Girls on the Run Practice 5K (5/5/16)

You know about Girls on the Run?

It's a really great self-esteem program for girls third through fifth grade. From the Web site:

We believe that every girl can embrace who she is, can define who she wants to be, can rise to any challenge, can change the world. Can.

Mission: We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Vision: We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.
Core Values: 

• Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making

• Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness

• Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions

• Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health

• Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent

• Stand up for ourselves and others

I learned about this program years ago when my cousins participated. They pair up girls with women "running buddies" for the culmination of the program: a practice 5K and then the final 5K. I was a running buddy five years ago. Then this year I received an e-mail stating that 170 more running buddies were needed for the upcoming events! My calendar was free, so I signed up again.

I'm assigned to Cooper Mountain Elementary School, and our practice 5K was May 5. I arrived to find my team excited, positive and ready to run!

We started with some warm-up exercises and then hit the streets around the school. My girl is fifth-grader Miriam. She's a strong, natural runner who's not afraid of hills! We chatted away the time as we did the triple-loop through the neighborhood and wooded park. After it was over, she challenged me to run back to the school - up a big hill! She did great!

Times have changed since my last Girls on the Run experience, and they now ask that we not post photos of the girls on social media. So here's our official practice 5K photo:

I'll let you guess which is me and which is Miriam :)

Knowing how clique-ish school can be, I was thrilled to see how each girl was cheering on each girl - no favoritism here. And as the slowest girl came around the corner to the finish, they all gathered to usher her in. So inspiring!

Our official 5K is this Saturday, and I know Miriam is ready! :)

No. 18

No. 18 was When the Fax Lady Sings by Leslie O'Kane:

It was my first by this author. I never did understand where the title came from.

The story was good but nothing special. I enjoyed the mystery but didn't fall in love with the characters. Probably won't be seeking out more by O'Kane.

Personal run photographer

Remember that 12-mile trail run I did last weekend at the coast? Brad rode his bike while I ran - exploring and working on his tricks. He also pulled out the camera a few times. I can't tell you how much I love running in the woods:

I'm smiling because it's the woods - and almost the end!

Final stretch to the parking lot:

It's kinda fun to have my own personal run photographer :)

Bells, pancakes, labor rally, and a mini road trip

My Sunday was PACKED this week!

Handbells at church meant after a 5 a.m. wake up.

Between services, we went to the Church of Pancakes:

The annual Newberg firefighter pancake feed is a favorite. YUMMO!

Then as soon as we finished playing for second service, we jumped in the car and drove to Salem for the May Day rally sponsored by CAUSA and OSEA.

We listened to speakers and then marched around the Capitol:

We are a proud union family!

These young dancers were so cool! But the best part was when the music suddenly stopped and a group of musicians made their way through the crowd to the front and played so they'd have music to keep dancing.

It was very touching!

Soren and Lesly from OSEA in Salem!

I'm so glad I was able to be a part of this important cause!

After, we drove out to Fishermen's Bend in Mill City to check out future camping spots:

Found one!

What a great campground! Can't wait to go back.

Stopped at Taco Time for a snack on the way home. The lady brought us someone else's order and we ended up with a bunch of free food. No complaints here :)

A very busy day full of family fun :)

Willamette Mission Trail Challenge (4/30/16)

After doing some trail running together this winter, Lindsey and I signed up to run a spring trail race: the Willamette Mission Trail Challenge.

The small race as hosted by Run Wild Adventures and cost just $20 for the 5K and $25 for the 10K - my kinda race!

Lindsey arrived nice and early Saturday for our trek south to Willamette Mission State Park near Brooks. We settled on shoes and hydration and hit the road. 

Chatting away the miles, we missed the exit and had to circle back. But we'd left plenty of time, and we ended up with a nice tour of Keizer.

There were tons of cars parked in the field, but most were for a Boy Scout camporee. It's always funny to see grown men in their Boy Scout uniforms :)

Our before photo... I remember Lindsey saying the sun was really bright. I guess it was!!

The course was a figure eight of sorts with the 5K staying on the lower loop. We ran the first part together, then she turned left to finish the 5K and I headed out alone for the second loop.

The race was flat and muddy! Instead of puddle after puddle like I've seen in other trail races, this was that really thick, goopy mud that sucks off your shoes! I usually love just stomping right through the puddles, but that thick stuff requires a slow down.

When I wasn't on mud, using all my stabilizing muscles to stay on my feet, I was on narrow single track. It was tricky, but I was thankful to be traveling in a mostly straight line. My pace really shows the difference:

Mile 1: 12:36
Mile 2: 11:08
Mile 3: 10:02
Mile 4: 9:27 (single track out of the mud)
Mile 5: 9:50
Mile 6: 10:49
Mile 6.19: 8:15  

Lindsey did awesome! I loved running with her and then seeing her cheering me on at the finish :)

(She said that beer wasn't very good)

We waited for the raffle...

And I won a water bottle! 

But I have a million water bottles, so I gave it to my racing buddy :)

I finished in 1:05:37 - a 10:35 minute-per-mile average. I was 61 out of 92 overall and 7 of 11 in my age/sex group.

The route was beautiful - through the trees and along the river! I would definitely recommend this small, inexpensive, no-frills race.

PS - This is my second Run Wild Adventures race. Part of the no-frills is not having water on the course. Just be prepared :)

Adventure Thursday: Discovery Run!

Last week's Adventure Thursday was an easy choice: Discovery Run!

It was the first scavenger hunt run of the season.

We ran and walked all over Tualatin, collecting tickets along the way. Surprisingly, none of us won a prize this time! We didn't have as many tickets because we never received the map in our e-mail. We had to just sorta wing it :)

Already registered for the next run on May 26! Join us :)

Goofy Gizmo

Our Goofy Gizmo turned 2 last week. While she's not as zippy as when we got her as a 6-month-old kitten, she's still crazy!

Check out her vertical jump as she REPEATEDLY tries to catch the crane fly bouncing along the other side of the window:

She'll do this forever - jumping and throwing herself at the window!

And I'm not sure what's happening here:

:)