Cascade Lakes Relay 2016

It was July 15 when my friend Michele asked if I wanted to be on a relay team that was racing July 29-30. Someone had to drop out and they were looking for one more. We had talked about the race when she was here for the Sisters show, so I knew a little about it. It didn't take me too long to say I'd do it. I really had no idea what I was in for.

There is 2 vans, 6 people per van. Our van was starting the race at Diamond Lake at 6:40. We had 6 race legs, then we'd pass off to the other van and they would run 6 race legs, and continue that 3 times to the end. The race legs were varied in difficulty and length.

Leg 4 - photo from CLR website

It was so nice to have lots of information about the leg you were going to be running. This was my first leg. It was HOT and dusty!

The trail ran parallel to the highway. By mile 3 I thought I was going to pass out from the heat. I took a Gu and dumped water on my head and felt better. My last mile was seriously slow, but I made it!

While the other van was running we got to rest up, eat and take an icy shower! (mosquitoes were eating us up even with DEET on) 

My next leg was going to be at night! I've only ran at night on new year's eve, so I knew this was going to be an adventure.

There was a bit of hills but because it was at night, it was hard to tell. (thanks goodness!) The elevation at 4300+  makes running more difficult as well.

 I started my run way past my bedtime! LOL I enjoyed this run a lot.

There were rules about being lit up and wearing reflective vests. This is my friend Michele ready to rock her leg and pass off to me.

Decorating the van and adding lights for our night run made it way easier to find our van day or night.

 I wasn't that excited to run the next day in the heat of the day again. I told myself I'd take it 2 miles at a time. Nice, slow gradual incline..... Look at that elevation! That killed me more than anything. I could hardly breathe!

Some of it was shady like this, but mostly in the direct sun. It was hot, but thankfully only in the 80's and not 90's like the day before.

 Here was our van when the last person finished their last leg! The race was over for us!! Woo-Hoo!

Here's the whole team at the finish line. We finished in 37:26:59. At this time I thought I'd do it once and call it good. It was grueling and hot, not enough sleep...... But if I would have been able to train I could have done so much better. It is such a challenge that I may need to do it next year!

Portland Half Marathon

So, the race I've been training for is here and gone. 

 I finished in 2 hours 29 minutes and am happy with that. Anything under 2.5 is good for me

 Saturday was packet pick up and Sports Expo. I met up with Michele and we had a really fun afternoon together.

 The race starts very early since it is also a full marathon. The first wave leaves the start line at 7AM.

 The line slowly moves up as each wave starts. 

 Not a flattering photo. The headband is perfect for keeping stray hairs in check and keeping the sweat out of my eyes. It just is not flattering at all. (egg head, anyone?)

 There's the start line......finally made it!

Portland is known for their great medals and swag. Along with all of this ,we got a rose (Portland is the rose city) and a cedar tree seedling.

I'm looking forward to focusing on healthy clean eating and giving my legs a rest.

Seattle Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon update

 The night before the race we had to pick up our number and we goofed around a bit at the expo. The bright lights behind us made the photo difficult to see, but I love it anyway!

 Here we are in better light. We all had the green glasses so I'm not sure why I'm the only one with them on here.

We are big Seahawks fans and had to capture this to send to my hubby.

 We walked back to the Seattle Center to grab dinner and they kept losing me snapping photos! Here's the train station.

 Glass flowers outside the glass museum

 The ever popular space needle. Look at that sky!

Bathrooms, lined up and locked, ready for 17,000+ runners and walkers  and of course supportive family members and volunteers.

 Don't we look fresh and ready to go?!

 Whoa! Look at the crowd! We are in corral 24.......... It took us 34 minutes to cross the start line.

 Still ready!

 We are getting closer to the start line!

 And we are off!

 There were some awesome diversions.

Run Happy! Yea! 

JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM

I swiped this photo online but it was my favorite stretch on the race.  Mile 7 was lined with flags representing members of our military who have sacrificed their life for our country. It was shady and right next to Lake Washington.

It was fairly uneventful until mile 11 and 12. We were running on the freeway, it was hot and I was running out of steam.

This is how I pretended to feel.

This is actually how I felt!

 Spent, beat......undertrained.

I was not expecting my son to drive up from Portland to see me at the finish line, but here he is with this great sign. It got me over the last yards!

It's a little like having a baby....once it is over you forget how lousy you felt! LOL

Thanks Juliann and Laurie for making some fun memories!!

What's next?

Happy Girls Run 2015

I like to throw in a training race at least once when working toward a half marathon and this weekend was it.

 Since my knee has been acting up (I figured it was from adding too many miles too quickly) I took it easy this week and hoped I'd be ready to run on Saturday.We walked about before the race and they led a group warm up!

Here was part of the trail. Bend is a nice little city to run 6.2 miles through. 

Can you tell is was hot and muggy!? Well, it was! I was on the home stretch when this photo was taken. (I made sure to point out to my hubby how others help their wives run too!)

 Here was the final time. I came in second in my age category and am feeling really good about this time. Was also relieved that my knee felt great the whole race!
I'm back on track this week, with 13 days to go before the Seattle Rock n Roll Half marathon!

Bay to Brews Race

We were going to the coast this past weekend and was missing a local Octoberfest run and found out this one was going to be in the town we were staying. I thought, "Why not"?!

A little bling is nice.

It was a little drizzly, but heh, is mid-October on the Oregon Coast. I didn't actually wear my rain jacket, so that is a good thing.

We started under this historic bridge.

Ran along the Newport Bay. 

Ran a little on a trail.

We had a few good uphills. 

Then ended at the Rogue Brewery! (You see I have my rain coat on now!)

It was fun although I don't remember running with a cold- not as fun as it could have been.

Have a healthy week!