More racing flats

Last weekend's trip to the Nike Employee Store netted two pair of racing flats.

The bright-yellow pair is for shorter distances, and I tried them out at Sunday's Old-Fashioned Fest 5K. Brad also convinced me to get this hot-pink pair for longer distances - 10Ks and possibly a half:

I tried them out last night on the treadmill. They are incredibly light but definitely more cushy than the yellow ones. I did an easy 3.6 miles.

Actually, it wasn't that easy. I waited until after dinner, and I was kinda burpy and pukey the whole time. It reminded me why I usually run in the AM or afternoon.

Still, I sweated it up and got 'er done.

Excited for my new kicks :)

Sunday Parkways!

After Sunday's race, pancake feed and church, we loaded up the bikes and met Brad's parents in north Portland for Sunday Parkways:

The monthly summer event is so fun!

You can't see it in this picture, but we rounded the corner on Willamette Boulevard and saw Mount Hood across the way:

Photo fun at Peninsula Park:

Already looking forward to next month's ride in southeast Portland :)

Newberg Old-Fashioned Festival 5K

Small-town races are so fun!

Brad and I decided at the last minute to do Sunday's Newberg Old-Fashioned Festival Annual 5K Run. There was no pre-registration, so we arrived early at Memorial Park, paid our $10 fees and hung out on the new swingy things. 

Mom can't turn down a 5K, so she came too:

We went shopping Saturday evening at the Nike Employee Store, and Brad insisted that I buy these racing flats:

I guess I might as well break them in with a race :)

I had no expectations for this race. It was last-minute, I ran intervals Saturday afternoon, I didn't rest or fuel properly before, I didn't know what the course looked like, I was wearing brand-new shoes.

But I decided to go for it and see what happened. And what happened was a huge PR!

We started at Fifth and Blaine, heading west. We went a couple blocks on Fifth and then turned left on Dayton. It was a simple out-and-back course.

I started fast and told Brad that I wouldn't be able to maintain. Then came the hills. Surprise! But I was able to slow a bit on the ups and pick up the pace on the downs. It was tough, but I hung in and pushed hard the whole time.

The course measured right on at 3.11 miles. My Garmin time was 25:50 - an 8:17 average. My previous PR was an 8:36 average! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dad and Eryn, our faithful cheerleaders, came out to show their support:

Then the craziest thing happened. Train tracks run down Blaine, right in front of the start/finish line. A short train rolled through, cutting off the last few feet of the course. The crowd was cheering for runners to speed up and beat the train so they wouldn't have to stop. It was very exciting and scary :)

A few minutes later, friend Stephanie (in the pink) crossed the finish line. Yay, Steph!

Then came Mom:

Yippe!

There was a fun raffle, and I won a pool pass! (I don't swim) ;)

Then came the awards. I took second in my age group! (Unfortunately for me, the overall female winner was also in my division, otherwise I could have been first! She was VERY fast) I think was the sixth female overall. (It was a small field ;) )

As an extra bonus, the Old-Fashioned Festival includes a pancake breakfast. So we paid the fine Rotary folks and refueled with all the pancakes, eggs and sausage we could eat:

What a great morning! We will be back next year for sure :)

Happy birthday, Jon!

I was going through some old pics and found these great ones of my friend, Jon, who's celebrating a big birthday today! I can't believe I used to babysit this 30 year old!! :)

Happy birthday, Jon!

Munra Point (7/26/13)

Dad and I hit the road Friday morning for a hike in the Gorge.

I decided to introduce him to Munra Point, a short but tough scramble near Bonneville Dam. We parked at Exit 40 at the Wahclella Falls Trailhead and jumped on Gorge Trail No. 400, paralleling Interstate 84. It was very overgrown:

After about 1.5 flat miles, we turned left at an unmarked trail and started our up-hill trek. The trail is incredibly steep in parts. (There's also a ton of poison oak, so beware)

But soon the views started:

Up, up, up... about 1,800 feet in 1.5 miles.

Here comes Dad:

We had awesome views of Mount Adams, the tippy top of Mount Rainier, the dam and all around.

It was warm but super windy, as evidenced by my flying hair:

It was soon time to head down, which doesn't take a whole lot less time because of the steeps.

After just over 5 hours, we emerged at the trailhead, sweaty, tired, windblown and happy:

Then we made one quick stop on the way home:

:)

I've seen some ballparks

Yankee Stadium 1994

I just returned from my family's latest baseball trip, and it got me thinking...

When I graduated from high school in 1994, my parents offered me a trip. I decided to head to the East Coast for some baseball. We saw games in Baltimore, Boston and New York, triggering a goal to see games in all the MLB parks.

After last week's visits to Kansas City and St. Louis, I think I've been to 17 cities (18 stadiums if you count Candlestick and ATT in San Francisco). That leaves 14 to go.

Click HERE to see my list, along with as many pictures as I could find.

Pretty cool!

:)

St. Louis baseball and some history

Summer vacation recap: Kansas City, Royals game, race and road trip ... 

The reason for our visit to St. Louis: Busch Stadium - Cardinals vs. Padres:

Nice seats!

The stadium was very nice, modern and urban - and it actually had several real vegetarian food options.

Mom used Hotwire and got us a great deal on a hotel just 1 block from the park. See the round building just to the right of the arch? That's The Millenium!

The view from our hotel room - nice!

They had the world's oldest treadmills. Still, they were smooth, and I ran 6 miles one day and 7 the next while watching HGTV.

Just two blocks away was the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, including the arch, big park and old courthouse.

The Dred Scott slave case was heard in the courthouse.

An impressive museum and memorial to slave history and the westward expansion of the United States.

Rotunda:

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for taking us on another fun (HOT!) family trip to see baseball and get educated on different parts of our country's history :)