Portland Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon

May 19th was Portland's time to Rock 'n' Roll! This is such a great event! If you're ever looking for a half marathon to do, participate in one of the Rock 'n' Roll's. You can find out if there is one near you here. The event draws thousands of people! It is very well supported with hundreds of volunteers, plenty of large hydration stations, cheerleader squads just when you need them and several bands that keep you rockin' on down the road!

This was Bullseye's first race back post injury. We planned to take it easy and just enjoy the walk, music and the company!

While waiting in our assigned corral (yes, we were packed in there like cattle!), we met up with our friend Cindy and her nieces, MaKenzie and Erika. Cindy's daughter, Kristin, was up ahead in a faster corral. We also met up with friends Kathy, Nancy and Sue. It's so fun to meet up pre-race and share the excitement!

Bullseye and Buzz!

Cindy, me and Bullseye

MaKenzie, Erika and Cindy

Kathie and Nancy

It took almost 30 minutes for our corral to reach the starting line. Before we were even there, the first runners were already passing us and they were over 3.5 miles into the race at that time! By the time we reached that same point along the course, the first runners were FINISHING the race!! Unbelievable! I am in awe of their ability to run like that! Wow!! If only...!! (In 11th place was the first woman, finishing in 1:19:48. We were only 3.5 miles into the race!)

Anyway... Bullseye and I did exactly what we planned and started out slowly - walking and not getting caught up in the excitement and rush. It felt good. Cindy was with us too. Kristin, MaKenzie, Erika, Kathie, Nancy and Sue all took off and were running their own races. I always love the fact that you are there with friends but don't necessarily have to be TOGETHER. Walking/running - to me - is very much a personal sport and everyone should do what they feel like doing at race time, whether it be walking slowly or running the race of their life! We always meet back up at the finish line and talk about our successes and struggles. I love it!

With that said, I often times find myself making a commitment to stay with someone. Sometimes I am pulling them and sometimes they are pulling me but we stay together and finish together. That too is something I love.

Run Kathie Run

The weather was perfect! The route was really nice too...

At the top of that big ol' hill, there was a guy holding a sign that said, "You just kicked Hawthorn's Butt!" (Hawthorn is the street name - It darn near kicked OUR butts!) It was quite the uphill battle and just when you thought you saw the top of it, you peaked and saw MORE!

Around Mile 11, Bullseye and I were starting to jog a little. Cindy waived us on and was probably happy that she could finally be alone in her thoughts and listen to her iPod! We were chatting up a storm the whole way! :)

We finished the race in 3:06:31, averaging 14:14 minute miles and were very happy with our time considering we were not really pushing ourselves too hard and we totally enjoyed it!

At the finish line, we ran into Sue - who had literally finished one minute before us - and the two rock stars - Kathie and Nancy - who both ran a lot of their race and finished in amazing times and set PR's! Way to go, ladies!! Wow!! Cindy finished a few minutes after us and as usual, was all smiles!

Erika, MaKenzie, Kristin and Cindy

After chatting, congratulating and taking a few pictures, Bullseye and I left and went to the Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery and had a well-deserved, great-tasting beer! (the OREGONIC AMBER was AWESOME!!)  If you don't really like beer, you should try one after traveling 13 miles ON FOOT! Amazingly, they taste better than any thing else ever could! haha

It was a great event and a great day shared with great friends! We will definitely be doing the Rock 'n' Roll Half again next year!

Hippie Chick Half Marathon

It was my first time to participate in this event and I loved it! There is just something about an all-female event... nearly 3000 of us to be exact! We ladies are pretty darn special! ;)

The event took place in Hillsboro, Oregon. There were actually two events going on at the same time: the half marathon and a quarter marathon. I was doing the half with my friend, Kathie, and before the start, met up with my friend, Cindy, and her daughter, Kristin, who were doing the quarter.

The two events started together and were on the same course for the first 2.3 miles and then split off in different directions. The course was scenic and flat. We were on farm roads so there wasn't a lot of traffic to deal with, which is always nice! The only thing that made the day "hard" for me was the sunshine! I love the sun but it was brutal out there on the asphalt with very little shade to be found along the way. The temps were in the mid to upper 60's while on route but it felt more like the 90's. We were out in the open and totally exposed to the sunshine for the entire route. It was HOT. Along the way there were wonderful volunteers and homeowners spraying water from hoses that you could run through to cool off. A couple of times I actually stopped while under the water just to get a little more of a soaking. The cold water really made a difference and played a big part in my success. I saw a couple of women being loaded into an ambulance, no doubt from heat exhaustion. I'm sure there were others I didn't see too. The heat can be really dangerous if you aren't properly hydrated and finding ways to cool off. At the water stations (approximately every 2 miles), I poured a cup of water down the back of my neck. Kathie poured them over her head. It definitely helped.

HOT and Sunny!

Kathie and I stayed together until about Mile 9. This was Katie's first event in the heat and she didn't want to push herself any harder than she was because of it. I was still full of energy and knew I could continue to push on so we decided I would meet her at the finish line. I worried about leaving her but she said she was surrounded by 3000 women and had her cell phone - so I could go.

After leaving Kathie, I jogged almost the entire 4 miles back. I was amazed at my own ability to continue on like this. It was around Mile 12.5 when I realized I was not going to beat my previous record so I allowed myself to start walking because at this point the heat was starting to make me feel sick. I needed to run like hell to beat my own record and I honestly did not have it in me. Not at all.

 

 

I crossed the finish line in 2:54:59, missing my previous record by 2 minutes and 46 seconds. I averaged 13:21 minute miles. Even though I did not PR this time, I am very proud of my time! (We train in mostly cold weather around here so any amount of heat changes everything.) 

I received my Hippie Chick necklace, some water and a couple high-fives and then went to wait for Kathie. I wanted to lay down on the field but knew I would probably never get up and would miss her smiling face as she zoomed through to the finish line... so I stood there... shaking and ready to collapse. I don't normally "fall apart" at the end of 13.1 miles but this was a zap-the-energy-right-out-of-you hot... HOT... H.O.T. day!

It wasn't long before I saw Kathie coming around the corner, running and giving it everything she had! When she made it through the finish line, she thought she was going to get sick so we poured water over her head to cool her off. We then sat down for awhile, rehydrating and reminiscing about our experiences.

It was another race well done.  We did it!

On the way home we went through a McDonald's drive thru ... I know! GASP!!! (first time in YEARS!). I ordered fries for the badly needed salt replacement - I literally had salt crystals all over my arms and face after the race - and chased them down with a Protein Ice drink. I felt better in no time! (They were serving PANCAKES after the race but I couldn't even imagine taking a single bite. Blah! The salty FRIES were so much better!)

Next up (this Sunday!)... the Portland Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon!

Neighborhood Fundraising

Saturday was the annual Maplegate Neighborhood Garage Sale and our third year to set up a fundraising table in the area. The Neighborhood Garage Sale is huge and draws in the crowd, many of them returning year after year.  We really appreciate the homeowners of Maplegate allowing us to set up and be a part of their annual event.

We could not have asked for a better day - the weather was perfect! Last year it was cold and raining but this year it was warm and sunny! Everyone was out enjoying the sunshine!

It is such a great feeling when people come up to our table and talk to us like old friends, looking for items they bought from us previously, and to buy another brownie because they remembered how delicious they were!

We were "open for business" for four and a half hours and made $302. Mom sold three of her knitted baby blankets (totaling $85) and a couple crocheted dish cloth / towel sets. The rest was either donated or from the purchase of brownies, whoopie pies, pumpkin cakes and water. Most items at our table are one to two dollars so you can imagine how busy we were! Thankfully we had three of us "working" the table this time, which really helped things go smoothly. My son took total control of the food sales. Thank you, Matthew!

It was another successful fund raiser and I am $302 closer to reaching my goal of $2300! 

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, whether it has been monetarily, physically (walking together keeps me in my training mode), or mentally (encouragement goes a long way!). I need it ALL and sincerely appreciate each and every one of you! - I know I've said all this before but I can't say THANK YOU enough!

A special shout out and MUCHO THANKS to my mom for all she does to help me succeed. She spends months knitting and crocheting items to sell to help raise money for this event every year. She also works right beside me at all of the fund raising events and she does it just for ME.  She knows how much I believe in the cause and how much I want to be a part of the 3-Day event. She willingly gives so much of her time and self just so I can participate. THANK YOU, Mom! I truly appreciate all you do for me!