2009 Recap

Good bye 2009 

2009 is a year I would just as soon forget.  Not all bad, just filled with things that rocked me and the family hard.  In the spring I was faced with my first running related injury.  I came up with a stress fracture in late March that kept me from running for about 8 weeks.  This caused me to drop out of a few planned races and impacted my running for the rest of the summer.  In June my father-in-law Ray passed away after months of struggling with advanced Alzheimers.   Right after this my dad Marv started to have health issues and after a brief losing battle with Creutzfeld-Jakobs disease passed away in early September.  If all of that wasn't enough my Grandma Aili passed away at age 96 in December.  I'm really hoping 2010 is a lot better.

Running
I was able to get enough runs in the last weeks of December to be able to reach my revised goal of 1900 miles for the year.  Not a bad number considering I was not able to run at all in April and most of May, and had reduced numbers in March, June and July.  On October 27th I was able to reach the milestone of enough miles to circle the earth.

Some stats for 2009 
25,166 miles on the Odometer as of 12/31
1900 running miles
256 running events 
259 hours and 10 minutes of running
7.42 miles length of average run
1 hr 1 min time of average run
68 miles highest week
261 miles highest month
36.5 miles average week
159 miles average month
194 miles on the treadmill in 27 runs (7.18 average)

Miles by Month
Jan 221
Feb 230
Mar 206
Apr 0
May 88
Jun 115
Jul 172
Aug 261
Sep 180
Oct 135
Nov 115
Dec 179

Hunting
I know a lot of people didn't have a very good hunting year.  For me it was not bad.  I spend 365 days a year thinking about, planning for, and actually going hunting.  The food plot layout and crops turned out well.  I was able to get 4 deer.   Two with a bow and two with gun.  The eight pointer I got during gun season was the biggest eight point I ever got and may actually even outscore the two big ten pointers I got over the last few years.  I also had chances at another big deer while bow hunting so it was an exciting season.  There are still two days left in the season so there is still a chance for more if I get out there.   

Gardening
It was also a good year for the garden.  The vegetable garden turned out lots of produce this year.  The apple and pears trees finally were big enough and turned out bushels of fruit.  The pumpkin crop was the best in the six or so years I've been trying to grow them.  Winter is the time to plan for next spring and go through all the catalogs to order for next year.

      

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Running:

I've been able to keep up the running this week.  It seems my usual these days is about 7.5 miles or somewhere right around 1 hour.  I've been doing it on different routes to mix things up a bit.  Tuesday my 7.5 mile run was around several loops because of road conditions.  You can tell I didn't run over the two big hills I usually do because I ran it in 58:59 despite the conditions.   Wednesday I ran my usual 7.5 mile single loop course.  The roads were a bit better and the weather wasn't bad at all.  I ran this one in 1:02:23.  Today I was forced inside on the treadmill.  I actually used the iPod today which I haven't done for a while.  I ran the 7.5 miles in 1 hour.   That leaves me about 43 miles short of 1900 for the year with a week to go.  I finished up a few things at work and left for the day a bit early to get to church for the 4:00 services.  We spent a good night with my brother Tad and wife Colleen celebrating first my youngest daughter Alia's birthday, and then sharing a few Christmas gifts.   

Hunting:

Still haven't had opportunity to cut up the deer from last weekend yet.  Being off the next couple days I should be able to finish it up.  I got a call that my sausage from the last deer I got is finished.  Yummm...

Fresh summer sausage from this place is great.  

Gardening:

I guess this is the place to mention the weather.  What a mess this storm is turning out to be.  Several inches of snow, followed by freezing rain, then by just buckets of plain old rain.  I have to get the roof raked off before it gets cold again.  I can see ice dam's in my future if I don't get to it.   The picture above was taken at the Rittenhouse the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Forget the guy in the picture, see how nice this tree is!  Wow! 

Deer #4

Running:
I initally was intending to take the whole weekend off as I have since October.  Saturday that held true.  I cleaned the other side of the garage so now two cars will fit.  This is a good thing in the winter.  Sunday morning was cool, but calm and real nice for a run.  I choose to go out for a easy 5 miler.  I ran it it 38:12.  This put my total for the week up to 42.  I haven't been in the 40's since September.  Over 40 during my "off season" is a pretty decent number.  Today I got out during my lunch break for my usual 7.5 mile jaunt.  Took me 1:02:53 today.  65 more in 10 days to get to 1900.  Maybe.... 


Hunting:
Saturday was kind of busy, and I really don't need any more deer this year so I decided not to go out.  As evening came, looking out the window there were three deer within bow range of my stand including one nice buck.  Damn....  Sunday I again wasn't planning on going out.  The way it turned out we were just home in the afternoon and watching the Packer game.  At 4:10 I decided I would get dressed and get out there for the last 45 minutes or so.  I was in the stand by 4:20.  Wouldn't you know about 4:30 a single deer came out.  The deer approached from the far side of the field, feeding it's way down the standing corn towards me.  It took a good 15 minutes or so before it came in bow range.  I knew I had several people including my brother Todd who didn't get a deer this year and would be happy to take it so I decided to shoot this deer.  I drew back and let the arrow fly.  I knew I had a good hit, but in the fading light I couldn't tell how good.  I looked right away for the arrow and sign, but saw nothing.  I decided to back out for a few hours.  At 10:00pm I went back out with a flashlight.  I quickly found 1/2 of my arrow and some hair and blood.  Following the deer's tracks in the snow I quickly found it, just in the trees along the lot line.  Only about 40 yards from where I shot.  It's not a real big deer, but it gets me another buck sticker and provided a little practice at a real target.  This is deer number 4 this year.  Two with bow and two with gun.  My brother will be taking the meat from this one.  Picture forthcoming.


Gardening:
I was able to clean out the other side of the garage, because I finally called the local John Deere place to come pick up my lawn tractor.  I don't think I will be doing any more mowing until spring.  They have a winter storage program were they keep the tractor and do all the maintenance before returning it in Spring.  It's a pretty good deal when you don't do this kind of stuff yourself. 

Garden catalogs

Running:
Made it for a lunch time run every day this week.  The last three days have all been outside and over the same course.  The roads have been dry and clear, but most sidewalks are not plowed and the ones that are remain pretty slippery.  There are stretches of the road where I usually run on the sidewalks so not being able to brings me pretty close to the traffic sometimes.  Ever notice the people that don't move over an inch are usually senior citizens.  Wednesday I ran the 7.5 miles in 1:02:04, Thursday I ran it in 1:01:23, and today I ran it in 1:01:41.  This gives me 37 miles for the week.


Hunting:
No hunting this week so far.  I did stop at the taxidermist that still has a deer I brought in three years ago.  Dec 13th 2006 I brought this head in.  I asked about the status one more time on Thursday morning and he showed me I was eighth on his list.  Back in late September he promised October so I still question what he is doing.  I just want the thing back.  I really could raise quite a stink, but wonder what good that would do at this point.  


Gardening:
How many garden catalogs can you get in one year?  So far I think I'm setting a new record.  Books are coming in from places I've never heard of.  I'll likely just end up ordering from the same places but it's fun to look.

1800 miles

Running:
Monday I got outside during my lunch break for a nice 7 mile run.  The roads were clear and dry, but the sidewalks were not plowed at all yet.  I ran the 7 miles in 56:12.  I have lots of nice loops I can do to make the run any length I want.  In the winter I'll just do different series of loops depending on the conditions to get to the length I want for the day.  Tuesday I had every intention of going out.  When I was getting dressed I noticed I had forgotten to pack my warm running pants.  I haven't done that in a while.  I have duplicates of other things at work in case I forget something, but not that.  Running in shorts outside would not have been good, so I opted for the treadmill.  I knew I needed 7.5 miles to reach 1800 miles YTD, so that's what I ran.  60 minutes on the treadmill is about my limit anyway.  I hope to get out later today.  Because of the year it's been for me I'm ok with the YTD miles.  It will be the first time since 2004 and the start of marathon training that I will not reach 2000 though.  2000 miles has been my minimum goal for the year and until this year has been relatively easy to reach. 


Hunting:
Sure are lots of tracks in the back yard.  The deer have been hitting the corn, sunflowers, pumpkins, and turnips that I left standing for them.  Hunting in a rural but residential area I'm sure they are coming in well after dark.  I'll likely get out for some bow hunting this weekend hoping at least something chooses to come in a little early.


Gardening:
I have installed my pond heater.  So far it's keeping up with the cold.  I have kept the pond open and the waterfall/stream running year round the last few years.  This has worked well keeping the pond healthy and allowing the fish and frogs to survive the winter. 

Bye Grandma for now

Another tough weekend.  This weekend was grandma Aili's funeral service.  There have been far to many goodbye's this year to people so close.  My father-in-law Ray back in June, Dad in September, and now Grandma.  This was somewhat easier knowing that this is what grandma wanted, and as the pastor said at the service she had told him she was "ready to go" and be with god.  Still mutiplied by three it was hard and brought back thoughts of missing the others.  I'll always remember and miss you grandma, until we meet again. 

Running:
Friday before we left to head north I was able to get out for a 6.5 mile run.  Nothing significant about the run and did it in 54.02.  As has been my pattern most of November and December so far I took the weekend off from running. 

Hunting:

As I mentioned in the previous post, through Sunday was a state wide antlerless gun hunt.  Wasn't able to get out much this weekend.  I did get out with my brother Todd Saturday up in Bayfield.  There were so many deer tracks in all the fresh snow.  I really thought we would get something.  Nothing showed up at all for either of us in the 2.5 hours we had to hunt.  I got out in the back yard after getting back home last night.  Again lots of tracks appeared in the couple days I was gone, but nothing showed up last night.  There will be bow hunting opportunity until early January and if I choose there will be a gun hunt going on in this part of the state from 12/24 though the end of the season in early January.  Here's a cartoon that the Wisconsin deer hunters I think will enjoy

Gardening:
I am concerned about some of my trees and bushes at the moment.  The heavy wet snow is causing many of the branches to bend significantly.  A few have broken from the brutal cold and wind that followed the storm.  I'm hoping for a warmup so this stuff falls off.  I've read that shaking the snow off could potentially cause more damage than leaving them alone.  We'll see how patient I can be with this.

Snow and cold

Running:
Well the snow and cold finally made it here.  Before it did I got out for a 7.5 mile lunch time run on Tuesday.  Temps were not bad at all and the roads were clear.  There was an inch or so of snow on the unshoveled sidewalks.  This run took me 1:00:22.  Tuesday night and Wednesday the storm hit us.  We got somewhere around 10 inches of the heaviest wettest snow I can remember.  Knowing I had a lot of cross training (shoveling) to do, just to get a run in I opted for a quick 4 miles on the treadmill in 30 minutes.  Today the cold slammed us.  I geared up in appropriate winter stuff and laced up my Asics Arctics and went out for a ten mile run from home.  The temp when I started was about 0 with a wind chill of -15 to -20.  The run went pretty well.  Running in the Arctics, and with the cold dry snow the traction was OK.  The run took me 1:24:12 so you can see this is not much slower than normal.   When I got back from my run today I discovered that the power was out.  It didn't come back on until after 7pm tonight.  It got a little chilly in the house. 


Hunting:
Got out last evening in the backyard for a bow hunt and saw nothing.  The wind had started to pick up and the cold was settling in.  Everything was so pristine and white.  It was quite pretty to see.  Today is the start of the late antlerless season through all of Wisconsin.  There had been some talk of lawmakers cancelling this season, but I could find no news that it had been.  Tonight I got out again at the end of the day for a short while. This time with the shotgun.   I wasn't there long and a smallish doe showed up to nibble on my plantings.  I took aim, released the safety, and pulled the trigger.  "Click".  The gun didn't fire.  I have no idea why.  I quietly as I could ejected the shell that was in the gun and chambered another.  The deer had heard this noise and ran off not giving me another try.  Here I thought with a gun all I need is to see one.  I guess things go wrong not just with a bow in your hands.    


Gardening:
Shoveling has been the activity of the last couple days.  I don't have a snow blower or plow so everything is done by hand.  Wednesday made me think about the possibility of getting some help.  Man that snow was heavy.  Between the driveway, the deck, and cleaning off the roof I spent over five hours pushing the white stuff around.  My arms and shoulders still are a little tired.  Great cross training though I guess. 

Approaching snow

Aili Maria Paavola, 1912-2009


Published: Monday, December 7, 2009 10:55 AM CST

Aili Maria Paavola, age 96, of Sanborn, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 at her residence. She was born December 23, 1912 in Marengo, the daughter of Nestor and Helena W. (Kuusisto) Heino.

Aili graduated from Ashland High School in 1931. She married Bruno W. Paavola on June 17, 1935 in Marengo. He preceded her in death on February 19, 1953. Aili owned and operated a farm in the Sanborn area until 1975. She was a member of the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marengo, a member of the Mary Martha Circle at church and was a woman of strong faith. Aili loved gardening, working outdoors, working puzzles and spending time with her grandchildren. She also sewed many quilts for the Lutheran World Relief.

She is survived by three daughters, Marie Sigler of Ashland, Martha (John) Oxley of Sanborn and Margie (Bryon) Petz of Sanborn; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Paavola of Bayfield; 15 grandchildren, Jeff (Sandy) Paavola, Scott (Cathy) Paavola, Cheri (John) Tserek, Tad (Colleen) Paavola, Todd (Keiko) Paavola, Vicki Roberts, David Sigler, John (Jenny) Oxley, Julie (Ben) Scott, Laura (Jamie) Bauknecht, Steven Oxley, Amy (Randy) Mashlan, Melissa Petz, Bryon (Amy Jo) Petz and Rachel (Jason) Juoni; 23 great-grandchildren, Karrie (Jay), Kylli, Alia, Joy, Elizabeth, Iris, Amanda, Michelle, Tina, Erik, Stephanie, Lauren, Madelyn, Kevin, Aili, Noah, Nathan, Sarah, Jayson, Joel, Josie, Brayden and Ella; three great-great-grandchildren, Emma, Andrew and Aubrie; four godchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Marvin Paavola; a son-law, Lester Sigler; two brothers, Frank and Arne Heino; and a sister, Martha Heino.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marengo with Vicar Scott Holoubek officiating. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 at the Roberts Funeral Home in Ashland and will continue on Saturday the 12th from 10-11 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Marengo.

Running:
As expected I took the weekend off from running.  With the start of the work week I got out today during my lunch break.  I wanted to be sure I got outside today.  We have an approaching snowstorm expected to hit tomorrow and leave 9 to 12 inches of snow before it's done.  This will impact the outside running for a while if it happens.  I'll run outside if I can, but may end up having to hit the treadmill a couple times.  I ran 7.5 today in 1:02:12. 

Hunting:
Got out bow hunting both morning and afternoons on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday morning I saw 3 doe, in the afternoon right at the end of the day a young fork buck came in that I let pass.  I'm not sure I could have seen my pins to shoot even if I wanted to though.  Sunday morning I saw nothing even though it was a beautiful morning.  In the afternoon there was nothing until right at the end of the day again.  This time two young fork horn bucks (looked like twins) came in together.  They played and sparred with each other for a short while only about 25 yards away from me.  I just sat and watched them.  Off on both the left and right of me I could hear other deer milling about.  Maybe checking out the two deer that were close to me.  Nothing more came in and I eventually had to get out of the stand, scaring several deer as I climbed out of the tree in pitch blackness.  No sign of the big guy this weekend.  He may have me patterned.  I will probably try my other stand the next time I head out to this property to hunt.  Amazing I can hunt down here and see so many more deer than up north. 

Gardening:
Christmas decorations are all up.  Ouside lights went up on Saturday.  Sunday I got the tree up and put the lights on.  Sandy and the girls finished the tree and decorated the rest of the house.  Looks good.  As soon as everything is cleaned up and the boxes put back away I'll see about taking a picture or two to post.

Grandma Aili

Aili Maria Paavola, 1912-2009

Published: Friday, December 4, 2009 9:06 AM CST
Aili Maria Paavola, age 96, of Sanborn, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at her residence. She was born Dec. 23, 1912, in Marengo, the daughter of Nestor and Helena W. (Kuusisto) Heino.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marengo with Vicar Scott Holoubek officiating.

My dear grandmother Aili passed away this past Wednesday. I'll post the full obituary when/if I can get it. While it's sad to lose another person so close to you it gives some peace knowing this is what she wanted. She was only a couple weeks away from her 97th birthday and had lived a long and good life. She had been in a declining state for years, but still lived at home with assistance until the end. I'll miss that big smile, her great big hugs, and the "loads of love" she brought to all of us over the years.


Running:
Feel pretty good about this week.  I got out for a run every workday for a weekly total of 33.5.  This is OK after most of the previous 10 days off.  I will be taking the weekend off from running.  Thursdays run was 7.5 miles in 1:01:12.  Friday was a very cold 6 miles in 49:16. 


Hunting:
I was able to get out early this morning for a bow hunt.  It's amazing I can hunt down here and see more deer in one hour than all 8 days I spent in the woods up north recently.  This morning 3 doe passed about 30 yards from my stand.  I kept hoping the big 8 pt might still be around and keeping tabs on them.  No sign of the big boy this morning.  There were a couple sets of large tracks in the snow where I had previously seen him travel, so I'm hoping that's him and that he made it through gun season.  I'll likely get out tonight for another try.  


Gardening:
I guess this fits in the gardening category.  I'll be busy for a few hours this morning and early afternoon putting up the outside Christmas lights and decoration.  Would have been nicer to do it when the temps were a little warmer for such stuff.  Today will only be in the mid to upper 20's.  The tree will be coming into the house as well.  I think decorating will occur on Sunday.

Zero weight gain

Running:
Back to work this week which means back to the usual lunchtime running routine. I was able to make it through gun season and Thanksgiving without gaining a pound. Typically I might put on as many as 15 pounds from my October marathon until I start training harder in January. Less miles and the holiday treats are a double whammy. So far so good this year.
I have been able to make it out every day this week so far. Monday I ran my 5 mile route in 40:00. Only the second time all year (other than the treadmill) the clock was stopped right on the minute. Tuesday I felt good so I decided to run the 7.5 mile route. I ran it in 59:30 or just under 8 minute pace. It was a great day for a run. Fairly quiet and mid 40's for the first day of December is incredible. Today I ran the same route in 1:00:31. The brisk North wind on the return portion of the run was the main difference in time.  Hit the 500 mile mark on my favorite pair of training shoes, so time to retire them.  Passed the 25,000 mile threshold on the odometer today.

Hunting:
I brought the deer I got up north to be processed by a guy close to my home. They really do a good job of skinning, butchering and make some pretty good sausage. They caped it out for me so I can bring the head in for mounting. I picked up the head and all the meat last night. Lots of meat from a deer that size. The head will go to the taxidermist on Thursday. I talked to a lot of people when I got back to work who didn't see anything. I see on the DNR website they have the kill counts from the gun season posted http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=1511. Statewide everything is down an average of 29 percent, but some counties particularly up north are down much more than that. Bayfield county where I was looked to be down 33%. This is a similar drop from last year.


Gardening:
I got out to the garden this morning to pick another 5 gallon bucket of carrots. I still have a couple rows left that I will cover with straw and a covering so I can continue to harvest them through the winter.

I also found a few more kohlrabi and a little bit of lettuce that were still looking good.

 

I mentioned in the last couple posts about the concolor fir tree. This tree is also known as a white fir. Here is a picture of what they look like.

A lot like a blue spruce except they are very fragrant and the needles are long and soft, not short and stiff. I'll still post a picture of the Rittenhouse tree decorated for Christmas when I have them in my possession. They really do make a nice Christmas tree.