Running for Grammy - Trainng for the Flaming June Half Marathon

March 2010

Last year, Luke and I ran our first race ever - a 10k in Kew Gardens.  We then took a while off to recoup, moved house, settled into life in Cambridge, Luke started rowing and we just completely fell out of the habit of running.  After a couple months off, I started running again - trying it fit in 2-3 outings a week.  And it's been going well.

But about a month ago I decided that I needed a motivator and goal so I started checking out upcoming races.  I decided to sign up for the Flaming June Half Marathon that takes place just outside of Cambridge.  We have a lot going on in the next couple of months, so a close to home race fit the bill.  And knowing that I'm going to have to run 13.1 miles will definitely get me moving.

2011

I've started training and am using Hal Higdon's Novice 1 Training Plan as a guide.  I'm currently in week 5 and ran just over 6 miles this morning.  6 miles is just under 10k - so this distance I am familiar with and can handle.  We'll see how I'm doing once we get to week 10.

But I don't run just for me.  I run for Grammy.  My Grammy is an amazing woman.  She's a great cook and an amazing seamstress - both of which she tried to teach me.  Cooking I can handle - but I wish I had taken more time to learn proper technique and skill when it came to sewing.  Unfortunately she is no longer able to do either.

August 2012

August 2012, just before Luke and I moved to the UK, was the first time that I had ever truly experienced the effects of dementia/Alzheimer's.  In the car on the way back to her apartment, Grammy looked over at me and said, "Your mom is dead, right?"  I think I was a bit in shock and told her no, that my mom was waiting for us at her apartment.  But I didn't know how to respond.  Do I go with the flow and continue on her train of thought or do I attempt to bring her back to reality which could upset her?  I still don't know the proper answer to that one.  

April 2012

Just a couple months later, I flew back home to attend my grandfather's (other side of the family) funeral.  Shortly before that, Grammy fell and broke her foot - and then her other foot.  She was in the hospital when I got there and we knew that she could not go back to her apartment.  We selected a skilled nursing facility for her to recoup in and after she had been moved I went to visit her for lunch one day.  

"Well how'd you get up here so fast?" was her question.  "What do you mean, Grammy?  Where do you think we are?"  "Grant City, of course."  Grant City is where Grammy grew up and where she and Grandad retired to.  It is about 2 hours north of Kansas City.  I tried to tell her we were in Kansas City, but she wouldn't believe me.  To her, we were definitely in Grant City.  

22 June 2007

It has gotten progressively worse while I've been in UK.  Today she lives in a memory care center in Smithville, Missouri.  

November 2014
(don't forget to check out the photobomber in the back!)

The woman she is today is so very different from the woman that I grew up with.  I don't get to see her very often any more, but when I do, it's hard.  
Outwardly she looks pretty much the same as she always has - except that she now has long, pink fingernails (there is someone that comes into her unit to do manicures).  But it's hard to remember the last real conversation I had with Grammy.  Today, conversations are more or less her stories about what she believes she did that day.  Sometimes it's funny.  Sometimes it's sad.  

March 2010

Other than Alzheimer's and the inevitable fact that she is getting older, Grammy is pretty healthy.  She could continue to live like she is for a very long time which is hard to cope with.  It is a very stressful process for her daughters and very sad for her friends and family who have known her for so long and miss the woman we know and love.  

Because we live in the UK, I am unable to be there for Grammy and my family.  Therefore, I am running this half marathon for Grammy in hopes that the research and programs that the Alzheimer's Society leads and participates in will find treatments that will slow/cure/prevent Alzheimer's in the future.  Please join with me by supporting me on this run.  You can sponsor me on my fundraising page.  My goal is to raise £300 ($450) and run the half in under 2 hours.  

I'll keep you updated on how the training is coming over the next 7 weeks.  Pray for endurance and no injuries.

Love you & miss you,

Aubs

A Walk through Dunster – Somerset

During the conference, we had mornings off so we decided to take one morning to do a small bit of hiking.  Dunster is the next town over and has a 3.5 mile loop that takes just a couple of hours to do but takes you by some of their historic sites.

We started in town centre passing by the Yarn Market.

And then up the hill and to the right – passing the castle.

Winding through town to the water mill.

And through a residential area with thatched cottages.

Where we then found Gallox Bridge – an old packhorse bridge.

From here we headed uphill into Dunster Forest where we realized that it has been a year since we’ve walked through the woods.  The last time was when we visited our friends Kurt & Erin in Germany.

Near the top of the hill we found a family of deer enjoying a leisurely morning.

And at Bats Castle (an old Roman settlement) we found a family of ponies.

Unfortunately the views from the top were not fantastic as the sun had not yet made an appearance for the day due to the thick, white clouds.  But we were able to see the ocean.

As we headed down the other side of the hill we encountered yet another family.  This time a family of sheep.

And some super green fields.

this one’s for you Granny!

Before we came back to the bridge, passing the opposite side of the castle.

Our walk ended just in time for elevenses so we stopped at the Water Mill Café for a tea and cake.  Because after a hike – you always need cake.

Unfortunately that was our only Somerset adventure – but that’s okay.  It just means we need to come back, right?

Love you & miss you,

Aubs, Luke & Luther

Tintagel Castle and the Hartland Coast – Day 3 - Cornwall to Devon

In order to set up for the conference, we needed to be in Somerset by 10am on Thursday, so I booked us into an Airbnb property on the north coast of Devon – about an hour away from the conference centre.  So on Wednesday, we made the move from Cornwall to Devon with a few stops along the way.

Our first stop was another English Heritage site – Tintagel Castle: the birthplace King Arthur (as legend has it).  The castle is built right on the cliffs and is very interesting because in addition to the castle, there are foundations for hundreds of other houses and buildings that were once on the site.  And there are multiple caves that you can explore at low tide. 

As an added benefit – sheep roam the property to help maintain the grass.  And it’s lambing season!  So we got to see this little one who had been born overnight. 

After lunch, we headed north to Devon and to the Hartland Coast – another beautiful region of the coast.  We parked for a wee while at the lighthouse and had a bit of a wander. 

But at this point we were both a bit worn out from being blown around the pervious day and just wanted to early evening so we headed to Combe Martin and our home away from home for the evening.  And that concluded the main part of our holiday exploration since the conference started the following day. 

Love you & miss you,

Aubs, Luke & Luther