Charlie is 2 years old

February 22nd, Charlie is 2 years old. Due to weather, his party was postponed and what a gorgeous spring day. He invited his canine friends, Jackson, Libby, Soda, Winston, and Chowder to celebrate and share his birthday cake from Canine Cafe.

Charlie's 1st Snow

The end of February and we are ready for spring! Sunday, March 1st was the best snow Charlotte, NC has seen in several years. Charlie enjoyed running and sliding around in the snow and chasing snowballs. Although Charlie was disappointed in the postponement of his 2nd year birthday party, he loved frolicking and getting wet in the snow. The city was icey but we managed to have power at home and get to work Monday morning.

Levine Cardiac Kids - CHD Awareness Week

Levine Cardiac Kids, a group supporting children with Congenital Heart Defects and their families got together on Valentine's Day, 2/14/09, to celebrate Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week at Build a Bear in Northlake Mall, Charlotte, NC. The children would make a wish and kiss the heart that was inserted prior to the bear being placed into the stuffing machine. Shown in the photo: Jacob, a 16 year old CHD patient, Lisa McKenzie, Steering Committee Chair of LCK, Ford, 1 year CHD child, Sarah and Adrienne Mauntel, Fundraising Chair of LCK. Since October 2007, I have been a Steering Committee Chair of the Awareness Committee for LCK. Being a part of this support group has exposed me to various CHD conditions. I admire the support and strength of the children and their families. Hopefully my story will give them hope of living a positive and active lifestyle. As a child, I was not exposed to other children with heart conditions and did not publically talk about my heart condition until I was 40 years old. The support group gives the children a bond and an opportunity to compare scares. For more information: http://www.levinecardiackids.com/

Run to Rich Mountain in Blowing Rock, NC

On Saturday, February 7th, 2009 Aprille, Ashley and I road tripped to Blowing Rock, NC for a run from Bass Lake to Rich Mountain at Moses Cone Park with our friend Ed and some of his Boone trail running buddies. We think they are really Dennis’s friends, but we’ll amuse Ed by letting him claim them as his friends too. After mornings in Charlotte in the teens this week, we welcome the beautiful 41degree starting temperature with approx. 60 degrees when we finished.
This was a great training run for Ed, Dennis and Ashley who are running the Mt. Mitchell 40 miler on February 28th. The same date Aprille is running the two day Gasperilla challenge of a 15k, 5k and ½ marathon held in Tampa FL. Others were training for Black Mountain marathon and the Myrtle Beach ½ marathon. I enjoyed the training day with good conversation and beautiful scenery.
Despite Ed cutting his hand, which we are not sure how this happened, and he lost Ashley on the trail, hazards were minimal. Thanks for Belinda running with her camera and sharing her photos.

Tis the Season

The Engel Annual Christmas Photo.
Taken at Freedom Park on a chilly December afternoon. Justin, Charlie, Doug and I had fun at the park. Charlie was losing patience with the camera and more interested in the squirrels.

2008 Twin Cities Marathon

On October 5th, I participated in the Twin Cities Marathon in St. Paul, Minnesota. Not only was this experience memorable because I reached my Boston Qualifying time of 3:50:11 but I participated as a Medtronic Global Hero! 25 participants of the marathon and 10 mile run were hosted by Medtronic due to living active lifestyles with implanted medical devices. Alberto Salazar was the honorary chair of the Twin Cities marathon. My running buddy, Ashley and I had the opportunity to meet Alberto.

I met an incredible fellow Global Hero, ICD/pacemaker solemate, Tracey. She is my hero because she has completed in 2 Wisconsin Ironman events. She continues to train for Ironman events while taking care of her two children. Maybe she can convince me to do another Ironman with her!

Fall and Halloween 2008

Fall photos of Doug, Charlie and I on the back porch.