Marathon Training - Week 5

Monday: 3 miles

Wednesday: 5 miles

Thursday: 3 miles

Saturday: 10 miles

Total for the week: 21 miles (330.2 to go!)

I love that mountain. It's my favorite one that I've ever seen. What a great place to get 21 miles in this week!

On Thursday I had my final 3-miler until I start the tapering process at the end of September. I thought I should try and get my fastest 3-miler time thus far. It worked! I finished at 23:10. There were some hills that helped me go quickly down, but then I had to come back up them too! It was a good challenge. It's always nice to have something to shoot for!

Today, Saturday, I ran my first 10-miler. There's a great paved trail in the valley about 2 miles from my parents' house that a lot of bikers use. The entire trail is something like 25 miles, but I "only" had to go out 5 and come back 5. It wasn't too bad starting out as I got to look at the beautiful Mt. Rainier as I ran.

Then, I realized if that volcano (since Mt. Rainier is an active volcano) was to erupt right then, I'd be probably be dead. I did try and plan an exit strategy though - so I could avoid being taken out by any lahar flow - like whether I'd run back to the car or just try to find a path to run straight up the hill. (What a horrible way to die, right?)

Then I started thinking that if there were an earthquake (since we do lie on a couple different fault lines), I'd probably be dead again. Luckily, neither natural disaster happened right then and I lived...and I'm planning on running there again on Monday. (And lest you think I'm crazy-paranoid, they do have warning signs about getting 50 feet about the valley floor if you hear the lahar sirens.)

After deciding that if it was my time to die, I was going to die, I continued my run. I carried my water bottle (unopened) until mile 4 and then dropped it off to grab on my way back. I turned around at 5 miles and hit some sprinklers. Around mile 6, I swallowed some Orange Burst GU that tasted to me like teriyaki sauce (not too appetizing) and then picked up my water bottle. Around mile 7, I was tired and tried to tell myself I was just now starting a 5k - an easy run for me. At mile 8 I was more tired and getting really hot. I just told myself that after mile 8, each step I took was further than I'd ever gone in my life. I don't remember much between mile 8 and 10 which is probably a good thing. I made it though! It's nice to have these little victories along the way. It makes me realize how strong I really am, how hard I can push myself, and how far I've already come!

Take Me Out to the Mariners!

Today I had a Daddy-Daughter Date with my dad to the Mariners Game. We were lucky enough to have Diamond Club seats. This includes a full (free) pre-game gourmet buffet, free ballpark food (hot dogs, nachos, hamburgers, etc.) and drink orders taken from and delivered to your seat, free ice cream, cotton candy, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, etc. It's pretty fun, plus the seats are awesome.

Dad and me. It was really hot today!





The M's dugout.






The almost brawl on the field.

Can you tell who this is by his stance?

Ichiro of course!

It was a bummer game as the Mariners got rocked 10-3 by the Indians (they scored the last three in the bottom of the 9th) and there was no Griffey to be seen. However, I do always love going to see the M's play!

Sprinklers and Scootch

We had a great week in San Diego even though Wes started getting sick the last day. He had a great time though and is already asking where Mitchell went.

On Friday, my cousin Hillary came down from the Anaheim area with her three kids, Lilly, Owen, and Tessa. The kids had a fun time playing together and running through the sprinklers.

I thought this picture of Madison was so cute!

Baby Tessa was so sweet. I'm already starting to forget when Sydney was that little; it goes so fast!

On Saturday, we took the wheeled toys outside for rides in the cul-de-sac.

Wes was so funny on this little ATV. He loved it! He couldn't figure out that if you move the handle bars it turns the wheels. He figured out how not to run into cars though!

I took a turn on Madison's Scootch. I also tried Angie's beach cruiser (bike). It's been a long time since I've done something like that!

Sunday night the kids watched Cars.

I think this is such a cute picture of Mitch. He was giving Sydney kisses and hugs. He sure loved his little cousin!

Thanks to the Wards for a great vacation in sunny San Diego!

Marathon Training - Week 4

Tuesday: 5 miles

Thursday: 6 miles

Saturday: 8 miles

Total for the week: 19 miles (351.2 to go!)

This week I fit my mileage into three runs instead of four. My sister, Angie (who finished her first marathon in May), runs three times a week with a group of her friends. I thought running with them sounded a lot better than running by myself! I had to add a little to the Tuesday and Thursday runs to hit my necessary miles, but it still worked out. These runs were quite a bit harder though since I was running uphill in parts, which is something I don't have to do in my neck of the woods.

Our long, Saturday run was at Torrey Pines beach. It was just Angie and me and we started by going uphill on the road (pictured above) for a half mile and then doing a long loop and then heading back down a different hill (that was steeper - we walked it as not to wreck our knees). Then we ran along the beach - in the (packed) sand - for the last three or four miles. That was harder too, since it's softer than asphalt, but hopefully it wasn't as hard on our bodies.

It was really great to have a running partner (and group) to go with! It makes such a difference for me. I like the variety I'm getting in my runs too! :)