2025 Graduations, Racing, and Beyond

This May has been a very fun, emotional and stressful month so far! Lance's graduation was May 4th and Mik's was May 18th.  Both were fun, but it is difficult to accept that this period in our lives is over! I hate goodbyes and there were so many: both kids had to say goodbye to the many friends they made a Pitt and Mac and Diana and I had to say goodbye to this period of our lives.  While I'll miss Pitt and the crazy hills and bridges of Pittsburgh, I'll miss Mac and the beautiful lakes and Minnehaha trail of MN even more. I loved going to all the women's soccer games, getting to know the players, parents, coach and all of Mik's friends. So its  hard for us to say goodbye to that part of the world, too. 

But, I'm also so proud of these two!  They really made the absolute most of their respective college experiences. Lance did amazing, graduating with honors in a very tough major, biochem, and managing to take the MCAT exam too. He worked several challenging jobs over the 4 years, including as an EMT and as a research assistant.  He was very dedicated at both jobs and made many friends, both on the job as well as at school. Mik also had a great experience, making a name for herself on the soccer team, making a very broad and eclectic group of friends, and also doing great academically!  She also worked hard, including work-study jobs, continuing her research with a mentor at the Morton Arb and being very involved with clubs and organizations.  It was obvious that they both loved their experiences and that speaks to interesting multidimensional personalities and abilities to connect with people!    

   

But the races are coming up soon: Duathlon Nationals 2-weeks from today and then IM 70.3 Rockford 3-weeks later. I've really lost it this year and lowering my expectations for nationals.  I just don't have the top-end speed any longer.  Plus, with all the travel this spring and moving people in and out, I haven't had the time to train. On top of that. the heel pain from last year never went away and now as the races are coming up, its back with a vengeance. It's a little disappointing but at least I'm still going (for now).  

ET Indoor tri

Fun time racing with JuJu on Sunday at the ET Indoor Tri. Had better race than January and  compared to last year.  

It's been a busy year so far in 2025. 

Lance and I went to see Michael Kosta at a comedy show in Chicago back in December. That was a blast! Then in January, Diana had the first of two TKA surgeries. She did amazing with the first one, then had the other knee fixed on March 4th. Now she is in week 2 of rehab for that knee and doing well. Lance came home for Spring break just in time to help out at the hospital and during that first week of recovery in early March. This was clutch! 

Looking forward to Mik coming home next week for Spring Break too!   

 

I've been so anxious about the idea of retiring for the last 2 or 3 years. Every time I thought about it, I had a panic attack, wondering how I would survive without my work life!  My job is very important to me and I definitely get a lot of satisfaction and fulfillment teaching and doing research. Not to mention all the wonderful people I work with. So I couldn't imagine how I could ever fill that gap.  

But then I had this great idea. Bikepack around the world!  Will it ever happen?  Who knows, but just the idea that I could, just possibly, do something so challenging and amazing has me excited!  Time will tell if this can happen, will happen. But for now, I'm happy to dream about this far off trip and the changes and challenges it might bring! 

Holidays 2024

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  Not sure how I feel about this.  Feeling kind of numb. I'm thankful that we are all still together as a family, that Lance and Mik are doing well, and that Abi and Awi are doing ok!  Beyond that, I'm a bit pessimistic about the future. 

Chicago Marathon 2024

 It was hard to sit out this Chicago Marathon and watch all of the athletes go at it, but I avoided thinking about it by volunteering. Chris Conroy used her leverage as one of the race medical team coordinators to get me a job on the mobile triage team.  We were stationed at varying spots near the finish line. First, one block past the finish when the elite runners were coming in, then back by the fountain when the 3-4 hour runners arrived, and then even further back by the 27th-mile party area for the rest of the time. It turned out to be a very fun day and we were able to help a lot of people who were appreciative of the care!  I had a fun team too:  three student ATCs from North Central College, a communications guy (Librarian from the Lombard Library who is a ham operator), and then also for a while with some med students from UIC.  Everyone was very friendly and nice and we talked a lot during the slow times.  But there were some very busy moments when we had multiple emergencies at once like a possible MI, bad ankle sprain or strain, and someone about to pass out and dizzy.   All in all, a good day!

Weekend in MN and Lance MCAT

Really fun weekend in MN, riding bikes, running, and hanging with Mik!  She played really well in her game despite a tough loss.  Here we are at breakfast on Sunday at Highland Cafe before we parted to come home.  She even wanted to come home with us!  Diana had fun too, meeting up with an old friend from work, Abby, at the game.  

On the way home, we got the best news of all: Lance got a 510 on his MCAT!  So proud of him!  He worked really hard and was lonely all summer there in Pittsburgh by himself, but he stuck to his plan and stayed on it.  With that score, he doesn't have to retake the test!  💖💖💖 A Bald Eagle flew over our house on Sunday afternoon and I'm pretty sure it was Meme, happy for how well L & M are doing!  

Fun weekend in Pittsburgh!

I'm so proud of Lance! Although he has had a very boring summer, he managed to get involved in a fun research project, take a class and find time to study for the MCAT exam! He created a weekly calendar to manage his time and has put in a lot of grueling hours. He takes the test in mid-September!  Fingers crossed!!!  We had fun despite staying in his cramped apartment. Tennis, coffee, run through Shendley and a home-cooked meal! It was a fun weekend!  

Naperville Tri with Mik 2024

 Fun race with Mik at the Naperville Tri on August 4th!  

We got up early and headed to Centennial Beach by 6 AM. Mik got a flat tire on the bike. It was my fault since I over-pumped up her tires (I always worry about pinch flats, but clearly over did the pressure this time). 

She had no problems on the swim and completed one and a half loops of the bike course before the blow-out. But was a trooper and ran the bike back to the transition and finished with a strong run!  Very proud of her!   

Then we met Fo and Abi for breakfast and celebrated Abi's B-Day.   Fun day all around!  

Pleasant Prairie Tri

 Very painful but fun race at Pleasant Prairie on Sunday. My heel/plantar fascia has been really messed up since duathlon nationals and it kills to run! Need to take an extended break from running. 

Duathlon Nationals, Omaha NE

Successful Duathlon Nationals in Omaha. Very hot and hilly race, with temps hitting 90 degrees on the bike. Went out way too hard, trying to stay with Paul Greenberg, then cramped up on the bike. But somehow despite the cramps, I didn't lose too much time on the ride. At the top of every hill (and there were a lot), my calves seized up. But in the last few miles of the bike, the cramps subsided. Then the 5K felt ok. Go figure! The most fun part was hanging with Paul and Jim Vernon and dinner afterward at "Modern Love" at vegan restaurant.  We sat and talked for almost 3 hours!