny souvenir machines.

We toured the Natural History Museum the day before J.T.'s marathon. Trivia: We went back to the apartment that afternoon and watched the movie of this place called "Night at The Museum."

J.T. and Lydia attended the museum's special butterfly exhibition.

Lydia and Russell playing together in Central Park.

This sign caught our eye.

On our way to watch J.T.'s race, we spent some time with the grandparents at The Met (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). They treated us to enormous pretzels from a street vendor there.

The day after the marathon, J.T. made it out to Ellis Island with us.

We wrapped up our NYC experience with another visit to Times Square and a visit to the M and M's store.

Russell reading one of his very first books to Pa at bedtime.

As we left the city, this airport sign stopped us in our merry tracks.

NYC 9-11 Memorial

We were fortunate to obtain tickets to the 9-11 Memorial that opened this September. Lydia (age 9) searched and found the name of the mother of a boy who is one year ahead of her at her school. Sandy Bradshaw of Greensboro was a flight attendant on United Flight 93.

Russell (age 5) was drawn to the name "Thomas" above.

Russell Summer 2011

Russell (Spiderman) in his car seat with our friend Tyler

We can't bear to correct these:

I'd like to drink some "root beard", please.

(While traveling) Lets roll our "soup cases" into the "hootel"

"It's almost quite done" (Russell reported to Mom about a model that Ross was building for him).

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He told a playmate not to wrestle with him any longer because it gives him a headache, adding, "you should write that down so you'll remember it!"

Russell to Austin: For the third time, my sister's name is Lydia!
Austin to Russell: Can I just call her Olivia?
Mom to Russell: You guys are funny!
Russell to Mom: Yes, yes we are!

Our Small Group Meets at the Park

Most weekends, we can be found with a small group of men who run 5 miles and women who walk around a lake. We've been a part of this open and supportive group for 10 years.

These friends are a "village". We push each others' strollers as needed. Scotty lends us her books on cd for our journeys. In the photo above, Russell is holding the leash of her sweet "Sheba."

Adults: J.T., David P., Raleigh H. Roger C. Steve K, Ross T., Preston M., Chip V., Laura V., Julie C., Scotty H. Kids: Samantha P., Tatum C., Lydia T., Russell T., Emily P., Morgan M.

Family Camp at Windy Gap

Lydia and a friend pose in front of the organic Black Bird tavern in Black Mountain, NC en route to family camp. Just a few weeks prior, I had visited my dear friend Pam (from Maryland) and her family who staying in one of these superb getaway "tree houses" (photo below):

My Superman (Russell) played basketball with our family and several others during our semi-annual trip to Young Life's family camp at Windy Gap (it's near Asheville, NC). Below, our team worked hard on their assigned push-ups during the scavenger hunt.

Easter in WV

My dear Dad and Mom with Ross. My parents still live in the home of my youth. We have a tradition (pictured) of making cinnamon rolls for holidays.

Wrapping up a fun day at the Clay Science Center in Charleston, WV.
Pictured: Dad, Me, Russell, Barrett, Skye, Lydia, Christina (neighbor) and Ross (in the back).

Quickly assembled out front on our way to church.

Dad and Mom with our three kids.