Thursday, April 28, 2016

Glass City Marathon Race Weekend Review

     FINALLY!  I get to sit down and spend a little time talking about how last weekend went.  The short version is, it was incredible.  You couldn't ask for a better race, with better weather and a great time at the expo.

     Saturday was the Health and Wellness expo being held on campus at Savage Arena as it is every year.  The weather was great and this year they had Rosie's, an Italian food Truck, parked out front serving some really good food.  Yeah I splurged and got a mini pepperoni and cheese calzone, it was damn good and worth every calorie.  The expo this year seemed packed with vendors, more than previous years, or at least it felt that way.  Lots of great stuff to look at and shops giving some amazing discounts on gear.  Once I was done looking around I went to pick up my race packets.  Prior to me joining the relay team I was already signed up for the 5K so I decided to pick up the packet anyway.  It had a nice shirt and anytime I can promote this great event I might as well right?

     After the packet pick up I headed to my physical therapist's booth to meet up with the rest of the relay team.  The team was made up of Tim and myself who were both patients of Alisha's, her husband Eric and her cousin Linda.  It was fun getting to know them a little bit since this was the first time meeting all of them.  We finalized our plans for the morning before I split off to start my shift at the information tables.

     The shifts between the Ambassadors were overlapped by about a half hour so we all would be together for a quick photo and have a few minutes to hang out.  My shift also included Jes who writes the blog Running Rogue and Amanda who writes the blog There Are 2 Sides.  We spent the afternoon answering a lot of question particularly where to park and what time should they get here.  It was fun to interact with a lot of interesting people from all walks of life.

    Race morning finally arrived and it is a little weird to wake up so freaking early and not have to run for several hours.  The plan was to meet at the start line and watch Linda take off, then hop in the car and head over to the first exchange point.  Being the type of person I am I got to the parking lot an hour and a half before the race start and was relaxing when I got a text from Alisha.  She had sent out an email earlier in the morning that I missed and she was checking to see if I got it because I didn't respond.  The team decided due to traffic and road closers, Alisha would drop Linda off at the start and meet Tim and myself at a coffee shop a few blocks away.  This turned out to be a great idea, however I was not able to see any of the starting festivities.  I did grab a few pictures that were posted on Facebook of the start for your viewing please however.


     Tim, Eric, Alisha and myself headed over to the church parking lot that is a short walk to the first exchange which also turned out to be a major spot for spectators.  There was a ton of people with signs, cowbells and just simply clapping and cheering on the runners.  I have to say seeing the runners up close from this perspective, there were a lot of unique personalities showcased with their pick of running attire.  One that I missed getting a picture of was a guy wearing a tight tank top with matching spandex pants that had images of cats all over it.  
Here is kind of what I am trying to explain, but imagine a 6'2" 200+ guy wearing them!



     Anyway, Linda showed up and passed the belt with the bib on it to Tim and the rest of us headed back to the car.  It was quite congested trying to get out at that point because of all the other relay teams trying to leave, but what made it really hard was a really bad accident just in front of the church, which slowed things down.  Eventually we made it to exchange two where Tim would hand off to Eric and we would then just walk maybe a half mile northeast to the next exchange point.  Eric's leg was 3.1 miles and was a loop shape so that is why the exchange points were so close.  The next exchange was a happening place.  Lots of spectators and a DJ pumping up the crowd with some great music.  Once Eric passed off to Alisha the four of us headed back to the car to make our way to the last exchange point and this is where things got a little interesting.

     We followed the driving instructions, however what we didn't plan for is the police that were blocking the road for the runners earlier were still blocking the road now.  According to the instructions they were to have had the road open a half an hour prior to us coming and we were scrambling to find another way to the exchange point.  We started heading a different way, but decided to turn around and see if we could sneak in another way.  Just at that point they opened the road we were suppose to take and headed to the exchange point.  We parked and I headed to use the bathroom quick because we knew Alisha would be showing up any minute.  As we were walking with still a couple hundred yards to the exchange Eric used his GPS tracking on his phone to see where Alisha was.  He said she is just around the corner and sure enough there she was speeding to the exchange.  I had to sprint to cover the ground between me and the exchange point just to meet her in time.  She handed me the bib belt and I was off and running.


     The fifth and final leg of the relay was relatively flat with one long very mild climb that wasn't much of a problem.  Due to the excitement of the race and speeding to the exchange point my pace was faster than I wanted it to be.  I was planning on taking it slow and building my pace each mile, but adrenaline usually changes your plans in the race.  My first three miles went 9:44, 9:36, and 9:25 before I got a side stitch and had to throttle back a little.  I was able to recover and managed a 9:34 in that fourth mile.  What happened in the fifth is something I told myself I wouldn't do, but it happened anyway.  The last 1.3 miles were heading back to the finish on campus and was lined with tons of spectators.  At this point my hip was feeling great, almost like I never had surgery 5 months ago.  Combine that with all the great support and just the right adrenaline pumping songs that I cranked to full blast and took off like I was shot out of a cannon.  Remember mile four was 9:34, well mile five clocked in at 8:42, almost a minute faster.  I was feeling so good I almost missed my team waiting for me me with the .2 left to go.  They fell in behind me as we turned down the final stretch and crossed the  finish line with a total team time of 3:50:53.



     When we started, we never discussed times and what we wanted to try and do, we were just running the race for the fun of it, but we were all really proud to combine for a sub four hour marathon.  We got our medals and grabbed a quick picture before heading down to the after party.  We decided not to wait in line for food because the line was just to long.  We headed to the beer tent so some members of the team could grab a free beer and I stopped over to say hi to my old band mate and friend Zak who's band was the entertainment for the after party.  Afterwords we headed back to the car so Tim and I could get a ride back to our cars at the coffee shop and go enjoy the rest of the day.

     All in all I say this year went really well.  I forgot to mention how good the weather was this year.  When I got up it was in the low to mid 40s and by the time I ran around 10:30ish it was in the mid to high 50s and climbing.  The sun was shinning bright all day and if you asked a runner to describe the perfect weather for a race I would bet most would describe the kind of weather we had on Sunday.


Saturday, April 23, 2016

Post Surgery Update 9.5

     I wanted to give you all a quick update on things, but I wanted to save my 10th and final post surgery update for what should be my final follow up visit with the surgeon.  Training for my leg of the Team Elite Glass City Marathon relay team has been going really well.  I have managed to hit all my longer distance runs with minor soreness. 

     My leg of the relay is 5.3 miles and this past Wednesday my training plan called for a 5.5 mile run.  For the majority of all my runs I have kept my pace between 9:45 and 10:10 per mile trying to be as consistent as possible.  If I am feeling good and my pace out of the gate is faster I tried to maintain that, and if it was slower I tried to maintain that as well.  The other thing I tried to do is keep the elevation changes to a minimum as possible.  Now its not like I live in a hilly place, but I would avoid highway overpasses and other small hills as much as I could.  Wednesday's run I wanted to change things up a bit with my pace and the elevation.

     I headed out on a route that would take me over two highway overpasses and planned my pacing to start out slow and increase my pace as each mile ticked by till I got to the last half mile, then I would shut it down and slide back into a slower pace.  I let my body dictate the pace of that first mile seeing how I felt, which for me was a 10:36 mile.  As each mile went on I was feeling better and better, and by the time I finished mile five I was cruising at 9:24 pace.

     After I slowed my pace back down for that last half mile I took note of where I was in relation to my house and how I was feeling at the time.  It was at that moment I said I want six.  I just didn't want leave a half mile out there that I knew I could do, so I said screw the plan and went for it.  Come on, it's only a half mile, right?  I dropped back to a 9:40 pace and finished the extra half mile feeling like I really accomplished something.  

Where To Eat, For Less, Before The GCM

Restaurants Offering GCM Discounts

Visit any of the restaurants, during race weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and receive a 20% discount off your meal. You must wear your official event shirt, or your finisher medal from any of this year’s Glass City Marathon events.

Click the links below to get menu and direction information.

Spaghetti Warehouse







Manhattan’s












Bravo! Cucina Italiana











Blarney Irish Pub












Mancy’s Italian

 

Friday, April 22, 2016

Glass City Marathon Expo Info

Health & Wellness Expo — Race Day Packet Pickup & Registration

The Expo and Packet Pickup will take place on Saturday April 23, 2016 in the Savage Hall Sports Arena on the Campus of The University of Toledo. The Expo will serve as the pick-up location for Race numbers, t-shirts and Goodie Bags for the participants.

Free Admission — Open to the Public

  • Over 50 Vendors
  • Purchase Official Merchandise
  • Late Registration (for events with open fields)
Date: Saturday, April 23, 2016
Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location:
Savage Hall Arena, University of Toledo
2801 West Bancroft, Toledo, Ohio 43606


Health & Wellness Expo Vendors

Here is the list as of 4/22/16
Glass City Marathon Health & Wellness Expo Vendors
1. Relay for Life
2. Pacers
3. Pacers
4. Pacers
5. Mercy Health
6. Mercy Health
7. Mercy Health
8. Team Toledo Triathlon Club
9. Elite Sports & Orthopedic Physical Therapy
10. UT Alumni Association
11. Partners for Clean Streams
12. Goodwill
13. Goodwill
14. Goodwill
16. Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity
17. Girls on the Run
18. Medical Mutual
19. Second Sole
20. Second Sole
21. Second Sole
22. Second Sole
23. Bondi Band
24. Patricia Buchanan, PhD
25. Active Eye Solewear
26. Runner Stickers
27. COSTCO
28. Wrappin’ Osborne
29. Bend Active
30. Toledo Roadrunners Club
31. 50 States Marathon Club
32. Dave’s Running Shop
33. Spoke Life Cycles
34. Metroparks Toledo
35. Special Olympics
36. BCSN
37. Toledo Roadrunners Club
38. Dave’s Running Shop
39. Dave’s Running Shop
40. Harmony Chiropractic Center
41. Harmony Chiropractic Center
42. Lululemon
43. Toledo Pure Barre
44. Tranquil Touch
45. REFLECT
46. Rocketship Sports
47. Ever Dry
48. White Star Triathlon
49. Bauman’s Running & Walking Shop
50. Bauman’s Running & Walking Shop
51. Air Force Marathon
52. Grand Rapids Marathon
53. Akron Marathon
54. Blue Diamond
55. HB Tune/In the Zone
56. Toledo YMCA
57. Bandi Wear

Monday, April 18, 2016

Track Your Runner With The RaceJoy App


      With the race just days away I am sure everyone is excited to get to the starting line and get going. Before any of that can happen you'll need to stop by the Health and Wellness expo to pick up your race BIB and your packet of goodies. To pick up your packet you will need your race number, and how do you get that you ask, well the RaceJoy App is the answer. Download the app, type in the event and your name and poof, your BIB number will appear.  Below is a bunch of great info about all the awesome features this app has to offer you on race day!

Live Race Day Runner Tracking

Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is a Featured Race in RaceJoy — Download the RaceJoy App to Receive Progress Alerts, Instant Results, Live Phone Tracking…

Racejoy AppWith the mobile Mercy Health Glass City Marathon app you can experience: you can fully experience the race. Share RaceJoy with your friends and family and ask them to sign in as a spectator. If you carry your phone, they can track you live and send you audio cheer clips. The Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is once again offering participants and spectators an innovative race day experience with the RaceJoy mobile App. With the App, you can find key information about the race weekend, including bib numbers; schedules; FAQs; places of interest; course maps; race news; etc. We are also offering real-time information, like progress alerts as you cross timing points on the course; and scored results within moments of crossing the finish line. You can have your progress posted automatically to Facebook and Twitter while you are doing the race. Your supporters and spectators simply need to tap the “Timing” button in RaceJoy. There is no charge for them to track your official race progress.
If you carry your phone and want to increase your Glass City Marathon experience, you can do live phone tracking and cheer sending by tapping the “PhoneTrak” button and purchasing the 99cents App upgrade. Spectators can also purchase the upgrade and track you live on a course map, send you cheers and get “NearMe” alerts as you get closer to them. Note: These upgrade features require you to activate tracking in the App within 30 minutes of the race start time.
After the race, you can go to the “Buzz” area in RaceJoy to review your progress alerts and replay any cheers sent to you.

Download RaceJoy & Access Glass City Marathon Today

Note: Please see RaceJoy’s website for further information and important Apple phone settings.
Racejoy App

There is no need to carry your phone for these features since they are based on your bib tag. — See How it Works!

Download Racejoy App for Android Devices Download Racejoy App for Android Devices
  • Convenient Bib Look Up
  • Instant Results
  • Progress Alerts to friends and Family
  • Automatic Facebook Posts
  • Key Race Information
  • Live tracking, Send-a-Cheer in Phone Fun (upgrade features)

See how the Racejoy App works
See how the Racejoy App works

Glass City Marathon FAQs Pt 3

Port-A-Johns – how many and where?

There are over 90 port-a-johns at the start, finish and at locations around the course. See the water stop locations and services page for detailed locations.

Are there pacers for this year’s marathon?

Yes, Dave’s Running Shop will be coordinating all of the pacing responsibilities. There will be a question/answer session as part of the pre race Expo. The pacer times will be published on the Pacing Page upon confirmation from approved pacers.

What are the age limits for all events?

You must be at least 16 years old to enter the marathon. There are no age limits in the relays or 5K. The half marathon is open to those 13 years and older. A parent or guardian must sign a waiver if participant is under 18. The kid’s races are limited to ages 12 and under.

Is the race a “Boston Qualifier”?

Yes, the race course is a certified race course and can serve as a qualifier.
The Mercy Health Glass City Marathon USATF Certification number is: #OH15048MW
The Owens Corning Half Marathon USATF Certification number is: #OH15045MW
Qualifying Times for Boston
Age Group Men Women
18-34 3hrs 05 min 3hrs 35 min
35-39 3hrs 10 min 3hrs 40 min
40-44 3hrs 15 min 3hrs 45 min
45-49 3hrs 25 min 3hrs 55 min
50-54 3hrs 30 min 4hrs 00 min
55-59 3hrs 40 min 4hrs 10 min
60-64 3hrs 55 min 4hrs 25 min
65-69 4hrs 10 min 4hrs 40 min
70-74 4hrs 25 min 4hrs 55 min
75-79 4hrs 40 min 5hrs 10 min
80 and over 4hrs 55 min 5hrs 25 min

Can I walk the Owens Corning Half Marathon?

Yes! The course is open until 11am, so pace must be maintained to finish by 11am. The cutoff is strictly enforced.

Can I start the Marathon and then decide to switch to the finish on the Half Marathon course?

No. There is limited space on each course and crashing the last few miles of the Half Marathon Course is unfair to the runners who registered for the event. You may transfer to the half marathon prior to race day provided the event is not sold out.

Do you offer text alerts?

The Glass City Marathon was the first Ohio race to offer a full mobile experience with an option for live GPS tracking as part of the RaceJoy mobile app. The App also offers text notifications. Download the app from our site and see how it will provide you with course updates or live GPS tracking. You can also view our Live Leaderboard feed.





Friday, April 15, 2016

Glass City Marathon FAQs Pt. 2




How do you get placed into starting corrals?

Corral placement is based on your expected finish time. Check the website for details.

Will there be a bag drop area?

Yes, Goodwill of NW Ohio will manage a bag drop area East of the start line at the corner of Drummond and Bancroft, across from the Bell Tower. Bag pickup will be next to the food tent in parking lot 10 after the race. Participants who plan to utilize the bag drop (gear check) will be asked to use clear plastic bags. Bags will be provided as your packet pickup bag and can be reused for bag drop, If you choose to bring your own, please use a clear bag that allows for a quick visual check of its’ contents. Extra layers of clothing worn at the start may be discarded at the bag drop. Any clothing items abandoned at the bag drop area will be considered a donation. Also, any clothing discarded on the course is asked to be dropped at a water stop area for collection and donation.

Are headphones allowed?

The use of personal music devices is strongly discouraged at this race. To enjoy all that our race has to offer and for the safety of all participants, The Glass City Marathon encourages a headphone-free environment during the running of The Glass City Marathon.

What does the race benefit?

Our goal is to contribute to several area charities including the Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism, Maumee Habitat for Humanity, Kids Unlimited, and youth running scholarships. Visit our Charities Page to learn about contributing to these charities.

Will Race packets and BIBS be mailed out before the event?

No. The Expo and Packet Pickup will take place on April 23, 2016 in the Savage Hall Sports Arena on the Campus of The University of Toledo campus. The Expo will serve as the pick-up location for Race numbers, t-shirts and Goodie Bags for the participants.
Race day packet pickup is available starting at 5:30am. It is strongly recommended to pick up your packets on Saturday to avoid long lines and possible delays on race day morning.

Can someone else pickup my BIB and race packet for me?

Yes, provide the third party with a copy of your photo ID and we can release the packet to them.

Where can I park on race day?

As with any major parade route or road race event, expect delays and road closures and plan accordingly. We will do our best to communicate on our website which roads will be closed and at what time.
There are many parking lots and garages available on campus. View the recommended lots and a campus map on our Parking Page.

Do you have facilities for showers after the race?

Yes, showers will be available at the UT Rec Center.

How long does the course and finish line stay open?

The marathon course limit is 6 hours and has two mandatory checkpoints. Should you not meet the two checkpoints, you will be escorted to a sag vehicle. Those who continue on must sign a release waiver and turn in their BIB number to continue as a citizen.
This is a competitive race with an expected finish time of 6 hours or less. Because we hire police and security from 5 jurisdictions, it is important that we comply with the time limits set.
There are two checkpoints along the course; mile 8 and mile 16. You must maintain a 13:43 pace to complete within the 6 hour time limit. You’ll need to be at mile 8 by 9am, mile 16 by 11am. Runners planning on finishing the race must be through mile 20 by 12pm. Please be considerate of our volunteers who begin their day as early as 3am. We do our best to score every runner and do not sweep the course; however we do modify the finish area at the 6 hour point. The chip time mats are also removed at the 6+ hour pace at which point those who finish are hand timed to be sure they are in our finish results.









Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Glass City Marathon FAQs Pt. 1


We are less than two weeks out from the race.  Here is page 1 of 3 full of FAQs that are full of good info to know about the race and race weekend.

Are there energy gels on the course?

Yes. Gu Gel (Strawberry Banana, Triberry, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Bean) will be provided at the Start and at some water stops. See the course maps for locations.

What flavor of sports drink is served on the course?

Gatorade Lemon/Lime

Where are the start line, finish line, expo entry?

The start line for the Glass City Marathon, half marathon, 5-person relay and 5k are all located in the same spot, North of the University of Toledo campus on Bancroft St. — Get Directions

What is the temperature?

Temperatures are historically in the 40-55 degree range here in late April. We are in the midwest, so recommend you pack for cooler temperatures and inclement weather; dress in layers that you can discard at the start line or checkpoint/water stops. All discarded apparel will be donated.
 

Who gets a medal?

All finishers of the marathon, 5-person relay, half marathon and 5k will receive a medal upon crossing the finish line. Even Saturday’s kids race finishers get a medal.

Are strollers allowed on the courses?

The safety of runners and children are of the utmost importance to us. While strollers are not prohibited, it is recommended that those choosing to run with strollers start at the back of the field. Strollers are allowed in the 5K event, ONLY.

What pacer levels do you have? Is this the final set? How can I become a pacer?

Our pacing crew continues to grow each year with demand. Our goal is to provide pacers for as many of the common BQ marathon times we can as well as many in the half marathon. The times we are hoping to fill are listed on our pacing page and are considered firm, but not concrete. We continue to receive interest from experienced pacers e-mail pacers@glasscitymarathon.org for info and will place them as needed to provide the best experience as possible for our runners.

Part 2 coming soon!


Monday, April 11, 2016

Parking And Road Closers For The GCM


Here is some very important info for first time and even veteran GCM runners as the course layout has changed so has the parking and road closer.  For additional information CLICK HERE to be taken to the MercyHealth Glass City Marathon web page. 




Road Closures & Controlled Traffic in Toledo at Race start:
  • **Bancroft from Secor to University Hills — closed 4am­ to 11:00am
  • Bancroft from Secor to Indian River — 7am to 8am
  • University Hills & Bancroft – closed from 6:45am to ­11:00am
  • **Secor Road — Kenwood to Dorr — closed from 6:45am to ­8:30am
  • Kenwood to Valleston Pkwy — 6:45am to 11am
  • Douglas Rd from East Rocket Drive to Dorr — closed from 7am – 7:30am
  • **Dorr St — westbound traffic closed from Douglas to Secor — 7am to 8am
  • Cheltanham from Bancroft to Pelham — 6:45am to 7:30am
  • Pelham from Secor to Cheltanham — 7am to 7:45am
  • Brantford from Secor to Drummond — closed from 7am to 11:00am
  • Drummond from Bancroft to Brantford — closed from 7am to 11:00am
Ottawa Hills, Some Roads Closed & Highly Congested, Bancroft Rd closed:
  • Bancroft from Secor to University Parks Trail closed 6:15am to 11:00am
  • Kenwood from Secor to Ottawa Hills HS closed from 7 am to 8:15am
  • Indian Rd from Secor to Talmadge will be closed from 7am to 8:45am
  • Various Rds within Ottawa Hills from Talmadge to Exmoor, controlled traffic from 7am to ­9:00am
  • **Talmadge closed between Indian and Bancroft from 7am to 9:30am
  • **Exmoor in Ottawa Hills to the Main Entrance of Wildwood on Central will be congested Controlled traffic, avoid 7:15am to 9:00am
  • Hasty Rd from Central to Brittany — lane restrictions — Southbound traffic only
  • **Central Ave from Reynolds to Corey Road — avoid 7:15am-­12:30pm
  • Reynolds to Exmoor — closed 7:30am to 9:30am
In Sylvania, the Roads Will Be Open, But Very Congested with Controlled Traffic:
  • King Rd between Brint and Central Ave. controlled traffic, avoid 8:15 to ­11:00am
  • Intersection of Sylvania and King controlled traffic avoid 8:15am to 11:00am
  • Intersection of King and Brint controlled traffic avoid 8:00am to 11:00am
  • ** Brint Rd from King to Brinthaven — Eastbound traffic closed from 8:15 to 11am
  • Vicksburg closed from 8:15am to 11am
  • Olander Park and Tam O Shanter will be congested from 8:15am­ to 11am
  • Entrance to Olander will be closed from 8:15am to ­11am
  • Sylvania Avenue from Olander Park to Corey Rd, lane restrictions in place, avoid, 8:15 to ­11:30am
  • Sylvania Avenue and McCord controlled traffic avoid 8:15am to ­11:30am
Heading Back Into Toledo, Corey Rd Closed, I-475 Corey Rd Exit Closed:
  • **Corey between Sylvania and Central – closed 8:15am to ­12:30pm
  • **Corey exit from I-475 closed from 8:15am to ­12:30pm
  • **Bancroft and University Parks Trail — cannot cross trail 7:45am to ­12:30pm
  • **Richards at University Parks Trail — cannot cross trail 7:45am to ­12:30pm

Friday, April 8, 2016

bib Preview


     On Saturday, April 23rd from 9am-5pm the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon Health and Wellness Expo will be held at Savage Arena located on the Main Campus of The University of Toledo.  There is where you will pick up your race packet that will have your race bib inside.  This year's bib has been totally redesigned with a flurry of information for not only you, but the volunteers and race officials.  Below is a great breakdown of what is on that paper you will be pinning to your chest come race day.





Sunday, April 3, 2016

And Then There Were Three

     Oh you think this post is about my running, well it was until today, now the title of this post can be considered a double entendre.  As you might have read a few posts ago about Team Elite, I am running the MercyHealth Glass City Marathon on a relay team.  As of now I am running the final leg of the relay which tops out at 5.3 miles, so my therapist has worked up a training plan to get me prepped and ready.  My plan is slowly ramping up my mileage and Wednesday I went for a three mile run for the first time in months.  Miles one and two were fine, however mile three was a little tougher.  By the time I finished my legs were tired and the muscles around my hip were a little sore.

     Today, was the second try at three miles and it when quite a bit better.  I won't lie and say that my legs weren't tired but overall I wasn't as tired and I wasn't sore at all following this try.  

     I woke up this morning ready to go out till I looked at the temperature sitting right at 30 degrees and thought "come on man".  I decided to put off the running till around 6:30 when the temp would be at its peak of 50 degrees, this turned out to be a good decision.  The sun stayed out and warmed things up enough to take today's run from almost bearable to down right enjoyable.  Now, I am supposed to keep my pace down to around ten minute miles, but I felt good enough that my pace naturally settled in at 9:45 per mile.

     Ok so now why the double entendre, well we're soon to be proud parents of a new baby boy.  Oh did you think a baby, baby?  Nope, were are more about the fur baby type then our species.  Currently we have a 13 year old, Widdle, and an almost two year old, Jedi, chihuahua/dachshund mix.  Back about a month before my first marathon we had to put down our 11 year old full blood chihuahua due to health issues and recently my life co-pilot Harley, my domestic short haired cat who had been with me for a long time.  We have talked several times about bringing in another pet and decided that getting a third dog vs a cat or any other animal would be best, but we didn't get serious about it till very recently.  Today Mandy came across a litter of mini dachshunds that were only about a half hour away from us that were born just two weeks ago.  They still had one male available, so we went for a visit.  We got to see the whole litter and could see why they were snatched up so quick.  They were all so cute seeing them cuddling together.


Introducing our new baby boy Jax.  He will be able to come home with us on May 14th.