A WEEK TO GO!

A week from today is the Chicago 1/2! Boy the summer has flown by! We spent the weekend in Bertha. It was a lot of traveling for the little time we spent, but well worth it. Dick was having some really good days. We spent 2 hours on Friday afternoon having family photos taken. We decided to have the photographer take one of James & I in our jerseys with Dick. Even the photographer cried...

We got it 2 runs. We ran 8 miles yesterday - quite the head wind. Had some good hills, so of course I ran rather well:-) Today we did a quick 4 miles (I don't think it was quite 4 otherwise we are really quick). Of course since it was short and flat, James took off today. Have a few more days to get some shorter runs in and on Friday we will head down to Chicago. Hoping that some family & friends will be there to cheer us on.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Well, it's Saturday night and I am so tired. I didn't get a run in today (or yesterday for that matter). The weather in Wisconsin has been cool and windy. My run on Wednesday had me battling the wind so much I don't think I made a lot of forward progress! Apparently, it's warmer in parts of Alaska right now...

The 1/2 is 2 weeks away and I am feeling drained! I have to get myself into gear and try to get excited. So much to do at work and home that I am finding it hard to fit in training. I am also back to teaching classes regularly at the club; I really didn't miss not having to teach...We are heading back to Bertha next weekend to see Dick and to have family photos taken. I am looking forward to it and hope to be able to get some good runs in.

MARATHON UPDATE

It's been 2 1/2 weeks since the marathon...hard to believe. The marathon went well. I finished in 4:24 (4 hours 24 minutes) and averaged 10 minute miles. James finished in 4:37. I felt really good until the last 2 miles or so! The day was sunny and 75 degrees (which is so not Seattle weather). It actually felt pretty warm by the time we were done due to the lack of cloud cover and shade along the course.

The course itself was very tough. A LOT of hills. Miles 15-20 seemed to be a gradual incline the entire way. The scenery was beautiful. Although I didn't see it, there was a bald eagle along one part of the course that participants were stopping to take a picture of because it was so close. We ran along the Washington Bridge (I think that's the name) and had an unbelievable view of Mt. Rainier - many people stopped along the bridge to take photos as well. I didn't stop myself except to walk through the later water stations. I was having a hard time coordinating running and drinking my water. (Just call me Grace.)

When I crossed the finish line I stopped running, however my body felt like it was still in motion. My victory photo looks terrible considering I was so dizzy and my stomach was really upset. After that I had to sit down with my head between my legs until I was able to see straight. I somehow managed to get myself over to the TNT tent and check in to find that Dick's cousins were waiting there to congratulate us. It perked my up a bit, however I still needed to spend time in the restroom emptying my insides:-) They seemed surprised that I finished before James, however the rest of us probably weren't:-)

The experience as a member of Team in Training was unbelievable. There were over 1400 TNT participants that raised over $4 MILLION for LLS at the Seattle RNR Marathon. I would recommend this program to anyone. We were treated so well by the staff! It was nice having a coach bus to take us to the start line in Tukwilla while the regular participants went by school bus! Team in Training also had a tent at the finish line area with food and beverage available to us - it was great! They even had a shuttle available to take us back to the hotel. Our coach actually suggested walking, however the enormous blister on my one untaped toe really hurt along with my feet, legs and rest of body!

That night there was a Victory Party hosted by TNT. We went for a short time - to eat some food primarily. We came back and kept moving - did a little shopping - to help alleviate the soreness. The plane ride home was difficult. I had the window seat and 2 people were seated next to me. I was unable to get up and move for the 4+ hours. Little stiff and sore when we landed.

It took a few days to fully recover, but we are now back to the grind. We will be running the inaugural Rock N Roll Chicago 1/2 marathon on August 2 in honor of Dick and James' b-day. We have teamed up with the Chicago IL Team In Training for the Inspiration Dinner. We would really like to have some of our IL friends and family cheering us along the way. Our friend Tina was on the course in Seattle around mile 18-19; she had a great sign and gave us a well needed hug and told us to keep going. It was great. She also took some pictures, and all I have to say is "God Bless Texas!" (For the picture of the Clydesdale athlete with no shirt and the small Texas flag as shorts.) We could really use a little inspiration, so if you could join that would be great. Check out the link for the race: http://chicago.competitor.com/

SHORT UPDATE

So, in the midst of writing my last post. The ceiling began to leak in our room - really leak! (It was the outline of the bathroom above us.) Needless to say we are now in a new room - bigger with quite the view of Seattle (Space Needle, buildings downtown and the water)! Off to get ready to meet our friend Tina!

WE'RE HERE

WE ARE IN SEATTLE!!! We arrived yesterday at 11 am local time. There are 28 of us from Wisconsin - runners, family, friends, coaches, mentors and support staff. After being herded through the airport to collect baggage, boarding the shuttle and checking in at the hotel (Crowne Plaza on 6th & Seneca), we were finally able to run into Subway and get some food! Then we once again herded together to board the shuttle to the Expo to pick up our race packets. (I keep referring to our group's traveling as herding because James and a fellow teammate kept "mooing" when ever we had to line up and get moving - so typically of James, no?)

We got to the Quest Expo Center to pick up our race packets - no line it was easy. Then we entered the Expo - we spent 3 hours just perusing the vendor booths and listening to speakers. It was very cool to see all the different people! We received many free samples of things and purchased several souvenirs. When will we ever run the INAUGURAL Seattle Rock N Roll Marathon again?

After the Expo, James and I went with 2 of our teammates Lia & Leann. We went to the Crab Pot. It was pretty cool. James took a picture of the huge pots of food that were dumped on the table for us to eat.

We are up early this morning (well actually it's sleeping in for us since it's really 8:30 am CST). We are watching the morning news which is featuring the Rock N Roll marathon. There are 25,000 runners slated to run! Today we are spending our free time with Tina, one of my college friends. We will post more later!

LESS THAN 2 WEEKS TO GO!

Hard to believe, but at this time in 2 weeks we will just be returning from Seattle! Another very busy week with work - both the previous one as well as the one in front of me. Most of our summer programs start this week = lots to do!!! We did manage a team run and lunch yesterday. We traveled out to Mt. Horeb to run the hills and dine at Leann's home. They own about 60 acres in a beautiful area. The views were gorgeous. My rear end is a little sore from the hills. Unfortunately, upon completion of the run yesterday the top of my foot began to hurt - BAD! from my big toe to my ankle. It has swelled and it is sore to walk on. So, we decided to skip the group run with the fall team today to rest.

Our "rest" was comprised of traveling to the Wisconsin Dells - shopping at the outlet mall and going to Noah's Ark! (How pathetic that on my day off I go to a waterpark...) Christopher really enjoyed it. We are all a little pink, but not too bad. The water was so cold it numbed my foot and made it feel better. Now, it's getting sore again. I hope this is nothing serious...

It's been a week since my last post, but our lives continue to be quite hectic. My car was in the shop all last week being repaired from my car accident. (I was rear ended as part of a 4 car crash!) It is as good as new.

I have worked alot - of course - in the past week. The weather has not been cooperating with me, so the pool finally opened today. I spent the day on deck due to being short staffed. I am a little sunburned. I have somehow managed to get all my runs in - including the 3+ hour one on Sunday (after work). My knee remains a little stiff and sore, but it's improving.

Tonight was the official send-off from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It's official we have our purple jerseys to be worn for the race. We also received our tickets and information for the race weekend. It's only 2 1/2 weeks away!!!

A final note that we can still take donations through tomorrow. PLEASE, consider donating if you haven't done so already. Apparently, James & I are in the lead for the top fundraiser for our area - THANKS!

Don't forget we hosting our own send-off party on Saturday, June 20 starting at 3pm. Eat, drink & be merry. (Please RSVP by June 18.)