Marathon

I lost a month of my life?
I'm not sure what happened to May 2012....it somehow came and went and now it's mid June and I have not blogged.  It was busy and eventful but it feels like I lost a month.

Sure I can come up with a few excuses....
I had conference, competition and another race
Work caught up with me, a two week trip to Boston and NYC...fly home unpack and re-pack because 2 days later I was headed up to Seattle for a competition.

I started playing hockey because I don't have enough to do in life...

Then grades were due....2 baby showers and a wedding in one week....

Regardless I let everything else take over and I didn't take the time to write.  Which kind of defeats the purpose of making time for myself once a week. (#31 on my list)

RECAP - I completed my first marathon!



Looking back it was a great experience.  I was trained, ready and mentally there.  The Eugene marathon was a nice course and ended in Hayward field.  I had amazing support along the course - from cheering, giving me tissues or water or taking my water bottle.  Laura, Karen, Rich and Geoff were meeting up at different points along the course.  Shelly and Lisa once they completed their half marathon cheered us on!  Becky, Cyndi and Kelly jumped in and ran with us.

Before the race with Diana and Kari

I conned convinced my two running buddies, Diana and Kari, to train and run the marathon with me.  We took breaks as needed to stretch, checked in with each other and kept each other company.  (Just to note - Scott, Diana's husband also completed his first marathon and the rock star he is...trained all on his own!)

I had it in my mind that I would break up the run in 7/7/7/5.2 mile increments.  At mile 10 I started to pick up energy, as with most half marathons I try to push harder and it seemed almost instinctual for me.  I had to temper that with 16+ miles to go.  It took me 1/4 of mile to realize that we had passed mile 14.  Somewhere in mile 16 I started to drag.  My legs felt heavy and I tripped 3 times. (I did not fall).  This is about   I was tired.  I had small allergy issue with my eye watering and tried to get some tissues out of one of the porta potties but they didn't have any.  By mile 18, I snapped out of it and started feeling better all around.  I noticed I was passing people who were not doing so well.  I watched one guy move his body in a way that seemed wrong and painful to watch.  Another guy I saw around mile 12 fixing his sock/shoe was carrying his shoes and running in socks.

I knew in my mind I was trained and told myself I've got this.  Kelly jumped in around mile 19 or 20...to be honest it's all a blur when people jumped in.  She was trying to take pictures of us while we were running.  I picked up my pace and then took some breaks to wait for Diana and Kari.  It was important for me to run together.  As this was the ultimate experience and could not have done it without my runner friends.  We have developed a kinship that is like non other.

The Race Is On~


At mile 24 I said I to Diana I have the horse to the barn feeling and she said "my mind is there but not my body" and gave me the go ahead to go.  So I ran....I mean at mile 24 to the finish I had a 9:04 pace.  Kelly ran with me up to the end.

I ran into the stadium at Hayward field.  They had the runners on the video screen.  I didn't see anyone as I wasn't used to having spectators but everyone was there in the stands.  Karen came down and said we were yelling for you!  Kari and Diana came in soon after.  It was exciting to see them cross the finish line.

Clara aka "Pickle" is my youngest fan!

My feet were tired, a little swollen and I had one tight spot on my quad. I ran a marathon and it was amazing!  I was told I would want to sign up right away and when asked I said no I'm not signing up.

I'm done!

My official time 5:18:39.  It's a PR (personal record) and I can only improve from there. After about a month of saying no I'm not running a marathon, I have decided that in 2013 I would like to do the Vancouver BC marathon (this time for time).

High Fives

The Eugene Marathon is a week before Vancouver BC and I will be there running at least 8 miles of the course to support Cyndi in her first marathon and cheering on my runner friends.  I know Shelly will be running the marathon too!

I did indulge

Post Marathon Races & Runs


I've had a few races since the marathon-
Portland Rock n Roll Half Marathon - not my best race I volunteered at a conference, competition weekend and I got violently sick the night before.  I was dehydrated and forced myself to go to the race.  It was ok all things considered.
Run Now Wine Later - An adventure race through Willakenzie vineyard with breakfast and guest speaker Sara Bowen Shea, co-author of Run Like a Mother and Train Like a Mother.  Now I'm not a mother but I really enjoyed her talking about the books and how if we could have dream aid stations one would include our own sign that says "Don't tell me I'm almost f***ing there!"
Run for the Love of Dove 5K - One of my skaters, was training with Girls on the Run and because of competition was going to miss the Starlight Run.  Her mom asked if I would be her run partner in this race and of course I said yes.  Because of the competition schedule she was able to participate in both runs.
Seattle Rock n Roll Half Marathon -  PR 2:05:09  This race just happened on Saturday June 23rd. I can't seem to break the 2:05 barrier (yet).  My marathon training in some ways has slowed me down and I will need to work on increasing my speed.

UP NEXT???


What do I have in store for the future?  Ragnar Relay NW Passage - 200 miles, 30 hours in van with 5 of my new closest friends, 3 runs totaling 18 miles within 24 hours or less.  It begins at Blaine, WA and ends on Whidbey Island.

Then I will take a two week break for recovery.

On August 6th, I will begin a 10 week training program for completing a sub 2 (for non runners this means less than 2 hours and must average 9:09 pace per mile) half marathon for the Girlfriends Half Marathon.  I also am hoping to raise $1000 for breast cancer education and research.  Last year I raised $500.  I have donated personally a $100 and have raised an additional $200.  If you are interested in donating please go to my fundraising page

I'm running a marathon - Sunday

I'm running a marathon Sunday.  It still hasn't hit me.  But here are 10 things I have learned about training for the marathon.

1. Exhaustion is nothing compared to training for a marathon.  I have never felt so physically tired in my life.  I'm no stranger to commitment and training for extended hours per day.  But running is a different animal.  (It also really stops the kids from whining when they say they are tired and have no time to train for skating....I give them the look and they realize that the commitment, make an action plan and follow it speech is going to come out and if I can work 2 + jobs and run 35-40 miles per week + they can figure it out).
2. I can eat anything.  Pretty much I am starving all the time....I'm not sure what is more intense the exhaustion or hunger.  I can have whatever I want without any repercussions.
3. Hmmm....the above statement is somewhat untrue.  I cannot drink adult beverages the night before a run.  I pay the price with each miserable step.  I even stopped taking wine tasting classes as it was having a bad affect on my Thursday runs.
4. Running is not about speed but distance for the marathon.  My pace has really slowed down.  It will be interesting post marathon to see how that changes.  And due to the distance I have noticed that there are times my feet hurt....oh how a foot rub sounds so amazing.
5. It really makes a difference to have run buddies to train, cheer you on and to jump in during the race to support us! You know who you are and I'm so grateful!
6. My social life really has sucked.  I'm too tired to go out or I'm running.  I'm looking forward to spending time with friends who have been neglected by my lack of availability and time.  And I appreciate how supportive my non-runner friends have been.
7. My mom actually has taken notice of my running and wished me luck for this weekend.  This is a first.  The only other comment she has made is to my friend's mom that I'm crazy.  (That might be true)
8. I have had in depth conversations with other runners about important aspects of the race like there are not too many bathrooms after mile 9 and how to make sure you "go" so you don't have to "go" during the race.  I'm just going to say coffee does not work.  Chia seed....
9. Coming back around to being exhausted - I was telling my pt how I am so tired all the time...all I do is run, work and run some more.  Dan asked me to turn over to check my sacrum and said "Well I can confirm you are tired because your pants are on inside out".  I then got the flu the next day and didn't run for a week.
10. You can take a week off (even if forced) but because of the base of miles still not lose any ground.  I did notice Diana increase her distance from me on the hills but hey I had the flu.

I was informed that champagne was meant to be drank quickly and not to save it.  My dad got me for my 38th birthday a bottle of Dom Perignon.  I was waiting for a special occasion.  I'm happy to say I plan of having that this weekend as this is a special moment for me. 

"You blow a big ball"

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A day of silence

Apr 6, 2012

6:40 AM

7:46 PM

13h 05m 36s

+ 3m 08s

1:13 PM

51.3°

149.732

I was wondering how I was going to go from sunrise to sunset with a day of silence.  This meant no talking, no music, no reading, no phone, email, text, media, etc.  As it turned out I ended up getting the flu on Tuesday afternoon.  Because of my state and how weak I was am, I decided that I should use this opportunity.  I decided not to write a to do list and just go about my day, as this would involve writing and reading.  I had plenty to catch up on as my life halted but everything else had moved forward.  Today was the first day that I started feeling a little better.  It was in my best interest to pretty much clean up.  I started by washing my bedding, cleaning the bathroom and kitchen.  However, my body said you can't do all that and I had to take breaks and did so by napping, resting, drinking tea and doing a little knitting.

Knitting a scarf 

For the most part I did not speak...ok I broke twice by accident.  Both times were to the dog....who else am I going to talk to.  I might have talked to myself out loud, but that is questionable because when one cannot speak there are so many thought running through one's head.

So my first incident went like this...first you must have some backstory.  I haven't had an appetite at all.  Yesterday I forced myself to eat solid food after stepping on the scale and noticing I had dropped 10 lbs and had a freak out moment because I'm running a marathon at the end of the month and I cannot compromise my training. Today, I noticed I was hungry, so around 3 pm I actually cooked up ground beef, sauteed orange bell peppers, added spices, black beans and created a delicious taco salad.  Roms was sniffing at the table and the words automatically flew out of my mouth - "No, get away from there".  I grimaced and then negative self talk started within my head..."why did you do that"? "that was so dumb".  Then I started to justify..."well, it's out of habit", "I was caught off guard", "this is my first experience doing this and I'm not a retreat where all distractions including Roms is not there".  Then I remembered that mistakes in life are often gifts.  I feel that, in general, most people are too afraid to make mistakes and how can one grow or learn without making mistakes.

So I moved on.  I thought a lot about the last time I had the flu.  I couldn't go anywhere for two weeks, who was there for me, the relationships I had then and the ones I still have now. The new relationships I've formed since then and how some of my relationships have changed over time. Then I felt gratitude for the family and friends in my life, the experiences I've had and the life I choose to live.

I know that life in solitude is not a life, at least for me.  I have always found my energy around people and I am a verbal processor.  This was good lesson for me to look inward.  Maybe at the very least to gain a better understanding of my introverted friends.

When the alarm rang on my phone, I turned it off and instead of calling someone I turned on my computer and started writing.  I still feel and believe I am not done processing all of this because I haven't "talked" it out.  I'm sure as the days pass, my insight will become more clear.  What I decide to do with that insight will be the shift in perspective and possible change(s) that I may make from here on out.

BEER 101

Beer 101

I decided that I wanted to brew my own beer.  Immediately I thought of my cousin, Ron, who has over 16 years brewing experience, resident brewing expert and has taught homebrew to many people.  So I called him and he got me in contact with Kim at Let's Brew.

I set up a time so that Ron could teach both myself and my friend Karen in the kitchen how to do a home brew in a small batch. Karen has gluten intolerance so she was able to create a gluten free beer.  I decided to make a Belgian style beer called Abbey.

Karen adding in hops

Specialty grains were placed in hot water to steep.  For Karen, she had adjunct grains of corn to steep.   As for the pots water on the burners, I added belgian candy sugar and hops.  Karen added sorghum and hops.  Hops come from the Humulis Lupulus plant or vine. It is the female flower that is used in brewing. Hops are what makes beer bitter.  Hope also act as a natural preservative that allows beer to last up to a year in storage at properly controlled temperatures.

To be honest, the concoction of water, hops and sweetener didn't look so great - much like the consistency boiling watery puke.  Look below and decide for yourself.

Left is my Abbey Ale and the right is Gluten Free

We then drained off the water that the grains or corn were steeping in and added it to the pots with another round of hops for aroma and I added sweet orange peel to my beer.

Sterilizing the fermenter

Everything must be sterilized because of the yeast in the beer.  Any contamination that gets to the yeast affects the beer.  Which by the way, beer gets most of it's flavor from yeast.  

Adding in hops

Ron

Once the process of boiling is complete, we transferred the pots to the sink area where we placed an immersion wort chiller which is a coil of copper tubing that has cool water running through it.  You stir the beer (without creating bubbles) to a set temperature....which I can't remember at this time.  This is why I had Ron help me being the beer expert.  Then the beer can be transferred into the fermenter.  Once the beer is in the fermenter yeast is added and the Brix is checked with a refractometer, which measures the number of Brix, identifying which identifies the amount of sugar content that is in the beer before fermentation.  Post fermentation a Hydrometer is used to check the gravity of the beer and then alcohol content can be measured.

Karen pouring her beer

Pouring in my creation

Checking Brix

Writing down pertinent info

Look how different our beer is.

Quality time with Ron

Brewing Beer Part Deux

Two weeks later we return to Let's Brew.  We begin by choosing our caps for our bottles and cleaning the bottles.  The bottles are washed and some are transferred to a holder, as we needed to wash additional bottles.  

Cleaning the bottles

Redneck Christmas Tree

Next is to transfer the beer and not take any of the yeast.  The beer is siphoned off so that we can pour the beer into the bottles.

Look at the yeast at the bottom

Siphoning the beer 

The bottling process is four steps once the bottles are washed.

1. Add a carbonation drop
2. Blow out any additional air in the bottles with CO2
3. Add beer
4. Cap bottle

Ok the last step is to place the bottle in the box.

Adding carbonation

Blowing out the air

Pouring in the beer

Capping the beer

Finished product

The beer is stored at room temperature for about two weeks.  I am then going to test one of the beers.  It is not quite two weeks yet.  However, I am anticipating that it will be fabulous.  I always enjoy spending time with Ron and had a blast doing this.  In the future, I would like do a barley wine and honey cream ale.  Watch out McMenamins.

***As of today the beer is ready to taste, however, I am in not in a position to taste anything as I have come down with the flu.  I will keep you all posted.