3rd marathon taboot

brother Tyler and I fresh at the start line

As I ever-so-calmy mentioned in my last post, I just ran my 3rd marathon.  Brother Tyler ran a half for the first time and now officially calls himself a runner (who will soon pass me up with very little effort...).  I don't think this post would be very enjoyable if I let loose with a bunch of CRAP THAT WAS HARD AND I AM NEVER DOING THAT MARATHON AGAIN SO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THAT PARTICULAR EVENT CAN JUST SHOVE THOSE STINKIN', ENDLESS MILES OF GRAVEL HILLS SOMEWHERE WHERE JERKY GRAVEL HILLS LIKE THOSE GO TO DIE so before I start twitching I'll just get this out... 

 ...and then I died.



Time was 5:04.  15th place out of 31 total marathoners.  4th place out of 12 women.  OK whatever I'm done.  Can I go back to Newport now?

As Tyler and I ran the first 4 miles together (this is in Umatilla where the half and full share the route for the first while) we talked about pacing.  I think I made some weird comment about holding back the first few miles and having energy in the end to run like you're being chased by a bobcat or something to that affect.  Tyler threw out "So now we'll pretend we're being chased by a badger...".  ok at the time it was hilarious.

...I almost titled this post CHASING BADGERS.

But back to me.  The second half of the marathon was nearly all HILLY GRAVEL trails.  As you can see, snapping pictures as I ran along the first 15, or so, miles was fun and breezy but after a few miles on the gravel I was less enamored with the experience. 

BUT I DID IT!  No regrets!  You won't see me doing that run again but HOORAY!

Doing hard things is awesome.


I have a forever friend who lost her dad in a sudden tragic accident a day before this.  There was nothing I could do but send some love and prayers.  I thought about her as I ached and ran and, though I feel guilty using her pain for my benefit, I have to admit that it helped me get out of my whining thoughts thinking how no matter how this gravel is hurting my feet, or these hills are slowing me down... my dear friend is hurting far worse than I can imagine. 

Please send some prayers out for my friend and her family.  They've got a tough road ahead as they try to get back to "normal".

...and go give your dad a hug.

holy pancakes

I didn't run today.  Or yesterday.  Or the day before that.  Or the day before that...

It's my quiet time to let muscles heal, stretch, breathe...  All the while thinking HOLY PANCAKES I'm running a MARATHON.

on SATURDAY.

Yeah, it's not my first and, fingers crossed, not my last. 

But being my third I've approached this one faaaar too casually.  I trained.  a bit.  Funny thing is that I'm stressed that I'm NOT stressed.  THAT is what is stressing me out!!

MARATHONS ARE HARD DANG IT!

My thought process has been something like this:

  'I should have trained more...  yeeeaaah.  ...What do I wear?

hmmmm...

Well, I've got my pink top that is comfortable, but I hate the color and maybe I want something baggy and those black shorts would be good but I haven't seen those in a while maybe I left them somewhere which would suck 'cause I like those shorts but I also like my running skirt but then the pink shirt is definitely out but that's ok 'cause I have the blue shirt but if I wear that shirt I must remember to buy body glide with those sleeves that give me rug burn under my arms after mile 10 so come to think of it I'd rather not wear that shirt at all so do I go with the pink or BLACK!  The black shirt? Do I wear the black shirt?  Does that one go with the skirt?  Or just wear it with the black shorts or is that too much black?' 

My lack of proper stress and silly-stress substitution is probably just my way of avoiding the reality that SATURDAY IS GOING TO KILL ME.  It's not the same marathon I've done the last couple years.  This one is a bully marathon.  It's going to shove me around, throw me against a few walls and drain every drop of joy out of my sobbing, hobbling body. 


Fun huh?

I can see why I've been taking a 'blah' attitude and putting mental energy towards trivial things.  Life is easier when big things, like marathon deaths, don't bother you.  I mean, what can I do about it?  Not go?  pfft.  I get burgers and ice cream afterwards.

Brenda's favorite time of the year!

In true commercialism fashion, Halloween is making it's appearance.  We here at the zookeeping house are happy to help it along...

Yes, those are pants.

protege

Suzie, in her never-ending attempts to do everything with and just like mommy, has taken on a new hobby.

"Watch me Mommy!" she shouted as I pulled my running shoes out of the closet.  I watched her race around the living room after which she, with heavy breath, exclaimed, "I'm a runner, JUST LIKE YOU!".  When she saw that I was very much impressed she ran to her room where she donned her favorite dress.  "I'm ready to go running with you Mommy!"

So, excluding the formal apparel, I think I have a copycat.

Where were we?

"My sore throats are always worse than anyone's"  

-Jane Austen

Summer is awesomely hard.  Chaos fills the void of structure and I come crawling out of it with a few grass stains and a computer full of delightful pictures. 

As you can see, my girls are still adorable.

As is Garret.

We are adorable.

The only problem with this Summer is that I haven't run or slept enough.  But hey, I've had plenty of ice-cream soooo... 

I don't know, it all works out...