April Showers...

Bring rain for another two months (at least).  Regardless, the saying can be interpreted as it will rain throughout the month of April - except for Sunday, RACE DAY!  It looks like we've lucked out and our first 70 degree day since October 2008 will be Saturday and possibly Sunday.  

So here are the details if you are up for an early start time:

Sunday April 5.  Start time at 7 am.  Anticipated finish time is 9:30-10 am.  Maybe a celebration breakfast/brunch/lunch afterwards?  If you want details on the course see race4theroses.org - there's some information on where to watch the race.

Thank you for all of your support throughout the training and fundraising.  I was able to come very close to my goal and there is still time to meet it (see Fundraising Page).  Like I've said from the very beginning - all support, in any form, is welcome.  It is no easy task running 13.1 miles, so your encouragement has been extremely helpful throughout this journey.  THANK YOU!

Reality of Running

I skipped this week's Saturday morning run and instead ran the 31st Shamrock Run 8K Race on Sunday. I participated in the race last year with my good friend Corinne and fellow runner Laura, and had a great time (Lauren cheered us on)! I remembered at around mile 4 there was an aid station with little cups of Guinness. You can't beat a race that serves you beer while you run!

I'm sure many of you were still sleeping Sunday morning around 6:30 am, but I was up listening to the rain come down.  I finally pulled myself out of bed (after much consideration of just sleeping through the whole thing), found my green shorts and shirt, pulled on my shoes, zipped up my heavy, waterproof jacket, and headed out the door. It was pouring.

I met up with the rest of my team before the race to pick up my timing chip and bib number. Then, among 20,000 people, I lost my team. I was really running solo this time, which was new to me. I run by myself all the time, but when I do these little races, I've always had a friend there with me. I missed that. I had a side ache that stayed with me throughout the race, and I had to get through it by myself.  Corinne is usually at my side, saying "You can do it, just breathe." This time it was all me, and her little voice in my head.

The weather took a toll on everyone.  I kept hearing comments being made on the weather.  It was definitely hard to ignore.  Rain pelted your face, gusts of wind blew the group to one side of the road or pushed you back.  Less than ideal conditions, but that's just part of running in Oregon. 

The course started at the waterfront, wound its way around downtown, out to southwest (just past my house), then back to the waterfront.  Coming down the final stretch I was focusing on the finish line and the free beer that awaited me, when some man came up beside me, told me I had a nice stride, and continued on.  It was the BEST compliment and run that I've ever had - actually the first.  I cruised through the finish line with the biggest smile on my face.

It worked out perfectly that the sun came out after the whole event had ended.  This race was a great experience for me. Never have I been so wet, never have I finished a race so cold, and never have I had to face wind like I did on Sunday. The reality of it is - that's Oregon in the spring - wet, cold, and at times windy. I feel a little more prepared for the elements that I might face on April 5 (RACE DAY). I also experience running without a friend pushing you on. Come Race Day, it'll just be me running among the thousands of other people. That's something that is still scary to me.  I'm beginning to come to terms with it.

Thanks for all of your support!!  I'm getting so close to my goal!  A quick THANK YOU to those who donated this week - Dad, Corinne, Judy, Trevor, Chris, Lauren, Gina!  You guys rock!

The Importance of Planning

Seven miles. That's running from my place in southwest Portland to downtown and back, and since I opted to sleep in Saturday morning rather than meet the rest of the TNT group at 8 am, that's what I had to do. I started down to the river, ran by south waterfront, under the OHSU tram, and hit the halfway point at about the middle of the Hawthorne Bridge. I didn't want to do an "out and back", I wanted to loop back to my place, spice things up. I made a mental route while jogging across the bridge: I would swing down and run along the Esplanade, swing back up, hit the Ross Island Bridge, wind my way around to Corbett, then end my nice, perfectly measured and executed run at my doorstep. Simple. I didn't expect to get sidetracked by finding the Springwater Trail. Having never ran on it before, I thought, why not? It heads in the direction of the Ross Island Bridge, I should be able to get off the trail at some point and find it. If I only would have heeded to the directions of the signs, I would have saved myself miles!

The first sign I ran past said 3 miles to Sellwood. I didn't realize that 3 miles to Sellwood would mean a fence-lined trail to prevent any attempt at a shortcut until Oaks Bottom Park, which is basically Sellwood, making a shortcut pointless. So I ran. And ran. Seven miles came and went and I was still on the east side of the river. I wouldn't have been so upset about the extra miles had I not felt like I had been thrown down Mt. Hood the day before. I was limping through the run from the very beginning. I probably should have just stayed in bed.

On tired legs I jogged across the Sellwood Bridge, stretched, and ran along 43 looking over my shoulder the entire time for a bus to pass and maybe take pity on a runner who went too far. No such thing happened. About two miles from my house I gave into my legs and walked! I walked/jogged the rest of the way up the hill and to my place. I have never been so happy to walk through my door. I immediately ran a hot bath and nursed my sore and extremely tired muscles.

Since the beginning of this journey, I have been learning and experiencing new things (i.e., sardines from a can, Goo, fundraising, layering). This last run taught me that I should plan a little better, especially for the longer runs. The silver lining - I now know the perfect ten mile loop from my place! I have also learned that raising money for a great cause is not as easy as it sounds, and I'm still making my way towards that $1,250 goal. Thanks so much for those that have already donated (Grandma, Stacy, Kathy), and for those of you still thinking about a donation....it will be much appreciated by not only me, but Barbara, Jennifer, Evan, and Emily (my honored teammates). Please take the time to visit my Training Page and make a donation.

Thanks!