What Am I Doing?

I have no clue.
I'm supposed to be training for this thing called Pigman.
A Half Ironman distance triathlon.
I feel I haven't been doing what I'm supposed to be.
Some days I care.
Others I don't.
I ride 40 miles and have a great time.
I bike 7 miles and it kills me.
What is going on?
Swimming is going well.
Biking is so hit or miss.
Running...I'm a big slug.
I'm not sure if I really want to even do this anymore.
What to do?
What to do?
Sunday is supposed to be a 65 mile bike ride.
My longest bike ride ever.
I'd like to get in a good brick of maybe 6 miles after my bike.
I guess I'll take it day by day and see how things go.
Suggestions?
Motivation?
I'll take any of it!

The New York Whirlwind

Things have finally settled a bit and I feel comfortable about posting about my New York crazy experience...

If you've watched the news at all several weeks ago, I'm sure you've seen the story of the 'Michigan Man Claiming to be Missing Boy from 1955'. There are over 1600 articles on the internet about this story. It's been on FOX, CNN, NBC, ABC, the local news...it was everywhere. It so happens this story hits home as the missing boy is my mother's brother, my uncle.

There was an ongoing FBI investigation into the case when a source came forward to a newspaper reporter and leaked the story. That's when ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. For the first day and a half we received hundreds and hundreds of phone calls from reporters as well as people knocking down our door. We released no statements due to the pending FBI investigation as we did not want to compromise the case.

We then received a call from the attorney stating that we were heading to New York and a car would be by to pick us up in 3 hours. The reason for this is because there was a family member that knew nothing of the case that was on his way there so we needed to be there for damage control. It was not our idea or our wish to go, but we had to go. Needless to say, I did not have time to come home to grab anything so I had to run by the store to grab everything I would need for the trip. All while fielding nonstop phone calls.

An NBC producer met us with a car and whisked us away to the airport, barely catching our flight. We arrived at the Essex House, right across from Central Park, around 11pm and got to bed around 3 am to get 2 hours of sleep. Then it was off to the Today Show.

As I wait in the green room for mom to have her make-up and hair done, I rubbed elbows with Howard Dean who is also in the green room. As they get ready to tape, I'm taken to the studio to view behind the scenes. Meredith Vieira interviewed mom. Here's a picture of Meredith waving behind the camera.
I was also able to snap a (not so good pic) of Natalie Morales and David Gregory, (Matt Lauer was on vacation).

Below is a pic of us trying to dodge the paparazzi leaving the studio. What a mess.

Immediately after the Today show, we were taken to Good Morning America. We were whisked into the studio after a sound check and met up with Robin Roberts. OMG...she is gorgeous and so very kind. She spoke with mom to make her feel relaxed and comfortable and even gave me a wave and commented on my necklace on how no one is to have a better necklace than she. And then she said she wanted my shoes as well!

After the taping, I asked if I could snap a picture and she was a doll. She suggested I get behind the news desk and sit in Diane Sawyer's seat, so of course I did!

Then she wanted to know if she could sit with me at the news desk to have her picture taken. Of course! OMG!

They knew how much I love GMA so they took us downstairs where I met Chris Cuomo. Actually took a pic with him that didn't turn out, but baby oh baby, I had my hand behind his back. Mmm.Mmm.Mmm...Next they took us into the downstairs studio where Diane, Robin, Chris and Sam were. They are watching a Father's Day piece taped by Chris's children:

Gail King (Oprah's best friend) was also there finishing up a segment. I didn't speak with her, but got a very quick (bad) snap of her as well. She's in between the two blondies:
Diane then came up to us, shook my hand, snapped a picture and wished us well on the pending case and hoped for the best.

I loved GMA. They were all so kind.
We then drove back to the Today show where we picked up my brother and stepped out on the Plaza.

Then we were driven to the other side of town where mom taped with Dateline. They interviewed my mother and Hoda Kotb was kind enough to snap a picture with us as well. I let everyone know I knew I was being a total dork, but FOR REAL, who ever gets this sort of chance?

Everything was such a whirlwind. Our spirits were so high thinking things were going to turn out as we had hoped.

Then we received the news from the attorney that this Michigan man was not my mother's brother. At this point, our hearts deflated. The story got even more crazy and we had reporters raiding the hotel and even calling our room.

***I want everyone to be aware, all of these pictures were taken before we were notified this man was not my mother's missing brother.

Although the outcome was not as we had hoped and this Michigan man is not my uncle, I hope, for my mom's sake, one day we will have some resolution to what really happened to her brother.

RNR Seattle Marathon Race Report

This is, hands down, the best RNR marathon course. I'm blaming my horrid time on the beautiful scenery. However, the stupid disposable camera took horrible pictures and does this course no justice.

Race morning we were milling around when we ran into several friends from Kansas City. Below is a picture of Doug and Randy. Everyone else musta been in the 'honey bucket' at the time.

Doug wanted to see what the day would bring him so we kissed and off he went to his corral and I to mine with Greg's wife, Michelle, who was running the half marathon. It was a beautiful morning in the low 60's and the sun shining. A great time to be standing in my corral for 45 minutes before crossing the starting line. I was already hungry and ready for a nap by the time I got there!

The scenery was beautiful. If you love the greenest trees, bluest skies and spectacular waters, this is the course for you. Oh and sprinkle in a few hills. I didn't realize Seattle was so hilly. Downtown reminded me of San Francisco. I had no idea.

Pretty much everyone on the course spotted this bald eagle. I think next year he is expected back. If he doesn't show, I think the RD will need to place a stuffed eagle in his place to appease the runners. He was a hit. Again, forgive the crappy disposable. This next picture is of me on a bridge where we ran an out and back. You could see snow covered Mt Rainier off in the distance. She is so amazing. However, again, the crappy camera didn't catch her in the background, so you just get to look at me instead!

I then ran up on Nadia. A cutie patootie that used to run with us, but now resides in Los Angeles. We chatted it up for a bit and then she went on ahead. I knew by this time, it was going to be a long day. Spectacular day. But a long day. At mile 8, I was ready for the running to be over.

I caught Doug at another out and back. Snapped a pic, a smooch, a little grief from Randy and then we were on our way again.

We finished at Questfield where I caught up with Nadia and Doug lounging about waiting for me to finish.
The better pictures come from the Post RNR Marathon. Check 'em out.

Post RNR Seattle Marathon

The RNR Seattle Marathon was beautiful and challenging. The most scenic RNR marathon by far. I'll post a race report when pictures come back. I took another disposable camera with me and need to develop them. Note to self...purchase a small digital camera.

The slideshow below is of our time after the marathon. We drove up to Mt. Rainier Sunday, hiked several trails, ate lunch and saw some amazing views. We were there all day in awe of her beauty. Monday we headed to the ocean and saw two bald eagles. This is in addition to the one we saw on the marathon course.

There are captions for all of the photos, just place your cursor on the photo and it will pop up. Enjoy!

No Wonder...

I'm exhausted...
Still haven't unpacked from West Virgina.
We've been back 10 days.
In those 10 days, I've been on the craziest ride.
Back from WV.
Off to NY.
Back from NY.
On my way to WA Friday.
My time in NY was probably the most stressful time I've encountered in my life.
Although it did yield some fun adventures.
And now it's time to start packing again for our trip to Seattle.
We leave Friday morning.

I'm melting...
The weather is hot and humid with an average heat index of 105-110.
As soon as you step outside, you're a wet mop.
Even while running at 6:30 in the morning.

I feel like a sloth...
I fell off the training wagon.
I know people make excuses for not working out.
But I did take a well deserved two days off after the Hatfield and McCoy Marathon.
Then my crazy trip to NY did not allow me to even think about working out.
Well...I thought about it, but just in passing, especially with our hotel right across the street from Central Park.
All I wanted was to go for a run.
Even just a short one.
But when you're only getting 2 hours of sleep, running didn't fit in.
It is not an excuse.
It was not possible.
So I went 5 days without working out.
I'm still physically and mentally drained.
My eating habits are crap.
I'm forgetting to eat breakfast.
Then next thing you know it's 3:30 and I haven't eaten lunch.
This doesn't work so well when you're trying to maintain some sort of energy.
I have been working out the last several days.
But they have been short, half assed workouts.
Until today when I had a great bike.
It was nice to get some energy back and have a great training day.

I'm smiling from ear to ear...
We've just booked, yet, another trip.
This one is several months down the road.
But I'm already ecstatic.
Doug and I talked about this destination over the last two years.
But he was coaching at the time and it did not fit with our schedule.
At last we are booked.
And I'm ready to go...NOW!
Where, you ask?
BERMUDA!
In January!
That in itself has relaxed me just a bit.
We've signed up for the Bermuda Triangle Challenge.
A one mile run on Friday.
A 10K Saturday.
And the marathon Sunday.

I'm looking forward to things settling down...
The weather can break this heatwave.
We can settle from so much traveling.
I can get my nutrition back on track.
Ready for life to get back to the nice, quiet Kansas life I'm accustomed to.
Just picked blackberries in the yard.
Now it's time to start packing, take a breath and relax.

Hatfield and McCoy Marathon Race Report

As some of you may know, earlier this week I was whisked off to New York alongside my mother for a national (and international) breaking news story. So I haven't had much time to sit and think about writing a race report for the Hatfield and McCoy Marathon, as wonderful as it was. I've decided to 'steal' Doug's race report and make a few comments at the end.

Sometime soon I'll post about the whirlwind turn of events that occurred in New York. Everything needs to settle before I'm willing to comment on anything. Life is finally getting back to normal (thank God!) and now I need to focus on ensuring my mother is fairing okay and getting ready for our marathon we leave for later in the week to Seattle.

Doug's Race Report
This is a wonderful race. It starts in Kentucky and finishes in West Virginia, crossing back and forth between the states several times. We hit the expo where we picked up our race packet, had a nice prerace meal , and saw a presentation on the Hatfield-McCoy feud....each runner was assigned a side...I was a Hatfield and Kim was a McCoy......

The Hatfield

The McCoy

Race morning was not that warm but it was extremely muggy. There had been a lot of flooding in the area over the last few weeks and the air was saturated. I decided before the race that it was going to be a "fartin' around" marathon. We brought a disposable camera and just covered the distance.....
Only one section of the course was muddy and it reminded me a lot of the tank trail in Anchorage.

...lots of "squalor in the hollar" along the course.

...lots of rivers and bridges along the course.
.....a bridge on the course connecting two sides of a golf course, one side in Kentucky and one side in West Virginia.

No caption really needed....

Our medals and overall finisher trophies...notice that mine is for 183rd and Kim's is for 184th....someone started some McCoy trash talking about a 100 yards from the finish line and got smoked.....also notice that we got a fly swatter in the our packet.

Kim's Comments

This was a fantastic race. The RD was amazing, the support on the course was fabulous, there was a water stop every mile, if not closer, which was needed due to the extreme humidity. The course was beautiful and we had a great time snapping photos and enjoying ourselves. I would certainly say this was one of the most fun marathons I've run. I recommend everyone put it on their 'to do' list.

Spectating IMKS

We interrupt this regularly scheduled post of the Hatfield and McCoy Marathon Race Report to bring you the Spectating Ironman Kansas Program.

First, a little backtracking to Saturday morning.
Up and at 'em at 3 am.
Run marathon.
Shower, eat and then on the road.
Thirteen hours in the car, roadtrippin back.
Arrive home at 2:30 am Sunday morning.
We sneak in the house as to not wake Nikemom and McRib who are staying at our house.
Doug and I sleep on our couch til 4:30 am when Nikemom and McRib are IMKS bound.
We head upstairs for 3 hours to catch some shut eye and then roll outta bed to go cheer on Nikemom.

We park and hitch a ride on the short bus to the start.
This was Molly's first school bus ride.
As we settle in close to the bike to run transition, the leaders have already come in from the bike and are on their run.
There is so much going on.
Bikes coming in, runners headed down the same road as the bikes...in both directions as well as spectators lining the road.
Too much going on that there ended up being 3 bad wrecks in the time we were there.
One biker flipping over his handlebars so he didn't hit another biker dismounting.
One spectator crossing the road, turning back to talk to someone as a bike comes up on her and creams her.
One where a runner was in the bike lane and a bike hit him.
One too close mishap where an 8 year old boy crossed the road and ended up running right into the back tire of a biker.
Two out of these 4 bikers didn't make it to the run and were carried off on stretchers.
It was horrible. I very easily could have had a heart attack.
They have to get that under control.

As people are coming and going, we try to spot Nikemom to see if she had come in on the bike. We see someone walking their bike in and think it's her. It was. The poor girl broke her chain! I'll leave the rest of the details for you to read on her blog. We find McRib shortly after and hang with him to cheer Stephanie on.

We spot her heading out for the run and she seems to be in great spirits despite having to walk her bike in. Once on the run, she ran down everyone on the last leg of the race. She was strong and finished like a champion at a time I would die for! And this is after the girl had walked in her bike for close to 45 minutes. Congrats Stephanie, you are amazing!

We also cheered on several other friends racing: Jen and Gordon, Trish, April and Jen. Great job guys!

Just two more short months and I'll be out there!