Journey Fitness

Today I ran down to the park to meet Charlene, part of the 5k program, to run at 5:00. On the way I saw this! How exciting is that? Okay, maybe YOU’RE not excited, but to me it is an indication that our community is doing GREAT THINGS towards healthier living! The mileage is marked all the way around the Jennings Park Loop (which is my go to run when I need 4 miles because it goes right in front of my house). Aren’t I lucky to live with a running path so close? Literally it’s right outside my front door, and down the end of the driveway.

After Charlene and I ran, I hung out and waited for the rest of the group. They joined me at 6:00 and we did a similar run (not quite as long). Beautiful night. It was a bit chilly at times, because the clouds kept covering the sun. But overall, it was kind of pretty!

After showing Laura how to use her Garmin, I ran back home!

Run: Training with my 5k class
Total Mileage: .42+3.4+2.85+.46=7.13 miles
Total time: 1:28
Blessing: Signs that our city is working to help its citizens get healthier! Yay!
Total Mileage for the Week: 10.2 miles

Tags: a year of running, training

Slow run, but I’m recovering, plus it was a trail and I had to jump a few logs and avoid MOST of the nettles. Decided to try out the little trail by Union Slough. Pretty flat (except I went the wrong way at first, hence the log jumping). Very pretty day, and while the trail isn’t long (only a mile) I can see running from home to the end and back for about a 4.5-5 mile round trip. Roy waited for me at the trailhead and watched me run (lest a monster eat me), since someone dropped my cell phone in the toilet and it no longer works.

Wrong turn!

Nice little trail

It does grow “up” a bit! I used to be SO allergic to Scotch Broom!

Run: Union Slough Trail
Distance: 3.03 miles
Time: 34:11
Blessing: Being out on the beautiful waterfront
Total mileage this week: 3.03

Then we went to Seattle, had lunch at Cheesecake Factory (note to self…don’t look at nutrition information next time), and wandered around Pike Place for an hour. Saw “Grease” with Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel, and got his autograph for my classroom wall. (I had it from when he was on the American Idol tour, but it burned up.) A very very nice Memorial Day.

Tags: a year of running, running, Trail running, Union Slough

Call of the Wild Marathon

This was my 23rd marathon. I ran it with my marathon/half marathon training group. We had a GREAT time on a beautiful day running along the Sammamish River.

The marathon was organized by Adrian Call, one of those CRAZY Marathon Maniacs! About 50 people ran just for the fun of it. He arranged a marathon, a half marathon, and a 20 miler for those who wanted to just do a training run. His wife made pancakes at the end, and let me tell you…pancakes taste AWESOME after 26.2 miles!

I started with Erin and Ron, but Erin and I were planning to do 5:1 run/walk, and Ron wanted to run it in. We lost him at the first walk, but were hoping to catch back up again. We never did as he was a speed demon!

Half marathoners from JF Runners were: Trista, Gloria, Shirley (and her hubby), Tamie, Becky, and Megan! They ALL finished their first half marathon and everyone felt relatively good at the end! We missed having Torie and Cindy with us, but Torie was in the Methow Valley running her first trail run, a 10k (she rocked it) and Cindy had finished her first half marathon the week before in Delaware!

I took video on this one, and here you go:

Run: Call of the Wild Marathon
Total Mileage: 26.79 (because I took a wrong turn so did extra credit)
Total time: 5:19 (although Garmin said closer to 5:05, but it did pause when I stopped at water stops)
Blessing: Running with Erin and seeing all my friends feeling so strong and powerful about themselves. Seeing my wonderful husband at four different places on the route. He ran a water stop for us. He’s the best!
Total Mileage for the Week: 77.92 my LONGEST week yet!

This was not my best run. I could tell within the first mile that my cold was settling into my chest. Fortunately it wasn’t bad enough to stop me, but it sure did sap my energy! I don’t know why, but I just could not get mojo going on. At mile 24 when I saw Roy for the last time I said, “Honey, this run is just sucking for me!” Of course at that point I couldn’t quit, but I honestly wanted to and that rarely happens. I know it was mostly mental, though. I was concerned that Erin was going to be okay. She had decided not to finish about mile 21, and I thought for sure we were just around the corner from Roy at that point. Of course every corner I turned, he wasn’t there. Three miles after I left her, I found him! Of course I knew she was fine in my head. She’s an adult, perfectly capable, was not ill or injured but was just tired. She’d hydrated and fueled just fine. But still, I felt bad leaving her. If I’d known Roy was 3 miles away, I wouldn’t have. My plan was to run to him (I thought he was within 1/4 mile…have I mentioned I have no sense of direction?) and let him know she was coming, possibly run back to her to make sure she was fine, then finish. So really I think it was the mental “Surely he’s just around THIS corner” thing along with “Should I go back to her? Should I go forward? Should I stop?” was over half the battle.

In fact, once I knew he was there, waiting for her, and she was fine, the last two miles were hard, but not nearly as hard as the previous three.

It was AWESOME to see Ron and Trista at the finish line. Ron looked tired, but happy. Trista looked fantastic, like she’d just climbed out of bed after a great rest! She didn’t look tired at all!

The breakfast was great…bananas, pancakes, cookies, etc. I had a pancake and a banana and a piece of lemon pound cake and a few almonds. Adrian’s wife and I swapped yogurt recipes and chatted. Finally Roy showed up with Erin. She looked great, tired, but really upbeat.

I am so proud of everyone! Erin ran her longest run (24.37 miles). Ron ran his first marathon. Trista, Gloria, Tamie, Becky, Shirley, and Megan all ran their first marathon. Way to go everyone!!!!

Tags: a year of running, marathon, runnings

These little guys were cheering me on!

Either that or they wanted to eat me.

One of those…

Run: From MPHS home
Distance: 5.33
Weather: Beautiful and SUNNY! I ran in shorts!
Blessing: These little guys. I also found a monkey!

…but I left it for a little kid to find.

Total mileage this week: About 46 and some change

Tags: a year of running, running

Great feeling run today, for some reason. The weather was PERFECT and I just felt good. I ran to meet Roy so that we could get some things done. We took care of business, then went to dinner and to see a movie (Wolverine…eh, it wasn’t too bad). The 20th is “our” day so we try to spend it together because our first date was on February 20th and our wedding was on July 20th.

Unfortunately my throat went from scratchy to “on fire” in the two hours we were in the movie! What’s up with that? No fair! Shenanigans!

Interurban Trail sign…which way do I go?

Run: From work to Everett Mall
Distance: 5.67 miles
Time: 57:31
Blessing: Walking out of work and seeing that the clouds had lifted and the sky was a brilliant blue!
Total mileage this week: 40.7 miles

Tags: a year of running, Interurban Trail, running, training

Today I decided that I needed to stop putting pressure on myself to “have” to run every day. So I said to myself, “I won’t run today.” Well no sooner had I said that when I WANTED to run…but I just wanted to go out and do what I wanted to do and not worry about anything. Ran out the waterfront and back and I felt the best I’d felt all day long. Funny how much even a short run changes your outlook. Before = After =

This is the view from the bridge I run over.

Run: Ran to the waterfront and back
Distance: 2.12 miles
Time: 20
Blessing: A feeling of peace
Total mileage this week: 28.8

Tags: a year of running, training

Marathon 22 in the bag!

What a beautiful day for a beautiful race! I was running this race with my friend, Lisa, who made “Maniac” status today. Go Lisa! I had run 13.5 miles on Saturday so was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be a PR.

We decided to run 3:1 to see if we could take some time off. Of course in order for 3:1 to work to increase time, you have to really push it in the 3 component but well…we didn’t.

The race is very hilly and extremely beautiful! I had no idea how beatiful the Olympia area is! I’ve run two marathons in Olympia, prior, and had enjoyed them but this one is THE marathon to run if you’re going to Oly! It starts and ends right by the capital building, which is beautiful.

We both felt pretty good throughout the entire race. Really, I don’t think we slowed down at all. We were just about even throughout the race. We did stop and take pictures, and got to know a guy named Jim who is 67 and had run the Redmond Watershed 12 hour race yesterday. (!!)

Saw lots of stuff on the race…horses, cows, calves, foals, emus, lambs, goats, alpaca, and lots of roadkill…dats good eatin’ right der!

The hills were challenging, but not too bad. Did have a little calf pain at the end as did Lisa. I think it was due to some of the downhills!

The route in pictures

Mile 3 or so. The calves were 3 weeks old. Lisa asked the farmer who was rather amused that I was taking pictures of cows. They were really CUTE cows, though!

Seems to me about mile 7 and was trying to get a picture of the big a$$ hill ahead! Oy! I think that’s Mel McCreedy ahead.

Jim saw us both taking pictures of the hill, so he stopped and asked if we’d like a photo. Sure thing!

Look at how awesome Lisa looks! Do these ladies look 44 years old to you? No way! Running keeps you YOUNG!

Alpaca Alert!

This guy was so cute! He was fascinated by the runners and would run up ahead of each group and stop with his head stretched out as if to say, “Seriously? No one has an apple? Lump of sugar? Spare gu? Give a horse some sugar!”

Mile 11 or so…I think. The hill ahead made me cry and induced an amnesiac state.

We were running along and heard this LOUD croak. I thought we’d find a big toad…I think this little guy had short man’s syndrome!

Right at mile 13. What DOES one do with all those pesky leftover bowling balls?

Mr. Emu was struttin’ his stuff about mile 15!

What a beautiful route!

Gorgeous river!

There were a lot of wooded areas, which was nice as the temperatures soared.

I love this yard art! I think we’re about mile 18 here!

There were a number of people with their own water stops set up for us. This little girl (about mile 21) was happily giving out free water, while her cat planned her demise.

We’re almost done! Mile 25!!

Running in the last mile past the capital!

What a beautiful day!

I didn’t think the end was much to talk about. Food was open so little kids had their grubby hands all over it. Shall I get up on my soapbox once again and remind parents…the food at the end is for the runners. It is not for your children. If you MUST feed your child (lest he die), then YOU get the food. I saw two kids go up, grab some watermelon, eat it, then throw the rinds back onto the pile of watermelon. Jerks. I’m sorry, both were old enough to know better. The teens who were volunteering were inhaling the pizza before runners could get any (I did not get a piece because as they opened a new box, three kids (two of whom had just thrown their watermelon rinds onto the cut fruit and each taken 3 donuts) and three teens completely cleaned out the box. Thanks for that!

No medal, which I didn’t like, but we DID get a jacket which is BETTER than a medal. There was also a little printed thingy with our race info in it that was kind of cool and framable. I think I’ll take it to school and put it on my currently blank wall. The volunteers were awesome. Course support was very good, although they only had gu at one station and Ultimaa sucks eggs. Sponges were an awesome touch. I particularly was happy I’d put one n the back of my shirt when, after the race, I couldn’t find a SINGLE portapotty with toilet paper.

Would I do this one again? Most likely. The beauty alone is worth it!

Next weekend, Call of the Wild on Saturday and is it truly insane I am considering Couer d’ Alene on Sunday?

Tags: a year of running, marathon, marathon maniacs, Olympia, running

Met my marathon/half marathon group at the Centennial Trail and ran out for 12 miles. It was a GORGEOUS day!

Here we are at our water stop! Roy is the MAN! He takes care of this for me every Saturday. I’m so lucky.

Shot from the trail:

We are so blessed to live so close to this marvelous trail.

Run: Centennial Trail Training Run
Distance: 13.59 miles
Time: 2:34:11
Blessing: My friends, the day, the husband
Total mileage this week: 35.57

Tags: a year of running, running, training

It felt good not to have any real responsibilities after work today, so I enjoyed this run even though I was tight to start. I loosened up after two miles, but then only had half a mile until my first stop. Met Roy for dinner (he drove for the first time since surgery) and enjoyed some time together talking, reading the paper, etc. Then I ran home.

The run home felt really good and I saw an eagle being chased by a crow (So Freaking Cool), and a train on 51st Avenue…nope, not kidding.

Mileage: 5.01
Time: 50 minutes
Blessing: The eagle and the surprise of the train
Weekly mileage: 15.73 with 1 mile during bootcamp

Tags: a year of running, train

I had a massage at the mall after work Thursday, but was crying to Roy after a particularly hard session with some “incident counselors” after work. God bless ‘em, they did well, but it was just HARD! I needed this run, I needed the massage, I needed Roy, and I also needed to be home by 6 to meet clients!

So I ran with my bluetooth on, talked to Roy the entire time. Hit the massage table all sweaty. Went to my happy place (I missed my happy place) on the massage table only to be wrenched back into the real world when she said, “I hope you don’t mind that I took an extra half an hour.” EEP! I had to be HOME in half an hour and all set up for a workout!

RACED home like a madwoman (performing a few misdemeanors in the process), and managed to pull into the drive 30 seconds ahead of my awesome clients, who had just gotten my text delivered via Roy that I’d hit traffic. I thought I was going to hit traffic because one of those signs said that there was an accident blocking HWY 2 and that usually means it blocks I-5 too. Nope! I made record time! Fifteen minutes from the parking lot of the Everett Mall to my house! WHEW!

Tags: a year of running