Teri's 1st Half Marathon... The Monster Dash

How would you like to run a half-marathon (13.1 miles) with pirates, ghostbusters,  Waldos, devils, pilots, hippies from the '60s & Richard Simmons? .... yes... even Richard Simmons.  Well, thats what Teri did while running in the Monster Dash in St. Paul.   Running with Teri were gals from her running group the "Stewie Striders".   These gals are excellent runners who typically run a half well under two hours.  They are true friends, sticking with Teri until the end!  Katie came down to cheer all of us on while sporting her own Monster Dash jacket she earned running the Dash last year.  It truly was a perfect day for running... temps in the upper 40's with virtually no wind!   Special thanks to Mickie who cheered us on through out the route and who was our official photographer.  Enjoy the pics from race.

We posed for a photo before the race.

There were over 10,000 runners in this year's Monster Dash.  

Around 5,000 ran the half marathon.

 Here we are waiting at the port-a-potties before the race.

 Here we are at around the mile 8 mark.

Yea...we are almost done...about 100 meters left.

Nothing better... the Finish Line!!

Julie, Teri, Julie, Becky and Mickie pose for a photo.

 Katie brought a blow horn to cheer us on!

Teri and Katie

St. Paul Cathedral... photo by Mickie :-)

Becky, Julie, Teri and Julie after the race.

OOOHHH! Richard Simmons is looking good.  And you thought I was kidding about Richard!

Teri's Race Results:

Race Time   Overall Place      Age Division    PlaceSex  

  2:12:06         3226/4681          122/191         1799/2913

Aaron Survived Cross Country

Aaron hung up his football spikes for running shoes this fall and joined the Cross Country team.   Aaron is not known for his blazing speed but each meet he consistently improved.   This was not an easy sport for Aaron.  We are so proud that he challenged himself to try something new.    AND... we are happy to say he had NO concussions this fall!   YEA!  Here are a few pictures from this CC season.

Homecoming 2011

Homecoming week is always a busy week in the Simmons' household.  Aaron's week consisted of coaching in the powder puff game, running in two CC meets & running the traditional homecoming run (Lake City to Stewartville), pep band at the VB game, marching in the homecoming parade and game, marching band contest in Sioux Falls and finally... the dance.  And.... we think he went to some classes too.  The rest of us enjoyed the week of festivities but are anxious for a regular week of school.

 Aaron & Drew posing before Aaron left for the dance.

                             

Liz and Aaron at her house.

 Aaron marching in the homecoming parade.

 HAVING FUN AT LAKE FLORENCE!

 Aaron and his friends pose for a picture before they headed out for supper. 

If Aaron looks short... it's because both of the guys in the picture are 6'5" :-)

 AARON HAVING FUN AT THE POWDER PUFF GAME.  JUNIORS LOST :-(

A New Sport.... Cross Country

After experiencing two concussions last year while playing football, Aaron decided to try another sport.... Cross Country.  Besides sore knees, everything has been going as well as expected.  It has been a lot of fun attending the meets to cheer for all of the runners.  Aaron really doesn't appreciate my loud or should I say screaming words of encouragement along the course.

The boys get ready to start their 4800 meter race in LaCrescent.

 At the start of the race it is all smiles for Aaron.....

 Aaron felt a little differently at the 3000 meter mark :-)

 

 Only 500 meters left!

Summer of 2011 at Big Pine Lake

After the summer baseball season, the Simmons family was able to spend a good chunk of August at the cabin.  Drew and Toby were the lucky ones...spending almost one month at Big Pine Lake.  Drew spent countless hours fishing and playing bean bags while at the lake.  

Grandpa helping Drew take a fish off his hook. 

Drew playing bags with Granny...."Call ElRoy."

 Nothing better than laying on the couch with a beautiful view of the lake!

 Drew caught another fish off of our dock.

 Drew threw at least 25 "patricks" (all 3 bags in the hole) while playing bags this summer.

Aaron and Drew posing with Great Grandma Neuerburg.

A Melon and a Duathlon

In the middle of August, Drew and I ventured to Vining, MN so I could run in the "Run for the Melon" 5K race.  It was a beautiful Saturday morning in central Minnesota. Drew wanted to be my official photographer so I gave him my camera and off I went to run the race.  He took about 50 pictures of the trees and the surrounding area and he did manage to take a couple pictures of me during the race.

 After the race, participants were given watermelon to eat.

 I am almost at the finish line... I finished the race in 27 minutes 10 seconds :-)

My official photographer....

On August 28th, I tried something new... a duathalon.  Not just any duathalon...the world's largest... The Minneapolis Duathalon.   I ran 3.1 miles, biked 18 miles then ran 3.1 miles.  I had two friends from Stewartville who also participated in the race which made the experience a lot of fun.  Diana, Doug & Dan were there to cheer me on!  I finished the race in 2 hours 20 minutes :-)

Here I just finished biking 18 miles. Now I am heading to the transition area. 

All I have left in the race is 3.1 miles. 

Here I am posing with Julie & Julie for a picture.  Both of these ladies kicked my butt in the race.

 Diana and Doug are cheering me on.... just 100 yards left in the race.

The Great Minnesota Get Together

Last week, the Simmons family made their annual pilgrimage to the state fair.  On the opening day of the fair, we went as band parents to assist the marching band in the state fair parade.   Then two days later we went as a family to take in the sites at the fair.   Aaron and Drew were the envy of a lot of people since they got to go to the Big Rush concert at the grandstand.  Before we headed home on Sunday, we stopped at the MN Science Museum to take in the King Tut exhibit.

 Aaron marching at the state fair.

The band performing their "Battle Field" maneuvers.

 Drew enjoying his drink at the fair.

 Teri poses with a former student/athlete who was a runner-up for the Princess Kay of the Milky Way.  

She just had her head carved in butter.

 Aaron, Andrew and Dan took part in the Giant Sing A-long at the fair.

 Aaron and Drew riding the river raft.

Drew and Aaron getting ready to go to the

 Big Time Rush concert.

Aaron and Drew taking part in a Science Museum experiment.