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schmennaleigh

@schmennaleigh

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OG sad girl | XC Coach | Runner | Editor | Reader | Empty Nester (Kinda) | Fire Wife

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Sometimes one of your alumni runners gets married on the day of your biggest meet you host (870 runners). So you wake up at 4:30am, host and coach a meet, leave as soon as your Middle School runners get their medals, get home and get ready, and make it to the wedding with your butt in the seat before the required 4:15pm. And then sometimes it rains on your satin dress for the duration of the absolutely gorgeous ceremony, but it dries and life is good. And then you cry through the ceremony and entrance and special dances. And you take a moment to realize that you are really very lucky to be living this life. And then the bride and groom, who are young enough to be your children, invite everyone to the dance floor with a song by your absolute favorite artist (Alanis, “Ironic”), likely due to the rain, but whatever the case, it was a good time.

Not posting pics of the happy couple, because they should do so first. But please know that was the loveliest dress I’ve seen in decades on the prettiest bride.

And do I love a theme? I do.

PS: Having my sons and alumni help at a meet also made me cry. No one is surprised.

PPS: How many times did I cry today? Yes. by @schmennaleigh

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6 days ago

September kind of sucked. I mean, a lot of stuff happened. The dog was cute. Parker started his EMT class. I slowly started decorating for fall, even though my heart isn’t in it. I painted with watercolors. I spent time with my boys. I ran a lot. I bought mums. I spent time with friends. I looked at the sky a lot. I enjoyed the geese in my life. I coached. A lot. I tried to help my husband with the flooring project, but he wouldn’t really let me. I saw the moon and won. Not pictured: An MRI, naps, a bruised Achilles, drama, walking the course for 17 miles in two days (no lie), crying, and more. As always, this post contains pics that didn’t get their own post. Those were all the good things. by @schmennaleigh

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16 days ago

Nick received his letterman jacket at the Letter Jacket Ceremony tonight. I’m thankful that we were able to be there. I’m also glad Parker and his friends made the trip to support Nick as well. It was a lovely evening. by @schmennaleigh

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18 days ago

I came in third in my age group at the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival 5K. I ran a whole minute faster than at the Labor Day 5K and maintained an 8:56/mi pace. I’ve been working hard on my 5K despite dealing with some odd health issues.

We had a beautiful sunrise on the way to Barnesville. Our XC meet got canceled due to course conditions/nonstop rain last week. So, I registered at the last minute.

Josh and I at yet another 5K.

About ready to run. I’m freezing here. We had just ditched our sweatshirts.

Together. 💚

Todd took a “Drone Selfie.” He thought he’d get to sleep in due to the canceled meet. Then I reminded him about Barnesville. He’s welcome.

Concentrating very hard on not falling down for various reasons. Mainly there were 609 people in this 5K, so the first half mile was a little cramped. Factor in my current health issues, and staying upright feels like a challenge. New shoes helped though.

Josh finishing. He was speedy (25:52, 8:21/mi pace). I didn’t see him after he passed me at the start.

The relief.

And a smile because, hooray! It’s over!

Here I come, a minute and a half later, at 27:30.

Also relieved.

And very, very happy with the time on the clock.

Even happier about Diet Coke at the finish line festival.

Waiting for awards.

I am so happy here. I got a trophy and a my pick of pumpkins, so I picked a white one.

Josh’s whole thumb is in this pic, so I had to zoom in.

Look at it!

A clover shadow made me smile.

This was the last time I was at the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival. 🥹 by @schmennaleigh

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19 days ago

I drove to Cedarville to watch Nick run in the All Ohio meet. When I got there, I was greeted with the biggest hug ever. My goal was to see how many times I could see Nick on the 8K course. I ran all over the place, but I think I did well. I got two “🤟” while he was running. It just makes me so happy to get those even still. (That’s “I love you” in ASL, for those who don’t know.)

Decided to run it back to some old school Taylor for this post. I played 1989 on repeat in the car for about three years. “Bad Blood” was the boys’ favorite then. I listened to some on the way home, but mostly drove in silence. I won’t get to see Nick run again until the end of the season due to my coaching schedule. I’m pretty upset about it, but at least I got this one in. by @schmennaleigh

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a month ago

We hopped in the truck after I coached XC practice and Josh fought a fire and made it to Samson’s football game just before the end of the first quarter. Due to hectic schedules and living away, we can’t make many, so even though the fire put us behind, we still went. I’m so glad we did, because we got to see the MS Rams win and Samson’s face when he saw us will be etched in my memory for a very long time. Plus, I remembered to take a selfie with my brother, as I’ve been trying to remember to do for the past dozen or so times we’ve been together.

Also, why is Samson so tall? Rude. 😂

Last photo is just my brother’s giant head from across the field. Gotta love those Swearingen genes. by @schmennaleigh

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a month ago

Parker got his first tattoo today. It’s the same as Nick’s first tattoo, done by the same amazing @jenderella at @red_rose_tattoo. @bertiebigtime did the scheduling once again. It’s exactly what Parker wanted.

He’s wanted this tattoo for quite some time. Nothing worked timing-wise, as his senior year involved three sports, one of which was swim which meant no tattoos. Then it was summer, and we spent time in the pool. So, we finally had a free moment — and it happens to be the day after World Suicide Prevention Day and two days before our hardest day. We had a great time together with coffee and a bit of shopping and a visit to see Nick at college.

Remember that you are loved. You are enough. Please stay. 💚 by @schmennaleigh

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a month ago

Mental Health Matters 5K • 9.7.26

A friend/runners’ mom said, “We were trying to decide what you were listening to as you finished: Wicked or Taylor Swift!”

I laughed. “Rage Against the Machine.”

✨I contain multitudes.✨

We run this 5K as a team bonding event every year. This year, the whole team signed up. We had a few who chose properly to cheer us on instead of running due to some hamstring and calf qualms as we need them to run their best on Saturdays, but it was nice to just have a laid back morning with the kids and my family (minus Nick, whose university holds classes on Labor Day).

September is a rough one for our family. It will never not be. I have come to accept that fact. So, while it’s just another 5K for some, it matters a lot to our family.

You matter. You are enough. You are loved. Please stay. 💚

And yes, in that pic of me running, I’m bossing people around. 🤷🏻‍♀️ by @schmennaleigh

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a month ago

If you see me walking around crying, it’s just that late August angst. Good golly, I’m a mess. Anyway, here’s a bunch of pictures that didn’t get their own posts, so I can remember the girls that kept me coaching, matching with the kid that’s gonna keep me here for six more years, being ridiculous at football games, remembering to take pics with Whitney, my kids making memories with their Papau and cousins, the sky, almost burning down the house, the dog, lots of running (some good, some not so good), geese and flowers, time with Josh, cannonballs, more running, my firefighter, and doing that thing that I love because a friend was kind enough to capture me doing it. 😭😭😭😭 by @schmennaleigh

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2 months ago

Alumni Meet • 8.29.26

Got to see Nick run, chit-chat with his friends, and stand around on another cross country course for multiple hours. I’m pretty tired. Guess I’ll go home now. As always, he shot multiple “I Love You” signs while running. I’m the luckiest mom. by @schmennaleigh

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2 months ago

Nick’s first day of junior year, which what? Plus bonus pic of the sunset he sent the other night after the storms. There’s always sunshine after the rain. by @schmennaleigh

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2 months ago

Byesville Patriot 5K • 8.23.26

Remember last night when I said maybe running a 7 mile long run the morning before a 5K wasn’t my best move. Well, 15 minutes before the 5K took off, my left hamstring cramped up and went guitar string tight. I had to pull out all the stretching stops. I got it to stop spasming, and took off (too fast, haha) when the race started. I walked 35 steps in the second mile, doing a kick step in hopes of getting it to loosen again. I started running on a hope and a prayer. It finally let go in the cemetery on an incline, and I ran the final 1.2 without issue.

Anyway, our little group did well today. Lots of age group placements, including a first place overall for one of my alumni, Mr. Keegan Mathers. (I was first in my age group. Josh was third in his.) The weather was perfect. We are all so excited for the first Cross Country meet in six days.

Now… I’m gonna go stretch. 😬😬😬

“Turns out not where but who you’re with that really matters…” by @schmennaleigh

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2 months ago