Relay Results

Hello “Frutchey Clan” team and friends:



We did great this morning running a family team relay in Sacramento freezing weather (it might snow tonight)!

We had lots of fun developing a unique team strategy for finding each other at the relay exchanges (Eddie invented a bird call). We also had a great time cheering on all those fast marathoners, some who were trying to qualify for Boston by running our local marathon (which has lots of down hill).



Meanwhile, together we ran 26.2 miles in a final chip time of 4:31:50!

Our pace was 10:22 per mile.

“Frutchey Clan” finished 55th out of 90 teams in the Family Team Division (in the top 61%).

177th out of 249 Overall Coed teams (71%).

And out of all teams we were 611th out of 910 (67%)



And we beat ALL TEAMS that didn’t even show up for the race at all!



Our handoffs and approximated individual accomplishments were as follows:

Karen ran the first 6 in 78:12 (12:35 per mile)

Eddie then ran from mile 6 to around 13.5 in 63:18 (8:20 per mile)

Sarah then ran from 13.5 to around 20.5 in 67 (9:22 per mile)

Betsey ran the final 5.7 in 61:50 (10:51 per mile)



Thank you for running with me friends and family. If it wasn’t so cold I’d definitely say lets run this one again next year. For now, let’s just defrost and perhaps keep our eyes peeled for other relay opportunities in our area in the future.

Cold CIM Relay

Just ran a new Personal Record for the 10k at 57:45 (9:16 per mile pace).

I ran a 7 mile leg of the CIM Relay this morning with the following teammates:

Karen, Eddie, myself, Betsy

It took us 4:35:00 or so to go the entire 26.2 miles. More details are forthcoming on how we placed but if you want to look us up the results will be at this link:



Look up the "Frutchey Clan" team under the family relay teams as well as the women's relay teams!

Time to nap!

Thanksgiving 5k

It was 32 degrees here in Overland Park, Kansas as I ran a new PR for the 5k over moderate hills, windy weather and with 5,000 others crowded next to me on narrow streets. While this is my fastest 5k yet, I wouldn't say it was the funnest, especially since I had no one to share it with. I think this is one of the first official 5ks I've gone to completely alone and it really did lack a sense of shared community for me. But in the end it did give me a nicer than expected time.

9:10 - Mile One
8:57 - Mile Two
8:12 - Mile Three
1:32 - last kick

27:22 - Total Time (8:48 per mile pace)
32:13 - my Thanksgiving 5k 6 years ago (age 25)
28:32 - my previous PR

The last mile I felt like I was going so slow and was so cold I couldn't feel my limbs. I was surprised at my time that mile, but really I just wanted to be done and go back to a warm house with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving...now when will that turkey be done?

Did you know I LOVE to run?

I went for another 30 minute run-while-the-kids-are-happy-and-before-things-get-crazy-while-Nate-is-watching-them, late last night from 5:30 to 6pm. I think I ran around a 9 minute mile and snuck in 3 miles. It was a little creepy running on the creek trail with the sun already completely gone. I made sure to only listen to one ear plug of my Ipod so I could hear people around me.

When I do get away to run like this I ask myself why it is something I enjoy so much. Humans don't usually do something regularly if they don't enjoy it, and since my friends and family have come to see me as a runner (since I run 3 or more times a week) I am starting to realize in hindsight that I do like running. Do I run for just weight loss or fitness or as an excuse to get away from children (thankfully they can't run as fast as me yet)? I guess I take running for granted and think everyone enjoys doing it and does it often, until folks refer to me as one of those "odd runner types". Then I look around myself and realize that running is something I don't have to do regularly, instead it is something I CHOOSE to do, and other CHOOSE NOT to do.

So why do I CHOOSE to run?...seems to be the pressing question which non-runners keep asking me.

I think the answer to this question is:
I Love to Run

Why? (as Lincoln would press the question further)

The answer to this goes back to when I started to run.
When I was 15 I moved to Oregon on my own to live with my grandparents on a farm.
My parents were going through a rough time.
And I was like Forest Gump, I would go and just run out in the country roads and fields.

Why?
I loved it.

Why?
Running made me feel young and fit. It gave me some quiet time to process my feelings. A run out in the field made me feel close to God and nature (I often had to play head butting games with our goats).

So why do I still run?
For many of the same reason. Quiet. Closeness to God. Nature (the stars were out last night). A calming effect on my soul. It is one of my life's constant stress release mechanisms.

Running has helped me get through many periods of my adult life (just like the title of my blog states).
I ran throughout college. I ran throughout my rockin' 20s (although I ate and drank and was merry throughout that time as well - leading to more weight gain).I ran while pregnant. I have run injured. I ran a marathon while grieving the death of my father. I ran during my first cooperate job. I ran through the darkest years of my marriage. I am now running through being a Mother of two and childcare provider of 4 and a wife of one great guy (who works long hours). I've run in California, then Oregon, than Washington, then California, then Kansas, then Missouri, and now California again. I've had lots of running partners too; from my high school basketball teammates, to Cara in college, Trish in grad school, Lisa in Kansas, Nate off and on where ever, My brother-in-law Will, My father-in-law Bill, Betsy here in Elk Grove, Eddie my brother here in Elk Grove, and my dog Edgar in Missouri (my props go out to you all, especially that poor beagle that I drug along behind me after 1 mile).


I must confess, looking back, I've run a lot!
I guess I must really LOVE to run.

Half Mararthon Personal Record

Despite a gut ache that has lasted all last week, keeping me from running, I successfully completed a half marathon yesterday morning. I had signed up for this race to just keep up my fitness after the relay in August (where I ran 14 miles over 24 hours). So now I was attempting to run 13.1 miles without stopping to walk or rest.

I got to the start line a little too late to wait in line at the porty potties and therefore had to get in line for the race. In hindsight, perhaps I should have stayed in line and just taken my potty break, since I had a chip timer on my shoe and I could have started a little late and had my start still count. Instead I started with a pace team that was carrying a sign for 2:25 and struck up conversations for the first 10 miles with this group. It really helped the miles tick by to actually have a group running my pace. I also felt like a real runner finally being fast enough to run with a pacing team.

My main fans were Nate and the kids in a double stroller which he rushed around town to see me at mile 1 (took my sweats), mile 3 (gave me a hat), mile 5, mile 12("Go Mommy!") and the finish! I was amazed at how often I saw them cheering me on. It really helped me.

After my potty break at mile 10 which I think took me 4 or 5 minutes I ran three 10 minute miles to catch up and pass the last pacing team (2:30), and kick nit home the last 1/4 mile at 9 minute pace. My chip time was 2:27:44 (11:17 pace). I remember the day when that was my pace on a 5k race! The last half marathon I ran was in 2005 before I had had children. I weighed 25 pounds more than I do now and ran it in 2:47. If I hadn't stopped for that much needed potty break (waiting in that potty line) I think I could have even beaten 2:25 (and had a pace in the 10 minute per mile range).

Races like this one are a blast. They make you feel fit and happy to be alive. At the finish we were given medals that were cowbells on ribbons, since this is the Cowtown Half. If I run it again next year I'll have to dress up more like a cow.

For now I need to focus on beating this stomach ache and getting ready for the Fun Run 5k on Dec 5th and our Marathon relay as a family on Dec 6th.

The Apparent Project Blog: All kinds of fasting....

The Apparent Project Blog: All kinds of fasting....

I am ending my beloved gym membership to fast and in some way help this ministry...join me.

I'm Haunted

I could write here about my most recent run that felt great and safe and made me feel free from adulthood. But instead I am haunted by the stories of my dear friends the Clay's who are working with orphans in Haiti. "Almost every day I am forced with the decision of whether to send a street kid home to no food so that I can have dinner with my family, or whether to let him stay and not know whether there will be enough food for our household of 10 this month." These words from Shelley haunted me as I ran tonight. They should haunt me. They should haunt us all.

Then another friend sent me an email just randomly..."I command you - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9" and our preacher just preached on "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Are we to go to Haiti and help the helpless too? For how long? Would it really comfort? I feel like someone I loved has died. How self serving this American world his with its gym memberships and running clubs and TVs and fast food while orphans are abandoned to die at trash heaps in Haiti.

Visit: This website to help!