i'm here, just being a busy bee

My post is in response to Wendy’s question of where have I been lately …..
Let’s say I have taken some time off from running – I am still running, I am just making sure to get a lot of living in also. Spring is my favorite time of the year, I love waking up with the sun and going to bed when it gets dark, although I may be guilty of thinking that I could weed the garden with a headlamp on. Here is a long list of the past month or so…. I’ll get back to running soon, I have Portland to start training for after all….


My list:

• Accepting the fact that I am 30 and nearly every woman I know is pregnant – I’m not even kidding, I can ramble the list of ladies for days. I should invest in Babies-R-Us.



• My Surprise birthday party with my entire family at the local pizza place (just wished someone told me to wear a nice sweatshirt…)





• Mini-vacation to Cannon Beach; spa tub, warm weather, long hike, lots of walking/sightseeing, missing our puppy at home.



• My friend Elinor called us in Cannon Beach to tell us she is pregnant! She and her husband have been so patient, they are going to love this child so much. I am so excited to hear about all of the new steps in her journey. I saw photos of the baby’s leg yesterday!



• Ran the Tacoma Half Marathon with Wendy. I went slow with her (or so she thought, I was really trying to keep up) and she got me to finish the last couple of miles. We got lots of talking in and it was great to have someone to pass the time with. I still need to check to see if it was my best time or not.



• I planted my first vegetable garden. I have waited so many years to do this, now that I have most of the ‘flower’ beds planted, I wanted to have my own vegetables (the seeds are even poking out of the ground). I’m sure I’ll have enough vegetables to pass around, I went a little crazy with the lettuce seeds.



• Brian and I babysat my niece (1-1/2years) and nephew (2-1/2 years) for my sister’s birthday gift. She has baby #3 on the way this fall, so I thought I would make a grand gesture. Brian and I had fun, but were beat after we dropped them off – guess that answers that question.

• My dad and I finalized our trip to Anchorage to visit my brother over a long weekend at the end of June and see the Elmendorf Air Force Base Air Show. We haven’t seen him since he moved to Anchorage in March. We also get to see his shiny new car (that gets 4 times better gas mileage than the truck he had).



• Brian and I took the lawn back – over the long weekend we thatched, aerated and over-seeded, and the next day we put down 2 yards of bark! That got a good workout in.

• Brian and I also babysat my parents Alpaca Farm (they look like llamas, they are decedents of the camel, she raises them for their wool, which has all of the qualities of regular wool only it is really soft) while they went to a convention in Utah. Those animals can win your heart; I don’t think I can have one in my backyard though…. If anyone wants any fertilizer they produce a wheelbarrow full a day (did I mention that we had to scoop poop as one of our babysitting duties).











• Oh yeah, I joined a local weight watchers group after reading Michelle’s amazing journey. Since April 30th I have lost 10 pounds!!!! My goal is to be a lean mean, running machine in Portland in October.
  

So that is the long answer to where I’ve been lately…. I hope to get some running in with the Y-club, even if I am the slow guy out there. They are running Chambers Bay Golf Course on Sunday – that might be my run to start up again. It also means a trip to Trader Joes afterward!
Hope to see you all on the trail soon.

Portland here I come...

I did it - I signed up for the Portland Marathon today! I have been really thinking the past few weeks and I really need to finish another marathon that I am proud of - so I signed up for the Portland Marathon on October 5th. This gives me six months of training time, a fall run and some time to really get geared up and possibly drag one of my friends along. The Y-run group has said great things about Portland, and it was my father-in-laws first marathon, so something inside of me says to go for it. I'll start working on my training plan - yeah, I have a new project!

Oh yeah, they are i-pod friendly in Portland, I'll work on my playlists too!

Tonight is a run from the Y, around Bradely Lake (the baby bear has been relocated), a stop at the photo store to pick-up my photos and back to the Y to see what other trouble I can get into.

Today is the start of my second marathon training!

marathon report and memoir

Well, today is the day, I turn 30 at 12:12 pm (right mom?). I have been trying to write an entry about the Yakima Marathon and I feel like it will be inadequate, almost like I let myself and my cheering squad down. I started in Ellensburg and moved my 200lb frame to Yakima with my own two feet – so I did finish, just not like I had imagined.

Here is the story; I started out great, a little overdressed, but it was in the 30’s and windy in Ellensburg. I started with the Y-run group, Eric, Steve, Marco and Abi moved to the front of the back and at the back of the pack was Michelle B, Michelle S and Sydnee (it was her first marathon also, but being young and in shape I knew she would be fine). I guess I started my Garmin in the wrong program – my running .5mi, walking 1min. was off – not a good way to start. I fixed it at the first walk break and got my head into the run. All of the fast runners quickly moved ahead and this was hard, I could see everyone in front of me, moving further away, which was a very deflating feeling. I turned on the music at mile one and settled in for the day, the ‘back of the pack’ group moved ahead and I was glad to see them moving. After entering the canyon around mile 7 my left hamstring was starting to tighten a little, and I could feel what I thought might be a blister forming on my right arch. The canyon road was very twisty and turning (and beautiful), but I think it was taking a toll early on (I did all of my training on a ‘flat’ asphalt trail, this road was banked – like the kind that a fast convertible would love to drive). I was always encouraged when I got to an aid station – I did find that I somehow did not get all of my snacks from my drop bag into my backpack (guess that was part of my morning jitters) – so I started rationing snacks by mile 7. I was looking forward to the mid-point so that I could change my socks and get some more Aleve in me. Being out there for 6 hours is a long time, I was thinking a lot as I did my run/walk intervals – how great it would be to sit in a drift boat with my husband and our dog and do a full day of fishing – how it would be much quicker to ride a bike through this canyon - how I should start more lavender in the back yard to make soap – how crazy I was for trying to run for 26 miles – you know the usual stuff you think about when you are alone in a canyon running for 6+ hours. I made it to mile 13.5 or so and changed my socks, sat down for a minute and hit the wall (I thought about the people who were probably finishing right now – big mistake) – but, I made it to the half-way point in 3hrs- my goal. I checked out my massive blister, put my fresh socks on and kept moving. I took more walk breaks than scheduled through the second half, longer stops at the water stops, and more thinking about how crazy I was for thinking I could do this. Along the route I was able to talk to my friend Elinor on speaker phone and she gave me a surge of energy, she and her husband were going to come over to see me finish. I also talked to my husband and he got me moving again.

I ran into some hills in the last half (why didn’t I train on more hills?) and I ran out of energy and rice crispy treats. I started walking fast and drinking lots of water. This lovely lady and I kept leapfrogging each other, she would keep me moving if I was walking a lot. She must have been in her 60’s and she was speed walking the course – which doesn’t help my mojo when the walker and I are keeping pace, but were both out here doing it right! She used to live in Yakima and always wanted to walk this canyon, now that she lives in Issaquah she thought now would be a great time to do it. Anyway, she was about the only constant person I saw in the lonely canyon. I was really dragging and got emotional about mile 21 when I knew I would finish. I reached the top of the ‘hill’ above the dam and said to myself, get moving people don’t want to wait for you all day at the finish. So I picked myself up and got some more running in before the finish on the downhill portions.

I rounded the bend with about .3 miles to go and sitting on the side of the road were the ‘back of the pack’ runners that I started out with. Thankfully I had my sunglasses on and could shed a few tears without everyone seeing them. I ran into the finish area with Michelle and she peeled off as I ran through the finish. I heard the loudspeaker announcing me coming through and I had to correct him that it was my first marathon. After I crossed the line I was in a daze. My hands were swollen twice their normal size, I couldn’t get my shoes off fast enough (I couldn’t even bend down to reach them) and there were so many people there that I knew out of the few people that were left. Michelle handed me an S-cap to get my salt back (and yes I swallowed the most enormous pill ever), Steve was getting me pretzels, Eric handed me part of a banana. My husband gave me a hug, his parents made it over with their dog, some flowers and a sunshine garden art to remember my day. My friend Elinor and her husband drove their shinny new car over and I saw the nice lady that I was leapfrogging and we hugging in congratulations. I was tired, sore, hot, sweaty, overwhelmed and amazed at myself. I just ran from Ellensburg to Yakima – that is even a long drive in the car!

I showered at the local school and Elinor, Jack, Brian and I headed up to Ellensburg for some great burgers and fries at ‘the Tav’ a college bar/pub that had huge burgers and fries – I was really, really hungry.

Overall I was sore, tight and tired for the next few days, stairs were the hardest. But overall I did it, I had a medal, I finished my first marathon!

In writing this I have come to realize that I did do it, even if I had to slow down, I moved myself, with my own two feet from 8am to 2:30pm from Ellensburg to Yakima over 26.2 miles of beautiful canyon country. It was not my best run, but that leaves plenty of room for improvement. It leaves me with the do’s and don’ts for next time. It leaves me with the idea of ‘when will the next one be’. It leaves me with the sense of accomplishing the goal of completing a marathon in the body that I have, not the body that I want to have. It leaves me with the love and support of all of my friends and family, without them I would not have made it through that Canyon (or through all of my training runs)!

Now on to the fun stuff; Michelle tagged me
Here are the rules:

1) Write your own six word memoir

2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want

3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere

4) Tag at least five more blogs with links

5) Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Here are some words that I wanted to use;
Live, laugh, goals, best, planner, projects, imagination, athlete, adventurer, explorer, color, growth, emergence, learner, teacher, smile, friend, family, wife, builder, baker.

Here is my six word memoir:
“Determined to succeed at my goals”
Here is to running slow and steady and smiling at the finish line!
P.S. I don’t know when the next marathon will be, guess I better get to planning!

I DID IT - I FINISHED MY 1st MARATHON!!!

I will expand on the details later, but I finished my first marathon on Saturday and I am still walking - well limping. More of a report and photos to come, but I wanted to thank everyone for coming over to support me at the finish and for all of the training runs I drug everyone through.

I have some reflecting to do, some do's and don'ts for next time - yes there will be another Marathon - I'm not sure where or when, but I have to try and beat my PR - what an adicting sport!

A special thank you to my husband who has been so patient through my hours of training. I'm looking forward to spending some time in the garden and going on a quick trip to the ocean without a run as the focus.

My next 'race' is the Tacoma City Half Marathon in about a month, so it will be a light month of training - this time I will get some hills in before hand!

Thanks again to everyone who has supported me!

Go MACHA!!!

Always be prepared

I am preparing for my first marathon this coming saturday and I am trying to keep my nerves in check. I ran 19.8 miles two weekends ago with a steady 14 min. pace (it's maybe slow, but it's steady, even at the end). I finished with a blister on the arch of my foot, which has healed and should not return thanks to some 'remodeling' to my insole. My goal was to get in a long run with all of my gear and see how it went - I passed, I think I am ready.

Now, I am trying to get everything coordinated, packed, purchased, etc. for Friday, which is coming quicker than I thought it would. I have neighborhood meetings tonight and tomorrow night, a short, easy workout on the eliptical on Wednesday and then it is laundry, packing and list making..... If I find the energy and the time I will try to get another post in before the weekend - thanks again to all of my loyal family and friends who have been out on the trail supporting me and who are making the trip to see me finish - I love and need your support.

Oh yeah, I have to download a few more songs into the i-pod - guess I know where my free moments went. I should start a list, no I should start laundry, no I should go to bed...... aaahahhhhh!, deep breaths, look how far I have come. I'll get a good nights sleep and start my lists tomorrow.

If only I had this to drink:

Some of my support crew (Brian, his mom Sherri and Darby):

And if I could only get the smell of the blossoms to go through the computer... (it won't be long i'm sure).

Thank you everyone for your support - I will carry it with me on my 26.2 mile adventure.

G O M A C H A!

Ready to Run

It has been an emotional week. On Sunday March 9th I finished 16 miles with my friends and family being my 'aid stations' along the Orting Trail. I finished the 16 miles with a 13:30/mile pace, which is about 30 seconds to 1min. faster than normal. I finished strong, with energy and a smile. My support crews were wonderful - Thank you!

The photo is at the half-way point.

I didn't cramp up too bad and I finished out my Sunday. At step aerobics class on Tuesday night, my calves were giving me trouble, it hurt to step down, so I slowed down and took it easy. By Thursday I was hurting (only when I walked) and I did some ill fated internet searching. I was convinced that I had stress fractures. After going to the doctor on Friday and getting x-rays I was feeling a little better. Keep doing R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate).

Saturday I walked while the Couch to 5k group did 25min. of running, I just wasn't feeling that I could do it. I walked with one of the groups little girls, Gracie, she sang Hanna Montana and told me all about how she was going to sign up for t-ball soon. She kept my mind off of the fact that I wanted to run, but it hurt.

Saturday afternoon Wendy and I drove down to Longview where Michelle and Jenny were running the Pac Rim 24 hr run (they were doing 50 miles) and Steve was going the full 24 hrs. Rob and Jamal were already done when we arrived. Wendy and I started running with them around 7 and I finished with them completing 13 miles and feeling great. The energy that Michelle and Jenny had was contagious. They were happy, smiling, and having a great time that I just had to finish with them. I did not have any pain and when Wendy and I finally got back to the hotel after 11pm I stretch and felt fine. Sunday I was walking like nothing was ever bothering me. Today I went to my orthopedic doc. with my x-rays, just to be sure and he said I did what my body told me, I rested and started moving when I was ready. He is a runner also, so he listed to my 'training' plan and suggested that I go cross-training that is non-impact, such as the eliptical machine, biking and swimming - no step aerobics during the week (icing and heat afterwards) and running on the weekends should be fine. He also said that my body will start to adapt to the mileage and this may not be an issue after awhile. Oh yeah, the best news, no stress fractures - now I understand how mental this sport really is.

I'm back on the road again. - More on my run last weekend (and if any of my aid crew is available this Saturday, I could use some help again).

Here is to listening - even if you don't want to hear it.

Oh yeah, Congrats to my crazy running friends, Michelle and Jenny for finishing 50 miles in 14 hours and Steve for finishing 105 miles in 23.5 hours - you guys are amazing. Rob and Jamal will get 106 next year =)

Hydration Test #02, #03 and new sock test.

Last week I tried the camel back – it passed, but need refinement. Last Thursday at the track I tried carrying a water bottle that had a strap on it (designed for running), but between the water condensation, my sweaty hand and the sound of the water it was not working. So Hydration Test #02 failed as a long run solution.

Last night I tried out the Nathan Hydration vest built for women. Michelle was gracious enough to loan me hers to try it out. It fit well, adjusts easily and has pockets in the front to store snacks, phone, ipod, etc. So I ordered mine at REI using my 20% off coupon and it should be here before the big race. Hydration Test #03 worked great.

While browsing at REI I finally found the Smartwool running socks – I have been looking around for them, but I was unsuccessful at finding the ‘running’ version. So I tried them out last night on my run. They felt like I was wearing cozy slippers while running. I had been having blister issues on the insides of my heels and with new SuperFeet insoles the problem had gone away. Now, with the new socks, my feet have never felt better (ok maybe when I was getting a pedicure or when they were buried in the sand in Maui, but you know what I mean). So all in all, I am finally getting my equipment refined.

Last night Darby and I did 4.75 miles around the Sunrise neighborhood. We started out just before sunset (I can’t wait for daylight savings time) and turned our headlamps on and had a great evening run. We even sped up and ran like we were kids going down the hill, I’m sure we are a sight to see! One equipment item that I will work on for this weekend is a tank top or a sports bra top that goes to my waist. The feeling of my tummy is not great when wearing the hydration pack and a tech shirt, so hopefully that will help without making me too warm.
Today is supposed to get to the 60’s and I am planning on running at the track tonight. I can feel spring coming!

Sunday, I have planned a 16 mile journey on the Orting trail and I have recruited friends and family to be at ‘aid stations’ for me and to provide moral support. Everyone has been very supportive and I am glad that I asked for help. I’ll try to take some photos of my ‘support crew’ for the next post. In the meantime, smile, get outside and enjoy the journey!