For the Strong of Heart!

You know how they say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?  For me and my mom that's true in a lot of ways:

* because of my mom I am very organized.  I could easily put my hands on my high school transcripts or my "lost wallet file" or that letter you sent me when I was 16 (I also got a little bit of the sentimental pack rat gene :-).  As a shout out to my mom's impressive pantry, both of my vegetable jars are facing label-side forward.
* because of my mom I love big open windows with cheery sunshine bathing the room in happiness.
* because of my mom I love, love, love pictures!
* because of my mom I believe in clean and uncluttered spaces.  Like inside my oven.  And I don't have a junk drawer because those items have a designated location. 

But when it comes to athletics I am more like a watermelon ... apparently I never made it into the tree in order to fall close by in the first place!  I don't like to sweat, I am scared of the ball, I'd rather be competitive by thinking than by moving around, and let's face it:  I am more than just a bit lazy.

My mom, Alice Schenk, is an IRON WOMAN!  She has now completed 3 Ironman triathlons!  This involves swimming 2.4 miles (often with ocean waves), biking 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles ... ALL IN A ROW!  My mom's record time for this event is 13 hours 34 minutes and 19 seconds!  Some days I have a hard time just staying awake for 13.5 hours.  Can you imagine swimming, biking, and running for that long!?!

One of mom's friends, Cindy Singleton, took these professional pictures.

When I was a kid my mom was the Awana game director.  She did this event for the "strong of heart and stout of stomach".  After recruiting 6 volunteers she opened a can of dog food and spread it onto crackers ... whoever ate their cracker first was the winner.  My dad walked by during the explanation and popped one into his mouth on this way through.  You've never seen kids nibble so carefully around the edge.  How could they have known that my mom had steamed the label off corned beef hash and replaced it with a dog food label?!!! lol

Well, the Ironman is an event especially designed for the stout of heart.  In the back of the picture is the 2500+  athletes preparing to enter the swim.  They just jump in there all at once.  Mom says its a lot of jostling and the lead athletes who are competing for the win just swim right over the top of you!  You might also notice that the crowd watching is dressed like it's winter.  So, as you can see ... the Ironman is definitely for the strong of heart and stout of spirit!!

Mom's other latest adventure was climbing Mt. Borah to a height of 12,662 feet!!  Imagine going up 12,662 stairs!  I'm not real impressed with the 3 flights to get into my apartment!  But I think you'll agree with me from this picture ... the number of steps wasn't really the main concern on this climb!

This part of Mt. Borah is called "Chicken Out Ridge".  I have to grab ahold of something solid just to LOOK at the picture! 

Mom at the top of Idaho!  Only those who are strong of heart would attempt such a frightful adventure!  Good job Mom!