Back from vacations, which were fun/relaxing/mostly uneventful.
Mostly done with paralegal classes, just have one more assignment to turn in and then I'm free until September 30!
Have two job interviews tomorrow, one at an espresso bar and the other as an office assistant.
Getting back on track running-wise after vacation - skipping the SJ&J half as I'm broke, and doing Cottage Lake triathlon and Portland Marathon as my next two races.
More later!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Baby's first car
That's right, I bought my first car yesterday!!! It's a 2002 gold Oldsmobile Alero, used but looks like new (only has 50K miles on it) and it's super fun to drive! I named her Sophie and I loooove her!
Danskin pictures!
There are tons of them on Facebook (and we haven't even gotten the offical ones yet!) but I thought I'd put some of my favorites on here anyways...
Me and my friend Emily before the swim start
Mom and I after we finished the swim
Mom and I heading for the finish line!
Mom and I after the race!
Training buddies... Joy, Mom, Beth, Emily and me before the swim
One of our practice swims at Seward Park... Lake Washington is pretty chilly on cloudy mornings! (I'm the one in the hot pink swimsuit!)
Joy is finishing the race, and I am right behind her cheering on Mom (who I think is behind Joy somewhere!)
Me and my friend Emily before the swim start
Mom and I after we finished the swim
Mom and I heading for the finish line!
Mom and I after the race!
Training buddies... Joy, Mom, Beth, Emily and me before the swim 
One of our practice swims at Seward Park... Lake Washington is pretty chilly on cloudy mornings! (I'm the one in the hot pink swimsuit!)
Joy is finishing the race, and I am right behind her cheering on Mom (who I think is behind Joy somewhere!)Monday, August 17, 2009
Almost time to hit the road...
The marathon vacation is about to begin! This Thursday we are driving over to McCall, Idaho (8 hour drive... yeesh!) for our family reunion. That should be fun - there is white-water rafting, hiking, etc (maybe even horseback riding???). That goes from Thursday to Sunday, and then on Sunday we are driving from McCall to our beach house on the Washington coast (another 8-10 hour drive). We're staying there for a week (yay!) and then driving back to Seattle, and then the next day my brother is going back to college in Spokane! It'll be fun, hopefully, but I probably won't have time to update this much (might not have internet!). Hopefully I'll have time to get some good miles in, though - Portland really isn't too far away!!
Danskin Sprint Tri report
Background - So Mom signed both of us up for the Danskin triathlon this spring. I had never done one before and while I'd considered it, it wasn't something that I was bouncing off the walls to do. But she was nervous and didn't want to do it by herself, so I said ok - hey, it got her to start running!!! I got a bike for $5 at a garage sale and eventually got it fixed up enough so it's super comfy (for pretty cheap, too). Mom and I went to a bunch of training practices with Team Survivor (a group of women cancer survivors that do triathlons/etc - Mom's friend from school is one and she invited us), which were really fun and really helpful. I discovered that I am pretty good at swimming and I actually love swimming in lakes - I think I spent most of the summer in Lake Washington.
The Race - We woke up at 4:30 in the morning and headed down to Genessee Park (where we'd already racked our bikes on Saturday). It was a beautiful morning, sunny but not hot. We hung out for a little bit and watched the first waves go, and eventually put on all of our swim stuff. Along with Mom's friend Beth, who is on Team Survivor, her coworker Joy was doing it, as well as Beth's daughter Emily. Beth and Emily went at their own pace, but I had promised to stick with Mom and Joy, so that's what I did.
Swim - I thought I was going to have to push Mom off the dock into the lake, because she was freaking out a little bit, but once she got in the water she was ok. There were about a hundred people in our "wave", and the swim never really got less crowded the whole way. I'm surprised I don't have bruises from getting kicked and run into! Seems like Danskin would be a hard swim to PR on just because it's so crowded. I took my goggles off halfway through and just did breaststroke so I could keep track of Mom and Joy (and scope out the cute lifeguards that were on paddleboards all along the course!). About halfway through, there were some big rolling waves coming in, which I love! We finished the swim without incident - the water was warm enough that I actually wanted to stay in instead of getting out and going on to the bike, haha.
Bike - I think the bike part was the most frustrating - when I bike, I like to go fast! So I'd keep going and getting ahead and having to either hit the brakes or get off my bike and wait. It was a pretty course, though, along Lake Washington Boulevard and over I-90. I've always thought biking was my weakest part (just because I haven't done it since like junior high, although I did a lot of it when I was little), but I didn't have a problem with the course at all, not even the hills.
Run - I decided to make myself earn the medal once we started the run portion, because I felt like I'd barely pushed myself all morning. I'd run a little ways, then turn around and run back to Mom and Joy, then run ahead again. Uncle Dan was there riding his bike along the sidewalk and keeping Mom and Joy company, so that was nice. There's only one short but steep hill on the course, and I ran it twice just for fun (didn't see anyone else run up the whole thing). Crossing the finish line was fun, and we met up with everyone in the finisher's area and went to go sign up for next year!
Times - SWIM = 30ish min, BIKE = 60ish min, RUN = 47ish min, total time 2:30:17
Reflections - I want to race one! I guess I underestimated how competitive I can be! The swim was ok because it was so crowded that it would have been difficult to go too far ahead anyways, but the bike and the run I just wanted to go go go! I'm glad I did it with Mom, and I'm super proud of her, but I'm also going to sign up for a super sprint in September and then hopefully some longer ones in the spring, to actually race. Apparently my swim times are really good and I'm sure I can improve biking and running!
Next up - Super Jock N Jill 1/2 Marathon, September 7
Cottage Lake Super Sprint Tri, September 19
Portland Marathon, October 4
Seattle Marathon, November 29
The Race - We woke up at 4:30 in the morning and headed down to Genessee Park (where we'd already racked our bikes on Saturday). It was a beautiful morning, sunny but not hot. We hung out for a little bit and watched the first waves go, and eventually put on all of our swim stuff. Along with Mom's friend Beth, who is on Team Survivor, her coworker Joy was doing it, as well as Beth's daughter Emily. Beth and Emily went at their own pace, but I had promised to stick with Mom and Joy, so that's what I did.
Swim - I thought I was going to have to push Mom off the dock into the lake, because she was freaking out a little bit, but once she got in the water she was ok. There were about a hundred people in our "wave", and the swim never really got less crowded the whole way. I'm surprised I don't have bruises from getting kicked and run into! Seems like Danskin would be a hard swim to PR on just because it's so crowded. I took my goggles off halfway through and just did breaststroke so I could keep track of Mom and Joy (and scope out the cute lifeguards that were on paddleboards all along the course!). About halfway through, there were some big rolling waves coming in, which I love! We finished the swim without incident - the water was warm enough that I actually wanted to stay in instead of getting out and going on to the bike, haha.
Bike - I think the bike part was the most frustrating - when I bike, I like to go fast! So I'd keep going and getting ahead and having to either hit the brakes or get off my bike and wait. It was a pretty course, though, along Lake Washington Boulevard and over I-90. I've always thought biking was my weakest part (just because I haven't done it since like junior high, although I did a lot of it when I was little), but I didn't have a problem with the course at all, not even the hills.
Run - I decided to make myself earn the medal once we started the run portion, because I felt like I'd barely pushed myself all morning. I'd run a little ways, then turn around and run back to Mom and Joy, then run ahead again. Uncle Dan was there riding his bike along the sidewalk and keeping Mom and Joy company, so that was nice. There's only one short but steep hill on the course, and I ran it twice just for fun (didn't see anyone else run up the whole thing). Crossing the finish line was fun, and we met up with everyone in the finisher's area and went to go sign up for next year!
Times - SWIM = 30ish min, BIKE = 60ish min, RUN = 47ish min, total time 2:30:17
Reflections - I want to race one! I guess I underestimated how competitive I can be! The swim was ok because it was so crowded that it would have been difficult to go too far ahead anyways, but the bike and the run I just wanted to go go go! I'm glad I did it with Mom, and I'm super proud of her, but I'm also going to sign up for a super sprint in September and then hopefully some longer ones in the spring, to actually race. Apparently my swim times are really good and I'm sure I can improve biking and running!
Next up - Super Jock N Jill 1/2 Marathon, September 7
Cottage Lake Super Sprint Tri, September 19
Portland Marathon, October 4
Seattle Marathon, November 29
Friday, August 14, 2009
Bye bye U District... :(
I am out of my house in the U District for good on Sunday (well, except I'm sure I'll be back up to visit lots!). Reminded again of how much I hate moving... every time I move, I swear I'll have less stuff, keep things more organized, etc... and then forget about that promise until the next year!
I am at least a little less despondent about moving back to Federal Way because I am going to get a new (well, new used) car soon! So at least I won't be stuck down here cut off from everything... and it's only temporary. On the bright side, that's good motivation to keep looking for a job - on the down side, I have been looking for a while now and NOTHING. *sigh* Me and everyone else in the world, right? Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like my mom, but... who leaves college and looks forward to moving back in with the parents?? I've gotten used to my freedom!
Anyways... the Danksin Triathlon is on Sunday, so that should be fun... hopefully the weather holds up at least decently. I'd feel better if the black clouds would go the other way!
I am at least a little less despondent about moving back to Federal Way because I am going to get a new (well, new used) car soon! So at least I won't be stuck down here cut off from everything... and it's only temporary. On the bright side, that's good motivation to keep looking for a job - on the down side, I have been looking for a while now and NOTHING. *sigh* Me and everyone else in the world, right? Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like my mom, but... who leaves college and looks forward to moving back in with the parents?? I've gotten used to my freedom!
Anyways... the Danksin Triathlon is on Sunday, so that should be fun... hopefully the weather holds up at least decently. I'd feel better if the black clouds would go the other way!
Monday, August 3, 2009
New love
I'm ashamed to admit it, but running has been taking a bit of a backseat in life lately. Which is no good, as I just looked at the date and realized that the Portland Marathon is 2 months from tomorrow!
However, I haven't just been sitting on the couch the whole time (or at all, actually). We had three triathlon practices last week, which adds up to more biking this week since I've done since elementary school! I've also been in the lake literally every day (some days two or three times!). I took a minute off my half mile swim time on Saturday, so that was good. Hopefully all that cross-training will pay off when I jump back into my Portland training.
I've decided to just do Portland for fun and attempt to PR at Seattle - I know that sounds counterproductive, given the hills and the weather... but I will have more time to train for it, and my friend Tim (who I ran Beat the Bridge with) just signed up for the full marathon at Seattle and wants me to run it with him. He says he doesn't care about time, but I know I won't want to slow him down, so hopefully he'll be able to push me along to a PR...
I've also decided to sign up for a triathlon during Portland taper. Before you yell at me, it's a small Super Sprint triathlon (only 1/4 mile swim, 9 mile bike, and 1.5 mile run)!
As far as running, etc goes, here is what's on the menu for this week:
Monday - Swim 30-45 minutes at Matthew's Beach (the lake was really choppy today, I think I swallowed at least half of it...)
Tuesday - Run 6 miles, swim at Matthew's (maybe, not sure if I'll have time for the swim part)
Wednesday - Run 7 miles (hills), swim practice at Seward Park
Thursday - Run 4 miles, swim at Matthew's
Friday - Off
Saturday - Mock triathlon at Seward Park (1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)
Sunday - 16 miles
Total - 36 miles
I am so tan right now, and I also have some ridiculous tan lines because I have three different swimsuits I've been wearing!
I am going down to the RJC in Kent tomorrow to get my first CASA case! And we are more than halfway done with the first quarter of paralegal school... where is the summer going???
However, I haven't just been sitting on the couch the whole time (or at all, actually). We had three triathlon practices last week, which adds up to more biking this week since I've done since elementary school! I've also been in the lake literally every day (some days two or three times!). I took a minute off my half mile swim time on Saturday, so that was good. Hopefully all that cross-training will pay off when I jump back into my Portland training.
I've decided to just do Portland for fun and attempt to PR at Seattle - I know that sounds counterproductive, given the hills and the weather... but I will have more time to train for it, and my friend Tim (who I ran Beat the Bridge with) just signed up for the full marathon at Seattle and wants me to run it with him. He says he doesn't care about time, but I know I won't want to slow him down, so hopefully he'll be able to push me along to a PR...
I've also decided to sign up for a triathlon during Portland taper. Before you yell at me, it's a small Super Sprint triathlon (only 1/4 mile swim, 9 mile bike, and 1.5 mile run)!
As far as running, etc goes, here is what's on the menu for this week:
Monday - Swim 30-45 minutes at Matthew's Beach (the lake was really choppy today, I think I swallowed at least half of it...)
Tuesday - Run 6 miles, swim at Matthew's (maybe, not sure if I'll have time for the swim part)
Wednesday - Run 7 miles (hills), swim practice at Seward Park
Thursday - Run 4 miles, swim at Matthew's
Friday - Off
Saturday - Mock triathlon at Seward Park (1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)
Sunday - 16 miles
Total - 36 miles
I am so tan right now, and I also have some ridiculous tan lines because I have three different swimsuits I've been wearing!
I am going down to the RJC in Kent tomorrow to get my first CASA case! And we are more than halfway done with the first quarter of paralegal school... where is the summer going???
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