Hippie Chick Half Marathon (5/11/13)

For the third year in a row, Eryn and I ran the Hippie Chick race on Mother's Day weekend.

The all-women event is so amazing. The atmosphere is completely supportive to all runners - every ability, shape and size. As always, it was a very positive experience!

Up early, ready to run!

 

 

And we're off...

Brad, acting as my official photographer, hung out while the fam ran. But he was ready with the camera when we came into sight at Hillsboro Stadium. 

Eryn was up first:

Cousin Kayla and Aunt Vicki - Kayla's first 10K!

Mom's turn:

Because it was just two weeks after my marathon, I was originally signed up for the quarter marathon. But I was feeling good and decided to transfer to the half. I'd done the quarter the previous years and wanted to try the longer race.

The course was great! It's fairly flat, but because it's farm land, it was wide open - no trees or buildings for shade. It ended up being 87 degrees that day, and the sun was blazing hot! 

I started this race thinking of it as a fun run - no expectations. My body was still recovering, so I took it comfortable. I actually turned over my Garmin and only looked at it when it beeped for my mile splits. And when the temp started to spike, I slowed down and took a couple walk breaks when I normally would have pushed through.

Overall, I felt good. I had fun - and that's what matters. That's what was lacking from my marathon and what made it miserable.

I had a big group of friends and family at the race. And since I finished last, they were all waiting to cheer me on at the end. I LOVE this picture. If you look to the crowd on my right, there's at least a half-dozen people with cameras and cheers pointed straight at me :)

Hand over heart for Boston:

My overall pace was 10:28. No land-speed record there, but that wasn't my goal for this one.

I spotted co-worker Kati at one of the later water stations (she was a couple miles ahead of me :)). I hear she had an amazing kick at the end!

It was so hot! I checked out the mister. Trying to keep my Garmin out of the water:

Because of my current no-gluten experiment, Brad was the lucky recipient of my reward pancakes and cookies. He always happily steps up and eats whatever I can't ;)

Instead of medals, this race gives necklaces:

Congrats to Mom and Eryn for great races!

I would love for all my female friends and family to join me for next year's race!! It's an awesome tradition. Let's do it :)

Dad helped me top 400

Dad joined me for a pre-church run at 7 this morning. What a difference an hour makes:

We ran down into Cook Park - a real treat since I don't run down there by myself except during really populated times. 

He did about 2.75 miles with me. 

Then I ran home and finished 4.48 miles, putting me over 400 for the year! 

Yippee!! :)

Council Crest

We had an urban hiking adventure in the rain Saturday!

We parked at the Marquam Shelter on Sam Jackson Road and headed uphill to Council Crest. Surprisingly, it was my first trip to the historic Portland landmark.

Low clouds, and just a little view to the south:

Trying to get us and the sign with the camera that doesn't have a front viewfinder. Fail:

Fail:

Oh - good enough!

What do you get when you cross a black lab and a basset hound? A very odd canine!

There are a ton of trails in the area, and we had to stop several times to consult the map. I'd like to go back sometime and explore more.
 
:)

New treadmill PDR

A runner's PR is her personal record - her fastest speed at a particular distance. A PDR is her personal distance record - the farthest she's run.

In what turned into a major sweat fest, I set a new treadmill PDR today - 10.25 miles!

I was set to run 10 this afternoon, but it was hot and sticky and windy and splatty when I got off work and I just didn't want to go out. So I went home, popped in Along Came a Spider, opened the garage doors for ventilation and started running.

I accidentally pulled off the emergency stop and had to restart after the first 2 miles.

I adjusted the speed up and down and gave myself a short break after each 5K. And honestly, it wasn't that bad.

And now my long run is done for the weekend :)

Family fun time

This past week's been full of lots of family fun time, including dinner for Grandpa's 93rd birthday!!

Cousin Amy and her kiddos joined our fam at Village Inn, one of Grandpa's favs.

Saturday was Hippie Chick in the morning and then a Mother's Day picnic for Donna in the afternoon.

Brad and I packed a cooler full of taco-salad fixings, and Donna chose the newish Cape Horn lookout for our picnic spot. Check out this spread:

And the view was gorgeous!

Sunday was the first Sunday Parkways of the year! We love these events, when certain Portland neighborhoods are taken over by bikes. So fun!

Dad rode the loop with us, and I got another rad salmon hat:

I came up behind this crazy setup - that girl is dancing with her dog on the back of her dad's bike. Portland is so weird :)

A good time was had by all!

Join us next month for Bike Parkways in Northeast Portland - June 23.

Eryn's birthday was Monday, and we celebrated Wednesday with burritos and maple bars. YUM!

Happy birthday, Little Sis!

:)

Anniversary

Here's to 15 awesome years! Happy anniversary, Sweet Pea :)