Busy weekend ahead

Lots of good stuff planned for this weekend.

First up: REI return sale. Hoping to score some good bargains - and since we still have dividend money, it's basically all free! (Brad would disagree with my fuzzy math, but it works for me)

Then we're going to the Hippie Chick race expo to pick up my bib for tomorrow's quarter-marathon.
I've been fighting some strange bug since Tuesday, and I'm not sure what the race will look like. I resisted the fabulous weather and didn't run all week. Then I tried a short 2.5 miles yesterday after work and it was seriously painful. So while my goal had been to come in under 60 minutes (6.55 miles), now my goal is just to run the entire course... without dying ;)

After the expo, we're taking a picnic lunch to Vancouver to celebrate Mothers' Day with Brad's family. Since it's supposed to keep raining, I think we'll eat at his folks' house and then go out for a walk.

Sunday will be full with the race and then lunch with Brad's grandma. If I'm still alive after all that, we'll have dinner with my mom and grandma.

OK - I'd better get going :)

Solstice stupidity 2011

Who's ready for some SOLSTICE STUPIDITY??

The tradition started in 2009 when Tim suggested that we hike the entire 30.25-mile Wildwood Trail in one day. SO stupid. Yet SO amazing. Some of my best memories. ever.

Last year we backpacked in the pouring rain, on a rain- and/or snow-covered trail, lost most of the time. And Tyler went swimming in an ice-cold lake. SO stupid. Also SO amazing. I will never forget stomping down the trail/stream with Sarah!

So what should we do this year?

We're contemplating The Mud Run MS on June 18, a fund-raiser for the National MS Society. It's a 10K "adventure course".

According to the site:

The mud/water depth is different from each obstacle to the next, mostly ranging from one to four feet deep. All water/mud-based obstacles over two feet will have lifeguards on duty.

Mud Run MS Portland is a 10K (approximately 6.1 miles) race with boot camp-style obstacles that have been surrounded by or consist entirely of mud. People cheer as teams of contestants slip, slide and slosh their way to victory. It is a unique experience whether running or watching!

Check out pictures from previous events... if that's not stupid, I don't know what is!!

So who's going to join us this year?? (TYLER?!?!)

Registration is $50 until May 15, then goes up to $60. Plus, you have to raise at least $100 for the MS Society, but that's easy! (Or just write a check - it's tax deductible!)

:)

Triple-decker tortilla

It's been a strange week.

I had an awesome 7-mile run on Sunday. Then I got sick on Tuesday. I spent half of Wednesday and all day Thursday in bed. Now it's already Friday and I'm hoping not to cough my way through work (don't worry - my fever is gone).

I had big plans. I had taper workouts planned. The weather was gorgeous. My garden was calling my name. Cinco de Mayo was calling my tummy. Oh well. Life goes on.

Brad requested more triple-decker tortilla, which I made for his lunches during my marathon cook-off awhile back. So we made more for lunches and some for Cinco de Mayo. Yum! It's really easy and really tasty... definitely a keeper. (photo from BHG.com) And thank goodness my husband can find his way around a kitchen!!!!

If I survive the day, I plan a short run after work to make sure my legs remember how. Then we have a big weekend ahead with double Mothers' Day celebrations, a quarter-marathon race on Sunday and a bunch of other fun stuff.

Here's to feeling better... fingers crossed :)

No-TV Tuesday: blah

My throat started feeling strange yesterday... kinda thick. I had planned a short run after work but debated a lot, torn between resting and enjoying the beautiful weather. I decided to run my errands right after work and then see how I felt.

Good thing I waited, because my throat was suddenly on fire.

After errands and dinner, I ended up laying low for the whole evening. I watched TV in bed. Then I took some cherry-flavored NyQuil, put in ear plugs and passed out.

I woke up in the middle of the night all stuffed up and took some Sudafed.

Not feeling too great this morning. Blah.

Celebration?

Hmmm... I've been trying to decide if and what to say since I saw the breaking news last night that U.S. troops had killed Osama bin Laden.

I turned on the TV, saw the "special report" graphics and the national news anchor on the set and knew something big was up. My news blood kicked in, and I got excited for the breaking news. (I know... it's a sickness).

Then I heard that Osama bin Laden was dead, and my heart rate accelerated. That's huge news. I immediately ran to tell Brad (who was in the shower) and called Mom, Dad and Eryn to make sure they'd heard.

When the news settled into my brain, I started feeling a bit strange. Sad, perhaps. Then I saw the people celebrating in NYC, chanting, "U-S-A! U-S-A!" Then I was sort of embarrassed - certainly not proud.

While I can admit that the world is probably a better place without Osama bin Laden, I am truly grieved by the celebration. I cannot and will not take joy in the killing of another person - for any reason.

Several friends have posted this on Facebook, and I agree wholeheartedly:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Update: There's been debate on the origin of this quote. I personally don't care who said it - it still speaks my mind.)

I have been taught my whole life that my God loves all his children - even the ones who have fallen away. No one is outside God's reach and love. No one.

I will not rejoice in the taking of a human life. I hope you will thoughtfully and prayerfully consider your response.

Bells, firefighter pancakes and a PDR

My Sunday morning started with music at church. It was our week to play handbells at NFC, so we arrived early for one last rehearsal.


Sunlight shone through the stained-glass windows:


I always play shoeless, and you can tell it's a nice day because my bare toes made their seasonal debut :)


Between services, we walked next door to the firefighter pancake feed:

Oh yeah!

Brad was playing all weekend in the snow on Hood and got home in the evening. I still had to go out for a long run, so we went together.


I was aiming for at least 6.5 miles... and I got 7! The longest I've ever run before was 6.25. New PDR (personal distance record) for me!!!! :)


Because I hiked yesterday with Dad, my legs were a bit tired. So I took it nice and slow and did great. And since I almost always run alone, it was fun to have Brad along! He was very tired from the snow weekend, so he also needed a slow run. Glad I could help him out.

:)

Trail booty - Angel's Rest (4/30/11)

Got up early Saturday to hike Angel's Rest with Dad. With predictions of a dry, warm weekend, we knew it would be a busy place. We arrived before 9 a.m. and had to park in the overflow lot.


The trail is in good shape with little mud, and the landscape is turning green with the trees beginning to leaf out. We took it slow and made it to the top (about 1,880 feet in 2.3 miles) in just under 1:15 minutes.

Winds were light, and the sun (when peeking from behind the clouds) was warm. We had a snack and took in the view.


At the top were remnants of a small campfire, which is certainly not allowed. The culprits left behind a couple pieces of firewood, so I tucked the trail booty in my backpack and took it home!


There were several groups of hikers at the top, and we continually passed people on the way down. It might have been the most crowded I've ever seen it. At least most everyone was very friendly -- also happy to be out in the sun :)