Running Like the Wind

Wow, sorry about the delay in my blog posts. If I could keep up it would be so much easier.

Most of this post I think will be running related because that’s what I did for three weeks in a row.

But before those runs, or maybe during those weeks, It’s all such a blur, we went and saw Paula Poundstone.  This is the second time we have seen her and she was hilarious. She is so clever and quick and can turn a joke on a dime. If you ever get the chance—go see her. She spoke about the upcoming meeting with N Korea (which at that time was off, but as we know is on again) and she made the astute observation that “they are both nutters”. Couldn’t agree more.

I couldn’t get a smiling picture no matter how hard I tried. And then I just wanted to listen.

Up next week is Brandi Carlile in Iowa. Good for us!

Oh, how could I forget this—the Royal Wedding. Jeepers. I was all over that.

I wore my tiara. Watched it live. My favorite parts were this little princess and her over the shoulder wave-

Oh my God, that kid has the wave.

And this photo bomb. Are you kidding me? The best ever

The Bishop from the Episcopal Church was preachin’ some fire. I was almost squirming because as an Episcopalian I’m not quite used to that level of intensity. At least not at any Episcopal church I ever attended.

You gotta love a Royal Wedding, it takes me away from reality and just makes me sort of happy.

But—back to reality

I ran Women Run the Cities in May-the first of three running weekends.I only ran the 10K, but it was good enough.

Beautiful day for Women to Run.

AND—I didn’t have to take a bad selfie cause here I am!

Woot.

Next up was Med City 1/2 Marathon. Ugh. That wasn’t so fun. Not. At All.

They cancelled the Marathon and Marathon Relay, and the 20 mile run because of the extreme heat. And hot it was. Some saintly women around mile 11 handed me a baggie of ice which I wore under my hat until the finish. I was hot and uncomfortable and I have never seen so many people walking in a race. My finish, at 2:13 was very slow, but at least I finished.

Looking fresh at the start

Dying at the finish

I did recover enough to take a picture of my coworker-Ashley who ran the half marathon relay-(since they canceled the marathon relay)

After that, it was off to Canada on Thursday May 31st to  meet up with the team and run a little Ragnar.

Now I have been watching the weather around Toronto for a few months, and looking at the averages and calculating what I’ll run in and how the course will feel. And if you believe the averages it should have felt pretty nice. However, as we all know when I’m traveling the weather is either freezing and I don’t have the right clothes (remember Tacoma at the end of Feb?? It was snowing….) or so hot it’s ridiculous. Well, it was ridiculous. The weather was about 10-15 degrees above the norm AND the dewpoints were about 65ish. Which made my first leg so miserable I could hardly stand it. I badly miscalculated what I ate before I ran, when I was going to run, and how hot it would be. Needless to say, I suffered a LOT.

But let’s get back to the beginning.

We stayed in a hotel that offered the love tub—Scary

It’s a little bit funny with the foam roller on the edge of the tub.

One of the best things about this Ragnar was my favorite neice Katie, came and ran with us. AND designed our great magnets.

Katie and I did selfies throughout the race--

Our van before

and after--

and our team, of course-

I have to say the the course was ok but my van fam in Van One was exceptional. Everyone was chill and fun and nice and I laughed and laughed. They were simply the best. And I had the most wonderful time.

Beautiful Canada

And some action shots

Me and the best captain of any Ragnar eva!

Things you can’t get anywhere but in Canada

Team bonding-

Beer drinking--

And a whole lotta fun—except for my first leg. That was NOT fun.

Who knows? Maybe it wasn’t my last Ragnar.

In other news, Cody was thinking of me a few weeks ago….

What a good boy.

Puddy was chillin on the deck which is decked out, so to speak, with new flowers.

I got my native garden in the back and my flower garden started in the front. It will take a couple of years to get that all filled in.  I just keep putting plants in to fill it up.

Anyway, I’m home for the summer. We are going to Brandi Carlile next week in Iowa for a couple of days, and I have Stitches Midwest in August with Julie. Looking forward to both of these things immensely.

This weekend is the annual garage sale that Laura and I put on. It’s the second annual garage sale. Hoping to make some spare change for Scotland in September AND get rid of some things. I have a ways to go before I get rid of everything I should get rid of.

I’ll let you know how I do.