Vision Quest

I have been slacking on the updating - - Thanksgiving was great, lots of food and lots of company, I did make Jell-o and it was the best damn Jell-o ever! lol.

Detrix made the wrestling team! (Varsity squad too) It is the first year he has wrestled, we are so excited for him. All the years of wrestling dad have paid off, he is one strong 15 year old. He says I have a wrestling meet, do you want to come? Of course we do. Dad drops him off at 6:30 am.... is this crazy - 6:30 am.... he says the meet starts at 10:00. We have never been to one - in oh 18 years! So we have no idea what this entails...

(Detrix is the one with the red showing beneath his blue sweat suit)

We load up the kids (reminder they are 3 and 5) and get there promptly at 10:00. It isn't just a meet it is a full tournament! Very cool there were all the schools in his league attending. So they start at the lower weights and work up.

The entire time I am there - I am thinking and remembering the movie Vision Quest.... I was in (ahem -so more like 23 or 24 years ago... ) Jr. High and we had some soon to be wrestling prodigies at our high school... that's right folks I don't have the remember when... stories of golden years for myself, I have to live through other athletes in my class! lol. (We had many state champions through out my high school years) I remember watching this movie - maybe it was because the guy was suppose to be from Spokane, WA - a mere 5 hour drive away... that is why we all loved the movie?? hmmm. Maybe I wanted to date a wrestler, me date, I never dated... Jr. high? dating? lol. I am going way back here. Most of this period in my life I have blocked out... but for some reason I remember Vision Quest.... weird I know..... back to my step-son and his wrestling!

First surprise you pay to get in! Not a big deal, had we known, trip to the ATM problem solved. We waited and waited and had fun watching all the wrestlers warm up.... running around the circle of the mat, again... flash backs to the movie... you just have to rent it if you don't remember it ... very intense scenes.... lol.

About noon Detrix gets to wrestle.....

Detrix did so great - he has never wrestled for a team so he is up against guys that know all the moves, he lost the first match in points... he is super strong and a quick learner. His coach says every practice he is learning and growing as a wrestler. He shot his way out of two tough moves, and never gave up.

The second match - was around 3:30... he was so pumped up for the match, I knew he really wanted to do well. He showed all heart, he had the guy beat right up until he got caught ... and pinned. He did so well, he was strong and showed no fear of getting in there and doing his best! We are very proud of him and can't wait to be there for his next meet. I can't wait to see how much he grows this season.

John and Josie were troopers.. we were there for over five hours, and they were super happy to watch their big brother wrestle! Little John looks up to him and wants to be just like him, Detrix is setting a great example for little John.

Our weekend was packed full, Friday was my Bunco night - I won money!! Yeah! (I hardly ever win, last year I won a whopping $1o.00) Saturday was the tournament and Sunday the boys went to the Seahawks game, while I took Josie on a early birthday treat(birthday is 12-30, she will be 4!!) to the Rainforest Restaurant, she has a love hate relationship with the monkey section... she loves to see them, but is terrified of them at the same time. We had lots of fun, us girls!

I can to make Jello!

One little mistake a few years back with my thanksgiving dish, and I get kicked off of making a "real" dish.... geesh....





So the story is this:



First a little back ground on Ribbon Salad: Our family favorite "ribbon jello salad" everyone loves the ribbon salad it is just a pain to make. Three layers of different jello - you have to let each layer set before adding the next.... you get the salad, ofcourse it is a jello brand recipe - so the middle layer is filled with stuff you would never think of putting together, but for some reason it tastes great... Needless to say I don't like making the salad, but I enoy eating the salad.



Sooooo........



When I was pregnant with Josie - I got taken off of Jello duty (for once!!) and I was to bring the bean casserole dish.. you know the one green beans, mushroom soup, onions on top.... pretty easy to do.



I go to the store (8 months pregnant) get the grean beans.. fresh ones, no frozen for me! Pick them out myself. Get all the other ingredients....

Go home, prepare the beans, make the dish and take it to family dinner. All went well, until my aunt says, hmmm... I have never had this casserole before.... what do you mean? I say. You put sweet peas in with the green beans, did you see that on a show? With a bewlidered look I tell her I didn't put peas in the recipe, only green beans. I then look at my plate... low and behold I bought half green beans and half sweet peas! ooops!!! The funniest part is, I prepared the peas and didn't even notice I was cutting the stems off of peas and not beans! I blame the fact I was pregnant!!

Didn't taste bad, pretty good really.... ofcourse I was taken off of green bean casserole ever since.



We have done thanksgiving on Derrick's side of the family two years ago, then did my first all on my own thanksgiving last year (everything was great by the way!) so this year we are going to my family's again. I say - I will bring the casserole this year... why don't you bring the jello salad was the response! Geesh. One pea casserole mistake and I am back to Jello - wait until they see what I put in the jello this year!!



Happy Turkey Day (early)!!

I am bit behind in my picture posting I will catch up soon.

Until then I can still dicuss the marathon..... right? it has only been just over a month, so I am still with in the milking it time frame. Really though I don't think I am milking it, it is a well deserved pat on the back in my opinion!

I recently watched Run Fat Boy Run, it is about a man that wants to win back a woman he left at the alter 5 years earlier, he has 3 weeks until the race, and plans on running a full marathon.

Immediately the title caught my eye - that is hilarious! I want to see it! Is my first thought. After watching it, I can say it had some very funny parts, but I was irritated that they had the character run a marathon in only 3 weeks.

This is where you get to hear all about my hard work! After all I spent months in preparation for the marathon. With three weeks left, you are tapering! Not beginning your training.

On a facebook forum, I asked the question: guess what I am going to be for halloween? At the time, I was actually thinking of dressing up in our gorilla suit - I thought it would be funny. But I got response back saying a marathon runner, ofcourse! (or something like that) so I decided to wear my *saying it with pride* Portland Marathon 2008 finisher t-shirt! Guess what? People actaully asked me if it was my costume, or if I really ran it! Whenever I can I have to fit into a conversation that I just ran a full marathon.... it is my new game, how many times a day I can tell someone (wether or not I know them is irrelevant) that I ran a full marathon. It is pretty fun coming up with new ways to bring it up in a conversation. While out on Halloween a pastor of the church carnival we were at, asked if I had ran it.. why yes was my reply. He asked about how hard it was, and all the usual questions... I told him it was great right up until mile 22, where there was a rather large wall infront of me! No, really I had trained so hard I knew I would finish, but yes it was hard. He then told me his wife and four other ladies from is congregation were going to run the Seattle marathon, I congratulated them on doing it, and told him, I had only done the Seattle 1/2, and in case they didn't know... it was pretty hilly so be prepared. It was great talking to him and all the other people that asked me about it too....

Just thought I would share my still consuming thought on running a full marathon.. if you live near Seattle, go ahead, ask me about it! I will love to tell you!

Later

Oops I did it again!

So this is pretty embarassing to admit.... you know me I have to tell you all! Remember back in July was it where I jammed my toe into the couch and then proceeded to throw myself on the ground? Same darn couch jumped up and attacked me again. I may have to take the couch out back for a good beating, it keeps attacking with out any warning. Same toe... same bruising... same #$%$# words came out of mouth. Maybe it is trying to teach me not to swear when I get hurt... I failed that test so far. Top of my foot was completely bruised and the little toe swelled up real nice. It happened a week ago Sunday, and today I am actually able to walk like a normal person yesterday and today, so I am happy about that. My little toe must really be ticking of the couch, cuz the couch is showing no mercy with these ruthless attacks.


This is where you here the tiny violin playing my sad song.....
I love this time of year around here too, the leaves are turning and they are just beautiful, so I have been bummed I haven't been able to run along the trails. Weather has been perfect. A little cold in the mornings but up to mid 60's in the afternoon. Hopefully I will be out there today or tomorrow testing the toe.

I am thinking I won't do the Seattle half, since I haven't run after the marathon... but we shall see... I would like to do it to see how well my time has improved from two years ago.
Upcoming events:
If I don't do the Seattle half I will do a turkey trot run out in the sticks.... a small town outside of Seattle..... I have the 12k's of Christmas Run on Sat December 13th and I also want to do the Christmas Rush on Sunday. May be a really fun weekend.


My mom took the kids to a fun farm, I have some great pics and fun stories coming soon...
Also some other exciting news.... (and no I am not pregnant)

It's not about the marathon....

It is not about the marathon. I think this is what I have learned from this journey. It is the journey of getting to the marathon that really counts. It is the 600+ miles that lead up to the final 26.2. It is getting up each day and doing what it takes each day working your way up to the goal of 26.2 miles. For me it was running a few minutes at a time, in order to run my first mile. I haven’t been an athlete. I couldn’t run a mile when I started this journey with out stopping. My journey began with me wanting to do something bigger then myself. The thought of me running a marathon was overwhelming when I first began. I am a wife, a mom, a step-mom, I work part time time, how would I do this? I got a plan, and started working everyday on my goal of running a marathon. I feel like if I can do this, you can do this too. I started this for someone else, I started this to honor my friend who passed away last year at the age of 30. I started this because we had talked about running a full marathon together. I wanted to honor her, by finishing the marathon. In the beginning stages of this journey I really doubted myself, how could I do this, I couldn’t run with out stopping to walk? I wasn’t skinny enough, I wasn’t strong enough, all these doubts were in my head. Then I changed the way I thought about myself. I could do this, I was putting in the time, and I was putting in the energy and training, and I could and I would finish this marathon.

Today after the marathon, I am feeling more confident than ever, I did what a lot of people don’t dare to even start. I believe that starting the journey is the important part, getting out there and doing something you are not sure you can do. I have found inner strength though this process. Sure I am very proud of myself, I think I have great reason to be. But I am also very thankful that I made it through this process injury free. I recently saw the video of myself towards the finish line, I immediately started to tear into myself, about the way I looked. I had to stop myself , and redirect my thinking, I finished a marathon in this body. I may have some extra “lady lumps” but that is what makes me, well me!
I have used what I have ~ this body right now ~ and done something extraordinary! I am an athlete.

I started out this journey to honor my friend, I did that! In the process I found out who I am. Who am I ? I am stronger than I give my self credit for both inside and out. I am able to look at any obstacle, not with fear, but with wisdom and insight. I am able to dig deep no matter the circumstance and know I will make it through stronger than ever.

Thank you all for coming on this journey with me!

Some race photos!

Here are some photos of the race!

Portland Marathon.....

Wow what a journey! It started 9 months ago, I started training for the marathon. Not sure if I could actually complete it. Then probably 4 months ago, I knew I could complete the marathon, I just had to continue all the hard work... 600+ miles later in training I have accomplished my goal, I ran the Portland Marathon! My time was 6 hours 20 minutes and 18 seconds. I am thrilled with the time! I was on track for my six hour goal, then I felt it slipping away and I had to readjust my attitude, no matter my time, I still completed a marathon. Something that a small percentage of people can say they have done! I might go through my full journey at a later time, but I felt great up until I hit mile 22... I struggled the last four miles. I think that is the whole lure of the marathon, is the wondering when the wall may hit. For me that was mile 22!



To say the day was emotional well, that is an understatement. Running a marathon is emotional in itself, then to add on the reason that I started the journey in the first place (to honor my friend Liz that passed away) and it was quite an emotional journey. But in a great way.



Derrick and Foster were great! They were wonderful spectators.... Apperantly spectating is as hard as running the marathon itself! (sure guys I believe you!) So thank you to both of them for being there to see me cross the line.



When Liz and I did our half marathon together, Liz had finished before me and when she saw me come into the the last .1 miles of the half, she ran with me along the sidelines and met me at the finish. When I hit the 26 mile marker Foster and Derrick were there waving and taking pictures. I then watched Foster run along the sideline all the way in with me. As I rounded the corner I watched Foster running, and I also saw Angela cheering me on. I think I cried the whole way in on the .2 miles.

More on the journey later - and ofcourse pics!!

Here are some tough ladies!

Tapering? Is it a good thing? No.......

See what happens when I am not running a ridiculous amount of miles??

New fun way to make a checkered cake

Josie made the funfetti section

John made the chocolate

Detrix iced the cake

Everyone sprinkled

We all enjoyed it!

Great looking "checkered" cake... it tasted great too.

See what happens when I am not running?

Actually I did run 12 miles this weekend! It doesn't really knock your socks off like 21 miles though does it? All part of the training.

It is amazing to me that the images of 9/11/01 are still so vivid in my head. I remember turning on the tv and watching in horror as the second plane hit. The chaos that began was unheard of... I can't imagine what the people of New York felt as it happened in their city. My prayers go out to all those effected by the terrorist attacks that day.

I was down in California on a business trip, I was stuck in California for days as we couldn't fly anywhere. All flights were shutdown for 5 days.


I hope that I have lived each day since 9/11 with a new sense of urgency:
~ to tell those around me that I love them.
~ to not only tell them, but to show them I love them
~ to live each day as it truly may be my last.
~ to live with no regrets
~ to say my peace if I have a beef with someone and then let it go
~ to go after my dreams
~ to live the best life possible
~ to love others as I would like to be loved
~ to embrace people from all walks of life
~ to look past sins and look at the person on the inside
~ to walk in faith every day; no worrying about tomorrow

May we all love a little more.

It's that time of year again.. you can do it at a trot, you can do it at a gallup

you can do it real slow so your heart won't palpitate~~~ just don't be late....

Do the Puyallup!

For those not from the area... it is a local fair... the above words should be sang.

Petting zoo
milking cows

The cows look pretty real don't they?

Have to meet Spongebob!!

Giant pumpkins

The famous "foot massage chairs" - John loved these!

Bunnies....

After 6 hours of walking around the fair...... Josie fell asleep in the car with our friend Foster.

It has been a tradition of ours to go to the fair on opening day since I was pregnant with John, so even though he was suppose to be in school - we went to the fair! No worries it was very educational, he learned how to milk a cow!

On the running front:

5 miles today... legs a bit tired after Sat long run but I felt good!

First day of school!

John's big day finally came - First day of Kindergarten!
John and sister waiting for the bus, Josie did a great job of wishing John a happy first day!

Dad came home during his lunch to see John off on his bus.

John loves his sleep, so I was happy he was in afternoon kindergarten this year. Plus it works out with my work schedule, so it is perfect. John was up early and all ready for school 3 hours before the bus came. I had to talk him into eating something, he was so excited he didn't want to eat anything. After looking out the window waiting for the bus to come, (although we have to walk a block to his bus stop, but hey he was more than hapy to look for the bus anyway!) I finally convinced him he had plenty of time and needed to eat breakfast, then lunch, then the bus would come.

He had on all is new favorite school clothes.

The bus finally came, John was so excited. He was the only child on the bus!


I had the big debate on if I should drive him or let him ride the bus the first day - I figured because it was only kindergartners on the bus, that it was ok if he rode to school. He was a little nervous about the bus ride, but really wanted to do it "all by himself". So he got on the bus and then we walked back to the house, and Josie and I took off to meet John at his school when he got off the bus. I did very well, I didn't cry as I drove to the school. I was close to tears, but I didn't cry! (yeah me!)

All the parents were waiting in the hallway - John's bus pulled up and the doors opened, but no one was getting off the bus. The teacher walked out and still no kids gettting off. I had checked out the busdriver so remembered what he had on (nice Freddy Krueger shirt he had on) so I knew it was John's bus. I moved up so I could see the entire bus and not just the door. I see only two kids on the entire big bus, and they are both sitting on the bus together in the same seat! The teacher and bus driver were trying to get them off the bus but they were both nervous! It was really cute to see. John couldn't see me in the hall, so I waited for him to get off the bus and come and get in line with his classmates before he saw me. When he saw me he came running up and gave me a big hug and said the cutest thing, " mom, I missed you so much!" Ahhhhh melt my heart! He had been on the buss a total of 12 minutes I think - but I had missed him too.

sitting down at class.

I had to laugh because we got to his school and you could totally tell which mom's had their first kid going to school, we all looked on the verge of tears. Turns out a gal on my triathlon team has a son in John's class, so I was distracted talking to her so I didn't think about missing John while he was at school.

This is John in his classroom. He was a little nervous at first, but then we found out a friend from church is in his classroom! So John was very happy to know one of the kids in his class.

Love the cheese grin John has. His friend is in the blue.

There you have it, all the ins and outs of the first day of Kindergarten!

If you are following my running:

21 miles this weekend! (I did 21 miles! holey moley 21 miles!)

Over 5 hours - not my best run! legs felt like lead.

average hr: 140

highest hr: 170

calories burned: 3,097

Russia

Grandma Mary got back from a few weeks in Russia this past month. She brought back John and Josie the cutest outfits. John is all dressed up in Russian army outfit and Josie has on a traditional head set worn by the Russian girls during traditional dances and festivals. Josie got a very cute outfit, but it is not on in the picture. Aren't they just the cutest?

August running total: 151 miles - holey moley! Wow. I am shocked by that number! I did that? Why yes I did.....

I have never tracked my, well never tracked anything before, so I don't have anything to compare this too ~ but I think it is a pretty good number. Can I get a woot, woot?

First day of school coming Wed. I am sure you all can't wait for the pics!

like birth?

As I am going into my first marathon, I am consumed about reading people's experiences with their first marathon. I can't read enough books, have two on hold at the library right now! I am scouring blogs, looking for any advice at all that I can take from their experience. I feel like the first time I was pregnant, the anticipation ...... you are excited and scared. I remember being so excited but really wondering how the baby would exactly come out... just how bad would it hurt? Some of you know I have a strange blood disorder - that made me not be able to have an epidural.... so I know only one experience of child birth and that was one that didn't involve drugs. Let's say if I could have had them, I would have! It wasn't even considered, so you just gut it out. Why? Well you have to, you don't know any better. I mean you can't really stop it from happening, although I am pretty sure I tried to get hubby to take me home at some point. I was done, wanted to go home and try again another day.... but no I stayed in the hospital, and sucked it up and had the baby!

I have been told by Dr's that having kidney stones is much like giving birth. Having had kidney stones 4 times and being hospitalized each time, I can say... child birth is a lot easier! My dad once asked me why on earth you would ever go through that kind of pain again (he has had kidney stones before) I remember saying to him, cuz the pain is so worth it in the end. You have this beautiful baby to hold. Kidney stones, well not really fun all the way around, and if you do get to keep the stone - no one wants to see it.

Now this is where you may think I've gone off the running deep end. Will I look at the pain endured during the marathon and think it is worth it? I hope so. You have this goal, the marathon. It started out as a mission, a far away- I -can -stop -the- nonsense -and -not- really- go- through- it- at- any- time-, mission. Then somewhere along the way I convinced myself I could really do it. Then after putting in months of months of training, my mind and body caught up with one another and I knew I could do it. Now it is a matter follow through. I have put in over 500+ miles of training runs. When I set out to do the marathon, I didn't focus on all the months of training I focused on only the 26.2miles. Same with when you get pregnant, you don't focus on the baby who will soon be 2, 3 and 4 years old, no, you are focused on the cute and cuddly sleeping baby you take home from the hospital. If you went home from the hospital with a 2 year old you might go screaming back and return the child! But no, you start out small and work your way up the through all the milestones before you get the toddler.... same with running. You don't start out running 26.2 miles, no you start with one mile, or in my case a few minutes of running at a time. December '08 was the first time I ran a 5k race with out stopping. Then it was running for an hour, then hour and 1/2, then a 1/2 marathon, then 3 hours of running ... now I have built up the endurance to run for over 4 hours! I am doing it. As I hit my longest run of the training next week, 20 miles I can't help but to smile. I am in the the last pregnancy phase - the phase where you are just wanting the baby out safely. I am excited for the marathon to come, yet still nervous of the actual day. Kind of like wanting the baby out, but not wanting to go through the labor.

I had a friend that was pregnant the same time I was, after I gave birth she asked me how it went, really? I smiled and said some kind of a response like, oh not so bad, you will be fine.

What I didn't say was - it is some of the most intense pain you will ever feel in your entire life, if you can get drugs, by all means take them, take them early and often! But I didn't want to freak her out, so I side stepped and gave the answer she needed to hear. The one I needed to hear before I gave birth to my first child.

So now as I search for first time experiences of marathoners, I am finding the answers that I need to hear. I will survive, it is tough but well worth it, the pain is all worth it!

So in a few weeks I will go and find out for myself...

Redeemed!!

My last long run, as I wrote about was just bad all the way around.

Today I ran my longest run yet (18 miles) I ran with friends from my team, definetly think that helps. Also I ate quite a bit a this morning, so I had some energy!! Yeah. I can be taught!

I am so worried about running out of steam that I tend to run a little slower than normal for my longer runs.

Here is the breakdown:

18 miles
4:11:05
calories 2321
Avg HR 143
Max HR 172

Not too bad for me~! I tend to run a higher HR in a race, but I think that is normal.

I wish I had a pic of us all sitting in the river after the run, pretty funny sight 6 women sitting in the river. A man and his son were down at the river, looked at us like we were nuts! River is still pretty cold, but it felt good on the muscles. I did enjoy it better than pouring ice in the bath tub. We were joking saying during the winter we will have to have someone come and sit in the bath with us, with our ice!

Wanna race?

This is my new head band! I *heart* it!! I bought it at the Danskin expo, the gal that makes them, had some really great ones, but this is what I ended up with after much deliberation. I posted this for you Lisa!

This is me today after my 8 mile run!! I am sporting the farmer look with the braids! It was a very wet day today... I have very long and very thick hair that frizzes in the rain... so braids work!

Th company is called Bondi Band, you can custom order for your teams, or for a race, or what ever you'd like.



Some of my other favorite quotes they had:

Will run for wine

Iron Goddess

Iron Diva

Run like a girl - it was a toss up between this one, and the one I got!



They had a ton to choose from, I wore it yesterday running my 4 miles and today on my 8 miles... very nice. I like it a lot!

Go ahead, laugh! I still am.

We all try to post the best pics of ourselves up on the blogging circuit.
Well any of you know me know that I am always honest and truthful.



This was sent to me on my phone.... go ahead, laugh out loud... roll on the floor laughing it is ok, I did.



My mom called and I couldn't understand what she was saying she was laughing so hard after she saw it...



Yes it is me. The Keebler elf.


Derrick thought I should post it, as he was doubled over laughing on the floor!


That's right.. I'm bringin' sexy back! yeah.

Pics

Julia's hubby took pics today @ Danskin.

Here are a few

Pre race in the bike area - this is one of 9 sections... craziness!

Finish line smiles

Julia coming across the finish line - - tears of joy!

We did it!

Seattle Danskin

I had three goals for this race:

1. To go all out!
2. To kick my previous years time on the bike (really not too hard, last years time on the bike was not pretty - for me!)
3. To run the 5k without walking.


Every time I felt like slacking off - I would remember my first goal, seriously I would kick it into gear!

I only had a hard time on 1 part of the bike loop so I felt really good about that. I went all out on the bike, for me this meant a 17.9mph pace! Yeah!!

The first mile is always tough for me, my feet don't seem to cooperate after the ride, but I kept running anyway, in the past I have always walked until my feet felt "good". Not this year I began to run (I actually said to a lady next to me, "we are moving forward right?" she laughed and said, we were!

The swim: In past years the swim has been short on the distance about 200m. This year it was not, it was right on a 1/2 mile. So it was the first time during a race that I have done an actual 1/2 mile. My practice swims, I wasn't sure if I was doing a 1/2 mile or not, the life guards weren't all on the same page on exactly how far the two docs were I used to practice. One said 5 lengths in a pool, one thought it was longer. So it was hard to gage how fast I could do the 1/2 mile in. Swim started no problems, I stayed way in the back, knowing I would get run over if I didn't. I have had continual rotator cuff issues for a while, so I can't swim free style very long, I have to switch to side stroke. Around the first buoy, I finally found my stride and just kept to my pace, no panic attacks for me today! Last year I had a bit of a panic attack when I got kicked and choked in water, this year I remained calm. Second buoy I looked at my watch, and was thrilled that I was going as fast as I was, then the second wave back came up and it became a bit of a shark fest in the water... seriously it was hard to swim I kept hitting feet and and I grabbed a few butts too, I just wanted to get out of the mess, but I couldn't.. so I just kept going. My friend Kalei was in my wave this year, and she kicked my butt last year, so this year I wanted to at least keep up with her.... we came out of the swim with the same exact time! Not bad....

Ran/walked into the transition area, got shoes and a drink and ran out with bike, I felt great. I had a mission to accomplish on the bike, I started off strong and never really wavered for me. I felt good the whole ride, the last incline (bridge) was a bit tough but I gutted it out and even passed people! Last year the entire ride I heard, "left", "left", "on your left" "coming on your left, to the point it was beyond irritating to me. This year, I was shocked I was the one passing people! Of course I had people pass me, the younger ages are behind us in the waves, and some of them gals are very fast! But it felt good to know I had a great ride.

Off the bike, long way to the bike rack, oops. Changed socks and shoes and drank and went on my way - I was a running! (You have to say that like as in Forest Gump, I was a runnin' ) I felt good going into the run too, that was a plus. I have put so many hours into training I was happy they have all paid off. I was strong. Legs finally cooperated after about a mile. Then I just went at my slow steady pace. My friend Kalei, I had beaten on the bike, and I knew I had to get pretty far ahead of her as she a 9 min mile, and I am a 12.... obviously I needed to make past mile 2 to have a shot. There is a hill towards the middle of mile 2 I think.. and I thought if I can make it up the hill I may have her. Right before the hill, I hear, "I caught up to you, can we walk now?" as I turn to look it is Kalei passing me! Darn it, I yell! You can walk, I am running! I yell back to her as she goes off towards the hill. I was bummed, but happy I knew we would be close on our time. I didn't quite reach my goal of running the whole race, right at the top of the hill I stopped running. Yes I looked at my watch when I did it, I stopped for a minute 30, then I looked back at my watch and said to myself, no you don't ~~ finish this!! so I picked up and ran again. You can hear the crowd as you come to the final stretch it is pretty cool. I gave it all I had in the last .2 miles, and ran through the chute.

Great race this year, I felt strong at the end. I know I have come a long way, I feel stronger than ever.


Final Numbers: 1:49:16 Goal was to make it under 2:00 hours! Yeah.
Swim 1/2 mile: 23:20
Trans 1: 5:04 I could use some work here
Bike: 40:11 17.9 mph I kicked butt over last year - improvement of 37minutes! (I still stick to something was wrong with my bike!)
Trans 2: 3:26 not too bad??
Run: 37:14 Pace 12:00 My PR in a 5k until now was 36:20... you think I have improved? Heck ya!


It was great to race with so many ladies from the Raise the Bar and Raise the Hope teams. One of the gals from RTB took 4th over all and quite a few names in the top 10 I recognized and thought were from the team as well. Then I see a gals name who came in 8th.. she wasn't an elite either... she was a year older than me in high school, and had a wonderful race!

Congrats to everyone who competed this weekend.

A big shout out and congratulations to Julia~ she completed her first triathlon today!! She did awesome, I will let her tell you all about it, give her a "way to go" she deserves it!

Light the Passion Share the Dream

Another virtual race down... I don't think I won the gold!

Non Runner Nancy hosted another virtual race event (8 miles on the 8th - with the Olympic theme no less)... Nancy thought up the event when she was looking for a race during the winter months and needed something to train for, ofcourse her idea took off in the blogging running world, and she has hosted many more, some with prizes! I am not really a contender for prizes (ok, really in any race) but obviously I don't run for the prizes. (Just the free t-shirt and medal to wear around my neck!) I was on my long training run for the week, a 16 miler. Wow, it takes me by suprise I ran 16 miles. OK I ran/ walk 16 miles. Actually I walked 15 minutes of my 3:44 minutes of torture! I didn't fuel correctly before I left the house and well, it was a recipe for disaster. I have learned my lesson the hard way - the very hard way, and will not be doing that again! As I was coming to my last mile, I had a nice deer in the headlights look about me, I was passed (she was on her bike, training for World Championships in Nov. for her Half Ironman) one of the elite athletes that helped me do my schedule for the marathon a few weeks back. I was horrified when I saw her. I happen to be walking when I saw her, I was horrified I saw her, because I was done, you know put a fork in me done, finito, adios, kind a done! She asked how you doing? I responded, "good" and put a smile on my face.... then I had to come to the fact, that I had given up. Seeing her, well it shamed me into digging deep and getting my head straight! Yes I was tired, shouldn't you be after running 15 miles with one more to go? Maybe some people are not, but I was... so what I thought to myself. Suck it up! Get your head back in it and finish this.

(A picture from china for you to visualize the Olympics!)

So I mustered a bit of energy and ran (at a snails pace) back to the house... to finish the 16 miles. Lesson learned. EAT before you run! Won't have that issue again, only have to go through it once, to know you don't want that feeling again!

In the spirit of the Olympics opening on 8-8-08 enjoy the pic!
Also a shout out to my friend, Kalei - she turned 35 on the 8th!!

Light the Passion Share the Dream
The Olympic Motto

Fishing.

We had a great family vacation this past weekend. For the past 5 years we have gone fishing around this time of year in a little town called Sekiu (see-Q) It is a beautiful area. The town is 19 miles from the Makah Indian tribe - the tribe made national headlines for killing a whale this past year, illegally. I won't get into the politics of this, I will instead say, this is one of the most gorgeous areas of Washington state.

We forgot our camera, so I am waiting for this pics of the kids, and boat, etc. As soon as I get the photos I will post them.

We caught 11 salmon that we could keep. Coho and Chinook were legal, hatchery. (meaning they have to have a clipped fin) We caught many wilds, but couldn't keep them. It is fun just catching fish, so it is always exciting getting them to the boat! After two days I was in the zone, I was catching and also able to get the hooks out of the mouth and release the wild ones, no not as good as Grandpa does it, but hey I was doing it!

Fun story: Remember the hiking shoes I was so excited to get? They are red, cute and great to hike in.... not good for boating. not good for boating at all! My dad (grandpa) had a fish on, I went and got the net, we start doing the whole drill... you wave the net around, try to get the fish in the net with out losing fish, and with out throwing yourself over board. Well grandpa led the fish right to the net (he is good like that) and I lean over to net the fish..... both feet slip, darn shoes! I (for a second) thought I was going over board. I caught myself on the side of the boat. (with my elbows - ouch!) With out missing a beat, my dad turned and said the family line, "what the hell are you doing?" Yes dad I wanted to throw myself over the boat, with the net, it is easier to net them if we are all in the water! In case you were wondering... yes my elbow is bruised! Yes. We got the fish. It is a family tradition when someone does something really stupid, or clumsy, or gets hurt, what ever the situation to look at them and say, " what the hell are you doing?" you have to have a serious tone though when you say it, like you are irritated they just hurt themselves. My mom once stepped off the side of the road, when it was snowing and threw herself down a ditch... yes mom it is still funny! Yes, dad asked the question as he was helping her out of the ditch.... we are a nice bunch of people.

See the two towns in bold print? Sekiu and Clallam bay they are 2 miles apart... That is where we were on the coast. The dotted line going across the bay from the town of Port Angeles - is going to Vancouver, BC.... to give you all a reference of where we were.
The only tough part of the trip was trying to get in my run... Since I write the blogs, you get to hear about my part of the trip!




As you can see from the map on the right. This is it... this is all the road I had to run on. Yes there was the highway - but not much a shoulder so it made me nervous. Derrick drove me over to the town for my adventure. As he pulled away I turned on the ipod to find out, all my songs were magically erased. Great a nice 15 mile run with no music. I am not a purist here, I like me some music to run too! Ugh. Oh well first two miles ( a small loop out to the light house and back to town) was great. Then I decided to run the rest of the town. Well one trip down each road, kept my pace up - no one chains their dogs or owns a fence, so the animals run free. I guess they aren't used to runners, cuz I got them all stirred up! I even got chased a bit... nice heart rate booster! So once down each road was all I could take. A quick jaunt out to the prison... yes state prison in the middle of no where. I didn't go all the way out just up the first big hill, I didn't want a full four miles of hills.... ick. So yes I cut the run a bit short, I figure I made it 12-13 miles. not too bad for a town of 3 miles of road!





Let's see we skipped rocks each night after dinner, we decided that Detrix could take all state for rock skipping, 7 skips! he is a natural! Mom well not so good with the rock skipping. We ate and ate and had so much fun! Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for hauling the boat all the way out there - it is very much appreciated. We always have fun.

I will save the story of my mom and I watching an old fellow dock his boat. . . Always entertaining to watch people dock boats....







On the way home we got stopped on the Hood Canal Bridge. (they were letting marine traffic go through - all though we never saw a ship.... hmmmm) I have never been stopped on the bridge before... we got out and looked around. It was so cool to see the views from the deck of the bridge. Picture is from my camera phone.