Seattle Marathon, November 25th, 2007

Having done the half in Leavenworth, Mike and I tried to do the Seattle full. While the race only took several hours, the training monopolized my time for more than a month. .... and it should have taken up more time since I should have trained longer and harder. But when doing one hard run a week, usually my weekends were shot because of the time consumed and the hurt endured. But finally I got up to 20 miles and decided that was good enough just to finish. Having stuffed myself the weekend before with our thanksgiving dinner, leftovers and pasta, I was "ready." .... as ready as anyone can be for running their first marathon ever. So evidently the Seattle marathon is quite difficult, because of the hills, a fact that I would realize throughout the race. But alas, I felt good and didn't start hurting until mile 14 or so which was surprising. And then the big hills at mile 20 and beyond were just a kick in the ass, but not horrendous. With my training runs, it was hard to finish 14 miles, or 19 miles, but when running with a thousand other people, it just gives you the energy to keep going and push hard. .... I'm sure the loading up on ibuprofin beforehand and Dana (The Saint!) biking next to us giving us water and cliff shots was a factor in it as well. And the spectators were great, expecialy family and friends (as well as mike's) that came down to encourage us on. And like they say, miles 24 and 25 (and actually 26, and then 26.2!!!) were excruciating. But only a bit of suffering at the end as Mike and I came in sub 8 minute miles. Only caring to finish, 8 minute miles was the best that I hoped to do; coming in just below that passed all expectations for my first marathon.

... Onto the recovery, it was painful. By Sunday night, I was just lying on the couch with my parents still visiting. I didn't get much sleep the next two nights because everything hurt. By Wednesday, I was back to actually taking the stairs. The training schedule and my joints in so much pain told me that common sense says NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!

Mike, I'll see you in Vancouver, for the March, 2008 marathon????

Thanksgiving, Nov, 22nd 2007

So "turkey day" was great this year. I have to mention this weekend because of all the great people that came and the great food. So about the people - mom and dad came all the way from Sedona AZ for the weekend, and it marked the 15th week of 6 weeks that they had been traveling so it was nice that they were able to find time. ... Not only that, but they didn't make me pick them up from the airport so I could go to the Band of Horses concert at the showbox - which was incredible as well) Mark and Jamie drove 12 hours from SF just to hang out with us and to share some time with the holidays. Great friends Tom and Erica, and Britta and Tim showed up as well. I doubt that I could have asked for a better group! too bad big sis kari was traveling throughout Ireland.

Regarding the food, it was a "super share" week from my CSA. I normally get a box of food from a local (pseudo-organic) farmer, which I typically can't consume by myself. This week I got more than double that. The task was to try to use it all, as well as all the leftovers from previous boxes. Additionally everyone was bringing sides as well. So mom and I prepped the night before and all morning. And finally the turkey went into the deep fryer, yet another first. Dad and I made a contraption to lower the bird in from afar as to not burn ourselves and let the fryer do it's thing. In the end there were no burns, the carport was still standing (although my dad wasn't convinced things were going to work out when we took the bird out, as seen in the picture), and it was one of the juiciest birds I've ever had.

After gorging on food (early dinner), the afternoon was low key - and it was wonderful to reconnect with everyone in the group, especially those that had traveled from afar. Thanks all for attending!