 |
| L's beer label |
For L, it's a Pomegranate and Red Pear Kolsch or hopefully something that will end up looking and tasting like that description. The far left side of the label, the text going sideways, is separate from the rest. This portion is what will be placed around the neck area of the bottle.
I bought some sling-top, glass bottles for the labels to be placed on. The hope is to make the beer look somewhat legit (and not like basement swill). At least the beer will LOOK good, right?
 |
| My beer label |
And there may be a third beer in the works. We have an idea but the follow through hasn't taken place as those details are still being hammered out. As for the label details, they are pictures I've taken, pictures we have taken and what I could find that fit what I was thinking at the time. So what was I thinking? Well, I wasn't. I just wanted them to fit who we are and not look completely stupid. If you think they look stupid, then you don't know either us - which is fine, but I highly recommend you get to know us. We are pretty cool people, if I don't say so myself.
Up again is the Columbus 10K and this year L would join a couple of Traffic Panthers Teammates and I in taking part. This race is a Columbus staple:
With 41 years under our belt, the Columbus 10K is building
on our rich history as “The Oldest Road Race in Columbus.” While not detracting
from its tradition of being known as a “runner's race” the Columbus 10K has
evolved into an event for individuals of all abilities. This includes our
future runners in the free AEP Ohio Kids Run as well as those making the next
step from the 5K distance. Being a staple in Columbus for 41 years brings a
certain community responsibility to which the Columbus 10K is firmly committed.
In 2019 we are excited to begin a title partnership with AEP Ohio and to
continue our charitable partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of
Central Ohio. One hundred percent of donations and fundraising efforts
collected through the Columbus 10K will go to RMHC of Central Ohio.
In 2017, I finished 55th at 38:46 and 4th in my age group. Last I was 57th and faster 38:17, but missed on an age group placing. Maybe this year I could break that 38:00 barrier and possibly the top 50? There will be plenty of friendly faces among the entrants, including several Columbus Running Company Advanced Training - Westerville Teammates - this competition should be fun.
 |
**We back EVERY pair with
FREE Replacements if Lost or Broken**
|
 |
**Each order also secures 11 meals
to fight hunger through
|
We are an independent sunglasses company for those who don't want to buy from a massive, faceless company that has been operating the same way for decades
We were to get a major change in weather the morning before the race and it came in with a bang. We were awaken around 2 am with what sounded like a monsoon speeding through - rain, wind, thunder and lightning. The result a few hours later would be a high temperature in the low to mid 60s. A huge change from the 90+ degrees we dealt with at the race in Delaware the weekend before.
All the yards in the neighborhood were littered with debris, our yard was - for the most part - the landing spot for the canopy remnants of our neighbor's tulip tree. A rather scary bang hours before freaked L out a bit and we discovered where it came from soon thereafter.
The folks directly behind us had a tree snap in half, it wasn't the biggest tree in the land - but it was definitely solid, the picture doesn't do it justice. It just missed their pool, which would have been big deal. You can hear, almost daily, the echos from what seems like a crowd of kids wasting hot days around the watering hole peppering us with giddy shrieks of "Marco" followed in unison by "Polo"!
As for the race, aside from the cooler weather, the day would be perfect. Here is how the downtown Columbus race course is described:
The AEP Ohio Columbus 10K course is fun, scenic, and challenging. Running through historic Columbus neighborhoods and providing great views of our picturesque downtown skyline, we think you'll enjoy your tour around the city!
 |
| The neighbors directly behind us. Their rather young Buckeye Tree snapped in half, just missing their pool. |
The folks directly behind us had a tree snap in half, it wasn't the biggest tree in the land - but it was definitely solid, the picture doesn't do it justice. It just missed their pool, which would have been big deal. You can hear, almost daily, the echos from what seems like a crowd of kids wasting hot days around the watering hole peppering us with giddy shrieks of "Marco" followed in unison by "Polo"!
As for the race, aside from the cooler weather, the day would be perfect. Here is how the downtown Columbus race course is described:
The new Promenade, downtown Columbus, Short North, Victorian Village, Harrison West, paved riverfront paths, and a finish on the Scioto Riverfront: the AEP Ohio Columbus 10K has it all. Restrooms will be available near the start/finish. Aid stations are present at approximately mile 1.25, 3, 4.75, and the finish.
Here I dig in along with him and stay away from being pulled with the few passing us by. He and I drift back & forth, left & right but I always have a bead on his location. At mile one, I'm at 5:56 - fast, but not too fast. We come upon a turn to the left and the crowd among us is going around the outside of the vehicle parked - properly - in the space at that corner. I notice it is parked far enough away from the curb for one to jet through without having to contort their body to avoid hitting it or the sidewalk.
As this crosses my mind, John (to my right) points to the opening, "There..", he says through hurried breathing. So he and I, and a few behind us, do just that with me leading the way. We're still on the course, but bypass few of those taking the longer corner route around the truck. Navigating some slight inclines I continue to keep pace with John and others, grabbing a quick mouthful of water at the fueling station. Mile number two is 6:08 as we have a long straight stretch ahead through Victorian Village. This where the faster folks among us tend to kick into gear, though there aren't many making their push past us. With help of the long decline, mile three hits at 5:58.
Another gulp of water and John is in front by about five yards as we sit in a group of about six or so. We make the turn onto the Olentangy Trail - to make the return trip - and I keep trading places with a girl wearing a Cornell University singlet. John stretches further ahead as we navigate the rolling terrain of the paved bike path and avoid the handful of folks coming the opposite direction using the trail at their leisure since it is still open to public use at this time. At mile four I'm at 6:10 and I can feel some fatigue in my legs.
 |
| Approaching the finish |
Now with downtown Columbus back in view, I begin pushing my stride a bit more and grab a swig of water at the last fuel station. We cross over the river along the Lower Scioto Greenway and at the other end of the bridge I see CRC Westerville Teammate Ken - he's not running on this day, but is throwing out some encouragement instead. Mile five is at 6:12 and with John now fully out of sight I try to pick it up knowing we have just over a mile to go. I think I'm pushing forward, but I don't think my body is allowing me to go faster.
I'm passed by someone with actual speed and Cornell drifts in front of me as we wind through the portion of the trail now running directly next to the riverfront loaded with spectators. Those in front have distanced themselves and my legs refuse to turn over faster. We pass by the finish line located on the street above and work our way up a small incline to the street, here I'm passed again by someone who has found the gear I can't seem to discover.
A hairpin turn to the left from the greenway onto Civic Center Drive and mile six is 6:08. A glance over my shoulder indicates no one close enough to overtake me and I push as much as I can through the final straight stretch toward the finish. As I get closer my eyes shift to the clock and the timer hasn't reached 37 minutes, but is ever so close. Crossing the line, I stop my watch just as the clock changes. A quick look and BOOM, I just made it: 36:58.4 - A PR by 1:19.
 |
| L (on the right) finishing half a step ahead wearing a giant smile. |
It's L with her finisher's medal and a bundle of snacks standing on the other side of the finish waving at me. How did I miss her?! Mark laughs at me and we circle around to meet up with her. "I've been looking all over for you", she says. A bit stunned figuring out how I missed her, she says - while smiling ear to ear - "I out sprinted this girl to the finish, but we were laughing the entire time!" She had erased nearly six minutes off of her time from eight days before - sure it was a bit longer (6.55, not 6.2), but that is still a large difference. I missed her because she was way faster than I - and she for that matter - had estimated.
She finished in 51:44 placing 398th out of 1,620. I ended up 52nd and 5th in my age group which garnered a Columbus Running Company mug. We met up with the rest of the Traffic Panthers for a few moments and I offered more congratulations to a number of the CRC Westerville members before we hiked to the car. The cloudless sky and mid 60's made for a perfect morning to run. We celebrated with breakfast tacos on the patio at Alchemy Juice Cafe in nearby Grandview, which is located a stone's throw away from where my brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and I all lived at one time or another back in our 20's & early 30's. It was like short homecoming. I highly recommend the breakfast tacos here and get the bacon - each one comes with several large crispy strips and boat load of hot sauce to go along with them.
Once at home to relax for the rest of the morning & afternoon we notice the backside neighbors already have a crew there dismantling the downed tree and stump remnants. Our next door neighbor, Lisa, is working in her yard as we gaze at the crew from a distance. I had just started thinking those folks must have a tree guy on their pay roll for him to be there so promptly when Lisa laughingly blurts out, "I guess that's what you can do when you're rich, you have the tree guy on speed dial." (the house is huge and the yard is a small field of expertly manicured & evenly measured fescue.)
All signs of the tree and it's stump were gone about an hour later and activity at the pool resumed shortly thereafter as if nothing had ever happened. We aren't sure the tree had actually stopped breathing before it was obliterated and turned into mulch by the industrial wood chipper: R.I.P my friend.
And thus, the Wedding Summer continues and our next race(s) aren't until July, which include a 5K and CRC's Annual Mile Dash which is a flat out 5,280 foot sprint to see who reigns supreme. It is gonna be fun turning the next couple of months into our own little parade of what is to come - L makes it all too easy...
I ain't lookin' for a one time girl
I need a little more to light up my world
I wanna woman like, I wanna woman like you
The same ol', same ol' change the station
To a new kinda cool, kinda conversation
I wanna woman yeah, I wanna woman like you
Now gimme that, gimme sunshine stuff
Some of that summertime moonlight lust
Lookin' so sweet with a badass attitude
Well shake it up, shake it up all night long
Make a southern man wanna put you in his song
The right kind of wrong, that I wanna fall into
Well I wanna woman yeah, I wanna woman like you
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
You got somethin' that I can't explain
Set me on fire when you call my name
Messin' my mind when you're shakin' that thing
Make me wanna, make me wanna give you that ring
Well gimme that, gimme that sunshine stuff
Some of that summertime moonlight lust
Lookin' so sweet with a badass attitude
Well shake it up, shake it up all night long
Make a southern man wanna put you in his song
The right kind of wrong that I wanna fall into
Well I wanna woman yeah, I wanna woman like you
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
You got the power, now you got the brains
Lockin' my heart all up in chains
I ain't never gonna be the same
Well gimme that, gimme that sunshine stuff
Some of that summertime moonlight lust
Lookin' so sweet with a badass attitude
Well shake it up, shake it up all night long
Make a southern man wanna put you in his song
The right kind of wrong that I wanna fall into
Well I wanna woman yeah, I wanna woman like you
I wanna woman yeah, I wanna woman like...
You, yeah
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh) Ow
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh) Yeah
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh) Ow
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh) Yeah
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh) Ow
Cause I wanna woman yeah
I wanna woman yeah
I wanna woman yeah, I wanna woman like...
You
More fun photos
 |
| The Traffic Panthers (minus Mark): Kevin, Gary, Susan, Patricia, L and I |
 |
| L and her nemesis laughing to the finish |
 |
| On the Lower Scioto Greenway, about half a mile to go |
 |
| Post race beer at home: Goldhorn Brewery Secret Identity Red IPA. |
 |
| Breakfast Taco's & lots of hot sauce at Alchemy Juice Cafe |
 |
| Jameson welcoming us home. |
 |
| Age group award and finisher's medal |
