Ironchasers

This weekend some of the brave, awe-inspiring, dedicated, ever-evolving, truly magnificent, men and woman of my triathlon team We Raise The Bar, are competing in the grueling, life-changing Ford Ironman in Coeur d Alene! (Did I get enough adjectives in?)

I am hoping to go watch next year, I of course would love to do this race some day - but I know a bit of what is involved and I know I have much, much more training and discipline before that would take place. The full Ironman is not something you take lightly. I have been watching these superhuman athletes train and they are amazing!

I say superhuman, because the dedication to the sport of triathlon is nothing less than heroic. (that is why i love the sport, eh?)

Swim 2.4 miles - When I went in for my swim last week in the freezing cold, windy day - I didn't mention that while the four of us ladies entered the water, from across the lake came two lone swimmers - training for Coeur d' Alene. I can't swim 2.4 miles at this time... so it is inspiring to watch those that can!

Bike 112 miles - Again while I have been out riding my 12-14 miles - I have been passed by many on the RTB team that are training for the 112 mile bike ride! The longest ride I have done is 20.... I got a ways to go!

Run - 26.2 miles - OK so I am on my way on this one! I know how much training it takes to do a half marathon, so add 2.4 miles of swimming then 112 mile bike ride, then holy cow a full marathon! Wow, I am seriously blown away people do this all in one day! I know I will finish my marathon in October - (see the ticker on the side it is ever taunting me!! counting down!) I am hoping to finish in and around 6 hours... give or take.. you aren't suppose to set a time goal on your first marathon.... so to think people can do Ironman races in 9-10 hours... truly amazing!

So as you roll off the couch this weekend, think of the superhuman athletes out there laying all their hard work on the line - , leaving it all on the course!

Best wishes to all the racers out there this weekend!!

God Speed Ironchasers, God Speed!!

Our fearless leader Patty owner of Raise the bar is out there this weekend. It is an honor to train with her. I wish her all the best, she is a truly selfless individual that gives of herself day in and day out... best wishes Patty!!

words to live by

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

or swim, bike and run! :)

This was in my inbox today - I needed to hear it today. Thought maybe you did too!

I Got Tagged!

Tagging is one way that bloggers connect with each other and each other's blogs.
I have some great people that I have "met" on line and are interested in running and triathlon. I got tagged by You Run? no, Really You run? blog. As some of you know that I run with, I talk about the people's blogs I read. I find most of these people truly fascinating and very inspirational!

So, here are the rules of tagging:
Tagging is easy. Just copy the following onto your post. The rules of the game are posted at the start of your blog post. In this case, I'm asking you 5 questions about running. Each player answers the 5 questions on their own blog. At the end of your post you tag 5 other people and post their names. Go to their blogs and leave a comment on their blogs telling them they've been tagged and to look at your blog for details. When they've answered the questions on their own blog, they come back to yours to tell you. Got that?

So here goes:


1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?


1998 - hmmm I was definitely not running at this point in my life. I was engaged to Derrick and if memory serves me correctly I was traveling for a company every week of the month, not exactly into exercise - more into eating out every single night.... not a great combo!





2. What is your best/worst running experience?


My best running experience by far has to be the last 6 months of training. I have ran 200+ miles and I have found a group of women that push me and help me to achieve my goals. Best race was my half on Mother's day - PR!! I cut 53 minutes off of my first ever half Nov of 06. This leads us to my worst run would have been my first half in 06'. I had not properly trained (I thought I had, ha ha!!) I couldn't walk for a week after the race! Also I bought a pair of "running shoes" ie) they looked cute - they were not the correct size ( I found out later - I have been wearing the wrong size shoe for years!) My toe nails turned black! Big red flag your shoes don't fit!

3. Why do you run?
I started out for various reasons....but why do I continue to run? I found an outlet that works for me. I run because I am happy, I run because I am sad, I run to clear my head, I run to show my kids a healthy lifestyle, I run for me.

4. What is the best or worst piece of running advice that you've been given about running?hmmm. I don't really have a bad piece of advice - the best piece of advice - Get fitted for your running shoes! priceless!

5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.

What don't you all know my life is pretty much an open book -

I once traveled on a 3 month road trip with my (now) hubby we drove for a promotional tour for 1800Collect - in a cargo van that had Phil Hartman (rest in peace Phil) on the side of it with big huge words saying, "FREE STUFF"! It was a great gig, traveled to college campuses handing out free stuff. We ended the tour in Los Angeles - we got lost in Compton - we were terrified we were going to get shot and the van taken!!


What else can I tell you -

I have taken 7 years of Spanish! While I am not able to hold on a conversation right now (lack of use) I can understand when people are talking. I can't conjugate the verbs quick enough to hold on a conversation. I once went to Spanish camp in highschool (yeah I know big geek here!) where we spoke only spanish the entire week. Actually I had a lot of fun.

People I will tag: (hopefully they will do this)

1. I have to tag Julia from Julia's Journey I find her so inspirational and I am always proud to call her my friend.

2. Viv, from Im not fit to run , well she is the first blog that I stalked! This is a fun term meaning - I found her blog, I liked it and kept coming back to see if she had posted, then finally I introduced myself to her! I came across her blog, cuz I liked the name of it!

3. Again I loved the name - Athena Diaries in the sports world Athena is given to us girls who are not a size 2 but we are out there defying the odds, and kicking some serious butt! Her story of losing weight is incredibly empowering. (OK - oops she already got tagged by I am still leaving her up cuz I love her story!!)

4. Cindy of Triathlon stuff - warrior woman right here!!

5. Last but not least is Wes from A Code Geek's Tail, love his stories - he just finished a 1/2 ironman! Incredible!

Hopefully all of you are up for the tag challenge - I certainly have enjoyed reading your blogs! Thank you for the encouragement and the courage to keep moving toward my goals!

I think I just became hardcore!

Em: Does this qualify us as now being hardcore??


Tina: Yes, this is hardcore!




So there it is... It was verified.... We are hardcore!


Seattle Metropolitan Area
Tonight: windy. Showers, decreasing after midnight. Lows in the 40s. Southwest wind 20 to 30 mph with gusts near 40 mph, decreasing after midnight.

Right now:
Seattle, WashingtonCurrently: 52°F Partly Cloudy
Wind: Southwest at 26 MPH



What were 4 of us doing that make us hardcore?? Well we were swimming in a local lake! As we were getting in the water there were 2 people that are training for the Coeur d’Alene Ironman that takes place is a couple of weeks, coming out of the water. So I will gladly take the "hardcore" title I have given myself! (Am I funny or what?) Yes we had wet suits on... if you were wondering... I had on a shorty - so my legs were a bit cold, but felt good besides that.

I really don't know how far I went probably about a 1/4 of a mile, before getting out! The wind was blowing so hard there were almost white caps on the water making it mighty difficult to swim! I decided that swimming in open water is better done when it is 80' and sunny and calm.

That is all for now!!

Good thing there wasn't anyone at the park... I would have flashed them as I got my wetsuit off and into my clothes.. the restrooms were way to far away to see if they were open, so I hope anyone watching enjoyed the show of us four woman... stripping down with towels around us! (OK maybe it was just me!) After I got out of the water the wind was relentless.... then I got cold brrrrr.....

Shameless plugs

I have officially sold out! As you can tell I am pretty excited about it too!

Our Raise the Bar team uniforms (Local triathlon club) and jackets have arrived. Some of you know just how cool it is to slip into that new uniform. Last year I was kind of bummed all year cuz I didn't order the jacket, well not this year. Thank you to my brother John (who purchased it for me! Thank you!!) I will be wearing this baby all the time. (I think he just didn't want to have me complain all year long that I didn't order one! They only did one order last year so I couldn't get one!)

We have some great sponsors this year. One of them the Hope Heart Institute is near and dear to my heart because they help raise awareness and also do research to help fight against cardiovascular disease. As most of you know my hubby suffered a stroke in '06. So this cause is very close to us. What is very cool about this organization is that 100% of all donations go into research, your money does not go towards administrative costs. Just an FYI! Pretty cool, huh? They not only do research but they also run many programs to help educate men and women on how to lower their risks of a heart attack or stroke. Anyone can have a heart attack or stroke. There are small things you can change in your life that make a big impact on your chances of a stroke or heart attack.
What you can do...

• 
  Eat a low-fat diet that includes eight to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables, and three servings of low-fat dairy a day. These foods contain calcium, magnesium and potassium - minerals that help control blood pressure.
  


• Get regular, brisk exercise - at least 30 minutes most days.
  Lose extra weight.
  


• Cut back on salt - About 10 to 15% of Americans are "salt sensitive."
  Limit alcohol - More than one drink a day can contribute to high blood pressure.
  Manage stress.
  


• Buy a home blood pressure monitor. This can give you a better picture of your average blood pressure.
  


• Ask your doctor about blood pressure-lowering medications if lifestyle changes don't help.

Hope Heart Institute and another sponsor Kagome (this is a wonderful product too! can you say YUMMY, more on them later) directly support the Raise the Hope Team I am on which is a subset group of woman within the regular (We Raise the Bar) triathlon team.... we are a wonderful group of woman that not only want to lose some weight, but also but are finding inner strength while participating in life changing events such as triathlons, 5k's, 10k's, Half Marathons and Full Marathons!

Rest assured from time to time I will talk about the sponsors on here - not because I have to ~ but because I believe these sponsors have some great products, and well in this case are truly changing lives!

One more thing, last night at out team meeting we were all learning how to change a flat tire. Being newer to the sport of triathlon this is a rather important thing to know! I have only changed my tire once, but it went fairly quickly and without too much trouble. But they showed us this tool last night that well, it could change your life! (OK, maybe not change it but make it very easy to change a tire!) It is by crank brothers and is called a speed lever. It is different from a normal "tire changing thing-a-ma-jiggy" how you ask? Well let me tell you it is different because it has this handle that you attach to your spoke (the middle part of your tire where all the spokes meet.) So you just spin the tool all the way around your tire and pop off the tire with one hand. Normally you have to slide the tool around on your own, this new tool guides it around because it is attached! (hope that makes sense) Seriously is a cool tool! (wanted to make more use of the parenthesis) Plus it is only around $6.00! You can't beat that price in the sport of triathlon!

This may be old hat for you veterans in the sport, but if you are new to biking and or triathlon, get one of these!

Thanks for listening to my ramblings... you will see me in my spandex soon ( I know you are excited for that) ha ha ha!! As my friend Julia says "Spandex is a privilege not a right!" I don't know where she got it but it cracks me up each time I hear it.

Another funny note, last night we all changed into our uniforms so they could take some photos - here we are 15-20 woman wearing spandex! Maybe I only thought it was funny ~ but two years ago I would have never done that - and then to know I would be photographed! Too much.

Full marathon

Let's see this weekend I lived vicarously through two of my team mates that ran in and FINISHED the Rock N Roll San Diego Marathon! Shout out to Teresa and Jessi!! (I will have to ask them if I can post their pics!)





To say that I am excited for them is well, an understatement. They are the first of our triathlon team to complete a full marathon. I am so fired up I can't hardly control myself.


The cool thing is that I am kind of inbetween the ladies in how fast I run. One of them is between 10:50 and 11:30 min a mile, and the other one is about 13:30 a mile. I fall somewhere in the middle at about 12+ min a mile for anything over 10+ miles. What makes me happy is to know that they both completed the marathon, meaning I can too... There times you ask? Jessi 5:15 min and Teresa 7:30 you gals rocked it!!





I think we always see ourselves in other people. Some of you out there in blog land may have thought after reading my rambling blogs, if she can do it, I can do it! Well that is my thought too. If they can do it, then I can too!





My excitement turns to nervousness, I want to be well prepared for the race. I am putting in the miles, and I know that will pay off, but the mental part ... how do you wrap your brain around running 26.2 miles? I don't enjoy driving 26.2 miles :)



I am actually submersed in a book on mental training. For any non runners out there - it is such a mental sport. Your body does what your mind tells it to! "They" (don't you love that? who is they?) say that after 20 miles you physically can do the next 6.2 it is all a mental battle. That is why when you are training for a marathon your longest run is 20 or depending on the program 22 mile run. My program (it is official I have a program - yeah me!how "cool athlete" is that ? )

I will do 2 - 20milers and one 22 mile run.. the rest vary from 14 miles to 18 miles. This weekend and for the next 2 weeks I will be doing 14 miles for my long run.

Wow.... that is a lot of miles!

My point being I know after this training I will be able to do it.... how cool is that? When I first had the idea of running (after the loss of my friend, Liz - I thought I would run in Portland) I wasn't sure if I really could but let's see , after 200+ miles (holy cow 200+ miles) of training... I am feeling ready to take on what I thought was once impossible....



Glad to have you along for the ride. I know this blog has turned into my running blog now, with occasional family photos - but you know I think that is great, as I evolve so do the things around me. I find peace in this new passion. I find running a new outlet, so thanks for hanging with me on this journey.


There is 8 of us that are going to do the Portland Marathon in October. I say "Bring it on Portland! I will be ready"



The countdown timer is ever spiraling down, so my intensity will heat up!



Go run your race, what ever race you choose ~ run it with all your heart!

Memorial Day

I am so excited.. I got some free shoes! No I am not like half fast a company didn't send them to me... although I would love that if it happened! As you know I work at a gym. Well one of the couples that works out there works for a local outdoors company. Helly Hanson. My boss was tlaking about how big her feet were, so they had a pair of shoes that didn't fit a friend, so they gave them to my boss, well her feet really aren't that big (size 9) come on now - that is not that big! After I made a nice big production of how I loved the shoes (they were so cool - totally coveting the shoes!) I informed my boss that I truly had big feet! (size 11 folks!) so when she finally tried on the shoes they were huge on her little feet... as you know she gave them to me!! They are pretty cool. They aren't running shoes they are hiking shoes. Since I had the shoes well I went for a couple of hikes this weekend! Yeah!


View from the place we stayed, this is looking over the Columbia River. It is truly breathtaking!




We went down and stayed in Oregon with Derrick's sister. She works and runs a camp outside of Portland. It is a beautiful area, very green! They live in the middle of a huge hill the elevation goes from sea level to approx 750 feet in 2 miles! They are almost in the middle of the hill - very cool views from her house!




They have pretty large fishing pond right next to their house. We caught trout (and ate them) and Detrix and his cousin Brian swam in the pond. Saturday night there were around 20 teens swimming in the pond!












We stayed at the camp in a mansion. When I say mansion I mean mansion! It was a house built for a man that owned grocery store chains, when he died he gave it to the FourSquare church and they made it into a camp. I think there is 50 acres, it is a gorgeous camp and retreat center.


LavYonne and Brad (Derrick's sister and brother in law) provided food for all of us as well! We helped them to prepare the meals - here the littler kids are helping to put cheese on the pizzas. I think Lav said there were some 50 pizzas! Crazy! But with teens that can go pretty quick! I know we ate them sat night then they made more on Sat and Sun for a midnight snack!






We went down because Derrick's nephew Blake is graduating from highschool and Derrick's sister and brother in law through him a huge graduation party. Friday night there were 8 of us, then Saturday I think I counted 30+ then sunday night there were 60+ people that came - it was really nice to celebrate his accomplishment with lots of friends and family. Most of the people that came were teens, so the games and fun was on!





This is Detrix and Blake havin' some fun! Look how big the fireplace is! We had 4 people actually standing in it one night to start the fire!



They played frisbee, and capture the flag... even played dodge ball in the gym. There was so much to do that we were busy all weekend



















I wish I had a photo of all the teens, it was really fun to watch them run around.

Saturday night we had a big thunder and lightening storm roll through. I kept missing the lightening rods, they were so amazing to watch. The whole sky was lit up. I was under the porch, and didn't feel the need ot venture out into the big field holding something metal. I thought about getting a golf club and seeing if I could have lightening strike me, but alas I came to my senses and stayed under the porch! So this picture is right before or right after the lightening struck. I personally think we got a photo of a UFO... see in the corner? I kid people I kid!!

Here are all the cousins.... John, Blake, Josie, Detrix, Breck and Brian!

For those wanting to know I did do a run on Sat - went from around 450 elevation to 750 elevation in 3/4 of a mile! Ran down to a local landmark (again down a hill and back up!) the hills are great training but rough! My HR was high! I think it was 7 miles... don't know for sure....

In the groove?

As I was running this past couple of weeks I have had the same conversation with a few different people. The conversation is about how it takes me about 45 minutes of running to warm up and find my groove. At about the 45min to 1 hour mark I start to feel really good and feel like I could run forever. I had this conversation on the day of the half with my two friends and we all laughed and thought, hmmmm I guess we never ran long enough before ~ to get in the groove. I never thought I would say I need to warm up for 45 minutes, but now in training for a while I am comfortable with that. I laughed as I had the same conversation at the gym I work at, with two women who were asking me about the half. Pretty cool I have some of the women asking me about my running schedule and such. Obviously I don't claim to be an elite athlete but they are taking note in my changes in the past 6 months or so. My question is this, does the same thing happen to a person on the swim? on the bike? I haven't found my groove yet in these two disciplines, still searching for that magic time when I can swim, or ride forever! It will happen I am certain of that!

Dead bodies and running?

Pearl Izumi ad . Pearl Izumi's lastest ad campaign's headline reads "Ever notice how it's always runners who find dead bodies?" Saw this ad in a runner's magazine while at the gym and it really got me thinking.....




bad campaign?

smart campaign?

make you want to run?

make you want to buy their shoes?

What you might not realize is that they are more than just a cycling brand. To those who might not be that into running, they do make some good shoes.

The point of the ad.. and their other contraversial campaign pitting "runners against joggers"... is to get people talking about their brand. So I guess it is working! It has me thinking.

Maybe that is good. But it doesn't want to make me go run on a trail by myself. That freaks me out as it is.. now an ad saying runners find the bodies.. hmmm.

I do like the part of the ad that says run like an animal. Kind of cool.

Thoughts on the ad?

*** In doing a little more research, I think this may be an older ad, so much for the gym magazines! --- Just to clarify I only read when I am on the Stairclimber---- thought you should know that! ***

weekend

This weekend was the first weekend we had some heat in the PNW. I know we broke records, I belive parts of the area hit 90'. Craziness considering that about 3 weeks ago it was snowing! So I went out for my long run on Sat AM and was shocked that at 8am it said it was mid 70's. As I ran with friends the talk ofcourse was how hot it was. I have always liked cold weather compared to hot, I like that you can always put on more layers if necessary. When it is hot, I can't really take off layers, well I guess I could but I am not comfortable with that scenario. I see people running in just a sports bra, but well folks I don't think that will be happening any time soon with me. Rest assured I won't be running in the little underwear things either. I know I know you are all suprised by that, and relieved.

We had a fun weekened around the house. The boys camped out side in the tents. I believe we were the only people in our 'hood that sprung up tents in the backyard! I forgot to get pics, darn it. The funny thing is we sent up the tents and get John and Detrix settled in and what do they do while camping? They watch a movie from our portable DVD player. True roughing it folks! Josie didn't make it to the tent on Friday night, she fell asleep next to me in the house.... she did make it out on Saturday night.

Too fun.


Ran 8.6 miles Sat

Some more photos

Just got the "official" photo from the race - Here is Amy -

They missed the photo proof on mine! oops. I think they were standing next to our friend taking photos - it is almost the same shot.

Pics from Kirkland

I didn't get any pics of the 1/2... so as I get them emailed to me I will post them.

here is the Raise the Hope Team! I am on the bottom right... didn't think I could stand up after the pic!

me at the finish!

the only photo I took, camera was left in the trunk! This is my two lifelong friends, Kalei and Amy! You guys rocked it! Kalei's time 2:22 and Amy's 2:20 All smiles before the race!

this is when I saw the RTH team waiting at the finish!

You can't say I don't take in air!
Here is the rock star Julia 100 meters from her first 5k! So proud of her!

Julia and I after our races!

Mother's Day 1/2!

This is the front of the RTH team shirts!

Wow! What a race.

I wasn't nervous this time about finishing, because I knew I had trained hard for this, but I wanted to do well. My two friends that I have known forever (I met one when I was almost 3, the other I think at 4 or 5 years old) carpooled with me to the race, it was great to see them both. It was funny to think after all these years we were doing a 1/2 marathon together! Woo hoo for us.

It was a bit windy when we got there, but that is to be expected when you are right next to a lake!

Miles 1-2-3
Moved right to the back of the pack, with the 12:00 min pacer signs. I didn't want to start off too fast. I knew rather quickly into the first mile that I was going faster than a 12:00 actually I think we did the first mile in 10:55! For me that is rock star fast! Something happened after the first mile, my shins started to hurt, hmmm this is new I thought never had sore shins. This is going to make for an interesting run if it keeps up. Miles 2 -3 were more struggling for me. Ouch shins still hurt. I started at the back of the pack, and as you can imagine my worst fear is to come in last so I kept looking back to see that I wasn't last. At one point I only saw 3 people behind me. Crap I thought. Then something changed and my thoughts went to doing my best instead of worrying what was behind me. truly it is a mind game to run long distances.

Mile 4 -5

Shin stopped hurting, I started getting my groove. I looked at the watch and I was at approx 4.5 miles when I hit the hour mark... cool right on time!

Mile 6

This was a truly great mile for me - I caught up with the walkers that left a 1/2 before me! You can't begin to imagine the mental lift this gives you! I ran for the past 2 miles behind a gal with orange shorts determined to close the gap. At mile 6 I did just that I passed her. I started to look back to see if she was going to give chase, but I stopped and thought nope I have passed her and she will not pass me, keep running, there is no looking back, only forward! OK mile 6 for Non-Runner Nancy was 1:20. I believe!

Mile 7

I put a gal in my sights with a white long sleeve shirt with a bright blue shirt on underneath. I thought to my self " bring it on! I will pass you!" I was now fully in my groove and dare I say it? Getting that runner's high! Feeling really good.

Mile 8 -9

Most of these two miles were down hill, wow that does wonders for you the first 1/2 was gradual up hill! So I really kicked it in and passed the lady in the white and blue right before mile 9! Right after that I called and left Derrick a message - I know, I am a big geek calling my hubby to tell him I think I am going to beat my "hopeful" time (that was 3:00 hours) I was quite a bit a head of schedule! If you are wondering I grabbed the phone and dialed and left message while I was running I did not stop! If only I could use my multitasking skills to run a consistent 10 min mile!

Mile 10 - 11

Kind of a blurr in the zone, there weren't a lot of runners around to pick off just the walkers. I was kind of bummed that was a fun thing for me to do. So I picked a walker way up the course and headed towards him. Hit 11 miles and got really excited just 2.1 miles left! Then you round a little corner and it is a short but steep hill. ugh. Made it up the hill - HR went up to 190! wow! My arms were pumping! Again for Non-Runner Nancy and her 10k or 10 miles, my time approx of course, was about 2:06 I know I looked at my watch, to make sure I noted the time but now I have so many numbers in my head I am not positive!

Mile 12

There were two wonderful guys yelling at 3 of us, that we were almost there! The two ladies started to run with me, I was beyond determined to not have them pass me. The first half of the mile a lady in green and I were battling it out - enough is enough I thought - and I broke away. (You have to laugh at me breaking away with a 12:00+ mile!) But hey a break away is a break away. Saw the bridge at the end and new I was close. But I didn't know when to really kick it in, as I didn't want to run out of steam.... Got down the bridge and thought - don't leave anything on this course, run like you've never run before! I looked at the watch and I thought, holy crap I can make 2:45! Started a little faster - then saw my two friends, (who were done!) I know I am close! Started to sprint (again my version of sprinting) Then as I looked up from my running fog I saw the coolest thing... My Raise the Hope Team all standing at the corner! I seriously got excited.... how great they were waiting until we all finished! I missed the 2:45 time... but I finished in 2:46:?? I need to look at the race time to see what my seconds were. I think my average mile was 12:42! that is awesome for me!

Ofcourse through out the race I thought of my friend Liz. Miles 8 and 9 I started to cry, wishing she was with me. Then I had a little conversation with her - me just talking to her telling her I missed her, then telling her I think I could have kept up with her today. Thank you my friend for pushing me. When I crossed the finish line, Foster (her husband) was there. It was great that he came to the race. As I hugged him, so many emotions came into my head! I told him I loved him, and her and that I missed her, and I thanked him for being a great friend! I know Liz was with me today.

I will have to look it up, but I believe my time for my first 1/2 in Nov '06 was 3:36... I took off 50 minutes! Wow! I have come a long way! (Just looked it up - my time was 3:33 53 minutes off the time)

I PR'd the race! 2:46:??
Min/Mile 12:42 I need to verify!
Calories burned: 2, 062
HR average: 164
Highest HR: 190

The coolest part was seeing everyone at the end of the race! Congrats to Julia, she did her first 5K! You rock!

To all the Raise the Bar /Raise the Hope people I met during the race - you looked awesome, many people got a PR as well! I will add pictures later!




this is the back of the RTH shirts.


I will post pics of me, my friends and the team as soon as I get them! There is a pretty cool one of me at the finish that my friend Amy's sister took! So cool Jen came out to see her sis race!

Wanted to say thank you to Derrick and kids for supporting me in my marathon craziness!!

and a big Thank you for the beautiful flowers and card you got me! Thank you for a wonderful Mother's Day!

John's big day!

Looking good, Billy Ray! Feeling good, Louis!

(thought the quote from Trading Places fit)

Kindergarten round up! John was so excited to go to school today - he wanted to pick out his outfit, so to the closet he went for the perfect clothes. Then with out me asking he brushed his teeth... this is a first. John didn't want to walk to school, he wanted to take the car. We live really close to the school, so I think he won't get a bus, but we don't know for sure. We pull into the

this is John on the bus!

He kept saying this is the best day ever!

school and I about tear up! Great I am thinking I am going to be that parent... Not only did I start to tear up, it is only an hour today people! ( What is my deal?) I was also that parent taking photos! That is right I took photos of John as we walked into school, and then on the bus. I refrained from taking pics of the classroom, now I must admit I wish I would have... I don't know what I am going to do on his real first day of school I am probably going to be a mess!

Here is lil' sister - not too happy that John was getting to go to school today, and she had to stay home.

Some thoughts...

As the clock ticks down to the 1/2 marathon my mind is consumed with thoughts of my friend Liz who suddenly passed away in Jan. For those that don't know we did our first 1/2 marathon together in 2006. I so smile as I write that because I remember like it was yesterday. I smile because it snowed on that day - who runs a 1/2 in the snow? Well I looked at the forecast for Mother's day today.... no snow thankfully, but it looks like rain is coming. It makes me smile. All the training all the hardwork, and well it will probably pour rain! That is ok I smile cuz there is no way I would back out. I smile because I know Liz will be with me. I smile cuz if I don't the tears come streaming down. I still miss my friend, everyday I think of her. I wish she were here to run it with me. I ofcourse made the decision to train for this 1/2 on my own, but part of me wants to do it for her as well. Everyday when I think of her I think of one of her favorite songs
Unwritten
"Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in"

I know you hear the song on every freakin' commercial but it is so true. Only you can feel the rain, only you can go after your dreams. Sitting on the couch doesn't get you closer to your dreams ~ go after your dreams what ever your dreams may be ~ Go get em!

Here is me at the finish in 2006 - 35 pounds heavier! Who says you can't change things in your life? Woo hoo for me!! Still have the same coat I will probably wear it @ the race - hey it is bright, and I kind find myself in every photo very quickly! It works!

Kirkland Half course!

This is the course for the 1/2 I am running this coming weekend. Pretty darn excited about it!

Went 11.4 miles today ran with my friend Kalei she had to slow down for me, but it was great to run with her!

calories burned: 1650
I was running faster than I normally would, so we met somewhere in the middle - although I did have to walk a bit more than usual cuz my heart rate would get up there! But so cool to do this with friends!

Can't wait for next weekend: Not only am I running with lots of people from the RTH / RTB teams I am also running with two friends from highschool! Yeah!! So cool. I am trying to convince them both to do the Full Marathon...

Some quotes

"It's supposed to be hard. If it was easy than everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.”
Tom Hanks, A League of their Own

"We have two options in life both medically and emotionally, give up or fight like hell. "
Lance Armstrong

“I know what I have to do now, I’ve got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”
Tom hanks, Castaway

"Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around.”
Panalope Cruz, Vanilla Sky

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
Tim Robbins, Shawshank Redemption


These are some of my favorite quotes... a friend shared some with me today and I thought I would then share mine with you!

A half marathon today!

Quick info on the run today - never in my life did I think I would actually run a 1/2 marathon for my training run. I actually was slated to run 11 miles. But I missed a trail marker and did 3 miles instead of the 2 I was suppose to do, on the first part of the run... Then ran 9.6 miles around a local reservoir, add in the .5 miles from my house to the first trail head (I didn't drive to go running!) And drum roll please, you have 13.1 miles!

I just had to share that - pretty darn cool if you ask me. The best part was I cut 15 minutes off of my first 1/2 marathon two years ago :) All smiles today.

Calories burned: 1720
HR monitor said I was in the zone: 3:01 minute!

Who is this person?

On Wed I woke up at 5:30 and went to my 6:00 am running class. I was dragging a bit as I started out but quickly got into my chugging along pace.
I felt great when I got home so I thought let's go to the gym, got the kids fed and ready and headed to the gym. Ofcourse I know all the trainers at the gym, I work there after all and may I add they are all extremeley friendly and helpful. I get quite a bit of free advice, tips and training techniques from them so it is very nice to work at the gym. There is this one trainer who has quite an impressive personal trianing resume, so I tend to always ask him my questions, well he was on one of the stair climber machines when I got there (the gym only has two) so I got up on the second one and thought ~ I can hang with him! So I start out and fiddle with the machine until I can get it about the same pace he is on ~

I don't know if anyone else does this but I always run /work out faster and harder when there is someone right next to me!

So I am taking on the trainer if you will. After a 1/2 hour over 125 flights of stairs I am dripping from head to toe with sweat but I am smiling, I am keeping up! A half hour was all I planned to do, but I can't stop now, I have to go longer than him! Five minutes later I decided that he has won and I reluctantly get off the stair climber and and spray it down (yes you are suppose to wipe off the machines after you use them - it is gym etiquette and just plain gross if you don't!) I hang my head and walk over to do my sit up routine. He won. But then alas a positive thing happened - he got off the machine right after I did! So now I feel pretty darn good. Sure he was probably at a higher setting I was level 6 not bad for the stair climber for me... so I wonder what level he was at? I didn't have the nerve to ask... I hung with the trainer on my second work out of the day - not too bad, eh?

Then I went to a bike handling class to round out the evening!
I burned a total of 1500 calories - on my 3 workouts - according to the HR monitor! I was feeling pretty good. The best part, I was only a little soar the next day.... woo hoo.

Happy B-day!

I was waiting to post a pic of D and big D to wish them a happy birthdays, but if I wait any longer it will be really late.... already late as it is!





I don't have any recent photos of Derrick with his son Detrix. I have Detrix or Derrick... but not together!

Wow Detrix turned 15, can you believe it!? I can't he will be getting his permit soon... crazy how time flies. I met Detrix when he was 3 years old, what a charmer he was and still is. If you haven't seen him lately you will hardly recoginize him he is all "growed" up!

My 3 guys at the Seahawks game in Dec 2007

Derrick turned ..... 35! yeah we are both officially in our mid thirties! It used to seem so old, 35, now I think it very young, life is just beginning.



Happy Birthday to Detrix and Derrick!