Seafair 5K

Saturday was the Seafair 5k and oh what a day it was!  Me and SBF took the bus from Everett P&R to 7th & Spencer in Seattle.  That got us about a mile from Seattle Center.  SBF wore this sexy safari hat and short ensemble that made it look like we were in an urban safari..hunting a good time hehe

We got to Seattle Center where there was much going on for Seafair.  It was sort of like an expo on the spot surrounded by floats and festivities.  We had some samples, listened to some radio Disney tunes and got some real cool airplane hats to take back to the boys.  We also went on a zip line!  It wasn't huge or anything but it was my first time on a zip line and I had a blast!  I would do it again any chance I got!

After our day spent at the Seattle Center, the race began at 6:30pm.  I got off to a good start having ran down the first hill to the parade spectator area.  The streets were packed with fans!  It was quite an experience to be part of the action and be cheered by so many people!  There were kids looking for high fives everywhere.  I lead the pack of walkers most of the way and even found myself running down all the hills!  When I got to the Alaskan viaduct I was in my zone :)  I caught another walker looking back at the crowd behind.  I said to her, "that's right, we're not last!" she laughed and said, "I'm always last"  I said, "me too but not today!!"  We both grinned at that and kept on trucking...although I took the lead.  We came around onto Broad st and I just about died looking at the incredible hill that faced me.  It was gnarly and really unnecessary, but as I climbed it, I just kept thinking about my hours spent on the elliptical at top incline.  This hill has got nothing on a Precor cross train routine!  I climbed the hill in no time flat!  Seeing the finish line shortly after, I approached another unexpected hill up 2nd st.  This time, I ran up it almost the entire thing and on to the finish!  I was exhausted but felt golden and extremely accomplished in the moment.

After the race, I met SBF at our designated meet point.  He finished the 5k easily, carrying our safari pack (he's bad ass) and came back for me, but somehow we missed each other in the crowd.  He ended up making his way all the way back having done the 5k twice lol. When we hooked back up we went for free beers in the beer garden...ahh the taste of sweet success!  This was my first free race beer.. and it was divine!

Even though we walked around all day, then raced in a 5k of which I had my fastest time (52:57), we still had to walk back to the bus stop at 6th and Olive...another mile.  All in all, we ended up walking 8 miles yesterday!  When we got home we did P90X stretch to get some of the soreness out.  It worked mostly but my hip was bothering me pretty tough last night.  It's still bothering me today.

My plan was to do P90X legs & back today which I missed on Friday, but instead, I am going to listen to my beat up body and skip it.  So I missed one work out this week.. it's a good lesson in moderation for me.  I busted my ass this last week, burned a lot of calories.. and need my day of rest.

So, today, I spent my time doing laundry, shopping and preparing groceries for the week and cleaning up my house.  It was slow going but good for my sore legs and hip.  I'm hoping tomorrow I feel refreshed and ready to roll!  I will hit the elliptical at the college tomorrow followed by P90X core synergistics.  I'm beginning to like core even though I dreaded it at first.  If I feel up to it, I may throw legs and back in there too.  I need to do it!  I missed it last week and then this week too, not good for my schedule!

Next weekend is the Run for your Lives zombie run in Onalaksa.  I am TOTALLY STOKED for it!  It will be me, SBF and my mom taking down runners along a muddy obstacle course.  WOOHOO!  I'm thinking, if they let me run it after.. I'm going to!  I may run slow but I proved to myself yesterday that I can do it!  There's no stopping me lol

Weekend Madness

Hello July!  Most would say that July is a sizzling time of year.  Spring ends, summer begins.. the season go round.  But.. for those of us that live in Seattle, our seasons are pretty grey all year.  This year is really no different.  We are experiencing a very rainy summer so far, but I'm good with it.  The heat make me feel sluggish.  I would take an overcast 65 degree day over an 80 degree one any time.  I suppose Seattle is the perfect place for me! :)

The moon this month is called the Thunder or Buck moon.  It's a time where nature gives bucks the beginnings of their horns.  It's called Thunder moon due to the increase in thunder storms in some places around this world of ours.  In Nassau for instance, the forecast calls for thunder almost all week long!  If I was going to endure heat, Nassau would be the place to do it.   White sandy beaches, clear waters, and warm rain.  My vacation there was one of the greatest times in my life.  Bring on the thunder storms and the Thunder moon!  It happens on July 3rd this month.. just before the holiday.  Mother nature is amazing!

The Thunder moon is a time where energy is best used to find and define meaning in your life.  It's a great time for dreamwork and all forms of divination are favored.  So, break out your dream powder if you got it and go to work!  What do you dream about?  Sandy beaches and Bahama thunder storms?  Watching your spawn grow and define themselves?  Perhaps defining meaning or value in your every day?  Whatever it is.. focus and achieve it!  You can do it!  Challenge makes us reach for more than what we are.  Questioning the norm is how we discover new things and how we evolve as a species.

Speaking of evolving.. I visited the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation last weekend.  I have to give a shout out to this organization and their plan to better the world.  It's amazing what we can do when we put our minds to something.  One world, one people- I love their message.  If you are ever in the Seattle area, this display is a must see!  It's located right across from the Seattle Center and is free for all!    

From last weekend, to the weekend leading into July was a great one for me!  The Seattle Big Wheel opened this weekend and me and SBF went for a ride.  I always really enjoy our outings in Seattle.  We walk along the pier, see what's new in Pike Place, and enjoy our time together with a smile.  The Big Wheel was a welcomed addition to our favorite past time.  I'm not sure there would be another occasion for riding the wheel but I'm glad we got be some of the first to check it out.

We also had the opportunity to support Seattle Firefighters while participating in an underwear run.  That's right.. underwear run!  Fireman, runners..underwear.  What could be better?  It was a great time for a good cause and a justified reason to run in skivvies in Seattle.  Although I didn't actually run, I held my usual role of support, pack mule and chauffeur for the event.  We ended up getting to the run about three hours early.  I'm not sure what happened there, but it gave SBF time to get his drink on and work up the nerve to remove his clothing hehe.  We even found $6 early bird parking whoop whoop!  So not entirely a bad thing to get to Seattle three hours ahead of schedule.

I'm hoping that the beginning of this month sets the tone for the days to come.  For 4th of July, my neighborhood goes firework crazy.  As a matter of fact, while I write this, there are fireworks going off outside my window.  I'm thinking I will take my kids up to the ice caves during the day Wednesday and make it back home in time for the local show.  I will also be spending some time making a cake for my Austin's birthday which is this month.  My baby is going to be 8!  We will be celebrating by throwing some bowling balls at helpless unsuspecting pins hehe.  This is due to happen next weekend which promises to be a busy one!  After my baby's birthday party, me and SBF are taking off to check out the King Tut exhibit at the Pacific Science Center followed by dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Toulouse Petite in Queen Anne.  I love date night! :)

Following date night weekend, we have another holiday coming up...Bastille day!  Bastille day is the celebration of the French storming Bastille prison and the uprising against Louis the 16th.  It was the beginning of the French revolution.  Last year the minions and I met up with my mom to walk along Pike Place (one of my fav things to do..see above lol) in celebration. We spent the day wandering and enjoying each other's company from the festivities at Seattle Center to the water front.  I'm not sure what the plan is for this year but any opportunity to celebrate is a good one!

The last weekend of the month is my next 5k race.  I will be walking in the Seafair 5k.  I have a soft spot in my heart for Seafair and am happy to be participating in it this year.  I grew up in a town that loved boat drags.  Hearing the sound of the boats skip across the water reminds me of home.  I have volunteered at Seafair in the past but walking along the parade route sounds great to me!  The walk will be in the evening, starting at six with a nice downtown route.  It looks like I will be doing this race alone (alone in a group of many), but I'm fine with it.  It's going to be a nice evening walk in downtown for a good cause.  Groovy.

July is going to be a month of exciting weekends!  The way summer is intended to be.  Now it's just a matter of making it through the pesky work week to get to each one.  Piece of cake :)

What are you doing this weekend?? 

"Go Me" 10K Results Are In

The "Go Me" Greenlake, WA 10K was a complete success!  Everyone who registered showed up and completed the race :)  I came in Elite #1 with my trusty pacer right beside.  Our final finish time was 2:24, not too shabby for 6.2 miles!  

SBF surprised me with bib's in celebration of the event.  He is so inspiring I almost cried!  Although I previously said I was looking forward to walking this race with my trusty head phones, I am very pleased to say I was wrong.  It was great to have SBF at my side, in the final tough moments, having him there made all the difference!

The feeling of accomplishment reached in setting a goal and then meeting it is unmeasurable!  I made medals to commemorate our accomplishment.  But this isn't the end for me. I am inspired to press on, set new goals and meet them.  For the next 8 weeks, I am going to focus on fat burn as planned without any official races.  My main goal for this year is to get off another 30 lbs and the best way to do that in the quickest amount of time is to spend more time doing cardio and less time walking.  So, distance is on hold for now and fat burning is a go Go GO!!

5K Part Deux

Rain, hail, sunshine..living in Seattle guarantees the unexpected.  I love living here, don't mind walking in the rain, so today's walk in my second official 5k was a pretty perfect day!  We walked the Can Do 5K in Bothell WA.  The walk benefitted children with special needs, funding special programs.  It was a pleasure to be part of this event in it's 4th year. It was even more special that I had SBF and my mom with me to do the deed.  

We woke up at the butt crack, had our Shakeology tasty beverage breakfast and prepared for the drive to Bothell. SBF got up early and did a quick 9ish miles before he joined us just in the nick of time to begin!  It was raining the whole way and we were soaked the cold before it started.  It didn't take long though before our blood was pumping and we were half way in.  Mom and I walked at a good pace while SBF jogged backward in front of us once more.  He got a lot of high fives and comments with his backward jogging, which were well deserved!  I think I had a pretty good time this round, finishing the 3.1 miles in 1:02:58.  Details can be found at: my Can Do 5K results. 


If I have any regrets for today it is that my sister wasn't able to join us...that was a total bummer.  All in all, I am very pleased all around with today and am anxious to start my next journey...on the way to the 10k!  My training is designed and the date picked. Look out 5/22/12.. I'm coming at ya! 

And so it Begins...

I began this year with intentions of making a lot of personal changes in my life.  It started with a change in my diet (read all about it in my topics on toxic chemicals and nutrition), and ended with a reflection on the last 20 years, a curious defiance toward my doctor and a complete change in my lifestyle. 

On January 5^th 2012, I joined Curves.  At first I wasn’t sure if it was the right choice for me but after looking at what they had to offer, I found it to be a great alternative to an everyday gym.  My problem with a gym membership is I get there and have no idea what I am doing, what machines to utilize and/or what to do next!  The idea behind Curves is to obtain a 30 minute cardio work out and strength training at the same time. This is done by completing the “circuit”.  The circuit contains 14 machines that, at the end of the 30 second cycle, allow you to work out all the major muscles.  To keep your heart rate elevated throughout the routine (and provide a complete 25 minute cardio workout  in addition to strength training), they offer bounce boards between each station.  I choose to run on the bounce boards but you can do whatever you like to keep your heart rate elevated. 

I am not able to run routinely on roads due to a meniscus tear injury in 2004 that permanently damaged my left knee and resulted in arthritis and constant achy tenderness.  The bounce boards give me a cushion that allows for less stress on my injury, enabling me to get my run on.  I began my membership with a commitment to visit Curves at least three times a week.  For the month of January, I only faltered one week in this commitment… when it was snowing real bad and I couldn’t leave home and get there.

A body in motion…

After about the first month of weekly visits at curves, and a great reduction in the amount of chemicals/poisons I was ingesting, I began to crave more exercise in my routine.  I have attended many races with SBF (www.sbf-runs.com) as his transportation, confidant and support but never walked away with a medal of my own.  SBF suggested that I challenge myself by walking a 5K.  He found a 5K race right in our home town that gave out medals to all participants.  I pondered this for a while, not sure if my knee could carry me that far.  However, my body was already in motion and the challenge began to be quite appealing…I wanted that medal! 

I searched on the internet for training schedules and found a few, but SBF suggested I follow one created by Hal Higdon (www.halhigdon.com).  Hal has been running for half a century and many have used his training schedules for their preparedness, including SBF.  Hal is also a gifted writer having written many books on marathons, training and some non-fictions. I decided to adopt his 5K program with a few slight changes to fit my weekly schedule, and start my training.  The first week started out with short walks about 15 to 20 minutes three times a week with a longer walk on the weekends.  I began doing the short walks at work during my breaks and the long walks around my neighborhood.  As the training progressed, the walks increased and so did my stamina. 

On March 24^th 2012, SBF and I woke up at the butt crack (typical race day time to wake up) and drove to the trail head where the Cupcake Fun Run/Walk began.  We got there about an hour early to ensure we had parking onsite.  The offsite parking was about .4 miles away and I didn’t want to add .8 to my very first 5K. The route was along the centennial trail in north Marysville/Arlington area.  We were one of the first participants there.  It was extremely cold and we were in our race gear (real close thin material) making it even colder.  BRR!  But, once the race started it didn’t take long to warm up the blood. 

As we began, SBF decided to tempt me by jogging the race backwards, in front of me… just out of my reach.  He had additional reasons for running backwards, working out new muscles and stretching etc (read about it at www.sbf-runs.com) . He was an absolutely perfect inspiration, claiming to have a "carrot" for me if I caught him (hehe).  The trail was a pretty mild uphill grade, a turn around half way in and down grade all the way back.  The whole thing was perfect from start to finish (although note to self: next time we plan to spend time waiting in the truck, I’m bringing blankets!!).

I completed my very first 5K walk and received my cupcake medal, and in addition, SBF got a first place ribbon for being the first male finisher, WOOHOO!  My next 5K is scheduled for this weekend and is a charity run/walk to support Autism research in Bothell.  I am personally invested in this cause, as I have an autistic son.  I am able to continue my walking goals and help a great cause close to my heart.  It’s a win win!

Tends to stay in motion…

After the 5K race on Saturday, I met my  mom and sister for an afternoon stroll in downtown Seattle.  We walked an additional 3 or so miles with hills all around.  It was a great afternoon together as always.  At the end of the day, I started adding up my mileage, and I got to thinking…I bet I could do a 10K.  


My new training schedule starts next week.  It’s an 8 week schedule that I had to tweak a bit in order to have my relaxing Sundays, but I’m really looking forward to it.  The walks are longer during the week and even longer still on the weekends. The schedule includes strength training (which I will get at curves) and cross training.  I am going to use the glider my mom is storing in my garage to meet the cross training requirement.  I am thinking I will complete the 10k around Greenlake sometime near 5/22/12.  From there.. there’s no telling what I will do! 

I used to think I just had no time to exercise or to make it an important part of my life.  SBF found a quote recently that really seems to fit here: “If you have time for Face book, you have time to exercise.  It’s not about having time, it’s about making time!”  Exercise is now a big rock (big rock/little rock is a Steven Covey prioritization thing I will likely write about later) for me- something that is required.  So it cuts into my TV/Face book time.. I’m so not missing it!