The Fair

      10 Comments on The Fair

Yesterday morning I had a tough time getting up at o’dark hundred for my scheduled training.  Even though it’s only August, the days are getting shorter now, and when I awoke at 5:30am, I looked out the window and saw that it was still quite dark.

I had originally planned to do my run with my oldest while the youngest rode his bike, but even if I had waited a half-hour, I knew it would still be too dark to have them on the road.   I couldn’t wait any later than 6am to do the run, because then I wouldn’t have enough time to get ready for work.

When I knew my plan to bring the kids along wouldn’t work, I had this brief moment where I thought, “It’s so dark out.  I could just go back to bed…”  But somehow, deep in the recesses of my mind, I knew that I would regret it later, so I went downstairs, put on  workout clothes and glasses, and out the door I went.

My first stop was actually the barn—since Thursdays are “short run” days*, there is also strength training to do, and I figured I could get that done first while I waited for it to get lighter.  I did “lats” today (still using the tried-and-true Arnold Schwartzeneger  Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding), and it felt pretty good.  I only do 3-4 exercises when I do my strength training, which I’m sure some would say that really shouldn’t count as “strength training” at all, but a quick 15-20 minutes helps keep me motivated to do it.  If I had to do 40 minutes worth of strength training on any given day, in addition to running 3 days a week, I know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t keep up with it.

Once I finished the workout, I went back in the house to put my contacts in and then headed out for my two-mile run.  It was quite cool for a chance, but since it was dark, I used a new gadget I had purchased a few months back when I decided I was serious about running.

It’s a battery-operated safety light that clips to your waistband or wherever you can make it work.  It cost me $5.99 at the running store, and it has both a steady light option and a flashing option.  I chose the steady option, clipped it to the waistband on the back of my shorts, and took off down the road.  I checked it once right after I started running, and it seemed to be fine, so I didn’t think about it again.  Well, until it fell off at about 7/10ths of a mile. *rolling eyes*  I guess I got what I paid for.

Unlike the towel incident a few weeks ago that nearly ended up costing me actual money, this time I chose to turn around and get it.  You can see where it was on my timing:

However, I still managed a sub-10 pace (barely, ha ha!):

As far as my sore tendon goes, I actually forgot about it until just after I turned around at the first half-mile, but then I definitely remembered it, and continued to remember it throughout the day. 😛 It wasn’t enough to keep me from finishing the run, though.

It was a full moon Wednesday night/Thursday morning, and it was really beautiful when I first went out at 5:40am.  In addition, when I made the turn around for my last half-mile, I was going east, and the sunrise was equally stunning.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go back for pictures, so there aren’t any photos from my run this morning, sadly. I can’t stand the thought of a post without pictures ;), so instead of run pics, I will share a few fair photos!

The boys and I went to the county fair on Tuesday night.   I am actually quite experienced in not only attending fairs but also exhibiting in them.  My first foray into fair entries was when I was about 12—I entered a modeling contest at the Michigan State Fair.  Ha! That makes me laugh just thinking of it!  Here’s a shot of me modeling a top my mother crocheted for me so that I could enter the “handmade clothing” division.

How awesome is that?!  ROTF!!!  Shockingly, I did not place. 😉

Beginning in 1998 and then for many years afterward, I entered items I had made, such as my jams, salsa, and decorated cakes.  I actually used to be a pretty good cake decorator back in my pre-kid days.  Here’s a shot of me with my first blue ribbon in 1999.

I weighed a bit more back then!  And, finally, here’s a shot of my grand prize-winning cake from 2004 (I made my own baby shower cake, and then recreated it for the state fair a few years later).

I also won top prize in the Strawberry jam division that same year…first out of 24 entries!!!

Sadly, our beloved Michigan State Fair was cancelled after 2010 for budget cuts. 🙁  It really breaks my heart not to be able to attend the state fair anymore—I used to go faithfully ever year, even when I wasn’t entering items!  I have hopes that it will come back some day, but in the meantime, I’ve enjoyed entering my local county fair.  The first time I entered (jams), about 5 years ago, I did not win a single ribbon.  That soured me on the local fair scene, but I decided to try again last year with jams, salsa, and—for the first time ever in any fair—pictures!  I was delighted to take home blues for strawberry and blackberry jam, as well as for one of my pictures!  I also got a second place for my other picture and a third for raspberry jam.

With last year’s success, I wasn’t expecting a great deal this year, and my jams ended up doing only moderately well:  all three got third place, but none of them were last place, so I’ll take that. (My bronze medals, as it were…)  My scenic picture also got a third place (again, at least it wasn’t last!), but I was thrilled to see that the picture I was most proud of got a blue ribbon.

I took that picture last October, and it was a truly lucky shot, but I have received so many compliments on it since then, I knew I had to enter it.  I debated whether to enter it as scenic or candid, but my friend Tonia convinced me to enter it as a candid shot.  Thanks, Tonia! 😉  I made my boys pose for a picture where they are pointing at the first-place picture of…themselves!

The youngest is clearly a little confused and thinks he’s a toddler sitting in a corner. 😉

Obviously, this post has had very little to do with health or exercise, but I will end with telling you the most amazing fair accomplishment of all—we ate absolutely no fair food while we were there!  We saved a lot of calories, but I think what we really saved was money. 😉

 

Thanks for reading!

 

*Hal Higdon calls two miles a short run.  I, however, do not. 

10 thoughts on “The Fair

  1. Jenn

    Fond memories of the fair. What a fun day for you all. Congrats on your ribbons and that is a gorgous photo of your boys.

    Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Thanks, sweetie! I have LOTS of fond memories of the fair–hope we get the BIG one back someday! xoxo

      Reply
    1. steph Post author

      Awww, thanks. 😀 It was a fun fair this year, and I’m thinking I might try entering a cake next year. Thanks for reading!

      Reply

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