Half Marathon Monday

This is a special Half Marathon Monday because it celebrates not one, but TWO major accomplishments.

Adri & Ellie at mom's first 5k!

Just as Sadie and I were finishing our new year's resolution of 13 half marathons in 2013, my cousin decided to jump on our crazy train... to which we said the more the merrier! With the same running base I started with in 2011 (read: none) and a 7 month old daughter, Adri began her running journey. Couch-to-5k become half marathon training which brought us to the Tacoma City Marathon this weekend!

If all goes as planned, there will be two more half marathon adventures before her 30th year is complete. We are already signed up to Beat the Blerch and have yet to pick the third race. So if you have suggestions, now's your chance!

The Tacoma City Half Marathon gets the award for strangest start experience. We spent just over two hours sitting on the concrete floor of an airplane hanger eating breakfast while our butts fell asleep.

Eventually we were on the road! And it was a wet road. Fortunately our custom-made trash bag shirts kept us dry. Big thanks to Sadie for that one.

Overall the race was great! It was tough at times - like going UP an overpass at mile 12 - and we just tried to keep moving forward. I might have offered to let Adri hit me if she could catch me in an attempt to keep her running. Turns out her hatred for walking was enough in itself. She's clearly a real runner. We crossed the finish line and she was a total champ! Super proud of you cousin!!!

Hey look! I think it's this way to the part of the course
where I hate your guts! Let's go!

Adri wasn't the only one with a major accomplishment for the weekend. The Queen of Crazy ran two half marathons in two days! This launched her to a new half fanatic level and a PR on the first day. With a time of 1:51:30, Sadie was not just first in her age group to finish but the first female. When compared to everyone running that day, only two people finished in front of her.

So grateful for these two badass ladies to run around with!

EARLY morning bus to the start

The half-way house offered beer to weary runners

FIN.

People Puzzles

About two months ago, I started working on this Rubik's Cube and just couldn't pull myself away. Since I'm not one to back down from a challenge, I decided to give this magical block my uninterrupted attention - there would be no time for dog parks, returning friends' emails, and certainly not time for blogging. 

Okay... so that's not the whole story. There might have been some work in there as well. Oh yeah, and some running too. Regardless of what I was actually doing, it's clear I wasn't writing any blogs.

I know you've been waiting anxiously... 

Not only was I learning about problem-solving, math, and frustration during this hiatus, but I was also learning about people. This is, in part, because I've taken more personality tests in the last 3 months than all of the other months of my life combined, but also because I've been interacting with a lot of different people. Really different people, in some cases.

Lately, I've noticed what people think they want from you is not always what they actually want. Take, for example, a distressed student with a problem that is ruining their life. (Dramatic, I know, but this is the life I lead.) At first, both of us think the goal is to solve the problem. I'm beginning to learn that's not always the case. Often, the goal is to vent, to connect, to be heard. 

I've also discovered when trying to help someone, the most heated and complicated of all issues become manageable when you acknowledge the individual and their experience before attempting to fix their problem.

On Giving

I learned something about myself today, or more accurately, about my priorities. I understand that people give money, time, and/or resources to different causes depending on what they care about most. But I had no idea how much I cared about a recent "gift" of mine until I received an email about it.

Last week, the Puget Sound Blood Center had a blood drive on my campus. I used to donate blood pretty regularly, but in all honesty, I'm a convenience kind of lady. If it's there and I'm in good health, I'll do it 10 times out of 10, but only twice have I gone out of my way to go to a donation center (and neither one of those events were recent). I didn't come across too many blood drives in Texas, so I was excited to have one so close to work here in Seattle. It was at work. Can't get much more convenient than that.

I was received an email thanking me for my donation. It said I was one of 16 donors who gave a total of 14 units of blood. FOURTEEN! How is it that a college with hundreds of employees and thousands of students only came up with 14 units? Don't get me wrong, 14 is better than none, but our collective effort was less than half of the blood needed for any one of the "your donation saves lives" stories.

I may not have lots of money to give or time to volunteer, but this is something I can do that I feel makes a difference. Despite the poor turnout this month, they're coming back. So, if you live near me or work with me - lookout! I will try to take you with me next time.


(and no, I won't pressure anyone ruthlessly. I understand that some people can't or just don't make donations in this way. But if you're not opposed to it... I'm coming for you!)

Here's some more food for thought thanks to America's Blood Centers:

New Year New Adventures

In just a few short years, I have gone from thinking New Year's resolutions were complete trash, to setting one myself and now even considering it as a tradition. There's something to be said for setting ambitious goals and holding yourself to them... so long as you're actually committed to putting in the work it will take to get it done.

It's fun to think about the things that can be achieved in a year and what you would feel like if you actually did them. For example, I could probably complete an Ironman at the end of 2014 if I were prepared to start tomorrow. But here's the catch: I not only need to be excited enough for the event to agree to do it and start tomorrow, I need to be excited enough to get out of bed 6 months from now at 4am when all I want in this world is sleep and a chocolate muffin. And when I find I'm no longer excited enough (see: primary reason New Year's resolutions fail), I need to be dedicated enough to do it anyway. That's the hard part - everything in between.

I am NOT trying to say that my 2014 resolution is completing an Ironman; it is most definitely not. What I am trying to say is: before you set a resolution, really think about whether or not you want to do it. Committing to what might be the most difficult triathlon ever is not committing to one day of glorious pain and suffering many months from now. It is committing to a radical priority, schedule, and lifestyle change - race day is just the result.

So what are my resolutions for 2014? Quite a few people have asked if I will run 14 half marathons in 2014 and to that I say, "I'm not sure." It's not out of the question, but it's not at the top of my (regular or running) list right now. Here's what I have so far:

• 5k in 30:00 or less
• 10k in 60:00 or less
• Half Marathon in 2:20:00 or less (2:15:00 is also a time I've thought a lot about, but seeing that I've consistently run around 2:40:00 for the past year, I think knocking 20 minutes off if plenty to start).
• Moon up. I now have a diagnosed running condition: I am a Half Fanatic. Currently on the lowest moon level, I would love to move up to another! (Yes, I know these are actually planets and not moons)

Then I have bunch of "fuzzy" goals, meaning they're not particularly measurable and therefore not attainable either. Golden rule of goal setting: make sure it's measurable or how else can you tell if you've done it or not?!

• Spend more time with our family now that we're close by.
• Cook at home more and have fun doing it.
• Make significant progress on our debt. I would love to be debt-free by the end of 2014, but I haven't crunched the numbers yet to see what this would look like.
• Get better at maintaining clean spaces instead of having to dedicate entire days to clean them up.

There you have it! I'd love to hear what other people are taking on for the upcoming year.

Simple Kind Words

My favorite email of the week was 20 words. One of them was a smiley face. It went like this:

Thank you so much!
That was really helpful. :)
I finished the application thanks to you.
Have a good day.

I didn't do anything groundbreaking - I answered a few questions and I didn't take forever to do it. But it was important to this person. This email reminds me how meaningful it can be to tell people when they make a difference. A lovely reminder to take a moment to tell someone you appreciate what they've done instead of just thinking it.

Mission Accomplished: 13x13x13 - 13

I have been collecting things to say for this final blog. Things I considered writing about along the way, but thought, "I'll save that until then end." I don't feel like writing any of those things now. Blogging lesson learned: just say what you want to say when you feel like saying it.

What I would like to share today is:

2 Final Times: Our last (and 13th) half marathon of 2013 was 13.6 miles and included a massive hill at the end.

Official Final Time: 2:34:00
13.1 Time: 2:26:38

I am not done running. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the concept that I am a runner. Just two years ago I ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving and it was the longest continuous distance I had ever run. So let me just get this out of the way now: if I can do it, you can do it. I don't know what my running future looks like, but I'm excited to find out! It will most likely still involve half marathons, but also other distances like 5k and 10k. I have proposed to Sadie the idea of a themed year where we only run races with ridiculous names like the Geoduck Gallop (pronounced: gooey duck gallop) or anything having to do with Sasquatch. If you have any good ideas, send them our way!

If you don't have a crazier half, get one. There's no way I would have ever run one half marathon, let alone thirteen in one year (or THREE in one month) if it wasn't for Sadie. I have pointed this out to her many times along the way. I'm a firm believer in pushing yourself as an individual if you want to learn and grow. But sometimes it takes someone else to come up with that goal so spectacularly insane that you can't resist trying. I like to think Sadie and I are each other's crazier halves. She convinces me to run distances that are best suited for driving, and I drag her across third world countries on binge eating and walking sprees. I guess this means it's my turn again?

This is all to say that (as totally insane as I thought it was at first) running 13 miles 13 times in 2013 was a total blast! It taught me a lot not only about myself, but the combined power of two crazies and a solid support team on a mission (I'm lookin' at you Tiffany, Lee, Laila, Casey, and many others). Go Team!


Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we?

We ran the LIVESTRONG Austin Half Marathon in
February 2012 - it was my first half marathon.

Casey made signs for us.

Then we did it again in 2013!

Sometimes we were scared...

...but usually we were excited.

We always worked hard.

and ONCE I beat Sadie to the finish line to take
her picture there. (this wasn't even a half marathon
though, and in her defense... she was 30 min late)

But through aches, pains, bronchitis and a whole
lot of tendinitis, we made it through! 

PR: 13x13x13 - 12

Yesterday, I completed my 12th half marathon of the year AND got a medal! I wasn't expecting any more swag this year, so I was pleasantly surprised thrilled to get one!

When I got home and Casey asked, "How did it go?" I think the first thing I said was, "I got a medal!" He picked up my cardboard circle with a sticker on it and looked at it curiously. Okay, so it's not made of medal, but I earned it dammit and I'll call it a medal!

You know what else I got with my cardboard circle? A personal record!
Final Time: 2:28:01

One of my goals for this experience was to work my way to a time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. With times that have consistently been 10-15 minutes slower than that, I was getting a little nervous. But I finally did it!

Sammamish River Trail

This was also the second half marathon in a row that was organized by a local running club. This means:

• The run was super cheap!
• I am now a member of a local running club
• We ran on local trails where I can run again (unlike the middle of the street in downtown Austin)
• I'm pretty sure I've discovered a group runners who complete marathons once a week (don't even think about it, Sadie!)

I am definitely feeling the effects of the extra push, and this recovery will be a bit longer, I can already tell. But at least I have a couple of weeks until the next one. Oh yeah, that's right - 3 half marathons in one month! Very appropriately, Sadie and I will run our last half marathon of the year on Thanksgiving Day.

#12 Start / Finish Area

Surely, it won't be my last half marathon, but I'm looking forward to taking my life (and my weekends) back from running for a bit. Well, sometimes. I'm thinking about actually working on my speed at reasonable distances like 5k and 10k. 

If anyone wants to help us celebrate the completion of our New Year's resolution (who does that?!) come to the Wittle Waddle at Gas Works Park!

Then we eat!

Imagine how fast I'd be if I didn't stop to take so many pictures!

To my Texans: Yes, all races in Washington start
at a cute little cabin in the woods. It's a rule.

Getting our instructions at the start.

Turn around! The half-way point.

More of the Sammamish River Trail.

Welcome to Washington: 13x13x13 - 11

Although yesterday's run was not the first I have done in the state of Washington, it was the first time the Washington weather came out. The forecast predicted temps in the mid-50s, certain rain, and a wind advisory. The temps were right on and fortunately the rain clouds were merciful, keeping their goods to themselves. The wind however... was anywhere from 25-30mph and we were running straight at it most of the way.

This 11th half marathon of the year cost me a $10 donation to a local food bank and a handful of tissues. I also found a mascot in one of the snails that came out after the early morning rains. Maybe part of the reason I'm so slow is because I stop to take pictures... of snails.

Final Time: 2:46:18

There was also a fun surprise in store for me at the end of the race - an old friend (who I only saw about once a year living in Texas) was in the area. We went to brunch afterward and she restored my faith in Shari's. She also restored my depleted supply of power steering fluid! So handy, that one.

Now that I'm almost done, I thought this would be an appropriate time to reflect a bit. Here are a few things that I've learned about running half marathons:

• I am becoming increasingly superstitious about wearing the bracelets my mother-in-law made me.
• Eggs Benedict is my favorite post-race meal.
• When it comes to food, hydration, and sleep, it's not the night before that counts the most - rather 2 nights before. I would eat Thanksgiving dinner on this night every time if I could.
• I know I need to drink a protein shake after finishing, but I will never like it.
• There are a lot of things we assume are impossible that are, in fact, totally possible!
• Slow and steady wins the race eventually gets you to the end.

It was a beautiful course!

Closeup: please take a moment to admire this woman's
awesome, fruit-stripe-esque pants.

Still Here

Yesterday morning the president of my college walked by my cube, smiled, and said, "Oh great! You're still here!"

Now - I wouldn't be so concerned if he had been the first (or the last) person to say this over the past week. If I had to guess, the current count is somewhere around half a dozen. I try not to think too hard about it.

This might be because it's been a rough week. Most likely it's because my area has been at half-staff (or less) for quite some time and it seems like my arrival has been eagerly anticipated. I think it was abundantly clear there was plenty of work waiting for me when I met people in my first days and they would say, "They're SO glad you're here!"


To be honest, I'm not worried because I feel like we're the right people in the right place at the right time. And I think I am in the position to make a positive impact on my institution, on myself, and most importantly on our students. So, despite what moments of stress may lead you to believe, I'm totally stoked!

Oh - and have I mentioned that it's really pretty here?! Because it is.

On Campus

Here's to walking over I-5 on my commute
instead of driving on it!

Ballard Locks: reopened!

On the Up-and-Up: 13x13x13 - 10

It's official: I have survived my tenth half marathon of the year!

With the hustle and bustle of moving from Houston to Seattle and starting a new job, saying I haven't had much time for running is an understatement. The truth is, I squeezed in one 3-mile run since my last half about five weeks ago. And that was last week.

You might not be able to sense the anxiety that I was feeling in this photo, just before the race began, but let me tell you - I was scared.

Much to my surprise, I did pretty well! This race was my third fastest time, just three seconds behind my PR, which was my first half ever.


Final Time: 2:37:21

The weather was perfect, and I think the cooler temperatures really helped me not lose too much momentum (read: crash and burn). I still haven't hit my goal of 2:30:00 and I'm determined to do it by the time all 13 are said and done. The good news is: I think this is a really attainable goal!

Casey's proposed training plan: stop running - since it worked this time around! It would really be a time-saver...

I'd also like to take a minute to brag about my speed-demon partner in crime who set her own personal record on Sunday by finishing in 1:55:45. I told her my motivation for improving my time will be to finish before the awards ceremonies so I don't miss out when she starts to place in the top 3 for our age group!

Here are some more photos and a peek at what it looks like to run for 2+ hours (and 12+ miles at this point in the course).

At the start!

Lovely views!

We were so close to being done!
This was taken right after the video above.

We made it! Sadie a little faster than me, but we both got it done.
SO happy we can run in the same place at the same time again!!!

Seattle Bound: Settling In

Although we arrived in town a little more than a week ago, it feels like we are finally starting to settle in to the city and our new lives in the last day or two. 

We spent almost a full week at my cousin's invading their home (you guys are saints!) while we searched for our own. Here's a brief-ish rundown of the week:

Sunday: We drove around a LOT and submitted our first apartment application, which was for a condo that ended up going to a buyer instead of renters like us.

Monday: We submitted our second apartment application with higher hopes. We were also held "hostage" by a chatty woman with a beautiful apartment in her basement and decided it wasn't worth the landlord risk factor. The viewing took 2 hours and included items like how to properly close the shower curtain and full run-down of her 70-year-old husband's career. Thanks but no thanks.

Tuesday: We were accepted and approved for apartment #2. Yay!  

Wednesday: Final cleaning and carpet replacement for the apartment and driver's license, vehicle registration, and general logistics/errands day for us. 

Thursday: In the morning we re-loaded the little bit we had taken out of my car (so as to fit the two of us in one vehicle) and drove our jam-packed cars to the new apartment. Our appointment to sign the lease was at 10am, we got the keys around noon, unloaded the cars and went to a city parking office to get a neighborhood parking pass and were headed south to Portland by 2pm. 

Friday: Was my 10 year high school reunion. WHAT?! I went to the homecoming game where we got crushed (Tualatin football just isn't what it used to be, I guess) and got to see some friends that I haven't seen in ages. Saturday: We loaded furniture from my dad's basement into a U-Haul and then headed back up to Seattle to unload the truck and return it. I would just like to note that Casey is a moving pro and single-handedly got all of our large furniture to the third floor of our building.

Sunday: We slept until we woke up! There was grocery shopping, household things shopping, a two-hour nap on my part and exploring the neighborhood on Casey's. We made real dinner for the first time and started opening a substantial amount of our boxes. It is starting to feel like home.

Today was my first day of work and although you never really get into your work on the first day, I'm super excited to start! I took buses to work and walked home, we'll have to see what my regular routine becomes.

Where did we end up, you might ask...

Prettymuch in the middle of it all!

Seattle Bound: Home Stretch

Despite lack of evidence on this blog, Casey and I arrived in Seattle on Saturday. I was proud of my speedy updates for the first half of the trip, but then we got really really tired. Drive, eat, sleep, repeat.

Friday took us from the Salt Lake City area through Idaho and into Oregon.

Travel day 4: 570 miles

We got to see lots of family, stopping in Idaho to see some of Casey's family and then staying over night with his parents in Hermiston. The dogs enjoyed the break to be outside and play, although Bear isn't too fond of the cold. Kitsune, on the other hand, loves it. She stretches out of the car window into the cold rain and tucks her little ears back. Pure joy.


Friday also brought us more mountain passes in the dark - something I never desire to experience again. Overall, the views were still nice and the drivers started becoming more polite than previous states and more reasonable as far as speed is concerned.

Travel day 5: 260 miles

Our fifth and final travel day brought us into our new home state of Washington! (and over more mountain passes) We left Casey's parents in the morning and arrived to my cousin's house in the afternoon. We were greeted by western Washington's typical weather: tons of rain. Surprise! (not)


Since arriving on Saturday, we haven't given up on our new hobby of extreme driving. It seems like we're still in the car all day looking at and visiting both neighborhoods and apartments. We've had a few promising prospects, and hope to get a phone call today that we have a home! Until we have a home update, here are some pics of our last driving days:

Welcome to Washington!