Last Minute Donations!

Today is the last day of 2012 and therefore the last day to make a charitable donation for your 2012  tax year! Why not give to fight against breast cancer and help me with my fundraising?! Click here!

Wishing you all the best!

Happy New Year!

Another Year Ending

As 2012 comes to an end, I have been thinking about where I’ve been during the past twelve months and wondering where the next twelve months are going to take me. Changes are always occurring and no doubt there will be more in 2013.

The biggest change of 2012 - I started working again in June after being laid off and unemployed for two and a half years. It was a very difficult change for not only me but for my family too. For 2.5 years I was available 24/7. Run an errand… I’m on it! Make appointments… I’m on it! Pick child up from school and deliver to friend’s house/concert/mall… I’m on it! Deliver a forgotten phone…  I'M ON IT!!  I was available for all of it until I started working again. Lunch dates, late night movies/drinks, hours spent walking alone or with my friends… it all came to an end. My freedom was gone. (Welcome back to the real world, right?) As difficult as it was though, new routines started, planning ahead re-started, 'doing without' happened and belief in my own abilities re-surfaced. Once again I became a working mother and wife and, like so many others, learned to juggle my family, work and personal life.

I am very fortunate to have found a job that I actually love! I enjoy what I'm doing and love the individuals I work with. I have made new friends - friends I will no doubt have for a lifetime. From the moment I interviewed with them, I felt a connection - This is where I am meant to be and these are the people I am meant to meet. Over the past six months we have grown close and have spent hours not only working together but walking together too! My job and co-workers have definitely been a very meaningful addition to my life.

There were many occasions throughout the year when I wondered if my walking days were over. I couldn't seem to get past the foot injury. After 11 months and two podiatrists, a cast, shoe inserts, new shoes and plenty of rest, the pain has finally subsided. With the foot issues behind me and my back currently pain-free, I'm very optimistic and plan to train again and have a successful year packed full of running/walking events. It's what I really enjoy doing and can't imagine having to give it up.

I have done nothing about my weight this year. I have maintained (with minor ups and downs) but not lost and not gotten any closer to reaching my goal. Another year has slipped by but instead of thinking of it as a negative, I’m very happy that I’ve been maintaining and not gaining! I know the statistics… most people regain their lost weight and then add some. I have not. And will not. I am not currently moving down the scale but I’m not moving up either and that’s my accomplishment for this year - maintaining.

I have gone twelve months without eating meat (beef, pork, chicken, etc.) or eating eggs. It was an easy transition and one I’m very happy with. I continued to eat fish and shellfish until September, at which time I gave that up too.  I’m a total non-meat eater now. I occasionally have cheese or yogurt (the dairy type) when I don’t feel like driving across town to get non-dairy versions but I’m trying to stay away from it too. (Planning ahead and always being prepared might solve this issue.) Vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, sweet potatoes and brown rice are my main sources of fuel. When I'm feeling creative I'll throw in some tofu, tempeh or other type of meat substitute but most of the time I just stick with the basics. Boring, I know, but it's working for me. My favorite recipe I found this year... Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas. They are A.W.E.S.O.M.E!

That leads to the question of “Why am I still overweight?” The answer is a simple one … SUGARS! I am addicted! I have drastically changed my eating habits and believe I have become so much healthier because of it yet I continue to eat sugar (Hot Tamale candies – my favorite!) and salty tortilla chips. I crave sugar & carbs! I have gone weeks without it (after suffering with a sugar withdrawal headache for two or three days) but always find myself going for “just one nibble” and ending up right back into the downward spiral of my sugar addiction (...chocolate in the office for the holidays... chips in my pantry... Hot Tamales at every corner store... !!!). My eating goal this year is to give up most, if not all, of that senseless sugar eating. I'm getting nothing out of it except extra calories and a sugar high. Giving it up will probably do wonders for my overall well-being. 

While I like to believe sugar is a large part of my current weight issue, lack of exercise is equally to blame. My foot problem (no longer an excuse now) slowed me down and instead of doing something other than walking, I did nothing.

I sat.

I ate.

I got lazy.

On January 6^th I will start training again (this time as a runner!) and will no doubt suffer because I haven't really done ANYTHING in the past six weeks. Signing up to train with Max Muscle means that I’ll have more personalized attention. It also means that they will be ‘up close and personal’ and will notice if I’m not following the program! Yikes!! The lazy days of 2012 are about to come to an abrupt end! It's time to get moving again!

Goals for 2013:  eat less sugar, exercise more and RUN a half marathon! I can do it!

Happy New Year!

2012 Race Schedule Recap

It was a year plagued with a very painful foot problem but I still managed to get in a few races and even make some PR's!


January 8 through June 17 - Vancouver Fit!  I was a walking coach!

March 3 - Fred Meyer Fort Vancouver Run 15k
(2:05:21 / 13:20)

March 24 - Sellwood Scamper 5k
(37:15 / 12:00) - PR!

April 15 - Max Muscle 25k
(3:38:52 / 14:06) - PR!

May 20 - Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
(INJURED)

June 9 - Helvetia Half Marathon
(INJURED - CAST)

June 17 - Vancouver USA Marathon (full)
(INJURED - CAST)

June 23 - Summer Solstice 6 Mile Walk
(INJURED - CAST)

June 30 - Run for the Roses 10k
(INJURED - CAST)

August 11 - Cosmo 7k - I'M BACK! :)
(1:00:43 / 13:58)

Not sure why I didn't chat about the Cosmo 7k! It was a fun evening event (starting at 6:00 p.m.) that I enjoyed with Brittany, Michelle and Sue. It was an all women's run, starting and ending at Fort Vancouver. We went through downtown and along the Columbia River and then over the foot bridge leading back to the Fort. It was a sea of pink shirts, tutu's, and all sorts of fun outfits! It was very warm out so thankfully it wasn't a long run! At the finish line, they had removed all drinks from the ice coolers and were handing out small towels dipped in the ice water. That was a great way to cool off before drinking the yummy Cosmos we earned! The music was loud, the sun was shining and the crowd was happy! After that event, we went directly into the Flip-Flops and Lemon Drops event right next to this one, where we were given a pair of flip-flops and lemon drops! We had dinner (buffet style), listened to music and enjoyed being outdoors. It was a very enjoyable evening and definitely an event we would all do again.

Me, Michelle and Brittany



August 26 - Eugene Women's Half Marathon
(2:54:06/13:18)  PR!!!

September 14-16 - Susan G. Koman 3-Day, 60 mile walk!

September 29 - Portland Color Run 5k - FUN FUN FUN!

October 6 - Longview Harvest Classic 10k
(1:17:34 / 12:28)  PR!!

October 14 - Girlfriends Half Marathon
(3:17:51 / 15:06)

October 28 - Columbia Gorge Half Marathon
(3:50:17 / 17:34) - PR!! SLOWEST WALK! ;)

November 25 - Seattle Half Marathon
(2:59:50 / 13:40)

December 2 - Jingle Bell Run 5k - FUN with my Co-Workers!

December 16 - Holiday Half Marathon
(3:34:00 / 16:19)


My 2013 race schedule is already filling up so stay tuned!

Un-frickin-believable



I ran across these today while going through a box of pictures. 

I can't believe I let myself go that far.

I can't even imagine why my husband stayed with me.

I complain that I am still fat and have more weight to lose.

I am always disappointed in myself for not yet reaching my goal weight.

But pictures like these put things into perspective.

I need to be PROUD of myself because I have come so. damn. far.

Wow...

It's truly painful looking at these.  :'(

Thank you to every single person out there who has supported me on this journey. It hasn't been an easy one and I fail from time to time but without your support, I wouldn't be where I'm at today.

Ray (aka Husband) - THANK YOU for NEVER saying a single negative thing about my weight. Te quiero mucho.

Holiday Half Marathon

It was raining.

It was cold.

It was windy.

I was miserable.

weather beaten and torn

Last Sunday was the Foot Traffic Holiday Half Marathon in Portland. It was the first half marathon for Cathie, Tracy, Kathie and Nancy. Way to go, ladies! YOU DID IT!

Cathie, Me, Tracy, Kathie and Nancy

The rain never really bothers me - thank goodness because I live in the Pacific Northwest! - but I prefer the heat and sunshine. However, when walking, cooler temperatures are usually a blessing.  Wind - I don’t like it but not because of my hair! I don’t like wind because of my hearing aids. The wind makes a very loud, annoying noise in my ears and I can’t hear anything beyond it.

On Sunday, WE HAD IT ALL. We were drenched, cold and windblown. We were weather beaten just like my bib above. We were walking high on a ridge overlooking the Willamette River and were completely exposed to the elements. At one point the wind was blowing so hard that the rain was actually going sideways. After the turnaround, there were times when the rain was blowing directly towards us, soaking our faces. But... we continued. This race wasn't about time - it was about finishing. And believe me, finishing was all that I cared about.

(Oh! I had a big surprise around mile 2 but I will get to that later.)

The route was through neighborhoods and along the river. It was mostly flat and went out and back. It was an easy route, except for the weather conditions. It wasn't really raining when we started but that didn't last long.

I was ready for the race to be over around mile 9! I was tired of the wind and rain and I was COLD. My fingers were so cold they hurt. I had two pair of gloves and traded the soaked ones for the dry ones but they soon were soaked too. As we passed by the local taverns, I couldn't help but dream of going inside one, plopping my drenched rear-end on a dry bar stool, ordering a beer and calling the ol' husband to come get me! But ... it was only a dream.  I kept walking....

Kathie, Nancy and Tracy were up ahead of Cathie and I. We made a quick stop and just didn't bother to try to catch up with them after that.

The race had a time requirement of a 15:00 minute mile pace. Obviously that wasn't happening for us and we fell behind the pace vehicle. That meant we had to move to the sidewalk and off the road because it was opening back up to vehicle traffic. Once on the sidewalk, we spent a great deal of time dodging the puddles lakes! (I don't know why we even bothered though because our feet definitely weren't dry.) There were no more policemen at the intersections and the volunteers were closing up their aid stations. At one point I almost took us in the wrong direction because the cones / route markers disappeared too. Wow. It was an experience, for sure. But... we continued.

When we finally turned the last corner, I pointed out the finish line in the distance. I thought Cathie was going to cry! We were SO HAPPY to finally be done!

We crossed that finish line and received our awesome bling! (Snowmen are my favorite holiday characters!)

I didn't bother to look at the timer because (1) it certainly didn't matter at this point and (2) I just knew we were close, if not over, the 4 hour mark and I honestly didn't want to see that.

The only people in the area of the finish line were the few volunteers calling out names and handing out medals - everyone else was gone. We walked into the parking garage where the event food, water, first aid, massage tables, etc. was located and to our BIG disappointment, nearly everything was gone and they were cleaning up! Not a bagel in sight! Not a banana either! Unbelievable!! There was a table still serving soup (which I couldn't have because it contained onions) and a table with a few glasses of beer left. Thank goodness! I dug through my pockets with my frozen hands until I found my beer tag (it tore off of my bib - in fact, my whole bib tore off due to being soaked!) and then downed that precious liquid gold in no time at all.  ;)

Everyone was proud and happy but exhausted and drenched.

Nancy, Cathie, Me and Kathie

When I got home I finally looked up the race results. Surprisingly - very surprisingly - Cathie and I finished in 3 hours and 34 minutes! That's an average of 16:19 minute miles! For Cathie's first marathon and in AWFUL conditions, that is a great time! (Kathie, Nancy and Tracy finished six minutes before us.)

So WHY was all the food gone?! We weren't THAT far behind the 15 minute mile pace!

Honestly, I was totally happy with that time and am so, so proud of the ladies! Awesome job!

Now... about that surprise! There was a 5k going on at the same time as the half marathon. They started on the same route but turned back at their halfway point, which was close to our mile 2.  I was wearing my black rain pants, black rain jacket, a stocking cap and had my jacket hood pulled up over my head. That left my face exposed but not much of it! While walking past the 5k runners who had already turned around, I heard someone shout out my name! I turned and looked to see who it was and saw Maureen! Maureen - who I have never met in person.  Maureen - who is a blogger. Maureen - who used to be heavy and started running marathons! We read each other's blogs and she recognized me! How cool is that?! I will never know how she recognized me in my outfit but she did! (She has beautiful red hair so I knew exactly who she was when I turned around!)

Thanks for finding me and saying hello, Maureen! We really need to go out for coffee! Check out her very inspirational blog, Buttoning My Jeans. You won't be disappointed!

Happy 80th Birthday, Dad

 

November 30, 2012 was my Dad's 80th birthday. Being a twin, it was my Uncle Jim's 80th birthday too! (I hope his day was just as special!)

My siblings and I were fortunate enough to be able to fly to Arizona and spend some time with Dad to help celebrate his big day. We stayed in a vacation home outside of Tucson with plenty of room for everyone. My brother, his wife and their daughter flew over from the East Coast. My sister and her husband, as well as my daughter and I, flew down from the Pacific Northwest. My husband was unable to go because of the demands of the restaurant at this time of the year and my son needed to stay in school (he's a sophomore so missing too many days can make it nearly impossible to catch up). Each group arrived and left at different times so Dad was able to enjoy non-stop family for 10 days. Talk about an extended birthday.... wow.

Going to Arizona at this time of the year was a perfect idea! (Yes, siblings, I admit it!) The sun was bright in the big blue sky and the temperatures were PERFECT. It was in the low 80's during the day so if you sat in the sun it became down right HOT. Sweaty hot! It was AWESOME! The nights were cold so sitting outside beside the fire pit was pretty awesome too.

 

 

 

 

The house was huge - built with a lot of iron, tile and granite - and had many amenities including a gym (which I actually used once), an infinity pool and a jacuzzi (used them too - yes, me - I got in the water!). There were enormous windows everywhere! My absolute favorite part of the house was the back deck. It was huge and seemed to overlook the world. We were up high on a mountain side and the view was spectacular! I loved the vast openness of the area. At night we could see the twinkling city lights of Tucson. It was beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday morning (the day after Brittany and I arrived), I decided to get outside and enjoy the sunshine while getting in a little exercise. Dad's wife, Carolin, is a Park Ranger in Arizona and spends her days working outside, climbing up and down Picacho Peak. I knew she would be the perfect pal for a walking adventure so off we went! We decided to hike a nearby trail and just walk until we wanted to turn around. I had a little trouble breathing when walking uphill - couldn't inhale deeply enough - because we were high in the mountains (we were 2500+ feet above sea level and I live at 249 feet). The air was definitely thinner up there! Walking a trail in Arizona was a completely different experience than walking a trail in Washington. Biggest issue: When one is trying to keep one's balance on a steep up/down hill in Washington, one can reach out and use the friendly pine tree to steady oneself. In Arizona, using what one thinks is a pine tree in one's mind, which is actually a saguaro cactus, might lead to a very prickly situation. Those mamas aren't friendly at all! Luckily, I caught myself just as I was reaching out to grab that Arizona "pine" and saved myself from a lot of pain! While walking, I really had to pay attention to my feet, legs, arms, hands, head, etc. because every inch of the earth seemed to be covered and crawling with one type of cacti or another and they all looked extremely menacing! 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed it though and again, the vast openness is what I loved most. You could see sooooo far! (I've been to Arizona a few times in the past and always leave there wishing I could stay!)

Carolin and I followed a trail that lead us to an old stone house built in the early 1930's. (Very cool! I love history!)

 

In the picture above, the RED dot is the house we were staying in. 

The PURPLE dot is the stone house! Awesome hike! :)

We then walked the trail a little further but soon decided to turn back because it was getting warmer out and we were not carrying enough water - as it was, I ran out long before reaching the house. Besides the obvious... having such a wonderful time visiting with family... that morning's hike was the highlight of my trip. I would love to go back and really spend some time out there on those trails! (Keep that in mind, Carolin!)

Friday was Dad's birthday. I started out with a 45 minute workout on the EFX Crosstrainer (which caused my butt to hurt for the next two days!) because I knew I would be eating CAKE and was trying to make up for it ahead of time. (I'm pretty smart sometimes!) The day started out with a bang (right, Dad?! heh heh) and we sat around visiting until it was time to get the party rolling!

 

For several days Dad had watched each one of us playing on our iPads, even 3-year-old Emme...

He decided he wanted to look into getting one in the near future. Well... he really didn't know how near in the future that would be! We got him an iPad! (Welcome to the iPad addiction, Dad!) He also received a really nice solar watch from Carolin (the only thing she has ever seen him want enough to actually Google it) and several other nice gifts. Our most special gift to him was a large photo book starting with his grandparents, then his parents, and then his life over the past 80 years. Such a beautiful treasure.

 

The rest of the day was spent learning the iPad... eating cake and ice cream... visiting... swimming... and eating more cake and ice cream...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a crazy time taking pictures...

 

Do you see Dad's face in the above picture?!

We didn't know he was there! hahaha!

 

 

We went out for a special birthday dinner in Tucson at The Grill at Hacienda Del Sol where they served us an awesome meal and a rich chocolate dessert for the Birthday Boy (and his little helper). We stayed up late into the night, simply enjoying each other's company.  It had been several years since my sister, brother and I were all together at the same time with Dad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday started out early, watching the sunrise and having some special visiting time with Russ. (I love my brother and sister very, very much and don't see either of them often enough!) We then went for an early morning swim in the beautifully warm sunshine! (On December 1st!! Unbelievable!) We enjoyed breakfast together, had another piece of cake (heh heh... I should have stayed on that Crosstrainer for several hours!), spent more time in the sun, taking pictures, and visiting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although Brittany and I weren't in Arizona long (four days), we flew home that afternoon with our hearts filled to the brim with unforgetable memories. I am so happy we were able to go. (Too bad Husband and Son weren't there but I knew they were with us in spirit.)
The entire visit was very meaningful and one that I will hold dear in my heart for the rest of my life. Thank you, family. I love you all.

 

Happiest of Birthdays, Dad!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cynthia, Craig, Russ and Maxine: Thank you all so much for your generosity and for everything you did to make this trip successful and memorable. Love you mucho!