The Week Ahead

A 4 day work week-Whoo Hoo! I love holidays.
Today-Working from home outside on the deck. It's a beautiful day...blue sky-low humidity-light breeze and a high of 82.
Tonight-Weight Training.
Tuesday-3 Mile Run.
Wednesday-Fric's 4th Birthday (Karen's oldest). Weight Training.
Thursday-Thursday Night Run.
Friday-Heading down to our newly purchased land to play and plant. Visit Doug's parents and meet up with Doug's daughter. Can't wait!
Saturday-Psycho Wyco 15 Miler. It's going to be a killer but a ton of fun! I haven't been trail training and Psycho Wyco really IS Psycho!
Sunday-A day of rest.

And somewhere in between work and working out-getting some school work in.

About Last Night and Fast Forward 18 Months

Last night Doug and I met up with our Thursday Night Group. It was icky sticky out mixed in with some hills we'll be running routinely to get ready for the San Francisco and Kansas City teams. Whew...it kicked my butt. It brings back memories of last year. Meeting friends at 4:30 am to get some miles in before the sun came up. I'm not a very good hot and humid runner-which is what KC gives us in the summer. But it's here and whatcha gonna do? Run-of course!

After our run we went to eat at Mr. Gyro's Greek Food and Pastry. Mmmm...They have plasma TV's with scenes of Greece-the isles, the ruins, the cities... Beautiful! I wanted to start planning our trip right then and there! Planning? I wanted to pack my bags and go! But we have around 18 months before we go so I can hold off on planning for a month or so...lol! We're taking a TNT Alumni Team to Greece in 2009 to run the marathon. I can't wait! So...I ate my gyro and some baklava while dreaming about being in the bluest water anywhere.

Yesterday was a busy workout day:
Laps at the pool
3 Mile Run
Walk with the dog

I'll rest tonight and run 10 hilly miles on Saturday. Have a great weekend!

I Don't Get It

Last night at weight training class, we headed outside for our usual stair and ramp routine, when yet again, there was a group of parents sitting under the shade tree shooting the breeze with each other while their kids are at track practice. That's all fine and dandy but what I don't get is why aren't these parents out on the track exercising as well? A lot of parents whine and cry that they 'don't have the time' to exercise but they can sit around under the shade tree for over an hour shooting the bull? Why not get their butt on the track and exercise while it's right there in your face? Am I missing something? I don't get it...

Okay...enough of not understanding others. I'm heading to the pool for a few laps. Have a great afternoon!

Hookey Again!

That's right! I'm playing hooky from work...with work! Our team is headed to the casino for lunch at the buffet and then some of us are seeing movies and others are gambling. I'm going to see Sex in the City. Whoo Hoo! I love my job! And...they are paying for it...even better.

I did not play hookey from running though. I got my butt up at 5:45 this morning and took off on our 3 mile loop. When I stepped outside, it felt like a pretty nice morning...the air was cool with an easy breeze. Then I started running...or trying to...the humidity pulled me right back in and showed me who was boss. After finishing I was nothing but a puddle of sweat. Took a cold shower and was still sweating after I got out. Putting on my jeans this morning felt like pulling on painted on jeans that were 3 sizes too small. Laying on the bed-tossing and turning-flailing around-someone would have thought I was fighting an alligator with my moves! Whew...that was a workout in itself.

Raspberries Galore!

From our backyard...

Last night after I got home, I threw on some long pants and long sleeved shirt to go pick berries. Long sleeves and long pants because those little bushes are nasty prickly mean. I came out without a scratch but the damn bushes would cling to my shirt and pants and wouldn't let go. I was laughing and yelling at the same time for Doug to come save me! He was tending to the grapes. My fingers and fingernails are disgusting. They look like I've been digging in the dirt and haven't washed my hands. They are stained purple-but it's so worth it!

Ymmm...look at those babies! I will probably pick this many again tonight or tomorrow night. They are everywhere!

So after weight training, I got them out to taste test a few. After I sat down with them, we ate the whole container! Well...okay, it was mostly me. They were so delicious and had such great flavor, I couldn't help myself! I'll share better next time. Or...I could sell them...ha! No way...they are too good!


Training this Week:
Saturday-6 Mile Run
Sunday-Rest
Monday-Weight Training-I LOVE this class. I love the way it makes my body feel 'tight' when I'm done. I can so tell I've done something. It's not easy and I work my butt off. We use a combination of strength and power moves. I've never seen this sort of structure in class before. It really works.
Tuesday-I would like to do a 4 mile trail run-but with it raining will probably be a 3 mile run (non trails) and please not the dreadmill or will hold off until Wednesday morning.
Wednesday-Weight Training
Thursday-Thursday Night Run Group
Friday-Don't Know Yet...Swimming maybe?
Saturday-10 Mile Run

Farm Living is the Life for Me!

is the place to be!

Doug and I...

purchased some acreage and I'm GIDDY over it!

Part of my younger days were spent growing up on acreage raising and showing quarter horses. I loved it and I still have some of that in my blood. We're not planning on getting any horses, but just owning some land (other than what our house sits on) in never never land makes me feel a little more free. WE HAVE A POND-sooo exciting! We already have some raspberry bushes potted and ready to go (from our backyard) that we plan on taking out to plant. I talked Doug into planting some honeysuckle and I do believe we'll be planting fruit trees, grapes, nut trees and much more!

What a great place to take off and go camping for the weekend. Ahhh...

News Story on Local TNT'er-Check Out the Video!

Below is a news story on Jeff Davidson. He is a team member with our local Team In Training chapter. He just finished the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines, IA (really the duathlon since they cancelled the swim due to flooding). You have to Check Out the Video (where it shows Action News KSHB-TV Always On-to the right of the news story). Be sure to have a tissue handy!

Local Father Raises Money to Find a Cure

One local man participates in triathlons to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as his son fights Leukemia back home. Jeff Davidson completed three Olympic distance triathlons with Team in Training last year and raised more than $12,000 dollars for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He does it all for his son. Jeff's son, Zach, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at 3 years and 10 months old on November 8, 2006. Jeff said Zach is in remission and has been in treatment for roughly 18 months. His overall treatment plan will be just over 3 years, but credits Zach's success with his fight of Leukemia to fundraising and research. Jeff got involved with the largest endurance sport organization in the United States , Team In Training, because of their involvement with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Their involvement with blood cancer research in children is paramount in finding a cure. Jeff answered a postcard in the mail about 2 months after he was diagnosed.

Have a great weekend!

All By Myself

I dropped Doug off at the airport not so long ago. He's headed to Anchorage with the Team and I'm going to be...All By Myself...for the weekend. And although I would love to be sitting on the couch moping for my hunka hunka burnin' love and playing the air drums...

I LOVE THIS

this girl has things to do...from a run with my Thursday Night Group, to the Saturday morning run, to meeting up with my dad for dinner, to going to Frac's 3rd birthday party at the Royals and doing some shopping for clothes that fit. I swear three quarters of what I own is too big for me-such a problem! I might even rent some girlie movies, grab some magazines, buy some Starbucks Mud Pie ice cream and prop myself up in bed with the whole carton! I'll do the shopping after I eat my ice cream.

I'm All By Myself this weekend but I think I'll get by just fine.

Miss You Babe. Have a great trip!

Show Me the Money!

Yes-I'm at it again! I am training to run the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco on October 19th, 2008 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. I've actually recruited my best friend Karen to run with me in her very first marathon! If you don't donate to this great cause, I'm calling on you next to run with me! My Honored Patient is Ashley Anderson. She is 12 years old and in the 7th grade. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May 2006. Although today she is in remission, she is currently going through a battery of tests to see if the cancer has returned. She is having some of the same side effects today that she was having when she was diagnosed in 2006. Please visit Ashley's Caring Bridge site. As this will be my 14th marathon, you all know I can do this with my eyes closed-almost, but I am asking for you to help Ashley and so many others like her with the fight of their life. Your donation goes to help research, patient and family services, education, bone marrow testing and so much more. Lets get this blood cancer crap knocked out so I can stop running marathons!

So...please stop by and visit my TNT Webpage. This will be my 6th marathon fundraising for Team In Training. ANY amount is perfect! There is no amount too small or too big!

Thank you to all my friends and family that have been down this road with me before. Just remember, it's for A GREAT CAUSE!

Now THAT was Interesting

Tonight I was looking for something different to do. I thought I was going to yoga but decided to look up the YMCA schedule just to ensure class was at the time I was thinking. It wasn't. They changed the whole schedule around-so after pondering my options I opted for water aerobics. Yes...water aerobics.

So off to class I headed. As I jumped in the water I felt an 'aahhhh' come over me. The water welcomed me as it enveloped me with a hug. It felt so good to be in the water. I was already thinking of swimming some laps after class because I loved how the water felt on my body but soon realized I didn't have my goggles-next time.

Class gets started...I look around...and realize I am the youngest by at least 25 years and/or the lightest by 100 pounds. Not that it matters...just making an observation, but I was the one getting stared at tonight. Class was okay. I may try another instructor next time. I'm not quite sure she gave me the workout I needed. However it did loosen up my hips and back and it did feel great to have a non impact workout. We worked out with water weights and when I would put them in the water, it would float me up. The hardest part was trying to stay grounded and not floating to the surface!

I may have to work some swimming into my schedule. I didn't realize how much I missed it until tonight.

As for tomorrow:
In the morning-running some miles.
In the evening-weight training for a kick butt workout.

Dinner with Ashley

Last night some of us from my TNT team met Ashley and her family for dinner last night (picture of me, Ashley and Karen). Ashley is my Honored Patient for my Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. Ashley is 12 and has a sister that is a year older then she. Once the newness of meeting someone new wore off and she got comfortable with us, we had a very nice time. Her family is very kind and her sister could talk your head off!

We got to hear the story of how Ashley was diagnosed. They went for a doctors visit for what they thought was something routine. Only to find out that she had cancer. She talked about getting her hair cut, then wearing a 'do-rag' because her hair was falling out and then having to wear two-but that wasn't enough and then not even a week later having a head shaving party. Can you imagine what that would feel like at 10?

Ashley on the outside today looks great. You would never tell she had cancer only 2 years ago. However, on the inside, things seem to be changing again. She is having some of the same symptoms she did when she was diagnosed the first time. Yesterday, instead of playing at the pool like most kids should be doing in the summer, she spent it in the hospital taking a battery of tests to determine what is happening.

Please keep Ashley in your prayers and hope that the cancer has not returned.

The Best Little Coffee House

This morning Doug got up early to head across town for running group. He had quite a drive and still needed to mark the trail for the runners so he took off around 4:15 am. I opted to stay in bed this morning with the cool breeze coming through the open windows. It seems like forever since I was able to sleep in. I 'slept in' til around 6:30 am. I got up, did a few things around the house and then decided it was such a beautiful morning that I was going to get some coffee, sit outside and do some homework. So I packed up my computer, books and Ms. Mols and we headed to the best little coffee house around.

• The coffee is the best around. Exactly the way I like it.
• I grabbed some breakfast too of cottage cheese and pears-very refreshing.
• Sat in a comfy chair in the sun with my feet propped up and my flip flops off able to peer over the computer at my pink toenails.
• Very dog friendly. Practically a dog park with balls to play with and enough room to run around like a crazy maniac. Molly that is, not me.
• No parking lot to stare into, but instead, beautiful green grass and fruit trees galore.
• Nothing but blue skies to look to with a perfect slight breeze.
• Doves cooing and birds chirping.

And I didn't have to go anywhere but my backyard!

On the flipside to my wonderful morning there was no run. Yep, no run. I needed a break. I haven't run in a week! I've done other things-but no running. I needed this time to rest and recover. In the next couple months, my training will be stepping up so I need to be refreshed and renewed. I think taking this time has helped.

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Playing Hookey Today

Work: My manager and director came into town from Denver to take our team to the Royals game. Beforehand, we tailgated with Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ (turkey, sausage, cheesy corn, coleslaw, baked beans and the boss's wife made a homemade chocolate bundt cake with chocolate icing. Mmm...) and it was all chased with yummy beverages. What a great day...some sun...some shade...a cool breeze. And what a game. The score went back and forth, there were some very exciting plays and in the end, the Royals came out ahead-5 to 4!

Thursday Night Run: After sitting outside all day, I am tired. How does that happen? I didn't do anything but sip a drink, watch a great game and chit chat. So...I'm going to skip out on one of my favorite things to do and opt for the couch tonight to veg out.

Tomorrow I'm working from home so if it's not raining, I'll head out before work or during lunch to catch some miles and maybe hit a yoga class at the YMCA. That would be heaven!

I've Been Tagged!

I'm so excited to have been Tagged for the first time by Strawberry Hill Runner. How exciting! Here we go...

1- How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
In 1998 I was a biker bitch. A yuppie biker bitch, but a Fat Boy Harley riding chick, nonetheless. Running was not anywhere in my vocabulary.

2-What is your best and worst run/race experience?
My best race experience...I've had a lot of great races...times maybe not so great-but the experience was. I love the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco-the course is beautiful and so fun. I'm running it again this fall with my best friend, Karen. This will be her first marathon so I'm going to call this as 'going to be' my best race experience.

My worst race experience...hmmm...I can't say that I've had a worst race experience, but a bad experience was my very first marathon...the Portland (OR) marathon. I got to around mile 16 and was having horrible back pains along with ankle/foot issues. I could hardly walk, let alone run. Doug and I got to around mile 19 and I was crying. I had actually read a very inspirational banner they had hanging from one of the bridges and with the emotions of your first marathon, it all came crumbling down. Poor Doug...he turned to me and asked, "are you crying cuz you're in pain or are you crying cuz you know you're going to finish?" Sobbing...I said, "Yeessssss". We finished, we got back to the hotel room, showered, went to eat and then I went back to the hotel room and crashed. Crashed for 18 hours! AND...it was our first anniversary! Poor Doug. Luckily we were able to spend some time before and after the marathon exploring the Portland area and had a great time visiting the wineries, waterfalls and coastline.

Come to find out, after returning to Kansas City, I went to the chiropractor for the first time, Dr. Reed in Lee's Summit. He's the BEST. He aligned me and proceeded to tell me I had twisted my ankle at some point, hence the pain. After he readjusted me, I was good to go! Never have I had the back pain or foot pain I had then. So...if that is the worst race experience I ever have...I'll take it!

3- Why do you run?
As some of you know, I have that posted on my blog...
I run for me...I run for fun...I run to chit chat with friends-new and old...I run for charity...I run to clear my mind...I run to run with my honey...I run to gain strength...I run to smell the fall leaves...I run for red red wine...I run to taste the falling snow...I run to sweat...I run to smell the flowers...I run because I love it...I run to see the sun rise and/or set...I run...

4- What is the best or worst piece of advice you've been given about running?
Vaseline is your friend!

5- Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
By the name of my blog everyone knows I'm not the fastest runner. BUT...I did place 1st..YES...1st in my age group in a half marathon I ran! I got the coolest trophy too. That's surprising isn't it!? I know...I know...I'll take a bow for you now...

Okay...something NOT too surprising...there were only 2 of us in my age group! LOL!!

Now I'm supposed to tag 5 other people so these are the people whose answers I'd really like to read:

Doug
Jenny
Laurel
Topher
Rachelle

Here are the guidelines: If you have been tagged, you will find your name above. You should then, copy the rules (or your version of them), and the set of questions onto your blog post, provide your own answers, and then tag 5 new people.
Just to be sure that everyone tagged knows they have been invited to play, go to their blogs and leave them a special comment letting them know, and refer them to your blog for details.
One more thing, once they've answered the questions on their own blog, they should come back to yours to tell you.

That was fun!

Stop Light Runners

What kind of stop light runner are you:

1. One that takes advantage of the red light by stopping, bending over, gasping for air until the light turns green and praying for the light to stay red, or


2. One that while waiting for the light to turn green bounces around, does high knees and then more bouncing up and down, up and down?

I'm number 1, no doubt! I really think number 2 looks funny and wastes too much engery!

Red Red Wine

Okay, not Red Red Wine...but I do like that song. What we have here is White White Wine. Doug has made another batch of his fabulous homemade wine. It's a Sauvignon Blanc and is a dry, white wine. It's for his Team In Training fundraising. For him to travel with a team less then 20, he has to fundraise, as is the case for his Anchorage team. If anyone is interested in this tasty gem, let me know.

Hailey in an Alex's Lemondade Stand Commercial

Here is a commercial that has been posted on YouTube of one of my Honored Patients, Hailey, with Alex Gordon (from the Kansas City Royals) for Alex's Lemonade Stand. She is the little one to our left of Alex Gordon. What a cutie!

Hospital Hill Half Marathon Race Report

What a morning! Woke up bright and early for the third weekend in a row. Okay...maybe it's not bright at 4:30 am-but it's early...way early. At least this time it was in our own bed. I met up with Kym at 5:30 am to head downtown for the Hospital Hill Half Marathon. After getting to Crown Center, we met up with Karen, her brother and his girlfriend as well as with Carrie and Joel. I ran into a lot of people that I know. It's fun to run a local race to see faces and catch up with people you haven't seen in a while. It was a warm, humid morning and only got warmer as the day and race continued.

ONE HILLY COURSE! I ran it 2 years ago, so I knew what I was getting myself into. The run was great. It runs you through a nice course around Kansas City. This year, they even took out one hill (at the end due to construction) but it will be back next year...can't wait! Hot and humid-oh...I already said that? There were people dropping like flies. People didn't prepare themselves and/or went out way too fast and in return, got bit in the butt. I finished in around 2:43ish...slow and steady. Our race shirts on the back say, "I conqured the hill". Hill? There was not just one hill. There were too many to count! They SHOULD say I conqured the whole damn city of hillsssss. And Kansas City is not flat. I promise you that.

The race went well, the water stops were okay. Some seemed a little disorganized but I never had to wait for water and they never ran out (which I have experienced way too often). I actually ran into a couple friends at water stops that were volunteering today. They were not racing today as they are competing in Ironman Kansas next weekend (a Half Ironman). It was very nice of them to come out and volunteer while they are in taper mode. I'll try to make it out next week to see you guys and return the favor! As for the spectators, they were nice, cheering us on. The volunteers and officers watching the intersections were priceless. Many were cheering us on and offering kind words.

What I do have an issue with is the general Kansas City driving public. They stink. Out of all the races I have done and all the cities I have been to, I have never experienced the rudeness I have seen from Kansas City drivers. There is a race going on here people-get over yourself and find a way around it. People honking and not paying attention to the volunteers trying to assist them-uggg. When I ran this course last time, there was a driver that was driving right through an intersection with runners coming through and an officer had clearly signaled for him to stop. You could hear the officer yelling and then...'crunch'. The officer was pissed and kick boxed the side of this guys car. This year, I didn't see that, but did see several officers yelling at drivers not paying attention and/or not doing what they were instructed to do. You suck people! You suck!

Now to the schwag...the schwag was Whoo! Whoo! My packet contained a dri-fit short sleeved t-shirt, a very cool nylon bag and a visor. At the finish, the medals were very neat...really neat...very fun and we received blue flip flops that have the HH logo and says Hospital Hill Finisher on them. I was super duper happy with everything we received. We used to get really cool shorts. It was nice to get something different then a shirt, but there's a new race director and even though we didn't get shorts, I love what we got and I think she did a great job.

And finisher's photos
Joel and Carrie...

Kim and Kym...

So...that's it for full and half marathons for a while...til October. Now it's time for some trial running fun! I'm very excited about the trail runs I have coming up. It'll mix things up a bit and I honestly think it gives me a tougher workout then road running. Stay tuned for the excitement...can we say bug bites, poison ivy and snakes?!

Alex's Lemonade Stand This Weekend

For the locals: when you're out and about Kansas City this weekend, don't forget to grab a cup of nice, cool, refreshing lemonade at Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Kansas City Lemonade Stands for National Lemonade Days will be held on Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th from 10 am to 6 pm at all 25 metro area HyVee Grocery Stores (Missouri: Belton, Blue Springs, Gladstone, Independence (2), Kansas City (2), Lee’s Summit (2), Liberty, Raytown, and St. Joseph; Kansas: Lawrence (2), Leawood, Lenexa, Mission, Olathe (2), Overland Park (3), Prairie Village, Shawnee, and Topeka) and on the Country Club Plaza at Boar Fountain on 47th Street. Check out the link for specific store locations.

Stop by and help fight childhood cancer!

Fall Team In Training Events-New Honored Patient

Last night was our Team In Training Kick-Off for fall events. Our fall events include Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon and the Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon. I'll be running in the San Fran and San Antionio Marathons. I will not be participating in KC as it's the same weekend as San Fran, unfortunately.

With a new event, comes a new honored patient. This season our honored patient is Ashely Anderson. She is 12 and is currently in remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was diagnosed in May 2006 and went into remission in December 2006. She then relapsed the next year and her doctors think she may be relapsing again. Please visit her Caring Bridge Site and say 'hey'. I have her listed under the 'Blogs I Stalk'. It's always nice to meet a new face-I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances.

With that said, last night was our BIGGEST Kick-Off EVER! I would love to give a shout out to our Team In Training Staff and, OF COURSE, to Doug-the best coach ever! They have worked their tails off on recruitment and have done a FABULOUS job! Great job guys!

Am I Normal?

I know I'm not in the non-running world but in the running world, am I? Is it normal to run 4 Marathons and 3 Half Marathons the first 6 months of the year-with my 4th Half Marathon this weekend?

I hope I'm not becoming one of those crazy runners-like some of those crusty* 50 staters you see sometimes. I guess I really shouldn't care if I'm having fun, right?!

(*Disclaimer: Not ALL 50 staters are crusty-just most!)

Is it wrong to have quantity over quality? I'm not particularly even going for quantity, but it's so hard to pass up a race if a friend wants to do one or if we're traveling and Doug is running. I can't just sit on the sidelines and watch. Should I only be training for 2 marathons a year and working on my technique and/or speed? I guess that's an individual decision. And I guess for me and where I'm at, I like what I'm doing-so I'm going to stick with it for now. I guess that's a good thing considering I have a few more races to tackle this year.

I haven't been out to run since the race Sunday. I'll get a run in tomorrow with our Thursday Night Run Group. I love them. I have started my weight training class. This could become VERY interesting. I went Monday night IMMEDIATELY after we got back from the airport. There's nothing like hopping up and down stairs, doing sprints, doing barbell squats-all sorts of fun the day after a marathon...and that was just an introduction for our two hour class! Some poor girl fainted, fell, busted her head open and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. And this all happened during our WARM-UP! I think I'm really going to enjoy it (evil laugh). I need something to mix it up a bit. If I don't blog for a while, start searching the hospitals for me, my friends!

Yeah Baby!

Another One Bites the Dust

We're back and had an outstanding time! As some of you know, Doug is the head marathon coach for our Mid-America Team In Training chapter. Doug took around 27 participants to the Rock 'n Roll San Diego Marathon. It was a great group that gelled well together. Everyone had a great time and all finished with smiles on their faces!

We arrived in San Diego early Friday morning and checked into our hotel. It was the same hotel we stayed at last year. Our hotel was great. They have a spa, 4 pools, flowers-everywhere-all kinds-it was beautiful, a convention center that held the pasta party (for TNT-so we didn't have to travel), over 1000 rooms, the trolley system picks up right behind our hotel as well as having a huge mall with great stores back behind the hotel. Doug and I roomed in one of their bungalows. It was too cute. Our room opened to a courtyard abundant with flowers...

Doug and I didn't do anything too crazy while we were out in SD this time. Last year we took 4 extra days after the marathon to gallivant around SD and the surrounding area so this year we took it pretty easy. We did head into Old Town to eat at our favorite Mexican Restaurant a couple times-once for dinner and once for breakfast. We also took a trip to visit the San Diego Mission. It is beautiful!
After that, we headed to the expo with a couple of people from our team, and in the process, picked up this older lady who was trying to find her way to the expo. We kept an eye on her, assisting her while we hopped from trolley to trolley. I would say she was probably in her 60's. Doug asked her if she was with TNT and she was. She was from North Carolina and after some conversation, we found out she was doing the full marathon. We thought-very impressive. Come to find out, we were at the pasta party that very evening and they were handing out an award to this 84 year old woman who had completed all 10 RNR Marathons and all with Team In Training (completing her 11th the next day) and it was our lady! She wasn't in her 60's...she was 84! She didn't start running until she was in her 60's! Here she is (partly in a picture I was taking of the boys). I'm not sure what they are looking at...

Marathon morning started before the butt crack of dawn Sunday as all the TNT events do trying to herd a whole team to the starting line and making sure everyone has what they need. We met as a group at 4:00 am and shuffled our way onto a bus headed for Balboa Park. We waited around for the marathon to start in the dark-half asleep. It was a warmer morning then usual that turned into a little warmer then usual afternoon. Once the sun came out, it heated up fast. Most of us fried our booties. Okay...maybe not our booties-but pretty much any and all exposed skin. All went well during the marathon. Nothing too exciting happened while I was on the course. San Diego is a great destination and probably my favorite destination marathon, but the marathon route itself is something to be desired-at least I think. There is a portion of the marathon where you run up a highway that is slanted (so water doesn't pool when it rains) so it's like running with one leg shorter then the other and this goes on for several miles. Then there are several other points where the roads slope again. Not so much fun as it really jacks with the knees. However, there is a beautiful section when you head into and around the Mission Bay area-absolutely gorgeous!

I finished around 5:45 (haven't actually looked at official times yet). All in all-the whole marathon day went well and I had a great time. The most fun for me is listening to stories of the marathon virgins! Their stories, their experience, what they learned from covering the distance, hearing the excitement in their voice, to hear someone say that is the neatest thing they have ever done-now that is fun. A couple of the girls had so much fun, they went out and got 26.2 tattoos! Doug also saw our lady out on the course and said she was moving right along-probably not too far behind me!

All in all-another fun weekend! Two travel weekends in a row. This weekend we are staying home, but that doesn't mean I'm not running in a race. Saturday is the Hospital Hill Half Marathon. One hilly race. I can promise you-this is going to be a slow go...but fun nonetheless!

Here are some random pictures from over the weekend...

I'm Alive!

We're back and well! We didn't take the computer with us on this trip so no blogging. It was a great weekend and a crazy day today so I'll try to get pictures up (with a race report) tomorrow after work. Back to the grindstone...