Run to the Moon

I finally returned to the Run to the Moon race in Wapakoneta, after quite a few years. I avoided it due to issues that happened the last time I ran it, such as the finish line getting pulled due to a storm, and getting assigned a finish time that was not accurate. Honestly, that was 8 years ago, which was a bit too long to hold a grudge. 7 years, maybe, but by year 8...

Much like 8 years ago, it didn't take long for the rain to start. It didn't get as bad this time, but with my breathing problems, it was still rough. It also dug in how much speed I have lost. While I didn't take any walking breaks (I am sort of proud about that) I still only averaged a 16:53/mile for the 5k. 8 years ago, I averaged 13:43/mile for the 10k. (I also weigh a lot more than I did last time.) 

That being said, with my youngest and my wife both running, and my son being a bit faster than me last time, I hoped to improve over Fly Me to the Moon 5k. I was successful, cutting about 30 seconds/mile from my time. My son was more successful, no only setting a PR for himself, and only about half a minute behind my PR. From 9 years ago at a cemetery run. Neither of us even came close to my wife, who set her new 10k pr and got 3rd female overall. So yeah... She got an extra medal from a few astronauts. 

Since this was the sister race to Fly Me to the Moon, this race also gave out a series medal. I came home with two medals, as did my son. (My wife came home with three, counting her place award.) 

I don't know if I will do this again next year, but I probably won't skip it for another 8 years.

 

Davey Woods SNP

 

Getting back out to hike somewhere new is a rare thing anymore. It always feels like I am short on time, which doesn't help. Still, I managed to pull off a new location for a hike about half an hour from my house, and it was a nice change of scenery. My wife and I headed to Davey Woods, a State nature preserve not all that far from home. I bookmarked it last year to go to, but didn't ever make it. 

I found that the park was quite nearly the middle of nowhere, though I know there are a few State Parks nearby. Parking was just a small grass field, and a gate that was just there to keep cars out. 

I think this was the first time I have been to a State preserve, instead of a County based one. It was also the first time I have ever seen a warning about Feral Swine in Ohio. I remember a girl in college that I used to talk to, and she used to work with a blind person to hunt wild boar in South Carolina. I heard a few stories from her, and also some family members of mine that had moved down there. Honestly though, I had no idea wild bacon was a problem in Ohio. (I looked it up, and it seems like a problem on the far side of the state, but... they are edible. Thank you ODNR for that information.)

Walking past the wild pig sign, I have to admit, I still have the wild pig / wild boar joke from Robin Hood Men in Tights stuck in my head. Seriously, I don't think I saw any signs of pigs, but I could be wrong. Maybe it was just a pig-free day? 

There are only two trails at the preserve, and we were able to hit both of them easily. I think the trail was a bit more technical than we are used to, but not difficult. It wasn't nearly as bad as the trail at Kiser Lake last summer.

One thing that did stand out on this trail was a small cemetery. With what looked like three graves, and not really near anything else, it was a strange sight to see. 

Now, to be fair, they died about 150 years ago. I ran the numbers, and it was after the revolution, and we need to recognize that the local forest are often young growth.  There might have been trees before, maybe most were cleared out for lumber, and this is just reclamation. I am curious what it looked like there a century ago. I suppose I could just start carrying a tape measure in my hiking gear and measure a few trees to estimate their age. Maybe they are older than I thought, maybe not. (Part of me thinks it is too much hassle, but writing that into a program might be useful in a classroom. I think curiosity will win out.) 

Either way, I am glad to have gotten another hiking location out of the way, even if it wasn't going towards filling out my State Park guidebook.  I don't know if I would go back and hit this location again, purely due to it being out of the way, and not being all that long. At least it was a change of pace.

Summer

This summer has been less productive than I expected, I admit. I really hoped I would get the job I interviewed for at the beginning of summer, which didn't happen. On the plus side, I have had at least one interview each week so far, but summer feels almost gone now. 

I have had to cancel a camping trip I had planned, and a few other random things due to interviews. I had planned a weekend away while the kids were out of town with their grandmother, but a last-minute interview got scheduled, ending that. I got a rejection email not even ten minutes later. 

I felt like I've had some strong interviews, but nothing so far. Of course, there are some interviews that were crap shows of the finest degree. I don't think I will ever forget the phone interview while I was at the DMV with my son getting his learner's permit. I got distracted enough I put down the wrong eye color on the form. I thought they would have scheduled that interview for later, not just called and put me on the spot. 

I still have time before the school year starts to find a job, and I renewed my substitute teaching license just in case. I just don't know what to expect yet. I hope to at least make the time to update this blog some more. At least I know I have plans, a few races are scheduled, a concert. A few things did get canceled, but I am looking forward to the Renaissance Festival. King's Island is having Haunt and Winterfest again, those are always good times. Still, with some schools starting back within the next month, it just feels like there isn't enough time.