Dixon Family Fun Day #1

Around the Dixon casa this summer, we are trying to take one day each week to get out and experience an adventure. We're calling these Family Fun Days. It's a work in progress, but today Amy and I realized that our three goals are: free (not counting a meal), local (within say 20 miles) and new.

So this morning, we loaded up the brood and drove them downtown to the Fresno Met. We had heard that the first 25 people get in free on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and when we got there 20 minutes before the doors opened, it became clear that we weren't the only ones who had heard about that deal! So...so sad, we drove on past. No Bob the Builder exhibit for us on this adventure! Next week?

Our back-up plan took us north of RiverPark up to the small town of Friant. Really, "town" is a bit strong. The only two stores you would recognize are the Subway and a Shell station. Other than that, we're talking local establishments such as "Friant Pizza," "Lake Millerton Boats," and, my favorite, "The Dam Diner." Friant, you see, exists only because there is an enormous dam that overlooks the town. Pictures and stuff here.

Sadly, the dam was closed. Dam. So we did what every adventurous family would do and took a right turn down a marginally paved road...into the San Joaquin Fish Hatchery (site here). From there, the wonders really never ceased. Fish as far as the eye could see. Big fish, small fish, newborns. The kids ate it all up. We probably could have spent the whole day there. It was a terrific way to spend our first Family Fun Day. Couple of pictures:

Happy Father's Day!!!

Father's Day Plans

Father's Day at the Dixon's is off to a great start. We all rolled out of bed this morning early so that I could run a 6 miler in downtown Fresno. Then donuts on the way home. Now vegging in front of the US Open. Here's the rundown of what's going to be a great day:

Now: US Open
11:00/30: two soccer games on, the US/Egypt game and, more importantly, Brazil/Italy
After-lunch naps
After-nap trip to the park to play
Sometime this afternoon, there's NASCAR from Sonoma
5:00: Dodgers v. Angels on ESPN
Dinner: POT ROAST in the slow cooker

Good times. Happy Father's Day everyone, and especially to my Dad who is right now hurtling across Kansas on his way to New England!

Where in the world are the Dixons?!?

You get 5 clues, and no fair peaking at the twitter stream to the right...

1. Madonna.
2. Trail Camps.
3. Higuera.
4. Beach.
5. Cabo.

Me, Lily and the General Sherman tree

The Dixons by the numbers...

Amy and I realized this morning that one year ago today, on June 13, 2008, combined we weighed approximately 90 pounds more than we do today. 90 pounds!

And, in a related story, only one of us was pregnant a year ago today...

Overheard the other day from the cheap seats...

Daddy: "Hey Lucy, it's time to go. Let's get in the car."
Lucy: "But Daddy, you don't have a shirt on!"
Daddy: "I don't need a shirt; I can just go like this, right?"
Lucy: "Noooooo. Because your belly..."
Daddy: "What's wrong with my belly?!?"
Lucy: "It has fur on it."

A couple more musings...

The marathon post mortem continues up in my gray matter...

1. About that wall...there's this scene in Run, Fat Boy, Run (rent it!) where he's trying to punch through the wall at the end of his marathon. Turns out the wall for me was at mile 20 and I didn't get through it until mile 25. Here's what I mean:

At mile 20, I recall being at exactly 3 hours. That's on my goal pace.
Then, I'm pretty sure I hit the 4 hour mark just past the 25 mile marker.
Which means that it took me a full hour to run those 5 miles.
Which means those were 12 minute miles.
Which means that those where the miles where my dreams of the 4 hour mark went sour.
Next time, more training runs approaching and passing that 20 hour wall...

2. Pain report...my muscles are almost back to normal. I made it a couple miles on the elliptical today at the gym with no worries. Also, I've been walking a lot each day this week. On the other hand, my left knee is still a bit gimpy. But the big problem are my toenails. It ain't a pretty picture down there! I emerged from the marathon with three lovely blisters, and, let's see, 4 blackened toenails. Currently, my left big toenail is threatening to come off. It hurts to wear a shoe. Among other things, no basketball for me this weekend out at CBS!

3. Video...turns out the good Rock n Roll folks actually have a video of each runner crossing the finish line. Wild. The site is here. Find the video link, type in my name and watch the middle of the screen at around 4:12:50ish. I'm in a red hat and, wow, do I look worked...

Off to Catalina tomorrow through Tuesday. I'm hoping to be out on a run again next Thursday. Get ready Jeremy!

Couple o' pics

In order:
1. I really wanted that gatorade at mile 12.
2. My personal cheering section.
3. Restarting after a near-collapse at mile 24. Gracie had just told me: "We're Dixons. We NEVER give up."

Musing on the marathon

So it's done. Or, more to the point, the race is done. It's the soreness that keeps on giving. Here are the results:

Time: 4:10:03
Overall place: 3,393 (out of 13,291)
Gender place: 2,406 (out of 6,828)
Age group place: 417 (out of 1,154)
Total pace: 9:33
10K split: 56:22 (9:04 pace)
Half marathon split: 1:57:43 (8:59 pace)
21 mile split: 3:13:35 (9:13 pace)

Some analysis:

1. As all can see, I was on my goal pace or faster through the half marathon. In fact, I was quicker than 4 hour pace until about mile 19.5 when the dude holding the 4:00 sign and his gaggle of hangers-on passed me for good.

2. That mile 20 or so point was where I met up with Mr. Cramps, and he and I ran together for the rest of the race. The best way I could describe it would be to say that my leg muscles felt like they were bubbling. Calves, groin, hamstrings. A mess. I eventually settled into a routine where I would walk through the water stations and up the hills and then shuffle or jog in between. I wasn't alone though; from mile 20 on, people were all over the sides of the road stretching, wretching, crying, etc. Not to get too philosophical about it, but yesterday I told Amy: "the marathon takes all you have and then asks for more."

3. I'm thinking my primary problem was my lack of suitable training. I did one long run of 20 miles, and that was just last weekend. Other than that, I missed the majority of long runs due to injury or schedule. I'll want to correct that for next time, so that when I get to mile 20, my legs have a category to understand what's happening.

4. We really do not have hills in Fresno/Clovis. They do here. In particular, that stretch from miles 8-10 up the 163 was brutal. And maybe the downhill was worst of all!

5. Weather. I was whining on Saturday about the SD marine layer. On Sunday I was delighted by it. Great running conditions.

6. Fans. It makes a huge difference having buddies out on the course. As I would approach where I knew folks were at, I'd run a bit quicker, wipe off the snot and straighten out my cap. So thanks to James, Serene, Jonathan and Matt at mile 8.5, Amy, the kids and her fam at mile 12, Joe and Angela at mile 19 and then Amy and the crew again at mile 24. And then a big shout-out to James to collecting what was left of me at the finish.

In the end, I had a great time. I think I might have the bug. What's next? How about this?!? Or maybe this? Pictures coming soon...