The End...of this Book

Let's start out with the easy stuff.  Three runs this week and only one work out with the app.  I did complete a workout in my backyard that was more functional per se than typical gym work out.  Let me explain.  

We had new neighbors move in a bit ago and they approached us about our fence that we share.  When we bought this house, one of the main reasons was for the fence.  It's wooden and in decent shape and tall, but our new neighbors wanted to put up a fence of their own.  They asked if they could just butt up to our fence OR take our fence down and put up theirs in its place.  I was torn because they wanted to put up a metal fence and I wasn't sure how I would feel about it.  In the end, we decided to go with the metal fence because it's maintenance free and should last the rest of our lives in this house.  It will also be super hard to tear down because it's welded.  Anyway, the guys doing the fence work have a lot going on so it's taken quite a bit to get it done.  They finally got our side done and there was a gap in places under the fence that I just could see Ollie getting out of.  We inherited from a job site lots of landscaping limestone stones that over the years we've used here and there but still have a ton of.  Since it was originally piled up against the fence, we had to move it and I thought why not use it to block those holes???   Let's just say I did a ton of squats and lifts of these heavy buggars, but they are placed and I've used up several of them.  It was a great combo of arm and leg work out for sure.  Functional fitness is the best!  I am hoping we can redo our backyard now, finally get grass to grow because we have sun, and maybe build a fire pit in the middle of the yard to make it more usable.  Honestly the past years it's just been a dog toilet, and I would love to change that.  I love our deck, but would love a fire pit just as much.  

We also had another wrestling dual this week.  Andrew did not make weight, clocking in at 170 so he had to wrestle JV.  The first dual team only had one kid at that weight, but they kindly let him wrestle both JV and varsity to give Andrew some mat time.  The match ended in a pin, but Andrew put up a fight and that is all I ask of him.  This kid was a BEAST and normally that would freak Andrew out, but this time it didn't.  Baby steps and small victories.  I will take it.  Still on the journey to lose those last five pounds.  

We also had yet another round of Northern lights.  This will never get old!  I could see them faintly with the naked eye but my camera on my phone got some good ones, even with light pollution.

Ollie also got an early Christmas present.  She's not very sure of it and Boom hates his so I am not sure why my dogs don't like these Noxgear light up harnesses.  We need to continue to work on fitting it I guess, but she needs something at night so I can see her black butt in the darkness.  

We also finally got to a playoff game!  Wamego got the W and Andrew got to play in the pep band for the first time.  He smiled all night!  We have a tough opponent at sub state next week, but I am proud of this team for working hard and going far this year. 

Saturday was the end of year banquet for our little racing club.  We had a very hard-working committee this year that knocked it out of the park.  The venue space was decorated nicely, the food was amazing, and the awards and raffle were great as always.  Somehow even though we voted someone else in for the volunteer award for the year, my name was called and I was SUPER surprised!  I don't do what I do for any awards, but it sure is nice to be noticed for my hard work.  

I love this club deeper than most.  Some of us hardcore people have been with this club for many years and frankly it's all their kids have.  My kid may do other things, but this is his favorite, his safe space, and I will protect it at all costs.  I hope that I have passed the torch and the love for this club on to others.  They have an amazing board in place now and I can't wait to see what they do next.  It's for the kids, about the kids, and should remain as such.  

We also got some thank yous to many of the volunteers who give up nights and weekends for these kids.  I am proud to serve with them and can't wait to see another group step up and join in.  

Andrew ended up 4th in heavy Honda.  Our size made this class tough, but he never gave up, and he got a podium most weeks.  Just got bit by the rookie average.  

He got a flip award for two flips this year which is two flips too many.

2nd in Unrestricted animal.  Love this class and love the sound and the speed of these engines but hated that we fought keeping the car on the ground so much.  

3rd in Heavy 160.  Our weight got us in the class, but he battled hard for that 3rd spot.  So proud of him.  

We also got to celebrate Dash's first year in Heavy World Formula in the Coleman Electric car.  We are SO proud of how far this kid has excelled in just one year of driving a new to him car and motor.  We can't wait to see what big things lie in store for him next year!  

It's so bittersweet.  Our last year racing QM, our last banquet, our last time seeing some of these people.  I will miss it because it really has brought some of the best people into my life.  Even the bad people taught me things about myself I didn't know so I am still thankful for them as well.  I've learned so much about myself even in the toughest of situations, that it makes it worth it.  Okay this post is super long and it's a week behind so I am going to hit post and then probably revisit this topic at some time.  As one of my good friends said, at least we are moving to some other form of racing and not saying goodbye all together.  Racing is in our family now and even if Andrew moves on, I could see Tony picking up the torch and continuing.  

Have a great week y'all!!!!!

A routine?

 Three runs and two work outs BOOM!

I even been out on my running route and it feels SO good to be home.  Yes, I will never get bored of those gravel roads.  

This also happened this week.   The little or I should say big stinker told me he lost his wrestle off and wouldn't be wrestling this week.  Low and behold I didn't go, and he got his FIRST pin of the year!!!!!  He lost his second match, but no one videoed it so not sure what happened.  He got pinned but it was the second period which is a huge improvement from last year.  I loved watching the video and seeing the improvements and hearing his club coaches coach him from the stands.  We need to get him down to 165 but I am not sure that is going to be possible.  He's been in the 170s most of the year and he's growing so he's eating a ton.  

Of course, it's cold out and she finds the biggest mud puddle to lay in because she literally loses her shit on every run we do.  I may never have another distance doggie like Stella.  

We had district honor band in Junction City for Andrew and they sounded amazing.  Yes, I did cry when they warmed up becuase it brought back so many great memories of the honor bands I did in high school.  They were all such great experiences, and I made a lot of new friends from all over Tennessee.  Of course, when I was a kid, we didn't have all the bells and whistles to keep up with other kids as easily.  He made a few friends that I hope he keeps in touch with.   

On our way back we checked in with the Christies who were in town wrestling at the Manhattan tournament.  Jaxon is trying wrestling for the first time and is doing amazing for just now starting.  They were about ready to eat, and we were hungry, so we met up for pizza and then beer.  That started off an epic night of good beer and live music.  I will never not check out live concerts and will pretty much stay and listen to anything.  Plus, the kids had a coloring station that had some pretty amazing artwork to color and they loved just coloring all night.  

It was a great week!  Have a great week y'all!!!!

Retirement

 I'm going to get sappy so bear with me.  First of all, I got three runs in last week and only one weight session.  I am still struggling with balancing both and also having time to do the things I need to do for my family.  If you have any tips of how to balance working out and running, I'm all ears because I've failed most times in the past when I've tried to do both.  I don't want to lose my gains (yes, I said gains) because I love the way I feel and look, even if I still need to lose about 25 lbs.  

Okay to the post at hand.  We had our last race weekend in quarter midgets.  I knew I would feel all of the emotions throughout the day and boy did I EVER. The biggest feeling though was relief.  Relief to be done with the drama, done with the bull shit.  Yes, there were tears but man, a big sigh of relief was the main thing.  And in many ways that makes me very sad.  This year has been a very trying one and I just wanted it to be good.  Don't get me wrong, there was lots of great memories, but the drama was off the charts.  So many people quit and walked away and that breaks my heart and makes me so sad.  This is a freaking kid's club and adults act so horribly.  You know that meme from the movie Shawshank Redemption where he say's "I'm tired boss"? Well, that is exactly where I am at.  I know you can't change grown ass adults and you can't control them or make them act better.   You can only hope, and I'm going to be completely honest, my hope is completely gone.  Every time we seem to get rid of problems and get better as a club, a new problem just shows right up and takes up the fight.  For that reason, I am done.  I love our club and hope for the best, but I am done.  If people can't see that this is for the kids and ONLY the kids, then I didn't accomplish anything in my last 7 years of work and I will walk away with my tail between my legs.  

So, instead of crying for my kid being done with an amazing time in his cars and crying for all the great memories and the accomplishments we made, I was just happy to be done and gone and that is just plain sad.  I wish the new board all the luck and success in the world.  I am always a phone call away, but I deleted the telegram channel, took myself off of the Facebook page, and blocked some numbers immediately that night when I got home.  Yes, it's that bad.  

Andrew's retirement ceremony was perfect.  Jessica C went above and beyond to make sure that all drivers that showed up (only one did) had a special time on their last laps.  The drivers signed his final checkered flag first.  Then he was presented with his very own sports card.  

He got to answer some questions, and Rachel read his answers on the intercom along with his final song, Going the Distance by Cake.  We couldn't really hear anything because the speaker on that side of the track hasn't been working AND he drove his animal car with the loudest engine, but it was still awesome to watch.

These ladies have been there the whole time, and I can't thank them enough for being there that day.  We've made some memories both good and bad and I will forever be in their lives even if they don't want me to LOL! The stories we could tell!

It wasn't our day for racing for the 100 lapper as we were one step off of the podium due to a last-minute adjustment that we thought would help and it in the end hurt.  We had out of town guests that joined us and there was an epic battle for the lead that was fun to watch.  Andrew raced his butt off with what we gave him so that is all that matters.  We did race the pumpkin race the day before with all three cars and brought home a 2nd place in heavy Honda, a third place in animal, and a 4th place in heavy 160.  The trophies were amazing and huge kudos go out to Ben Belshe for designing them and getting the in for the race.

The kids all LOVED the trophies and the swag so huge props to our publicity director Ben.  We had two podiums, a second in heavy honda and a third in animal with a fourth in heavy 160.  Our buddy from MN got a first in heavy 160 but dash got him in animal.  

As we close out this chapter in our lives, I'm doing a thank you a day to all of the families that made our journey fun and special on Andrew's racing page The Ginger Racer.  It's been super fun to go back over 7 seasons of pictures and memories.  There have been so many great times and I wish we could have more but it's time.  It won't be safe next year to stuff him in the car anymore AND I think unfortunately next year is going to be tough with lots of track drama going on.  I wish the best for the track families left as there are a ton of really good ones left.  Good bye quarter midgets!  It's been fun!

A weekend of rest

I needed a quiet week and weekend and I got it.  Whew.  Here is what went on this week.  I am starting to sprinkle back in some runs as the weather cools off.  That feeling within me is stirring for a long race prep but also, I get brought back to earth when I think about how much work we have coming up at work AND trips we might have planned to do racing things.  Someday brain and heart, some day.  

My memory came up for my very first half marathon 12 years ago!  Since then, I've run lots of half's, several 50Ks and a 50 miler. I seriously can't wait till I have time to devote to running again because I still want a 100K buckle to add to my collection!  Plus, this blog is RUNNING with reds, so I need to get back to that.  

Also, Facebook memories reminded us that 2 years ago we were in ICU freaked out and dealing with Tony's brain tumor that was found by his eye doctor.  I NEVER want to go through that again.  I am so glad that he just had his MRI for the year, and it was all clear.  Tony is some sort of strong that I can't even imagine and our family banded together to make it through this together including those who aren't related to us stepping up and becoming family.  Take your health serious people!  We thought this was just stress related and it ended up being a tumor the size of a baseball.  

We had the very first band and choir concert of the year and it was SO amazing.  Yes, I am a sap and cried at one of the songs.  It was just that good.  He has moved up from 3rd trumpet back row to mostly 1 and some 2nd trumpet music front row, and I am just amazed at his progress.  

He also got recognized for his honor band acceptance and that smile was beaming!  Now if I can just get him to do solo and ensemble!!!  He was so excited to share his music with me he asked to bring it home so we could play and his teacher said no :( That's okay because we took pictures of the music and plan on hitting it this weekend!  

He did tell me that he didn't want to do choir in high school and while it makes me super sad, he is going to have a lot on his plate doing band and football, so maybe a year off of choir won't be the worst thing ever.  I love hearing his voice and how it has developed into a buttery smooth sound.  I think it will only get better, so I hope we re visit choir at some point or even theater.  

Tony and I also had a date night in Manhattan at Tallgrass Taphouse.  We needed to get away just us and have a good meal and just talk.  Pumpkin Slayer and herb roasted pork loin for the win!  Also, thanks to the rainy weekend and the cold, we mostly hunkered down as a family and enjoyed a day of PJS and Netflix, something I rarely do.  Have you watched Wayward yet?   You need to!!!

We have one more weekend of quarter midgets before we hang it up for good.  We've tossed around going to Vegas for a big race, but now I just think we need to end on a high note and be done.  We've had an amazing year full of adventures, and I would like to remember this season just like that, not disappointed that we got last because Andrew has never raced a parking lot race before.  The focus needs to shift to our new baby and getting her put together.  We are SO lucky that we have friends who help us so much by selling us a car, finding us a motor, and committing to helping us every step of the way as we make this transition to dirt.  I'm so excited to start this journey into something new and I know there will be growing pains along the way, but we will have great friends there with us to help.  I'm sad to say goodbye to quarter midget racing but I will NOT miss the drama and the mess that kid's racing seems to bring.  I wish adults could just act like adults and I know that it happens in most sports but dear lord, it's bad in kid's racing.  And seriously, all for a point's championship and a 15-dollar piece of plastic.  What are you teaching your kids by cheating???  Win at all costs at a kid's racing event?  To those that keep it honest, that race with integrity, that work their butts off so that kids can enjoy the sport without cheating, kudos.  To those that scream, argue, cheat, physically assault others why?  It's a kid's sport that doesn't end in a NASCAR contract at the end of the year.  To the new board and club members, good luck and keep making this fun for the kids.  You can do it!

Have a great week!  I got four work outs and two runs, and I can't wait to get more as the season changes.  Maybe we will be back to running with reds very, very soon!

Racing with the big dogs

I know, I know, I'm two weeks behind on blogging.  Of course, about the time I am running out of steam and words to put on a page, my readership is up.  Go figure.  The last two weeks have been a little sparse on working out, but I am getting back to running thanks to the finally cooling off weather.  Four lifting sessions in two weeks isn't great but also, I am working 10-hour days and weekends so there is that.  We are officially done with football, and wrestling starts up immediately so no rest for the wicked.  This post is pretty much going to be about racing so get ready.

First up we had a club race, and it was our very last points race ever.  He did amazing getting three podiums, a second in heavy Honda, a third in heavy 160, and a 3nd in animal.  We had visitors to race with us that race on the national circuit thus the 3rd in animal.  We had locked up the points in Animal (2nd place) and in Heavy 160 (3rd place) and kind of knew no matter how we did, heavy Honda would be a 4th thanks to a rookie moving up and benefiting from the rookie average.  

I was fine until one of our tower ladies got on the mic and announced that this was Andrew's last ever race in the 120 car.  Which kind of was true but kind of wasn't since we were doing the pumpkin race soon, but it still got me.  The drivers formed a tunnel as he got out of his car, and he walked through it and they cheered him.  Yeah, that made me cry a little.  This track has been our life for the last seven years and I am going to miss it, even with the drama and the therapy bills it has caused me.  

Next up we had the NASCAR Youth Series at our little home track!  Some of the best in the county came.  We had a professional photographer Jasin Reasin come and take pictures and the above picture and below picture are his.  Our track is beautiful for sure!  

He also got this one post a little rain shower that delayed us a bit on Friday.  Lucky for Andrew, he didn't have school Thursday and Friday so we could be guilt free and have fun!  Thanks parent teacher conferences!!!  I did learn while I knew my kid was a good kid that he now would like to pursue being a professional race car driver as a career.  Sigh.  I did ask him what his backup plan was just in case.  

Here is the thing, and I know we've discussed this before.  My kid is big.  Like really big.  We had to get all new cars at the beginning of the season due to him outgrowing the ones we had.  He had a MAJOR growth spurt and while that is good for football, it's NOT good for racing.  We knew going on in that this would be a struggle for him but at the same time, we wanted him to experience what it's like to race a big race.  

We had club parking, so we were all together with our friends and I got to be out of the tower for both days as NASCAR youth works their own scoring tower.  It was SO nice to be able to just watch all of our kids race.  I missed some of the heat races, but I saw ALL of the lower mains.  I really enjoyed cheering all the kids on!

As expected, he was the heaviest heavy driver in the field.  No shock there.  To be competitive in heavy you need to be about 102 pounds.  We've lost some weight but still sitting at 177.  Sigh.  

  

He looked pretty freaked out going out for the heat races.  He drew a horrible spot, P3 which meant he had to win to advance to the A main.  It's all about passing points in NASCAR youth and it's hard to pass in P3 unless you have a rocket to win.  We figured lower mains were in our cards and we weren't wrong.  Lucky for us, they only had C mains.  In the animal, one of his friends spun out right in front of him and he hit the car in just a way that he broke everything on the front end.  

All I could think of was I bought a photo package and will only get one photo of this car LOL.  

He seemed to get a little more confidence in the lower mains with a 6th place finish in the heavy 160 and a 5th place and X car finish in the animal.  If you don't know, they take 4 cars to the next main and he finished 5th so he had the joy of being the X car.  What this means is he had to prepare to go out just in case the full field didn't start the green so get read and then sit there and wait.  It's a weird spot to be in because you never want someone to wreck out or not start but you kind of do want bad things to happen so your kid gets the spot on the track.   He actually was sent out twice but then the race started under green, and the full field was ready to go.   

There was a HUGE wreck that had a kid get out of the car and I held my breath thinking this is it, but they shoved the kid back in and went.  Our nationals ended with that lower main for both cars, but boy, did he learn so much and gain so many skills battling with those kids!  I am super proud that he overcame his nerves and fears and raced his butt off in the lower mains.  

Even though we didn't have success in the way of podiums, our house driver as I like to call him, Dash Forsberg had an amazing day!  He got the Coleman Electric Heavy World Formula into the A mains and secured a 4th place finish overall against the best teams in the nation.  So proud of how far this kid has come with his driving and can't wait to watch him tear up tracks all over next year!

Also, we let Noah drive the Coleman Electric Heavy Honda and he put it straight into the A mains!!!!  He finished last in the A but heck, he drove his butt off in the heat races to secure that spot and for that I am super proud.  Noah is moving to big cars on dirt, and I can't wait to see him race next year.  

I also had some professional photos taken by Jasen Reisen who travels around to national races and takes pictures.

Here is where I put the touchy-feely part.  I am glad that we entered Andrew even if we didn't have a snowball's chance in hell against these kids.  I was sad that his fastest car didn't get a chance to shine in the heats and potentially put him in a higher main than the C main, but being the X car was so thrilling and he ended with a big smile on his face,  I am so glad that our entire team that has worked all year trying to give Andrew the best chance at winning got to be present. I can't thank them enough for helping, even on weekends when they were super tired and had raced the previous night late into the night.  

Overall, it's been an up and down year with a lot more ups than downs.  Tony navigated working on three new to him cars and dealing with a kid that went through a HUGE growth spurt in both height and weight.  We truly learned the meaning of track family and how big our family is and how much our kiddo is loved.  I've learned what healthy boundaries look like and how to shut doors to people if needed even if it's super hard to do so.  Lots of growth for him and me this year.  While we weren't as competitive as we wanted to be thanks to his weight, we still got an overall 4th in Heavy Honda, 2nd in Unrestricted Animal, and 3rd in Heavy 160 for our club.  We got our new baby in this week and I am SUPER excited to go to the dirt side.  

Till next time I have the time and energy to blog!  Get ready because the last, last race of the quarter midget year is coming up!