Trust
11 years ago
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Time Flies - Ironman Texas
Time flies when you're having fun. Let me sum up the last couple years here. May 2012, I completed my first Ironman in The Woodlands, TX. I trained really hard and felt ready. The day of the race I am really nervous thinking what in the heck have I gotten myself into. I drop off all my gear and head to the swim. I'm standing there in disbelief of what I am about to do noticing I can't even see the turn around on the swim course. I turn around and take a deep breath and say a prayer. I get in the water, the gun goes off and I begin the 2.4 mile swim. The swim felt great and I just swam along until the finish appeared. I jumped out and headed to T1 (Transition 1) to get ready for my bike portion of the race. I begin the bike leg and it was a warm day. It nearly reached 90 degrees with not a cloud in the sky. I stopped at every water stop to refill the water bottles and enjoyed some bananas too. I enjoyed my peanut butter sandwiches and boiled potatoes coated with sea salt and olive oil. The course was very flat and country. I approached T2 after being on the bike for over 7 hours. I was ready for my running shoes and wrap up the race, five hours later. I started out jogging knowing good and well I would have to walk at some point in the marathon. I'm about half way through (13.1 miles) and still no walking. I am in awe that I haven't walked and still jogging. I down some fuel and still going. The run course was three loops and every time I would pass under the bridge I would hear finishers being called an Ironman. The last loop takes you up the bridge and to the finish. All I could do was visualize myself crossing the finish line and being hearing my name. I had come this far and was determined to finish. After 5 hours of running I hit the bridge and could see the finish line. I crossed the finish line hearing "Vicki Rieger, you are and IRONMAN!!!!!!!" To this day it still gives me goose bumps and a big smile. I finished in 14 hours 34 minutes and some change. 2013 is another Ironman too!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Leavenworth Marathon October 2011
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!!!
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
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!
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!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Newport, OR Marathon June 2011
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
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!
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!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Mt. Si 50K
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! 
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! 
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Marathon 2 and 3!
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
First Marathon-Seattle
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!
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!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Marathon Training.....Odds & Ends
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.
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.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Buddha
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!
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
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.
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.
Friday, August 6, 2010
High Hut Hike
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.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The beginning of the Seattle Marathon
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!)
Training $200
New Shoes $100
Race Fee $95.00
Me finishing.....Priceless! (I hope!)
San Juan Island Bike Ride
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!
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
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.
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
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...........
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...........
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Race Day!
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!
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!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Trying to Stay on Track
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!
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!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Yosemite National Park
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!
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!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Back on the Mainland
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
