Vic On The Move

Leavenworth Marathon October 2011

2011-10-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Leavenworth is about 2 hours East of Everett, WA so it is about a 2 hour drive from my house. It is over the Cascade mountains and is a small village town that represents Germany. There are so many things to to here including a marathon!

I met my friend Sheila almost a year ago at the gym, go figure! We began to talk and get to know one another very well. We hit it off right from the beginning. She was on a weight loss journey (Began Jan. 2010) and as of today she has kept off more than 105 pounds. She began running with Stacey and I on our weekend runs. It wasn't too long she was right at our heels. She was getting so good at running that I got her to do her first 5K March 2011 (St. Patty's Day Dash) and she was hooked. I also told her there was green beer at the end and that was my selling point. :)

Two months later she was running her first half marathon and finished 2:06 which was awesome! So you see where I am going with this right? Soon after the half I asked "so when are we running your first marathon"? We picked Leavenworth Oktoberfest Marathon! I set out the training schedule and off we went and trained 13-14 weeks for her first and my fifth.

We arrive Friday, Oct. 14 into Leavenworth, check into our room, pick up race packet and find a nice pre-race dinner. The next morning we get up and get our marathon gear on. She was a little nervous but who isn't on their first 26.2 mile run! The first 11 miles were down hill which is not so great, puts a hurt'in on the quads. Mile 11-17 we hit trail and loose dirt which is not a favorite but we went through it like champs. Finally, back on the road and the scenery throughout the run was amazing with mountains all around us. She only had to walk a few times and did fantastic for her very first. I too felt fantastic and felt like I could have gotten a personal record but today was all about Sheila and I wasn't going to leave her side. Heck I was worried she would leave me! I was so proud of her and finishing so strong at a time of 4:45, not bad at all for a first with loose dirt!

A few times during the run she had a few "this sucks" moments but they didn't last long. The one moment I loved the most was when she said "your Iron Man can suck it", meaning she wasn't taking any part in that. We shall see Sheila, one day...one day!!!

Lake Stevens Half Iron Man August 2011

2011-10-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

Here we go again with Half Iron #3 and I'm more prepared for this one than I was for the Napa valley one. I had trained better especially on the bike and the hills. It was a beautiful morning and the lake was calm. Although I've done many triathlons I still get the "jitters" race day morning. I layed all my gear out, got in my wetsuit and headed to Lake Stevens where I would begin my 70.3 race. The 70.3 is the total miles I will complete including all three legs: swim 1.2, bike 56 and run 13.1. The swim starts in waves so there is not a heard of people taking off all at the same time. I hear "GO" and I jump in and begin my swim. The first quarter of the swim I'm usually trying to find my rhythm and get my breathing down. I soon realized that there is a rope underwater that is attached to the buoys so that was very helpful. I didn't have to keep looking up to make sure I wasn't swimming "away" from the other racers. My swim was decent but when I approached the end and got out I felt a little disoriented and took a few moments to find my bike.

Once I found my bike I switched gears into bike mode and was on my way. The course was beautiful and the hills were not as bad as I thought they were going to be. A few prior to the race a friend took me out there to ride the course so I would be prepared and know what to expect. By race day they had changed the course a bit and it was actually easier than what we trained on. This is always a good thing! Coming back to the transition area I was mentally preparing myself for the run.

I got changed into my running shoes and began hitting the pavement. I started out a bit slower than expected but a jog is better than a walk. I met some friendly people along the way and then after a few miles my friend Stacey caught up with me and we began to run together. The run course was two loops and there was one major hill along the lake that I wasn't too happy about but once I had done it twice I knew I was home free. We both finished together at a time of 7 hours. I was happy with this time because the difficulty of this course was in between my first (6:30 hours) and second (7:30 hours) half iron.

As usual after the race I celebrated with a couple victory beers!

Newport, OR Marathon June 2011

2011-09-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

Didn't think I was a "runner", I just knew I enjoyed it. So here I am on Marathon #4 and my first Marathon was November 2010 with a time of 5:34. I now classify myself as a runner! I took my time on my first Marathon because I had no idea what to expect. It was in Seattle and the course was very nice. It was also in November so it was in the 40's-50"s the entire way. My second Marathon was on New Year's Eve and it never reach above freezing. It was also mostly trail which I enjoyed. My muscles started to ache half way through due to such cold temperature but I finished with a time of 5:25. Then there was my third Marathon in Redding, CA and I was a little nervous because it would be my warmest one yet. It was two weeks after my second Marathon which was in January and this made me even more nervous because there wasn't much time between the two. I really wanted to run the entire way but you never know how you are going to feel. I did great for the first 20 miles and then cramped up so bad that the last six miles soon became a walk run interval finishing at 5:05.

So here comes number 4 and my main goal is to finish under 5 hours and try to run the entire course. I started out feeling really good and just a few miles past the half way point I began to tire and not feeling my best. This was now my hottest race and was in Newport, OR first part of June. I did enjoy the heat and was happy not to have two or three layers of clothing. My honey was there on his bike the entire way taking photos of me and Stacey. This was really cool to have him there and pictures along the way for free!

At mile 20 I kept going back and forth with this older man. I kept jogging/running as he would walk/run. I would tell him only 6 miles to go then 3 to go as I kept running and glancing at my Garmin wondering how in the heck I was doing this. I kept going back and forth in my head I need to walk and then I would say no keep going. This lasted the last 3-4 miles and pushed all the way to the end, running the entire course and finishing with a time of 4:34. I couldn't believe I shaved 35 minutes off my last Marathon and was thrilled to death. I was so happy and the beer right after never tasted oh so good!

Napa Valley Vintage Half Iron Man April 2011

2011-09-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Going into this triathlon I didn't feel quite as ready as I did for my first. I felt confident in my running and swimming training but the bike was lacking. I was pretty confident that I could at least finish but wishing I had been a bit more prepared.

Stacey and I left Washington Thursday morning for the 13 hour drive down to Napa. It was a nice drive and perfect time of year. We arrived and got a good night's sleep that night. Friday appeared and Stacey and I just relaxed in downtown Napa. Mind you I haven't have a drink of alcohol in several weeks in preparation for this race so touring Napa was somewhat difficult with all the wonderful wineries around. We did go into one where I sipped a few but that was it! Napa is such an awesome town and would love to go back to spend more time and of course sample more wines! Friday night we went to Outback, funny two vegetarians sitting in a steakhouse but they have the best salmon and sweet potatoes which is an awesome prerace dinner.

Saturday morning rolls around and we are up at o dark thirty with jitters and all. We make it to the race site which was at Lake Berryessa and oh my was it rough! I didn't realize just how rough and cold it was until I had to swim in it. The first 15 minutes was the worst! I could barley put my face in the water due to the cold temp of the water and I hadn't swam in rough waters in awhile. After I wanted to cry and or quit I gathered my thoughts and focused on my swim. I told myself to get over it and start swimming! I fought through and learned very quickly how to keep the water out of my face each time I came up for air. I didn't let the white caps nor the temperature of the water stop me, I was going to finish this and I did (1.2 mile)!

The bike portion was next and although it was very beautiful but extremely hilly. I just enjoyed the scenery and peddled as hard and fast as my legs could go. I was lucky and had no flats and everything went smoothly.

Finally after 56 miles of biking I came back to transition into my run. I changed my shoes quickly and set off to run 13.1 miles. There were some rolling hills again but I just kept on going. My run felt great and did not stop once! It was an out and back course which we had to do twice. These types of runs can be a bit boring but at least you know what is ahead for your second loop.

After swimming 1.2 mile, biking 56 and running 13.1 my final time was 7.5 hours. I was pleased that I finished and got through that horrible swim. I knew I wasn't 100% ready for this race but as always I had a great time and again challenged my body the way I enjoy challenging it! I tried jumping in the lake to cool off but it was so darn cold I could only get in up to my knees!

Mt. Si 50K

2011-04-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

I have come to learn that there are three types of runners that enjoy competing. There may be more but I will describe the three in "my book". First, you have the elite or pro which are super fast people and you could never wrap your head around their finishing times and you are just amazed! Second, there are the people just under the elite and they are quite quick but not quick enough to be elite. Their finishing times are fast but within reason. Third, there are the recreational runners who enjoy registering for races but don't even think of staying after the race to see if they placed. They are just tickled to be there and finish without having to be carried out by volunteers or even the medical team.

I feel as though all three categories tend to go through the same emotions on race day. The anticipation of "how will I do?", "Will I be able to finish today without any injuries?" etc. As a runner you never know how good you are going to feel on race day. There are some days where I feel like I can't even run a 5K (3.1 Miles) and put in a 12 Miler. Other days I feel like I could run a marathon and come in after 30 minutes of running. You just never know what your body is in the mood for but that is where motivation comes in, to push ourselves past that comfort zone.

I am defiantly runner number three. I enjoy racing to 1. Have a great time, 2. Accomplish new personal records and distances. 3. Because I can! I never really considered myself a runner until last year when I broke my toe and was told I could not run. I felt as though someone just took my air away and I knew then, I was a runner.

This 50K was an awesome accomplishment for myself and I am very pleased with myself. I was worried about not being able to finish due to the lack of long distance running I had not been doing the last couple of months. Feb. 6Th I ran a marathon, end of Feb. I ran a half marathon (in TX), and a few weeks ago I ran 10 miles. All my other runs here and there were under 10 miles. Running is also a very mind over matter sport at times. If you tell yourself you can do it then you will be able to do it. Humans are built to run and run long distances, we have our own cooling system and the duration built within us, we just have to dig and find it because it is there. I was very fortunate to have one of my best friends with me while running my longest race ever. We do many runs together and is nice to know someone else is sharing the pain. "Misery loves company"! When we got to the race it was cold and wet. My friend was not feeling it and once we got our awesome shirts she was ready to hit the road and call it a day. She was kidding but really was not feeling it, me on the other hand was nervous and worried about how I would do. I had told many people that I was going to do this run so I was going to do it! The course was an out and back and uphill the first half. The climb was gradual and started at 400 feet and then reached 1,400 feet at the turn around point. After the turn around point it was a nice downhill which felt good on the different leg muscles.

Running 31 miles gives you alot of time to think, chit chat and just soak up the enjoyment of running. My friend and I ran side by side the entire way and there were many times we were silent. Even though we wouldn't talk at times it was nice knowing she was next to me doing the same 31 miles. The chit chat was helpful to get our minds off some of the pain and some good laughs were involved as well. I told her it was better to be laughing at ourselves than crying. We crossed the finish line together and had completed our 31 miles in 6 hours and 43 minutes. My husband, Brian was at the finish line taking pictures and then gave me a huge hug and said he was very proud of me. It means alot having him at the finish line and I really do appreciate his patience with all my races. Thanks baby! I am now a triathlete, marathoner and ultra (small end of the ultra) runner. If you would of asked me if any of this was possible years ago, I would have laughed and said you were crazy! Dream and it will come true!

Marathon 2 and 3!

2011-02-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

It is now February and since my very first marathon I have completed two more. I got the marathon "bug" and went for it. I was told about Marathon Maniacs, in which you had many ways to join but the "easiest" is to do three marathons in three months so I stepped up to the challenge and did so. I did my second marathon in Bellingham, WA on New Year's Eve which was freezing the entire race. We actually ran mostly on a trail which I love rather than concrete. I did better on my time by just a few minutes finishing at 5:03. I was then on the hunt for marathon number 3 in January and could not find one in Washington. So a friend of mine and me decided to go visit her family outside the Bay Area, CA and do the Redding Marathon. This trip was a bit crazy but fun all in the same time. We took a late flight to Oakland on a Friday night and got in to her Father's around 1:00 am. We slept in a bit and had an awesome breakfast, blueberry pancakes! We drove around and enjoyed the Napa Valley area (we are doing a half iron man there in April) and then hit the hay around 9 pm. We woke up Sunday morning around 3:00 am and loaded the car and drove 2.5 hours to the marathon. We made it in plenty of time and we ran our race.

I was doing great in the beginning and the first 3-4 miles were all downhill. This downhill would have been nice at the end but oh well! There were some good hills right in the middle of the race. By mile 20 I started to crap up like I never have before. My friend took off which we do that if we are feeling great! I was cursing and praying all at the same time and just wanted to finish. The cramps in my legs would go away and then come right back. I fought this for the last 5.5 miles and as soon as I knew the finish line was near I had the burst of energy take over and sprinted across the finish line. I shaved 25 minutes off my last marathon which is huge and I cried due to the bitter sweet feelings I had. Bitter because I hurt so dam bad and sweet because I shaved so much time off.

After the race we climbed back into the car and drove the 2.5 hours back to her Father's house where we showered and ate some pizza. We had about an hour to rest and then off to the airport we went which was an hour drive and then a two hour flight back to Seattle. By the time I got home I had been up for 24 hours and a marathon under my belt.

Marathons are tough but so rewarding! I still believe a half iron man is easier than a marathon. There are so many thoughts that go through your head and the question of why do this to myself? Well in the end it is all clear and the feeling you have makes it all worth the pain and glory.

First Marathon-Seattle

2010-12-28T18:18:00.000-08:00

My training for the marathon went better than I thought it would. Through the training I began to look forward to the longer runs each weekend. I had an awesome group of people to train with which helps so much! Everything was going so smooth until the night of Halloween, which was exactly four weeks before the marathon. I BROKE my freaking toe! How did I do that? Well let's just say I ran into my friend's sofa and the sofa won! I didn't run on it for exactly two weeks. So instead I did water jogging which sucked ass! I did do some swimming as well just to change it up a bit. I got up to 20 miles in training but missed the 21 mile training. I was a little worried but knew I had built up a great base. My body felt great and no other injuries to speak of.

Two weeks after my healing period I began to run "funny" on the treadmill. It didn't really hurt much but didn't want to push it. I was down to the last week and of course it was taper week which I didn't feel like I should be tapering due to me not running much at all. Taper week is when you begin to taper down the miles to give your body a rest.

Marathon day is here and I'm worried! My friend and i agreed to run the race together which we did. We supported one another and had a really good time. She had knee issues but we worked through it. I remember telling her " you know marathons are kind of hard!" She laughed and said "yeah, they are!" It was in the low 40's and I never got too hot or uncomfortable. We were near the last couple of miles and my legs began to feel sore. I pushed through and we ran through the finish line together with a time of 5:35. This is not the time I hoped for but was happy to finish and would not have changed it for the world. I teared up with such great feeling of accomplishment and congratulated all my running friends on their victory finish!

Marathon Training.....Odds & Ends

2010-10-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty busy since the last time I wrote, it's now mid October. The training has been coming along nicely and I'm proud of the outcome thus far. I trained for the Honolulu marathon last year and couldn't get past 15 miles so I gave up! I thought running this far was just not in the cards for me. Well I have a goal, in two years I want to complete an Iron Man Triathlon. The Iron Man consists of a 2.1 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and finishing with a marathon of 26.2 miles. With this being said I wanted to complete a marathon by itself first to even know what that feels like.

I've been training for the Seattle Marathon since August. I have completed all my runs during the week and my long runs on Saturdays with the group. Last week was my biggest week and we ran 18 miles. I was worried how I would feel but pushed through it and actually felt really great once I finished. At mile 9 or so it began to rain and never stopped but hey, I live in Washington, enough said. This was good training because who knows what the weather will be like in November besides cold!

I've been on more hikes and have enjoyed the trails so much. The fall here is absolutely breath taking. The color change and the crisp cool air doesn't get any better than this.

I've made some great friends from my running and hiking group. They keep me going while Brian is away and I'm grateful for that. Not only are we active but food and cocktails following to celebrate our awesome accomplishments either summiting the top of a mountain or running our furthest runs.

Buddha

2010-09-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

I've been so interested in Buddhism and have finally found a meet up group that teaches new beginners like myself and I have found it so fascinating thus far. I've been doing some reading and have attended my first meet up which meets every other Friday for lessons and mediation. I enjoy hearing and studying the philosophy of it all. I am a Christian but am always open to listen and understand other peoples way of thinking and believing.

I'm going to Thailand in December for 10 days and want to learn more about their culture and religion before I go. I don't know much yet but it definitely has my attention and I look forward to leaning much more.

Meditation! Wow, why haven't I been doing this a long time ago? I've been doing it but I guess I didn't realize it. Sometimes when I swim or run I lose myself and think of absolutely nothing! Now I know why I feel so refreshed and recharged afterwards! I know it has to do with the physical part but the mental is just as important as well. My first real sit down meditation was this past Friday with my new teacher and I did better than I thought. I did drift a few times but that is expected when learning how to meditate. If you have seen the movie or read the book "Eat, Pray, Love" then you will know what I'm talking about. The part where she is learning to meditate and her mind is all over the place, well I knew for sure that would be me. I never thought I could sit still for one much less think of nothing.

I had my meditation pillow and lit my candle this evening and did two sessions all on my own. The first session was 6 minutes long which I was shocked and the second was 5 minutes long. When I was done, I felt so relaxed, refreshed and very peaceful. This is a practice that will continue to grow with me along with my yoga practice. I encourage everyone to try and sit still for a few moments and try to think of absolutely nothing! Try it, quite challenging but so worth it! Oh and you don't need a special pillow either!

August 2010-September 2010

2010-09-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's almost two months since I have written. There have been many events in the past two months. I am still enjoying Washington very much and never thought I would see such beautiful trees. The trees here are huge and the mountains just leave me speechless. The weather in so nice and cool although coming from Hawaii after three years, 65 degrees is still chilly for me. I'm sure I will adjust!

Brian came home after a month long deployment August 15Th. He took some time off and we really enjoyed ourselves. We hiked Wallace Falls and saw some beautiful waterfalls that just took your breath away. We jumped on the ferry from Anacortes to Lopez island where we enjoyed an awesome bike ride of just over 30 miles. It was great riding with him again, it has been quite some time since our last ride which was in Hawaii, March to be exact. We really enjoyed our time being together because we new it would soon come to an end.

After about a week that Brian was home he reported back to the ship and Mom came into town for four days. She and I had a wonderful time together and crammed so many things into so little time. We drove to Leavenworth, German town 2 hours East of me and was such an awesome drive. The leaves were actually starting to change a bit and we drove along and through the mountains with a river running by. I too took her on the ferry from Anacortes but we went to San Juan instead. We had lunch first in Friday Harbor and then drove around the island seeing the lavender farm, sat and watched the ocean while the cool breeze blew in our face, stopped by a small little winery for some tastes and finally ended up back in Friday Harbor for dinner. We also went to Seattle and walked around Pike's Market, viewing all the beautiful flowers, fresh produce, fresh seafood and much much more. We also found a small park and sat there for a few moments and took in all the fresh air and the beautiful bright sunshine in our faces! All good things must come to an end and then she left back to Texas.

I signed up for a hot yoga, 10 sessions for 10 dollars. It wasn't a bad deal at all and has been a very interesting experience. The first day I went I had to sit down almost the entire time. The competitive self in me was not liking this at all but the yoga side of me said to just relax and stretch while I sat there. There is a good reason why it's called hot yoga, when entering the room it is 95 degrees in there. It feels like a sauna almost. Then you begin to do yoga poses, stretching and standing postures. It may sound easy but it really isn't unless you are really good in heat. My first visit was also at 9:30 in the morning so I was most likely a bit dehydrated. I've been back a total of five times and the last four I've gone to the evening class and have completed all the classes, well almost!

I've entered a few races such as the Cougar Mountain Half Marathon Trail Run and the Iron Girl 10K. The trail run was pretty tough but was a total blast. Yes, I'm sick that way. The harder it is the better I feel but to an extent. It took me 3.5 hours to complete it but the trail was challenging and fun the entire time well except for the up hill parts! The 10K was a nice run, it was around a nice lake near Seattle. It was overcast and we thought we were going to be soaked afterwards but not one drop! I was 42 seconds slower than my fasted 10K. That's okay because I like to run for fun and not to competitive as I am in triathlons.

High Hut Hike

2010-08-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've been in WA for one month and six days. At one month and three days I did my first back packing trip after 10 plus years in the Hila National Forrest. I was a little rusty at my packing but the good thing about the trip is that we stayed in a hut rather than a tent. Staying in a tent means packing a stove, dishes, water purifier etc. This hut had many amenities such as: mats to sleep on (we packed our sleeping bags), shelter obviously, propane stove, a good source of water and many dishes and utensils for gourmet cooking.

I went with seven other women which I never had met before except one, Kari, I did one other hike with her. I met all these ladies through a meetup.com group called Outdoor Women 30's+. So far they have all been extremely kind and an awesome group of women.

We communicated through the website who was bring what so we didn't overlap food or bring to much. I brought homemade oatmeal bars, quinoa salad, tuna and of course, wine! Allot of discussions were mostly about coffee and wine so I knew I was in a good group. Buzz in the morning and buzz before bed! I packed my bag the night before and it felt really heavy but then again I hadn't done this in a very long time.

I pack up the truck and picked up three other women. We finally arrived to the trail head after about 3 hours of driving and a few stops. The trail head was near Mt. Rainier which our view from the hut looked right across it. We loaded our packs and began up the trail. The trail was about 4 miles and it was ALL UP HILL! There were no breaks of flatness and it was in the heat of the day which made it a bit hotter. I under estimated the hike and the load on my back (about 40-45 pounds) and right before the top I had to hydrate with electrolytes due to the weak feeling in my body. Once I had some fuel I was good to go and finished the hike in 2.5 hours. The total elevation gain was 2,500 feet in those 4 miles. Once I made it to the top the view was amazing and was all worth it. I was glad because I was wondering what in the heck I was doing while hiking up. We all made it and unloaded our gear. We had an awesome dinner that night which was tuna/chicken salad on a bed of lettuce, couscous, quinoa salad and of course wine! We sat around and chatted then hit the hay for more hiking the next day.

Day 2 we all woke to my phone alarm that I forgot to turn off from the day before. Some were already awake but others were not and didn't appreciate an alarm while camping but I was forgiven! It was a good thing because what we woke up to was absolutely amazing. There was a blanket of clouds below us and the sunrise was just breath taking. We all hurried out of our sacks and grabbed our cameras. It was going to be an awesome day.

One of the ladies even made fresh blueberry pancakes for breakfast and they were fabulous! Then around 9:15 three of us began our exploring and hiked about 8 miles. We hiked to a lake and then to another hut which was called the Snow Bowl but had burned down. The view from the Snow Bowl was nice but ours was so much better. He had a picnic at the Snow Bowl and hiked for about 3.5 hours with 4,250 elevation gain. We got back to our hut and I was pretty tired so I laid down and actually took a small cat nap. I woke up about 3:30 and asked if it was time to drink some wine. Everyone agreed that it was 5 o'clock somewhere and the pouring began. We had wraps for dinner which included: red beans and rice, chopped cucumber, tomatoes, olives, avocado, and broccoli salad. What a feast! To top it off we had brownies for dessert!

Day 3 we all got up around 6:30 and began to pack up and clean the hut. We all ate left over pancakes and had our morning java. It was sad to leave this beautiful place but were blessed to have gone there and enjoy the time spent. It took about 1.5 hours to hike down which was really easy because it was all down hill. We were then greeted by a cute brown bunny by our vehicles so we fed him our left over lettuce and fresh spinach. He was a happy bunny that day...I'm assuming!

All and all it was a wonderful trip with some amazing women. By the time we got close to home Nancy and I stopped for some Mexican food and enjoyed a nice cold margarita! That was a great way to end the trip.

The beginning of the Seattle Marathon

2010-07-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

I sighed up for training today! The Seattle Amica Insurance Marathon Sunday, Nov.28th
Training $200
New Shoes $100
Race Fee $95.00
Me finishing.....Priceless! (I hope!)

San Juan Island Bike Ride

2010-07-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's July 26TH and I have been painting my new house like a crazy woman and shopping to find the perfect item to decorate. I have finally come to a point where I can rest now and put a hold on the house until a later date. I had ordered a book called "Biking Puget Sound", while reading and looking for my first ride I decide to hit the San Juan Islands. There are four: San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw. San Juan looked most appealing to me and the book description said this:
Difficulty: Moderate (didn't know hilly meant moderate)
Total Time: allow 3 hours (I finished 2:50, yeah!)
Total Distance: 32.6 (felt more like 50 when I was done)
Total Elevation Gain: 1,860 feet (guess I didn't pay much attention to this one, duh!)
I had to drive an hour to Anacortes, WA to catch the 10:15 am ferry which I missed. Well I thought that is okay because I have no job, no time schedule and a cat waiting for me at home. The next ferry was at 11:55 am. I began talking to this very nice family from Oregon which helped the time go by. Finally we aboard the ferry and I thumb through some brochures to see what to expect. I find a local bike shop so when I got off the ferry I headed right over. I inquired about the island and what to expect. The guy at the store said it nice but there are some "good" hills. I'm thinking okay I'm good at hills no problem. Good thing I ate a good breakfast because it was 1:30 and I was just starting my journey with a good breakfast and a cliff bar on the ferry.

I "gear" up and I'm a little anxious because one I'm by myself, not familiar with the teretority and jittery because I was drinking coffee all morning. Oh did I fail to mention it was 56 degrees while we were waiting for the ferry? Well it was and I had shorts, short-sleeve cycling jersey and a light hoodie on. I need to remind everyone I just moved from Hawaii and visitng Texas. I was cold!!!!

Anyway I head out and I'm not even a half mile out and I noticed that my heart rate monitor was not reading on my watch. For those of you that use one, this is a must! So I'm moving along and I decide to go up this driveway and into the parking lot to fix this technical difficulty so I can continue. I didn't even make it up the driveway and noticed I had fallen over on my right side still clipped in (clipped in is where my feet are still attached to my pedals! OMG how embarrising. To top it off I'm still in the town and I hear a woman yell across the street "Are you okay"? I wanted to cry deep inside but just laughed and said "yes, I'm okay", her reply was "I've done that before". I thinking yes we all have but it's still embarrassing and my left side really hurts.

I scrape myself off the pavement and get my stupid heart rate monitor to work and of course my heart rate is quite excelled at this point. I begin to pedal away and don't look back. I'm riding along and at 6.5 miles I come up over a hill and see this fabulous Lavendar Farm. It was so beautiful and even the port-a-potty has lavendar in it. I wanted to roll in it and sooth my left side of my body but didn't think it was appropirate.

At 10.5 miles I am up high over looking some cliffs and the ocean below me. I even noticed the Orca whales swimming around. That was pretty cool. I must mention that this island has no bike lanes nor shoulders. Bikers, mopeds, scooters, go-cart looking things, vehicles and cyclist all share the road. At first this made me very nervous because there were curves and nothing but forest on either side. Once I noticed the lack of cars and the many bikes then I began to feel more at ease. I was told by mile 18 there was the one killer hill. Shit, I had been doing hills all day so far! Any of you that know about heart break hill in Hawaii, well there were several! I decide to stop at San Juan County Park and carb up with the little yummy power bar "candies" filled with fruity gel in the middle. I'm ready for anything at this point! LOL I make it to the "hill" and not too bad!

By now I can still feel some soreness in my left leg as I crank down on the hills but still going somewhat strong. I arrive at mile 22 and it's a small town called Roche Harbor. It was nice but I didn't stop and headed towards the San Juan Vineyard at mile 28.6. Now here is where I should of stopped but did not and continued on and arrived safe and sound back at Friday Harbor where I began. I put up all my gear, changed clothes and hit the nearest bar! I found a nice little bar and restaurant over looking the harbor where the ferries pull in. I ordered fish tacos and two beers, but drank one at a time. For those of you who do long work-outs it doesn't take much for that buzz to hit right after. I had my beers and dinner and by 6:50 I was back on the ferry and arrived home at 9:00. I was pooped but it was an awesome day and wished my honey was with me the whole time. I had to go home and rest for my 8 mile trail run the next day!

Denny Creek, Washington

2010-07-28T20:31:00.000-07:00

I was told about a website called meetup.com, it's to meet people in your area with whatever interest you log in. I typed in Hiking, go figure, and found this fabulous group named Outdoor Women 30+. Yes, I know it's shocking, I am in my thirties for those of you that didn't know any better. LOL Anyway I met them on Saturday, July 17Th for a wonderful hike. It only took about an hour to arrive at the trail head.

The total hike was roughly nine miles round-trip and took us around 6-7 hours plus we had lunch at the lake, which was our destination. Along the way were amazing waterfalls over the rocks and some parts still had some snow.

It was amazing to know I was living here and have such beautiful country to view and enjoy. The women were great and we had lots to talk about along the way. I look forward to many more hikes in Washington State.

Catching up...June-July 2010

2010-07-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

After my big race it was time to play, play and more play. A few weeks after the race I went to Virgina to visit Brian and my friend Cori and her family. Virgina was hot but very fun. We went to a baseball game, the flying squirrels! Good time and very low key. We also did a 7 hour canoe trip down the Rappahannock river. It was fun and the "girls" boat never tipped over, can't say much for the fellas but it was all in good fun. After seeing two snakes in the river I didn't really want to "fall" over. Cori and I ran a 5K in downtown Fredericksburg. We both hadn't ran in awhile but that was our second (1st was in Hawaii) run together. It was more about running with her than trying to beat any personal records. We also attended a crab boil and that was allot of fun until Cori decided to chase Brian down the hill on a long board. She went to fast and tried to "hop" off, didn't quite happen that way. She jumped off, hit the pavement and did a face plant into the street. She look hot as ever with her later we found out broken wrist and knot on the forehead. Long story short she had to have surgery the following week.

The night before we left Virgina, Brian and I had no idea where we were headed to next. So while at the crab boil someone suggested the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Brian and I agreed and said let's go. We stayed there for two nights and had a wonderful and relaxing time. I got to do runs on the beach, we had nice seafood dinners and made it to a comedy show. The comedians were okay and we chuckled a few times. It must be hard to get in front of a live audience and keep them entertained with comedy. I do envy them for getting up there. The last day we were there we took our time and left around 9am to catch the ferries. We didn't know what we were about to face but really weren't on a time schedule and eventually wanted to get to Florida. It was North Carolina, it shouldn't take that long to get to Florida, right? Wrong! We caught the first ferry and it took us 30 min to get across to the next ferry. We got to the second ferry and had to wait over an hour but again, this was okay because we had beers on the water and some hot steamy clams! We aboard the ferry and it was a two hour ferry ride. By the time we got on the main highway it was going on 7pm. So we went less than a 100 miles in 10 hours. Wow, we thought so we kept driving and got to Dade city the next day at 8am. We were in the car for 22 hours and again this was from NC to FL.

We stayed a week with Brian's Dad and hung out with him going to dinners, movies, the bars and even Disney! We stayed two nights in Orlando and hit Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Magic Kingdom. It was fun but I'm glad I got it out of my system. I couldn't do that place year after year if I had kids! Like I said it was fun and "magical" but once was good for me.

After about a week in Dade City with Brian's Dad we went to Jacksonville. I got to see and visit some friends. It was great seeing them and getting to visit. Brian went back to Virgina to finish his last school and I just hung out in Jacksonville for a few days. Once I was done visiting, I flew back to Texas and waited for my honey to pick me up so we could head to our new home, Washington State.

Brian finally got to Houston after two weeks and we hit the road. We were in my jeep with many suitcases, crap and sweet little Moe for 3.5 days. We did stop at night to rest and sleep. We drove through many states which included: Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and finally Washington. It was a long 3.5 days and saw some pretty scenery but not until Wyoming. We also heard on the radio while driving through Kansas that they were passing a seat belt law and if you got caught without it then you were fined $5 and next year it would double. You are thinking wow, but have you ever driven through that state? Country roads! It amused us coming from the city and all.

We arrive in Washington and check into the Navy Lodge on July 1st. We found the house we are currently living in on the 2ND. We looked around some more but none of them could compare to what we had already seen. So on the 8Th we signed the lease and the very next day, the 9Th, the movers brought our house hold goods. Brian and I busily unpacked all weekend. We got all our utilities hooked up, Internet and cable running, bought furniture and had delivered etc. Brian then leaves for a short deployment on the 15Th. It is now the 28Th of July and I have painted my guest bathroom, kitchen and dining room.

Yes, I was on the move for quite some time. I'm done working on the house for now and now it is time to explore Washington...........

Race Day!

2010-05-19T05:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning arrives which was the day before the race. Mom and I got up early packed the car and off to Dallas we went. After about five hours we finally arrive to Plano Cycling to retrieve my race packet which included my bib number, race number for bike, a nice T-shirt, cycling socks and of course fliers for all sorts of advertisements. Normally you get the race number, T-shirt and fliers but when you pay over a $100 for a race I guess socks are included! I also received another shirt after the race! Anyway I was speaking to a volunteer and we were discussing the Lake water and how cold it may be due to all the rain it had gotten. She asked if i had a wet suit and I said "No". I was racing in Dallas, TX and it didn't even occur to me that a wet suit may be needed. Not only was I stressed about the race but now I was worried about getting too cold in the lake. Another volunteer over heard our conversation and asked if i wanted to change my race from the half iron to the Olympic distance. I politely said no thanks but in my head I was saying "hell no, I've been training for months and I don't want water temp to stop me from doing the half". They were both very nice and very helpful, in fact, they sent me to Richardson Bike Mart where they rent and sell wetsuits. Okay, I'm calming down at this point!

On my way to the next bike shop I phoned Brian to give him the heads up on my situation. The situation was I may be renting a suit for $55 or buying one for $300-$400. Yeah, guess which one he wanted to support! I walk in and talk to Cara which was very helpful and i explained my situation. First, I needed a suit for the race and I would eventually need one in Washington State but wasn't sure which one would work in the long run. I thought there might be two suits to choose from but NO, there were about 3-4 different types and I was so confused. I then decided to just rent one for the race which was sleeveless and fit perfect (the scary thing here was I have never trained in a wetsuit). I asked if I could mail it back so I didn't have to drive all the way back to the store and she said that would be fine. Great, got me a suit and I knew I would be fine in the water!

All dilemmas solved and Mom and I drive to our hotel which was a La Quinta. It was nice and clean but in a not so good area. My cousin Bobby told me about it and he was staying there as well. We met up with him and his friend, Jeff. We all four went to the Olive Garden for dinner. We all car bed up on pasta, salad and bread sticks! By the time we got back to our hotel it was going on 8:00. I was getting a bit tired and had to lay out all my gear in preparation for the race. I was a little worried I didn't have enough fuel (gels, snacks etc.) but I felt what I had would get me through. After packing everything up and laying out my clothes I hit the sack and was out in no time. This was a good thing since I thought I may not be able to go to sleep feeling the way I was.

The alarm buzzes and it's 4:00 a.m. race day morning! My stomach is a ball of nerves and I'm not that hungry. There is something defiantly wrong if I'm not hungry. I got dressed, iced my water bottles and forced a bagel with peanut butter, fruit, a hard boiled egg and some coffee down my throat. I new I had to eat so I forced as much as I could without making myself sick. Mom was ready and we packed the car and drove to the park where the race was being held. It was about a 20-30 minute drive from the hotel. It was still dark when we arrived and I had a few moments to gather my thoughts.

I enter the transition area with all my gear and I began to set up next to Bobby and Jeff. We were all there about an hour before the race to prepare and get set up. It was getting near 7:00 so we began to suit up in our wetsuits and head to the water. Mom was great and had the camera ready! The gun went off and we hit the water and i felt great throughout the entire swim. I never had to switch to another stroke and didn't stop. I got to the shore and gave Mom a big smile and began to unzip my suit. I ran to T1 (transition 1) where I stripped off the wetsuit and got my biking mode on.

I jumped on the bike and felt really strong. The weather could not have been better at this time. It was very overcast with a very few sprinkles. At one point my feet were getting cold. I had my motor tab (drink with salts) in one bottle and a mixture of Gatorade and water in the other. I had two gels, energy jelly beans and bars chopped up in a baggie in the front pouch of my bike. I ready for anything, well almost anything! The bike course was a two loop of 24 miles each loop. The road was a bit rough and there were some rolling hills. As I was finishing the first loop, I began to feel a bit tired so I remained with my snacks and gels. I was worried at this point because I new I had 24 more miles to go plus the half marathon. I kept on trucking and I began to feel my second wind. By the last 10-12 miles I was ready to get off the bike and those rough roads. I had no flats and dropped my water bottle only once which I did stop to get because I knew I would need it.

It was nice to see the transition area again. I jumped off the bike and now was ready to run! Towards the end of the bike the sun began coming out and the clouds disappearing. The beginning of the run was a nice shady area through the park and then it took you on the road and then some on the highway. The run was also two loops and the road and highway part were awful due to the sun beating down on you. I was nice and strong for the first six miles but after that I began to fade a bit. I was putting ice under my hat and shooting gel from my bottle and staying hydrated. There were a few people along the way falling out and receiving medical attention. My goal now was to finish without any medical attention! Jeff caught up with me the last 4-5 miles and we kept motivating each other to finish the run. We soon heard the crowd and new the end was near. Before I crossed the finish line tears were rolling down my face and I was waving to Mom. I was so happy to see her and as I crossed the finish line we both hugged and cried. I was proud of myself for my accomplishment and so was she.

I finished 6:42 and 4th place out of my age group. I ranked 2nd in my swim, 3rd on the bike and 4th in the run out of the 5 women in my age group. It was an awesome experience and yes, I will do more in the future!

Trying to Stay on Track

2010-05-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

After leaving Yosemite, CA, Brian and I headed to Las Cruces, NM. We drove straight through from California to New Mexico with a total of 16 hours. It was a long drive but we made it through and we were glad to see the Oregon Mountains (Small mountain range in Las Cruces). We stayed three nights and got to visit old friends and familiar places. We went to WSMR (White Sands Missle Range) where Brian and I first met (2004) and the bartender is STILL there. He has worked there for 35 years! Yes, 35 years as a bertender on a Army/Navy base. He is a hoot and so interesting to talk to. When I lived here we would bartend together and I really enjoyed working with him. A few other familiar faces were still there and it was great to see them after 3years, that was the last time we were there visiting. I spent some time with my friend Cindy by enjoying a 6 mile walk along the Rio Grande and then of course had lunch afterwards.

Leaving Las Cruces, NM, Texas/Houston was our next destination which took us only 13 hours. Yes, Mo is still with us and is still a great little traveler. By now we have been traveling for 10 days. The only exercise I have really been focusing on is running because you can do that anywhere. As you have read prior, running in new places is such an awesome feeling. There was one pool but was so short that I began to get dizzy swimming back and forth. As far as the bike, well I didn't have mine, no spinning classes available and not even a stationery bike. Out of the three legs, running is the best NOT to be slacking on!

We finally arrive in Houston April 30th! Brian and I put my bike together the very next day and off I went for a short 15 mile ride to test the bike. I shipped it from Hawaii to Houston (my Sister's) so I would have it for my race. It was so awesome to be able to ride again, the free feeling and the wind in my face. Two days later I got a 24 Hour Fitness memebership so I could have full access of the gym, group classes i.e. spinning and the pool! I did a swim and it felt better than I thought. I thought it would be much tougher due to the lack of swimming over the last couple of weeks. I was happy that my body still felt strong in the water and didn't want to just SINK!

I have one week and two days until my first half iron man and I'm pretty nervous! My goal is to finish!

Yosemite National Park

2010-04-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, it was great to be back in the park after fourteen years! The winding road to the park takes about an hour to get to the valley. As you drive along this road you see miles and miles of pine trees and snow on the mountain tops. The air is crisp and clean as it passes through your lungs. Once you drive through the tunnel, there is a fabulous view of the valley, which was created by glaciers. That is amazing in itself once you see the depth of the valley.

Saturday we hiked Bridalveil Falls and Vernal Falls and it was quite crowded. We didn't realize it was National Park week (entrance is free) and many from all around were doing the same thing we were doing....enjoying Mother Nature at its finest! After the two hikes we were pretty pooped and enjoyed a hot pizza and cold beer at Curry Village. Curry Village is where I used to work many years ago and the memories were flowing. We were very relaxed and had a wonderful day.

Sunday we went back to the park and enjoyed another hike, Upper Yosemite Falls. We hiked about 4 hours and the views from above the pine trees were amazing. There were many switchbacks and the elevation gain was rather steep but challenging. Yosemite Falls is beautiful and breath taking all at once. The feeling you get from Yosemite is so peaceful and the spiritual feeling I feel here is like no other place!

Our hotel was very cozy and "in the woods" kind of feel. It was definitely a new place to run and enjoy the crisp clean air. I ran about 10 miles and enjoyed every mile looking at the mountain tops with snow and the smell of the pines. The picture enclosed is one of the streets I ran along. It doesn't get much better than this!

Back on the Mainland

2010-04-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

We boarded our flight Wed. April 21, and the five hour flight went smoothly. Mo was settled in and did awesome for a cat on a plane. A few meows here and there but once he realized he wasn't getting out of his carrier he slept. They had movies available so we watched Avatar. It was a pretty good movie and glad I finally got to see it. The drive from LA to Delano was quite nice. We saw snow on top of a few mountains and the temp dropped to 41 degrees. Mo was content and slept well in the jeep. The picture proves it! :) Once we arrived in LA we waited patiently for our luggage. We hopped on the shuttle and headed to our room at the La Quinta Inn.

We woke up bright and early the next day so Brian could pick up the jeep from the LA port. The jeep is in great condition with no scratches or dings. Brian was sad because his Tom Tom (GPS) broke so he found a Target and bought a new one, a Garmin this time. I said we had a map but he insisted we would "need" the GPS. I have to admit they are pretty useful! Finally we arrive at The Best Western in Delano, CA. Once we settled in Brian and I went for a run, well we didn't run together because he ran 1.5 miles and I ran 4. After the run we hit the pool and I swam a few laps, yes laps which the pool was 25 feet long which made it about 7 yards. Yeah try and get some decent swimming in that. Then we jumped into the hot tub and relaxed for a few and finally got showered and had some dinner at the local diner which reminded me of a "fancy" Denny's! Here we planned to stay two nights and explore Sequoia Nat Park but called and the road conditions up there are not looking good due to snow. We have decided to stay only one night and head to Yosemite today which is Friday. We will stay there for three nights and see as much as we can and hopefully hike around if not too much snow.

Next post will be about Yosemite hopefully with beautiful pictures!

First Stop Navy Lodge

2010-04-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

The movers came last Thursday to start packing us out. They finished by Friday and Brian and I are now homeless with no street address. We are currently staying at the Navy Lodge on Ford Island in Hawaii of course and have 4 more days left. Wow, can't believe it is coming to an end so soon.

Moe, the cat has adjusted pretty well. He had a vet appointment yesterday morning and his health certificate reads a clean bit of health! After his appointment I had to kill several hours before hotel check-in. I had lunch with a friend, picked up my race packet for my sprint triathlon on Sunday, and then finally tried to check in the hotel a bit early. No can do said the receptionist! So Moe and I sat in the truck with a nice breeze blowing through overlooking Pearl Harbor for an hour. It was kind of nice to just sit and relax for once. I did talk to my Mom for almost that full hour as well. I'm looking forward to seeing her and my family!

We finally get checking in, taking almost 35 minutes just to get my room. I had four huge suitcases one being a sea bag weighing sixty something pounds. As I wheel my cart past the front desk I ask where is my elevator to my room, her response was "oh there is no elevator for your room"! I then begin lugging the suitcases and not too long after Brian shows up to the hotel and helps me out! NO elevator! What kind of crap was that!

We unloaded and got organized and Moe finally got to check out the room. Cats are very curious creatures and must seek out all ends of the room. The hotel has nice big window sills for him to view the outdoors. He now sleeps soundly knowing one, he is not going anywhere and two he is safe with his mama and papa!

Our first night here I went out with my girlfriends for dinner and some dancing. I haven't been to a club in a long while and it was more fun people watching than it was to dance. I am so happy that I have Brian and don't have to date anymore. It seems really scary these days! Brian went out with his friend and played some darts and had a few beers. We slept in a bit and had some coffee this morning and now on day 2 here at the Navy Lodge!

Transferring

2010-04-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

The last time I posted a blog was almost a month ago. Here it is April 1st and I have exactly 20 days left on the island. The weeks and months have flown by this year and I knew it would. We are in preparation of moving off island. Brian has sold some items that we will no longer need such as my surf board! :( We have planned our road trip from California to Houston and have even shipped my Jeep. Things are happening so fast and the worst part of it all is I am sad to leave my very close friends behind. It's great to move around, explore new cities, have new adventures but meeting great people and leaving them behind sucks! Yes, there is email and the phone but what about the coffee and lunch dates? Those are gone unless you visit that person once you have left. Good friends and good people are hard to come by these days which is sad but so true.

I have one more week of work and then it's vacation time for the Rieger's. Brian will be on leave from April 8th until we leave the island which will be April 21st. We are flying to Los Angeles, picking up our car, and staying one night there. Our first stop will be Sequoia National Park for two days and then Yosemite for three days. I'm so excited about taking Brian to Yosemite. We will then drive towards Las Cruces, NM to visit a friend of mine and then finally head to Houston.

We will enjoy the time we have left here and spend as much time with our friends that we can. They will be missed dearly and thank goodness for skype!

Oahu Island Ride

2010-03-14T22:24:00.001-07:00

What would be a more beautiful ride then around the island of Oahu? When I was thinking about this I had just over two months left here on Oahu. I thought of some friends that would be interested and loved the bike. I had a meeting at my house regarding this ride with my friends and we all came up with a weekend that worked for everyone. Saturday, March 6th was the day!

During this time while waiting for the big day, a friend calls and wants to know if everyone would like to wear a Spam jersey. Yes, Spam in the can. A little info here; Hawaiians are big on Spam and you can order it in many restaurants around the island including McDonald's. So Spam is a huge thing here!

The day finally arrived and me, Brian and five of my other friends all met at my house at 7:30 am ready to ride. We started out heading East and cycled through Ewa Beach, Waipahu, Pearl City, by the airport, Honolulu, Waikiki, Hawaii Kai (where we stopped for lunch; Greek food), Makapu'u, Waimanalo and finally finished at Bellows Air Force Base. This ride was 52 miles long with a couple big hills to climb. I felt really good after the ride and wanted to go for a jog but the Miller Lite was staring me down so down the hatch it went with four more to follow. I don't normally drink but we rented a cabin on the beach and the setting was perfect for a few beers after an awesome ride. They went down pretty good and knew I must stop after the 5th one because I knew I had seventy something miles ahead of me the next day.

That night we had BBQ and all the fixins (yes I said fixins, that is what Texans say)along with cookies and smores melted by our camp fire. It was a beautiful night and we all got to relax and enjoy the beach, sunset and camp fire!

Sunday arrived and we woke bright and early to finish the ride. We headed out and not even off base yet, it begins to rain. We pull over under a bus stop and wait it out. It finally stops and we begin once again. About 12-15 miles later we stopped at a McDonald's for a breakfast snack. When you are biking this many miles, you are entitled a McDonald's snack! Once again it began to pour cats and dogs so we waiting and took more pictures! Once the rain had settled it was still a bit dark and grey the way we were headed, but we knew we would probably get wet anyway so we got on our bikes and began once again. Sure enough not even five minutes into the ride it begins to rain and it was coming down pretty good that it was beginning to sting my face but we pedaled through and finally it stopped! We were good and wet and so were the roads which is not a good thing for small road bike tires. Then it started, out of seven of us we had five flats. Two people had one flat and my poor girlfriend had three in a row. At this time we were not making good time with all the stops but we kept on pushing through the Windward side of the island.

Finally making a bit more progress we stopped near sunset beach for lunch at Ted's. It was a great place to stop and we were all starving. I haven't eaten this much in one time in a long time but it was so good and so worth it! After lunch the three flat tire friend was not feeling well so her husband came to pick her up. We were all sad to see her go and not finish with us!

At last we made it to the North Shore and was mentally preparing ourselves for pineapple hill! This hill begins by the North Shore and goes up steadily for five miles to the Dole Plantation. We huffed and puffed and all made it to the top. It was quite the hill and would almost like to try it again for training purposes. We were now 20-22 miles from the house and the last 15 miles were some rolling hills and we were cruising at about 25-28 mph. At last we were back at my house and it was six o'clock and we started at nine o'clock that morning. We had completed seventy-six miles and had been off and on the bike for eight hours. It was a great ride and we all had a blast!

Yes, we got the Spam jersey!

Big Island.....Day 2

2010-02-24T09:38:00.000-08:00

Today started out great! We filled our bellies with an awesome breakfast and then headed out for our 5 mile hike around a small crater and onto the volcano floor. We had awesome views and traveled through lush rain forest and hard black lava. Steam seeped from the rock and you could feel the heat. This is an awesome hike and we both really enjoyed it. After the hike we walked through a lava tube which was really cool.

After the hike we got cleaned up and headed to Hilo for some lunch. We stopped at Coconuts Grill and had a wonderful lunch with a wonderful view of the ocean. While on the Big Island you tend to forget about "everything" and are truly relaxed. After lunch we drove to see Akaka Falls which is a 420 foot drop from the top. It's off the main road and through this small town. Once you get to the park it's a small circular hike along a paved path with some stairs. It's a very small hike for such a beautiful view.

We left the falls and drove to Laupahoehoe Point. To many on the Big Island, this park is associated with tragedy. In April, 1946, twenty-one children and three adults were swept away to their death by a tsunami. There is a memorial and many articles from this tragic day. The beach here is rugged and can get a bit rough. The town has moved further up the hill. The lives lost here will not be forgotten.

Our last sight seeing stop for the day was Mauna Kea, which means White Mountain. The summit reaches 13,796 feet and the visitor center sits at 9,000 feet. We drove to the visitor center and watched the sun disappear behind the mountain and you could see a blanket of clouds below you. You truly feel like you are on top of the world. There were many telescopes to view many things such as the moon! It was about 49 degrees and I was very cold! My uncle had a wonderful time and got to ask many questions.

Big Island....Day 1

2010-02-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

My uncle Greg flew to Hawaii,from Houston, TX Saturday afternoon for his second visit to Oahu. I thought a trip to the Big Island would interest him, especially to see the active volcano.Waking up bright and early we arrived to the Big Island Sunday morning around 9:15. We flew on a very small plane which is always exciting when flying over large amounts of water ie the Pacific Ocean! I also love how you walk to the plane and use the stairs. I told Uncle Greg I would snap a photo of him on the stairs and he could wave and act like the President. We both chuckled!

We arrived, got the luggage and rent car and off we drove seeking out breakfast. We ate at Ken's in Hilo which is a favorite for the local people. Breakfast was fantastic and our bellies were now happy. We forgot rain jackets back home so I was happy to hit a Ross where he found his jacket and Wal-Mart where I found mine. He needed a new jacket and hey I could use more than one moving to Seattle area.

We finally made it to Volcano National Park and checked into the cozy little cabin. The temp here is awesome. In the sixties during the day and low fifties at night. We went to the visitor center, Jagger museum and checked out all the amenities that the cabin had to offer. The cabins are operated by the army. They have a general store, post office, bowling lanes, lounge, fitness center, activity center with video games, pool tables and air hockey. Quite the hook-up for being in a National Park!

We had lunch and then headed down Crater Dr which much lava was visible and could be hiked on. Further down the road were spectacular views of the ocean. We were at three thousand feet and drove all the way down to the ocean. Its a feeling of being on the moon at times, the way the lava looks and the mass quantity of it. He hiked about six hundred yards to wherwe the lava covered the road back in 2003. It was amazing! We headed back to the cabin and was near dinner time. I went to the gym for a bit and he went to the lounge for a couple cold ones. Later we met and went to the cafe and enjoyed a nice hot meal. It was getting late so we watched a little TV and then off to bed!

Swimming

2010-02-11T22:16:00.000-08:00

Triathlons consist of swimming, biking and running. I love the bike and have gotten quite good at it, especially the hills. Running I can do and working on my speed. Swimming is also an enjoyment and I'm getting better at it as well. It's like this meditation state; in which you glide through the water and the sound is only the water, your own breath and your very own thoughts. I feel very traquil at times while doing my laps.

I can remember back in college when I first started to swim, for racing, that is was rather difficult. I could only swim a few hundred yards and had to stop. One of my professors that trained "Super Man" for an iron man taught me how to swim whithout getting so tired so quickly. Ever since then I have enjoyed swimming. I have had several people along the way coach me in how to get better and faster. I want to get faster but the tranquil emotions take over at times and I just swim back and forth.

Some people don't swim for several reasons: scared of the water, can't swim, can't swim with their head under water etc. I highly recommend swimming because it's low impact on the joints, great exercise and can put you in pure relaxation. Swimming in open water (ocean) is also enjoyable. The marine life is such a pleasure to view while swimming. Especially if you are swimming in waters you can see through, unlike Galveston where it is brown!

The "Bike Path" in Hawaii

2010-02-10T21:39:00.000-08:00

To answer the question of the last blog, yes, I did go get my French Onion Soup that night. I was a very happy woman!

There is a bike path here in Hawaii that is about 8 miles long and only allows bikes, walkers and runners. No motorized vehicles! Yes, we have bike lanes but this is a "special" bike path. Brian and i use this bike path when heading to Pearl Harbor. Along these 8 miles are some very interesting views and smells.

When entering the bike path you suddenly feel as though you have just arrived to the Philippines. On the left side of this path is a muddy creek in which houses live on and some are not quite houses, more like shanies. I am very thankful not to be living in them and fishing from this so called creek. Moving along on the right is a beautiful view of the decommissioned Naval ships in the harbor. These ships are also referred to as the "moth ball fleet". They are rather close and seeing the actual size up close is rather intriguing. After the ships there really isn't much to see except the path, shrubs and trees.

There are a few parts that smell of human waste and urine, yes, I'm still talking about Hawaii. Hawaii is considered paradise but there are some hidden places that I would call something else. Every city has its beauty and it's homeless! Hawaii has a huge homeless problem but hey, where else would someone want to be homeless? It's never cold, running water and bathrooms at the beach! To top it off you have ocean front property for FREE! So along the bike path there are homeless especially along Blaisdell Park. It's a nice park but along the side of it are many tents lined up or should I say a community of tents. Along the other side of the path is still the harbor. What else could you ask for? Yes, I know....electricity! No they have no power!

Other portions of the path are through subdivisions, along schools, businesses etc. This eight miles is not the most beautiful bike ride but it is eight miles off the main road. I believe Hawaii has a vehicle sport to see how many bikers they can hit. Many bikers have been hit so each day I ride I say a prayer. Why do I ride then? Well I believe you have to live and live your passion. If you don't; then one day when you are old, you may wonder what it would be like to live your passion. Life is very short so we must take this time to live it to the fullest and never hold back!If you live in Hawaii and haven't been on the bike path, well you are not missing much but it has been quite the experience.

In training and can't sleep?

2010-02-05T06:49:00.000-08:00

I'm currently finishing the first week of my second month of training. This week has been so much better than the last week. I feel stronger and full of energy. Well the energy is usually a given for me. So yesterday, I ran 5 miles and taught my 1 hour spinning class (burning a total of 1300 calories). I got home around 8:00pm and ate a small dinner (chicken pecan spinach quiche), had a glass of wine and read a magazine (Runners World)for a few moments and began to feel very sleepy. Well here comes 2am and I wake up craving French Onion Soup. What in the heck?

I get on-line and search any restaurant on the island that serves it. I find these two fancy ones which are in hotels in Waikiki and they just don't appeal to me ($$$ cha-ching). I was considering going just to satisfy the craving when I thought of Yard House. Yard House is Brian's favorite restaurant and I enjoy it as well. After searching for about an hour I realize one of our favorite restaurants serve it. I know where we will be dining this evening.

I'm not sure about this 4.5 hour sleep deal but I'm sure it will catch up to me sometime today. Isn't it when you get older the less sleep you get? Come on, I'm only 35!! I'm an early riser but this is ridiculous. Oh well, thank goodness for the blog!

Today is Friday and I will be meeting some friends to zumba (a work-out at the gym done in a class setting where you salsa, shake your butt and have a great time), eat breakfast (maybe they will serve my soup!), swim and maybe sneak in a nap before dinner.

Sharron's Ride - Hawaii

2010-01-31T19:32:00.000-08:00

Today could have not been any better. Brian and I woke up this morning at 5:00 am and headed to Honolulu for the Sharron's Ride which is an organized ride supporting epilepsy. We met our two friends joining us and set off at 7:00 am. It was cloudy and very overcast which made the majority of the ride very pleasant. We had a nice pace and stopped several times along the way for pictures, drinks and of course view our beautiful scenery of Hawaii. The ride took place on the East side of the island wrapping around to the Winward side. During the first 25 miles Brian and I almost had a bad fall due to a rider or two. Our group was traveling in a nice single file when a couple (man and woman) approached us and wanted to move in. Instead of waiting until we pass by they tried to nudge their way in between us (this is not proper bicycle etiquette) and clipped my back tire and pushed Brian dam near into the curb. We all recovered and no one went down, thank God!

It rained on us pretty good a few times and one of our friends had a flat which one flat out of four people the whole ride is not bad at all! She changed it quickly and we then turned around at the turn around point. The same girl who had the flat was having cramping issues and was worried about the hills (near Makapu') but she put a salt tab in her water and was good to go. I had a huge piece of styrofoam fly in front of me but no major catastrophe! Our last stop was at a 7-11 where we fueled up on water, gatorade and bananas. By the end Brian was feeling tightness in his thighs which probably would have cramped up if he hadn't bought the gatorade.

We finally finished at roughly 60 miles. All and all it was a great ride and no one got hurt. As we were loading our gear into our vehicles, food was now on the mind. After being on the bike for over 4 hours and burning over 2500 calories, it was time to eat! We all agreed on Yard House and indulged ourselves in cold beer, salad, hot pizza, and a small dessert.

It is now time to REST!!!!

Third Week of Training

2010-01-26T00:40:00.000-08:00

Well it's a new week and has just begun the third week of the 18 week program. I was very busy last week and on Sunday, I could really feel it. Today is Monday and I was suppose to bike and swim but could only find the energy to bike 20 miles and do a yoga class. I will make up the swim sometime this week. The hardest part of training on your own is exactly that, training on your own! I really must stay focused and keep the motivation up. I do enjoy the training as a whole but sometimes I've gotta kick myself in the butt to get moving. I'm looking forward to this weekend. Sunday I will be doing an organized ride with some friends and we should be doing about 75 miles.

This should be good training for the island ride. The island ride is March 6th and 7th. Me, Brian and about 6 of my other friends will be riding the entire island of Oahu in two days with a over night camping trip. We will start at my house Saturday, March 6th around 7am and head North and then East for about 70-75 miles where we will camp at Bellows Airforce Station, on the beach! Sunday we will get up and finish our ride of about 50-60 miles. I am looking forward to this ride and hope it will be safe and lots of fun!

Day 2 of Second Week of Training

2010-01-13T00:53:00.001-08:00

This week has sure started off better than last week. For one, I'm not sick and I feel great. Yesterday I trained a client, taught yoga, completed my 1000 yard swim and then came home to rest. I was feeling a bit tired so I watched an episode of the Biggest Loser. After watching them work so hard and lose so much weight in one week it soon gave me the motivation to get on my bike and do my 20 mile ride. I was happy that I had done all my workouts that day and was ready for day 2!

Today comes and I go to my eye appointment asking the doctor to please not dilate my eyes for I had to swim and run. I didn't think that would go over to well while trying to exercise, especially in the bright sunlight. She said no problem and sent me on my way. I hit the treadmill for 4 miles and then headed to the pool for 1250 yards. I then met a friend for coffee which I hadn't seen much since before Christmas and it was nice to sit, relax and enjoy our coffee. Before I knew it, it was time to head to work. I trained three clients and came home to my honey. It is now 11:00 and I am feeling a bit tired. I should hit the sack because tomorrow is yoga and 25 miles on the bike...........

Still In the First Week of Training

2010-01-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Okay so Monday and Tuesday didn't go so well. I didn't train at all but recovered from this crappy cold. By Tuesday I was back "on the horse" and ran four miles and taught a 1 hour spinning class (usually is 15-18 miles and burn 700-750 calories, not bad!). Wednesday I taught another 1 hour spinning class and Thursday I ran 2 miles. Yeah, sounds like I have been slacking but I was sick and didn't want to over do it. Friday comes along and I play 18 holes of golf for the first time and didn't do too bad, according to me. Yes, I know golf is no where in my training schedule but I must cross-train and I'm guessing golf will have to do. Today is Saturday and I must swim today and tomorrow along with a 25 mile bike ride.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday (it's really Jan. 7th but had to work all day, I know, so sad!) enjoyed the round of golf, picked up my bike from the shop and went bowling with my honey and my closest friends. I had aero bars put on my bike, hopefully will help me ride a bit faster in the more aero dynamic position!

Okay to sum it up, out of all this weeks training I will have probably only missed one swim. I'm thinking not too bad due to the fact I was sick. I'm hoping for a better week next week. I must get off the blog and go train!

Training Day #2

2010-01-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and already not starting so great. I have a terrible cold and borderline strep throat. I'm rarely sick and now I have seen my doctor twice in the past 30 or so days. I have medicine and I'm getting rest so hopefully I will be back to "normal" soon!

Yesterday, Monday, Jan. 4th was my first day of training. I was suppose to bike 20 miles and swim 1000 yards. That did not happen but on Sunday I did ride almost 24 miles so I feel I can at least count that. Today I'm suppose to swim 1000 yards and run 4 miles. My husband and i are both off work today and have some running around to do which consist of meeting some friends for a movie and lunch. Then we are heading to The Bike Factory so they can put my aerobars on my bike. I hope to at least get the run in today.

I woke up this morning at 5:00 am and I should be able to run this morning or later this afternoon. I don't want to get too far behind on my training because a half iron man is no joke!

Upcoming Training

2009-12-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

It's almost a new year and my has it flown by. I'm looking forward to the new year. My husband and I will be transfering in April and I will be training the next four months for a half ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride finishing up with a 13.2 mile run) in Texas. I'm getting really excited about the training but I also know it will be hard work and dedication. I will start training January 4th and my first week will consist of three thousand yards of swimming, sixty-five miles on the bike and 12 miles of running with one day off! I enjoy these work-outs and what is really exciting is finishing the race knowing how hard I will have worked. Stay tuned for training updates!

Pictures of Trail Run

2009-12-28T12:11:00.001-08:00

Half Marathon Trail Run in Hawaii

2009-12-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

First of all, I convienced two of my friends to do this run with me. One did the 5K Tour Walk and the other did the 10K. We all three arrived at the run and the scenery was just beautiful. We got everything in order by grabbing some gels and water before the race. I wasn't feeling a 100% that day and contiplated if i should do the 10K with my friend but I wanted to see the "bigger" trail so I told myself to get it together and be ready for a 13.2 mile trail run.

The gun goes off and we are off! It hasn't even been a half mile and already we are running straight up, crazy I thought. It got a bit easier and I was crusing along enjoying being out in nature looking at the mountains and ocean. By mile 6 and 7 I was feeling a bit fatigue due to the monster hills we had to run. I began noticing that another runnner and I were going the same pace and when she stopped I would stop and so forth. This went on for about two more miles and finally I asked her what her name was. She replied and from that moment on we agreed to finish togteher. The farthest she had ever run was nine miles and no trails so I knew this would be a chanllenge not only for myself but her as well.

We finally make it to the very top of the mountain which was mile eleven and there was a small drink station which I kept calling them mountain angels because they were deep into the trails with water, gatorade and gels. The "mountain angel" told us we could see the finish line once we got over the mountain. He was correct and my body then wanted to go for it and finish the race. My new friend did not feel the same way and had to walk some and do a light jog. I kept her motivated and told her only to stop and walk only if an emergency and that it would be over soon. She did great and did just that. The finish line could not have come sooner but we finished together as we sprinted across the finish line.

That was the most difficult but beautiful trail run i had ever run in my life. I am so glad I did the 13.2 miles and met someone that helped me and that I could help as well.

The Next Race

2009-11-22T08:55:00.001-08:00

My friend is gone and it has been back to work and such. I recently signed up for another half marathon but this time it is a trail run in the mountains. I am very excited about this one, I've never dona a trail race before much less trained in the mountains as well. I did my first trail run last week and the altitude was a slap in the face so I ran most of the 5 miles but had to walk some of the "up" parts. The views from this trail run/hike is beautiful. The actual hike is 15 miles long but the first 2.5 miles in is a nice trail to run along. The race is an Xterra Trail Run; xterraplanet.com so go to the website and check it out. The race is going to be held on Sunday, December 6. The pictures posted here are of my trail run that I will be tackling a few more times like today.

Race Day

2009-11-22T08:37:00.001-08:00

November 8, 2209 was the half marathon for my friend and I. We woke up around 4am and got ourselves ready and headed to the race. It was about a 30 min. drive so we had plenty time to wake up a bit more and do a little chit chatting before the race. We finally get there and we both had to use the restroom really bad and of course the line is way out to tim buck too! As we leave the restroom we come to find out the start gun had already gone off so we began our run and we started at the end of the pack. That was okay because we were not trampled by hundreds of people. It was still dark when we started and being able to watch the sun come up was a beautiful sight; especially on the East side of the island. I felt pretty good going into the race but my poor friend on the other hand was getting over being really sick. Each hill we came up to, I thought oh dear here comes a hill but rather I was cruising up very nicely. Instead of looking back for my friend I would hear her cough here and there so I knew she was not far behind me. The course went through a beautiful neighborhood and also along the beach, which my friend enjoyed the new scenery as well as I did! After 13.2 miles we reach the finish line at 2:22 and both very happy to have gotten to run together. I enjoyed having her with me all the way, it was nice to run with a friend. After the race we went back home to enjoy fresh fish tacos, football, friends and some ice cold beer. I will miss running with you, friend!

One More Day Until Race Day

2009-11-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

My friend and her husband arrived Monday, October 2nd and it was great seeing them safe and sound. We just hung out Monday and caught up on old times. Tuesday, October 3rd was our deep sea fishing expedition which left me throwing up three times and remaining in the horizontal position for roughly ten hours. While getting up to see all the excitement (caching a fish) I hurled once more on the side of the boat, but glad we finally caught a fish. It was my friend's husband that caught the fish which made me very happy. Although I was sea sick it was kind of nice to just lie down and relax and do absolutely nothing. Wednesday, October 4th, my friend and I do our first run together in preparation for the half marathon. We did five miles and my friend did great, due to the fact she is getting over bronchitis. Thursday, October 5th I took my friend and her husband on a hike to some beautiful waterfalls. We then stayed the night in Wakiki and have a nice and relaxing evening. Friday, October 6th we did a small run, hiked Diamond Head, and then hit the surf. They did great and had a really nice time on the waves. They got up a little but are ready for some more. Today is Saturday, October 7th and we are preparing for our swap meet shopping and our pontoon boat adventure. We will have a nice relaxing day in preparation for tomorrows' race.

10 Miles Completed!

2009-11-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Last night I kept waking up and the first thought that would pop into my head was "I must run 10 miles tomorrow morning"! By 5:30am I was tired of this thought racing through my head over and over again. I got up, ate a piece of toast and had some coffee (caffeine goooooood!). I headed out by 6:45am and the first mile was a nice warm up. The second and third were a bit sluggish but by the fourth mile I had my rhythm and groove kickin. I felt strong and enjoyed the music that was coming out of my IPOD. It amazes me what music does to the speed of my run but then again I still had six more miles to go so didn't want to rush it. I ran through my neighborhood and then got onto Ft. Weaver (some may know this road) where I got close to the hospital and didn't need to visit, just my turn around point. I was happy to be 1/2 finished and knowing I was closing the gap. I also found the smells along the way very interesting. I smelled flowers, the early morning, people cooking breakfast and my favorite smell was the do-nuts coming from the 7-11. I never eat do-nuts but if one was in front of my face at that time, I would have jogged on eating it with no remorse. Mile six and seven were good as well and felt confident I could run all the way! By mile eight the knees began to bug a little and my left heel felt uncomfortable as well but I kept on going knowing I only had 2 more miles to go. My goal time to finish was 2 hours and looking down at my watch I had plenty time to beat that. I picked up the pace for the last mile and a half and finished in 1:47. I was pleased of the time and that the run was over.

This coming week is a taper week but a week from today is the 1/2 marathon. I'm looking forward to it!

8 Miles Accomplished

2009-10-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well last Thursday, October 22ND I ran 8 miles with a co-worker and half of it was up hill. It was not as bad as I thought and helps to have someone run with you. We ran on Schofield Army Base and the scenery was beautiful. Very little traffic and it felt good just to do it and conquer it! So here it is, over a week and i now have 10 miles staring me in the face. I have until this Sunday to accomplish it. Being that it is Friday morning and I'm about to head to work, I won't be running today and I work half a day tomorrow so tomorrow doesn't look to great either. That leaves Sunday morning! My friend I'm running the half marathon with will be here Monday, November 2ND and we will be tapering our runs.

I feel as though I am in pretty good shape and will do just fine with a few aches and pains afterwards but running with my friend those 13.2 miles will be fun anyway no matter how painful it may be in the end! Included is an old picture of my friend that is coming and me.

Running Status

2009-10-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

Okay so I've missed all my long runs and I'm feeling the pressure. A co-worker said she would run with me Thursday and I'm taking her up on it. It's something past 5 miles that is so unmotivating doing myself. My friend will be here in two weeks so I better get my butt in gear. I'm doing speed work on the treadmill, some racquetball, golf here and there, cross fit and P90X but darn those long runs. Hopefully Thursday will be a good long run, Lord knows I need it.

Teaching Yoga

2009-10-20T15:41:00.001-07:00

I received a certificate to teach yoga and I had my first practice class Sunday, October 18th for my friends. They were so supportive and with out them I would have not been ready for my real class on Monday, October 19th at the gym. I felt that I did very well for my first real class. After class many of the participants came up to me and told me how much they enjoyed my class and wished that I could teach the Friday class as well. That made me feel really good and I look forward to teaching many more classes in the future.

October 20, 2009 2 Year Wedding Anniversary

2009-10-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

Brian and I celebrated our two year anniversary on Saturday, October 17th by riding ATVs at Kualoa Ranch (www.kualoa.com) where they filmed Lost, 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park and many more movies. We took a two hour tour and had a blast enjoying the beautiful scenery. We had dinner at an Italian Wine Bar where we enjoyed a bottle of wine and appetizers. We ended our night at the Bare Foot Bar at the Hale Koa where we stayed the night with an awesome ocean view. The next morning we went to breakfast at Eggs n Things and then relaxed by the pool at the hotel. It was an awesome celebration and we both had a wonderful time.

Past Weekend.....Not to Good

2009-10-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I was suppose to do my long run but failed to do so. Golf came first but had a really good time with my friends and had my second best game yet. Something to say about that or maybe an excuse. Saturday I received a certification in water aerobics which was okay but nothing too exciting. Sunday was a lazy day and just ran some errands. Monday was Columbus Day which we both had off from work. Brian and I did some light hill work on the bikes at AMR which is a 3 mile loop of some really good hills. I will have to take Brian more often, we completed 1.5 loops plus some through the neighborhood and then he was done. My honey does not like hills much but they are a great workout. We then hit the driving range and I hit some really good balls, let's see if I can take that to the golf course next time.

Tuesday is back at work day and I picked up on my running schedule. I did my 3 miles and they felt good along with a P90X workout with my friend. Today is Wednesday and I have my 5 mile speed work ahead of me which I enjoy and then playing racquetball with another friend. Work is getting a bit crazy so hopefully it doesn't mess up my training too much!

Again all this running and planning is for you, Cori. Love ya!

I got my run in today!

2009-10-08T01:32:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning happy that I didn't need to be at work at the crack ass of dawn. I had a wonderful breakfast and took my time getting to work. We are moving gyms so our gym can get a new roof so it took the trainers until about 11:00. My honey and I met for some racquetball (I always lose, for now!) and then headed home for some healthy lunch. Knowing I have three clients this evening, I'm trying to decide when I'm going to do my 5 mile run. Low and behold one of my clients cancels so bingo, there is my one hour I have open and I couldn't miss this opportunity. I head to work and train my first client and then bee hived for the cardio room.

I had the usual on: heart rate monitor, IPOD and running clothing of course. The treadmill said I had just short of 5 miles to go when I checked my IPOD it said 5.44 miles. Well dammit, I couldn't just stop the treadmill right there, I had to finish to 5 miles (an OCD problem I have w/ the electronics, gotta finish on an even number even my heart rate monitor. My face was beet red due to the serious lack of air flow (no A/C) and the fan circulating hot air but I did it and was pleased that I fit it in today.

Pictures included today are from the Honolulu Century Ride I did with my honey and friends a couple Sundays ago. We rode 50 miles and had a blast! The weather was awesome and no one got hurt!

Darn I missed a day!

2009-10-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

So I did my first "longer" miles Friday, October 2 and did well. Saturday and Sunday roll around and I have a ten hour course to complete for yoga, which was awesome and I'm very excited about teaching others. On Sunday morning before my yoga class I completed a sprint triathlon and came in 3rd place (in my age group)!!!! Finally, I received a medal and I am thrilled to death about it. I've been training really hard all year and it has finally paid off! I'm not giving up though, I still would love to have 2ND and even 1st place but I am living in the moment now with third.

Okay back to 1/2 marathon. So Monday comes fast and I'm suppose to run 5 miles, according to my program. I go to work at 5:30 am and done with my second client by 8:30. I am beat so I head to the commissary for some fuel (groceries) and then go home to lie in bed for several hours (it felt good and guilty all at the same time). I did some things around the house and then headed back to work so basically there were no miles to be run today.

Tuesday I feel myself again so I stick to my plan and ran my 3 miles. Along with my
P90X training, ab work and that is it! I'm a little sad that I missed out on Monday but I've got to look ahead and plan to accomplish the future runs and not dwell on the past runs!

Today is 5 miles and it's 8:00am, yes, I will get these in and tune back tomorrow for results!

Preparing for a Half-Marathon

2009-10-02T01:31:00.000-07:00

As of today I have exactly 37 days to be ready for a half marathon. I have a friend coming to visit me here in Hawaii from Virgina and she would like to run a half marathon while she is here. Yes, I am very active and this should not be a problem for me you say? Well I ran 5 miles last week and that was the last time I ran. Today I set my program up in preparation of this race. I must stick to it and keep myself motivated. Maybe I need to read my blog about motivation. Running is one activity I enjoy but only on certain days so this will be a bit challenging for me. I will stick to the plan and hope for the best. My long runs are scheduled for Fridays so wish me luck!

I am excited about running this race with my friend. I've run one 5k with friends since I have been here and so far it's been 2.5 years. I hope we have a good time and enjoy the run. May the training begin!

What do your cards read?

2009-09-20T22:59:00.000-07:00

I went to a friend's birthday party this past Saturday evening and the women there were so awesome and full of positive energy. I only knew about four of the women and wished I had more time to spend with the others. One that I already knew, was talking to me about the "Cards". I thought it was some psychic ready but it wasn't. The cards that are used are regular playing cards and they correlate with the universe. Sound silly? Well it had my attention and made me think and wonder...what card is mine and how my life is played out. I began to ask the difference of the scientific thought process but yet the spiritual aspect of it as well. I do believe in a higher power i.e. God but how does the scientific part of it play into as well?

There are many questions I have and would like to do more research on this subject but in all, we are given choices in life and it's if we make the right ones or not. God has our path written out for us and it is up to us to follow that path. Maybe there are other avenues to help us guide ourselves into that right direction but whatever card or hand we are given, it is our duty through God to make those right decisions.

Balance?

2009-09-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

After training for months for triathlons; I now feel my balance is a bit off. Training for triathlons is a dedicated and thought out process months before the event. Once crossing that finish line, then at that moment all the hard work pays off and is well worth it. I have one or maybe two more sprint triathlons left this year and love the addiction and drive I have to want to complete these events closer to 1st place. I have come a long way; first triathlon ever was in New Mexico finishing in two hours and now my last triathlon was completed in an hour and sixteen minutes. I was ten seconds away from fourth place. I would be thrilled to death for a third place medal.

I'm trying new exercises such as; P90X, pole dancing (now that is fun and very interesting), racquetball and golfing. Not having a schedule of something to work towards is a bit unbalanced for me but I do enjoy all my new events.

Yoga is very important to me and that is where my true balance is. It helps me to focus on my body and what is happening to it. There is an awesome yoga studio in my neighborhood (Yoga 4 Ewa) that I would love to attend daily but my schedule does not allow me to. The owner has created a CD of a recorded class which I now have on my IPOD so I can do the class anytime of day. She is an awesome person and wonderful instructor. So where to find balance? YOGA!!!!!

Beautiful Bike Ride on the East Coast of Oahu

2009-09-16T10:31:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite ride on the island. From the beginning of the ride, where I start and back is about a 40 mile ride. There is a bit of traffic along the way but once off the main road, the scenery is absolutley beautiful. I will miss this ride once I move in April 2010. Hawaii has some beautiful scenery but it is a challenge not to get hit by a vehicle. Just about everyone I know, knows of someone that has been hit by a car while on their road bike. This island is very crowded and sometimes people just don't pay attention. This does not stop me from getting on the bike and riding. You have got to live and enjoy life to it's fullest. I want no regrets when I'm older and look foward to many more awesome rides here in Hawaii before I depart!

5,000 Calories

2009-08-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Wow, what an awesome week it has been. I've hiked, biked, hiked again, golfed, weight training, swimming and a little working! There is nothing more I love than to burn calories, well one other thing I love and that is my honey! The satisfaction I receive from a good workout is unexplainable.

Monday 8-3-09
I did a short 3 mile hike with a friend which led to beautiful swimming pools formed by the gorgeous waterfalls. The hike was Waimano Pool with an elevation gain of 700 feet and was suitable for novice and intermediate hikers. First of all, I would like to know who and how "they" decide who the hike are suitable for. In my opinion they are off at times but I'm guessing they want to be safe rather than sorry. Also, who gets that kind of job and hiking to find out elevation gain, type of hike etc. That would be an awesome job and I may have to look into something like that! The hike lead into the lush Waimano Valley and then ending at the two deep swimming pools which had ropes to swing from into the water. My favorite description of this hike reads this "On the return, take your time climbing "cardiac hill"". Calories burned 510!

Tuesday 8-4-09
I met a friend thinking we were going to play golf but the golf course didn't open until 1:00 so we decided to have coffee, breakfast and some chit chat. After that I met another friend at the gym where we worked our upper body, abs and did some cardio. Calories burned, 494. I then headed to pool and swam some laps which I haven't done in quite some time. Finally, around 2:00 I got a massage from a new therapist which his usual clients are boxers and fighters. I was a little nervous at first but we hit it off great and he did some awesome work. A massage is not relaxing for me because of all the "beating" I do to my body. I am trying to work on this by doing more stretching and hopefully more yoga! I need more time in the day, how do I get some?

Wednesday 8-5-09
Riding my road bike on the open road is great but riding along the North Shore in Hawaii is awesome. I met two of my girlfriends and we headed East starting from The Market in the North Shore and turned around just past Turtle Bay Resort. Heading out East was a bit challenging due to riding in the strong head wind but it makes for a great workout. We turned around at about 15 miles and headed back West towards the starting point. I was on fire and got up to 26 mph on a nice flat part. I stayed in the low twenties and felt so free and alive as long as the cars stayed on their side of the road! This is always a plus when riding your bike "in" traffic" and of course tons of tourist! We took at rest top looking over Waimea Bay and the water looked so calm and blue. In the winter months Waimea is usually pretty rough. We got back to our cars, placed the gear away and headed to Cholo's Mexican Restaurant. There is nothing better than Mexican food after a hot 30 mile bike ride! Calories burned, 1058!

Thursday 8-6-09
My two friends and I are eager for today with a 12 mile hike ahead of us. We meet at a coffee shop at 6:30 am for an early start and hit the trailhead by 6:45. We are all excited and ready for an adventure.....long adventure. Two of us had to be somewhere later that afternoon so we were hoping to see this faboulous summit. The hike we did or attempted was Manana. The book says it is a 12-mile round trip with 1,700 feet of elevation gain and suitable for novice, intermediate and experts. The first 2-3 miles were very easy and nice to follow but after that it seemed to get more narrow and a bit steeper. I enjoyed the ropes people had placed there to help you climb the steep parts. It was especially fun coming down. After 3.5 hours we had reached the 4 mile marker and were running out of time. We decided to turn around due to the fact we wouldn't make it to the summit and back in the time we had left. Towards the end the group grew tired and quiet. Maybe it was a good thing we didn't make it to the top although it would have been really cool. We finished at about 10 miles, 6.5 hours and 2,237 calories later. It was long but very fun and we saw stunning views of the Leeward side of the island.

Friday 8-7-09
Started the day off with an awesome golf game with a friend. I had my best game ever with two pars and a score of 43 (par 3 course with 9 holes). I celebrated with a flavored ice coffee from McDonalds. As on cloud nine I meet another friend at the gym where we did legs (if my legs could speak they would be telling me to sit the hell down already), upper back and a bit of cardio. We then headed to the pool where I could only punch out 500 yard. I was truly tired after burning 502 calories and ready to just soak up some sun. I finished this day off with a wonderful dinner at Outback with my sweetie! They have awesome burgers!

Saturday 8-8-09
Today was the easiest of them all! I coached a client at Ko Olina Lagoon and after her swim we went to my work where I taught a spining class (715 calories). I then met a friend at the movies and it was nice to just sit and relax!

Sunday 8-9-09
Celebrate my honey's Birthday! Happy Birthday sweets!

Where we are now!

2009-07-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

When we were a little girl or boy we had dreams and visions of what kind of life we would have when we grew up. Funny thing, most of us if not all, are doing something totally opposite or something we thought we would never do. For example I knew I didn't want to live in Texas when I grew up, but wasn't quite sure how or when I would move on. I'm 34 now and have lived in 4 different states (Cali, Florida, New Mexico, and Hawaii) and I never thought I would be able to say that.

One saying that really gets me is "Got to keep up with the Jone's". This society we live in is so embedded in our head that both parents need to work so we can have the finest things like cars and a huge beautiful house. Along with that you need to pop our a couple children and live happily ever after. Who says this and is right?

The main reason why we end up where we are and who we meet is through the hands of God. He is our master planner and only he knows what we will accomplish in life. We tend to fight him at times because what we may think is good for us may not be. When in doubt pray to the Lord and ask him what he wants us to do, for all he is the one that gave us life!

We are all human and sometimes it is difficult to understand what we are suppose to be doing or how to do it. An example is being a military wife. It is very exciting by possibly traveling around the world, seeing new things and meeting new friends but on the down side spouses are left behind due to deployments, living far away from family and seeking new employment every 3-4 years. I truly believe this is one of the greatest test of marriage of becoming stronger or ending it forever. It is what we make of it and reflecting back on the values and morals we were taught as young children.

To everyone that is reading this please take a moment and think to yourself "how did I get here and how happy am I"? Happiness is within and only you can be happy with yourself before you can be happy with someone else. Life is short and you, your spouse or family member can be gone tomorrow so live for the moment and today!

Motivation

2009-07-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

What gives us motivation? Is it the people around us, out inner drive or a task or goal that drives us to accomplishment? Everyone has motivation and is interesting what motivates each and everyone of us. Some have motivation in learning and stimulating their brain and other are motivated in health and fitness.

Ahhhh health and fitness, yes that would be me! I sit (yeah sometimes I just sit) and wonder why and how I have such a drive to want to exercise and stay healthy. Some think it is pure craziness and others encourage, I like both responses myself. First, I broke my back when I was 17 and wore a back brace for six months (well not all six months of course) and today it affects me a great deal. I can not sleep in a soft bed nor can I lie on a sofa for a couple of hours without having to get up and stretch it out. Staying active is a key component in keeping my back healthy and strong, for example, running is an awesome weight bearing exercise that keeps me from hurting or in pain. Second, I enjoy sports and trying new things. I don't necessarily want to be good at just one thing but experience many.

I guess I would have to say my motivation is staying out of pain, enjoying life and making my Mom proud of me. We are only here for a short period and there are sayings about live life, be strong, love one another. All of those are all so true! If sports don't motivate you then something does and only you know what that is. People all over the world are suffering from lack of food, missing limbs on their bodies etc. I could go on but I pray everyday that I have the ability to do what I enjoy each and everyday, not many can say that!

This message is to ask yourself what motivates you and why! Would love to hear your feedback!

Family visit to Houston June 23-July 7

2009-07-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

Going back home for two weeks was a blast! I had purchased my tickets months before my departure date and was excited the day I booked that flight. When the day finally arrived I was a bit sad due to leaving Brian behind knowing I wouldn't see him for two weeks but excited about seeing the family!

I got into Houston on June 23rd and was greeted by my Mom, sister and two nieces. We headed to the resturant, Aquarium where we saw sharks, fish, sting rays and many fish while enjoying our lunch. After lunch we rode the train and a farris wheel which overlooked downtown Houston. The next day my friend, Rene came to visit me from Jacksonville and we enjoyed a day at the Galleria and lots of Mexican Food!

The first weekend i was there my family and I headed East to San Antonio. We stayed at The Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch Resort which had a lazy river, swimming pool and two waterslides. It was very hot and it was refreshing to cool off in the water! We ventured over to a drive through animal park where we got to feed all types of animals from our vehicle. Then headed to New Branfuels for a little shopping and some tasty lunch!

The second weekend was spent in Lake Palastine at my Uncle's Lake house and got to see a lot of family members. It was like a small family reunion. We swam in the lake, tubing pulled by the boat, fishing and tons of eating! It was an awesome time and was great spending time with the family.

Friends

2009-07-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

Why do we need friends? Everyone has friends for most of the same reasons but some of us have them for different reasons. Friends come into our lives and can make such a great impact but sometimes we lose touch, why is that? Friends can be the root of happiness and are needed for so many important reasons. I normally come back to Houston and see my friends but this time it was a bit different. I got to see friends that I haven't seen almost since high school and it felt like we were hanging out just yesterday. How come that is? Society pushes everyone along so fast that we lose touch over so many years but yet the closness never fails. Some people have many friend and sad to say but some don't have any at all. I am truly blessed for the friends that have come, gone, stayed and that will remain in my life forever! Without friends, I would not be the person I am today! Thanks to all my friends, love you all!

Today is Relax Day!

2009-06-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

After a full Saturday of Wakiki sun, cocktails, and great company I am enjoying chilling at the house. Normally in bed by 9:30-10:00, I proceeded to stay out last night until 1:00 am! The beach and sun were awesome which worked up an appetite for Margaritaville in Wakiki. Followed after dinner was Red Lion and some good ole' booty dancing with friends! If that wasn't enough, we headed to the kareoke bar at the Shore Bird and watched many talented people sing into the night. My favorite was the Elvis "look-alike"! Not being able to last much longer, my honey and I headed to our hotel room for a nice peaceful sleep!

So today we got up and enjoyed breakfast in Waikiki and then headed home! I took a two hour nap, which was a miracle! Getting ready for my trip to Houston tomorrow night!