Back in Northern Virginia

I know it has been ages since I posted, but I have a good reason - we moved back to Northern Virginia (aka NoVA). Late last Fall, I learned my company would be closing their KC office. Since then, Melissa & I decided to move back to DC area and have been working on finding place to live. As some of you might know, we still own a house in NOVA. Unfortunately, the tenant's lease runs through next summer. After much searching and many false starts, we finally found a house to rent in the same neighborhood, meaning the kids won't have to change schools when we move back into our old house.

More information to follow, but if you would like our new contact information, shoot me an email at dave.french@gmail.com or sent one to Melissa's work email.

Going 30 for turning 40

For those who don’t know, I recently had the “privilege” of turning 40. Along with a little extra ‘attention’ at my annual physical and having to get glasses, I tried to ignore it. If you know me, I am not big into birthday celebrations anyways. When Melissa asked what I wanted to do, I replied, “same thing I do each year to celebrate my birthday, run a race.” I know it’s childish, but it’s my way of saying “I’m not getting older”. So on February 14^th (yes - I abandoned my wife and family on Valentine’s day) I took part in the 5^th Annual Psycho – Wyco Trail Run.

A Trail Run, in flatter than a pancake Kansas? Yep, and this is my 3rd year doing the race, but the first time I actually signed up for the full, 3 loop, 31 miles version. The course is a 10 mile loop, described as being “rocky, rooty, and hilly bridle trails & single-track trails.” Okay, but this is still Kansas, so how tough could it really be??? Highlights of the course see map) include:

• only 22% of the course is flat, the rest has average grade of 17%>
• Total of 10,000 feet in elevation change
• There is 1/3 mile section of paved road, but wait, it is at 20% grade
• “Fall down hill”, a negative 20% grade of mud and ice (and yes, I fell once)
• “The Triangle” as twisting, turning, game-trail section that makes you dizzy
• “Speed demon ridge” a fun, downhill section along top of ridge
• >“Misery Ridge” every see mountain goats on animal planet? Sort of like that with more mud

So how did it go? If you have to pick an ultra to do, this is the one. Fully staffed aid stations every 3 – 4 miles manned by super-friendly people, many are seasoned ultra runners and stocked with every kind of sugar you can think of.

First Loop
Start of race, I lined up with 250 other weirdos (or trail nerds and mudbabes as they like to call themselves). The first loop I was feeling great. A little icy, with temps around 29 degrees. The sun was just coming up, making for beautiful morning. I started a little fast, due to race high. Around mile 3, while somewhere in the ‘triangle’, a runner in front of me startled a deer, who charged out of her hiding place. I yell for someone to put a race bib on it. Rest of first loop went great, but I finished a little faster than I wanted to at 1 hour 50 minutes. Feeling great, having fun.

Second Loop
I added some body glide to my feet to help with hot spots, stocked up on jelly bellies and gu, and took off for second loop. Lots more mud, combined with some fatigue, made me a little slower, so I start walking up the hills. Coming out of the slippery triangle section at mile 14, I eat my 1^st package of caffeinated powerbar gel and felt good enough to pick up pace. I passed time over the next several miles by chatting with another runner. The interesting thing about these races vs. road races– everybody is so friendly! I made it through second loop at 2 hours, 17 minutes, including about 10 minutes at aid stations. My body is feeling the effects of first two loops, so I stop just long enough to get some food (pb&j, Gatorade and mountain dew) before taking off for final lap.

Third loop
I spent most of the final lap in daze, but I do remember lots more mud, lots more walking, lots of slipping / sliding down hills. I keep eating rest of my gels and jelly bellies, but I guess it wasn’t enough. Around mile 7, I started to feel a little dizzy / light headed and wonder if I will be able to finish. Fortunately, at mile 8 is an aid station. A staffer asks what I need / want, and I sort of blankly stare at him as I hand over my water bottle for refill. He suggests some sugar, and hands me a mountain dew. I think I owe him my life, because 2 glasses of dew and I feel the fog lift. Only 2 miles to go, and I know I can make it now. Only problem is, they save 3 bad @ss hills for last 2 miles of the loop. I think I was actually moving backwards between the mud and my lack of strength on the last hill. However once I cleared, it, I summoned my last reserve of energy and ran it home for last ½ mile.

Results

So how did it feel to finish? Perhaps this joke describes it best –

One friend sees another friend hitting himself on the head with a hammer.

Second friend asks “Why are your hitting yourself with a hammer?”

First friend responds “because it feels so good when I stop”.

Seriously, I finished with decent time of 6 hours and 40 minutes and it was a total rush. I finished 5th in my age group and 31st out of 100 overall. Not a bad way to celebrate my 40th birthday.

Why do it? It is hard to explain, but there is something spiritual about it when your whole world narrows down to one thing. There is no room for worries or pressure or anything else. Plus, my Garmin Watch estimates I burned through 3,500 calories, meaning I got to eat whatever I wanted the rest of the weekend, including the delicious turkey dinner Melissa made on Sunday to celebrate.

You can read more about the race at the KC Star or at the race site

Photos courtesy of SeeKCRun and Rich Stigall

Christmas Time

Okay, I realize it is almost February, but I am finally getting around to uploading pictures from Christmas. Hey, it is not like we were late on our Christmas / New Year's / Martin Luther King / Inauguration cards this year. Oh yeah, I guess we were, since I just dropped them off at the Post Office today.

As you already know, the main gift this year was a trip to Disney World. We were to suppose to get back around 5 pm on December 21st. However, thanks to delays, we got home around 1 am on December 22nd. At least we didn't get delayed on the way there.

So, that said, we still got the kids a few things. I think Tyler's favorite gift was probably the Palomalu jersey. After they way Palomalu played last week, who can blame Ty? As for Ellie, I am pretty sure the American Girl doll was top of her list. As for our boy Drew, he just had fun tearing into everything. I think he was surprised no one was giving him a hard time for making a mess.

Where in the world (Disney) are the French's?

Here is a hint (photo at left). For Christmas this year, we took the family to Disney World. Both sets of parents are here as well. It is only our 3rd day, but we have been busy! We have seen lots of the characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, as well as the characters from Bolt (Mittens, Rhino and Bolt), Frozone from the Incredibles, and lots of the princesses.

The highlight for Ellie so far was the diner with Cinderella. During dinner, we had visits to our table from Cinderella herself, along with Prince Charming (Ellie danced with him), as well as the evil step mother and Cinderella's two step sisters, Anastasia and Drizella. Let me tell you, the two step sisters were the most entertaining of all the characters. Just take a look at these two photos.

This is a great place to be for the Holidays - lots of lights, decorations and celebrations. Cinderella's castle is all lit up each night, along with an incredible fireworks show. Over at the studios, there is a great show inspired by Fantasia, called Fantasmic. It is an amazing use of pyrotechnics, water, and lasers. Oh yeah, don't miss the Osborne Family Lights (not this Osborne). Can you believe all these lights were done by one family on their house?

Later this week, I hope to have a web album up of our pics. You can also click here to see photos taken by Disney photographers.

Ellie donates hair to Locks of Love

Ellie decided she wanted to get her hair cut. Not the usual trim, but really get it cut, like 10 inches worth. Some of Ellie's friends had donated hair to the Locks of Love program, and she wanted to do the same. Locks of Love donates hair to underprivleged children who loose it due to medical treatment, such as chemo. Ellie is holding the hair she donated. While supportive, Melissa was a little hesitant, since Ellie has never had her hair cut before. Take a look at the next picture, which was taken a week before, to get an idea how much hair she had.

As you can see, her stylist did a great job. Ellie has been going to Shearr Madness for several years. Her stylist, Ms. LeAnn treats her like the Princess we all know Ellie to be. First, she measured the length to be cut to help Ellie imagine what it would look like. Then she cut it (I think Melissa shed a few tears) and styled it. And we all love the new look. Not only is it much easier for her to get ready each morning, we all now see her bright eyes. And it does help with sports too.

Hokies defeat Huskers

A couple of weeks back, I took Tyler up to Lincoln, Nebraska. What is in Lincoln, besides the state capital? It is home of the Huskers, who hosted the Virginia Tech Hokies for a great football game on September 27th. I always wanted to see a game at one of the large, Midwest schools. At 85,500 + seats, I decided to take advantage of the "local" game. So after Tyler's soccer game, we drove a short 3 1/2 hours Northwest of Kansas City to Lincoln. We made it in time to grab a quick dinner at the Spaghetti Works for some yummy pizza before walking over to the stadium.

Before I get to the game, I have to say, if you ever have a chance to go to a Nebraska game, do it. It is everything good about college sports: knowledgeable but respectful fans, family friendly atmosphere, marching bands, music, and lots of cheering. I lost count how many Nebraska fans asked us where we were from, wished us good luck in the game, and were just plan nice. Even though we were sitting on the Nebraska side, I didn't have any concerns having Tyler with me.

As for the game, it was very exciting. Tech blocked a kick and Nebraska ran a kickoff back for a touchdown. It looked like Tech would win it easily when they were up 28 - 10 late in the 3rd quarter, only to have Nebraska score twice to make it 35 - 30 with 2:30 left. The game came down to Tech forcing a turn over on the final Nebraska drive. Whew! On the way out, many of the Nebraska fans congratulated us on the win. A quick trip to Starbucks (coffee for me, water for Tyler) before heading back and making it home at 3 in the morning. Hope we can make the game next year, when Nebraska visits Blacksburg.

Drew is walking!

Click on the image below or click here to see Drew taking stroll through the kitchen. Drew has taken a few steps here and there, but yesterday, he really got the hang of it. Boy, are we in trouble now!