Running just as fast as she can...

So, I'm running just as fast as I can -- on Mother's Day I decided it would be a great victory over mind and body to complete the 1/2 Kirkland Marathon! It was a fantastic day with the weather, how I felt and the time I completed it in. Mind you I've never ran any further -- consistently -- than eight miles. As I woke up the morning of Mother's Day it was a wonderful morning. My husband got everything together, including our daughter and dog. Hopped us all in the car and drove us 3.7 miles to the starting line. 

The day couldn't have been any better! I stood in a short line to get my competition number, laced up and stood in line to use the porta potty's. Every runner knows to go and go again before you hit the road. Then the announcer called out for all runners to line up appropriately according to your pace time. Not knowing my pace I figure I should stand at the very back so I don't get trampled upon. As I stood in back I told myself -- one day I'll be a the front of the line, but today I'm taking my time, because even though I've not run 13.1 miles consistently before I know that I can at least walk it if necessary. Having no concept of the distance of a true mile and only running according to "time" before I figure I'd have no problem and that I can 'win' the mind over the situation because I chose to not wear my watch until I became a better runner. 

The starting gun went off and the herd of people moved forward. The first few miles are always the most difficult for me -- because I have to talk myself into what I'm doing and remind myself that I'm only warming up. Even though there may not be that many behind me there are several in front of me that I can follow and I'm not alone (as discovered I'm more of a social runner and want to be more of an independent runner). I ran and ran and ran and ran -- came to the 'biggest' hill before three miles hit and had to walk the top half. Okay I said to myself -- I'll work on running hill's when I'm done today. Hit the first water station -- walked to drink -- how do you run and drink from a cup without getting it all over yourself? -- took off again and found myself talking to people as I'm passing them. Not to many people were happy about it until I met an older gal that would pass me, then fall behind, and pass me again. She was sweet and encouraging. It was her second time competing in the 1/2 Kirkland marathon and she had set her goals this time around. I felt great running with her and I picked up pointers along the way. 

Needless to say many gals I'd talked to along the course had ran it at least once before. It was a pleasure to have heard that as I was passing them up -- because I felt fairly 'fast' for my first time around. I just kept in focus who I was running what mile for -- for example: 

1. mile one was for God
2. mile two was for me
3. mile three was for my husband
4. mile four was for my husband and I
5. mile five was for my first born - Darren
6. mile six was for Breeya
7. mile seven was for us as a family
8. mile eight was for my mom
9. mile nine was for my dad
10. mile ten was for ..... you get the picture. 

So during the run that's what I focused on. I had read it in Runner's magazine and thought I would give it a shot. Try running for one mile and thinking nothing except for that person you're running for. It wasn't as easy as I anticipated! However, at mile seven I had a permeant smile on my face and even one of the volunteer's had noticed that was controlling traffic! As I ran past she said amazing that you still have a smile! That pushed me further...then Lake Washington and the Olympic Mtns in the distance on a clear blue sky day. It was a great day!

I came in at 2 hours and 28 minutes. Twenty eight minutes slower than I'd hoped for on my first 1/2 marathon, but as I crossed the finish line I felt that I could have done it again. So I knew the next time I could push myself even harder to complete in a time that would be under two hours. 

All said and done -- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MY NEXT 1/2 MARATHON! 

Running just as fast as she can...

Heart Day.... aka Valentine's Day

Its such an interesting day....

Valentine's Day

aka a day of celebration of ones love for another. 

Did you ever think it would come to the point where you had one day to celebrate the love that you have for all? Imagine if we took this one day and celebrated it daily. The amount of time and energy spent on this quality day of L-O-V-E. 

Happy Valentine's Day to all of our Friends & Family.

xoxo

The Deering Clan

Coffee Shop Friendships

Its always a great day meeting your "coffee shop friends" -- where the only place these friends ever meet you, see you and know you is from & in the coffee shop. It can be a great place & safe haven to be oneself and possibly perceive yourself to be someone your not or someone you've always wanted to be with no judgement or preconceived ideas of expectations -- just being oneself.

My husband and I were listening to the folksy music of one local musician last Friday night while sitting at the window side coffee bar on stools with no back bone... while doing so I was viewing/noticing/observing the coffee shop friendships that entered the door. Hugging, smiling, greeting, conversing and sitting with one another -- expectations of no kind, just laid back casual coffee drinkers. 

There was the urban coffee drinker at the table in the corner for seating for one and a half with the super thin lap top--cell phone on vibrate pretending to work while surfing the web for that extra special something. 

Then there was the couple with newly developed child & carrier on wheels that rolled in for that drip coffee while meeting their friend of tall double latte' status. Sitting beside the small group was the urban-folksy blazer t-shirt guy with espresso in hand.

All joining in to one accord of laid back music and one goal -- coffee. 

Its a great thought knowing that coffee can bring together all sorts of talents, groups & personalities that can last from five minutes at a glance or a lifetime of mutual enjoyment.

SNOW IN SEATTLE?

Yes...

Snow in Seattle! Over theChristmas holiday it snowed about two feet where we are -- Bothell. It was great! The first time it has snowed this much in Seattle (where the entire city shuts down completely) for over 18 years. Amazing! Well, needless to say we had a great time in the snow with neighbors & friends and created some great artwork.

Nathan built an "Alligator" 

Darren built a "Dinosaur"

Breeya built a "Lounge Chair & Table"

Jenn built a snowman...

Enjoy the pics!

 

SALMONELLA SOCK DOWN!!!

Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped Gramnegative enterobacteria that causes typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and foodborne illness. It was named after Daniel Elmer Salmon, an American veterinary pathologist. He was the administrator of the USDA reasearch program at the time and thus the organism was so named! 

Salmonellae are bacteria that may cause food poisoning; the illness itself is often referred to as Salmonella or Salmonella infection. Salmonellae cause a moderate illness with nausea, vomiting, crampy diarrhea, and headache, which may come back a few weeks later as arthritis(joint pains). In people with impaired immune systems (such as people withkidney disease or HIV/AIDS or those receiving chemotherapy for cancer), Salmonellae can cause a life-threatening illness. The illness is transmitted by undercooked foods such as eggs, poultry, dairy products, and seafood.

On any typical News Years eve a large amount of people are riding the porcelain pony or hugging the porcelain god due to the copious amount of alcohol being rejected by the body. On this eve I was poised in this exact position, not due to alcohol poisoning but from the above mentioned bacteria! 

Dateline... Bothell Wa..... Jan 1st 2009 12:08 am. I was awoken(yes I was asleep on the couch) by a painful twisting and turning of my stomach that I recognized from past experience. Why me? Why now? The bacteria plays no favorites and takes no prisoners! I will spare you the gory details, but after a days rest and very little food I recovered and am looking forward to this new year. 

We wish everyone a safe, fulfilling, and adventurous 2009!!

PS- Please remember to take safe measures in food handling, cooking, and storage. Bacteria cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.

Christmas shopper!!

With only four days until Christmas, I ventured out to pick up some last minute gifts. We have had some bad weather the past few days and the roads are slick, so I assumed that most Seattlites would stay home for fear of the drive! WRONG! It seemed as the entire population thought the same as I and converged onto every two lane road leading to the mall ( there are only two lane roads in Seattle, nothing wider, I will comment on that another time!). With a little maneuvering and back alley driving I arrived to begin phase two of my journey, the parking. 

As I pulled into the garage amid a sea of cars, preparing to circle endlessly in search of that elusive parking stall, I was greeted with a tap on my window as two excited teens were preparing to leave and offered me their spot! My journey just got a little brighter, but to those in front of me I could only smile as their fiery eyes pierced me through the rear view mirror! 

I entered the mall to a cornucopia of holiday sensory overload and immediately was sucked into the flow of human traffic. You cannot escape it, it takes you until the tide abates, spitting you out into a store you have no desire to be at, in my case a plus size women's clothing outlet offering sixty percent off! 

Quickly diving back into the fray I can see that I am now going to be bombarded by the infamous kiosk assassins targeting anyone who will make the slightest eye contact. I put my head down and blended the best I could but inevitably I lifted mine eyes and beheld a stall full of the most gaudy wind chime/wind spinning contraptions I have ever seen. The assassin was surprisingly busy and no sooner could I get my head back down when the next stall approached and I was greeted by a young assassin trying desperately to wrap some sort of warm rice bag around my neck. "Sir this will make a great gift for your spouse"! As I spun out of the web of warm rice I politely said "no thanks" and quickly tried to move to the outside of the walkway and out of the line of fire. The ebb and flow of the masses only let me to the outside for a few seconds being forced back to the inside lane almost immediately by a twin stroller loaded with shopping bags and four kids. I avoided the tears and drool on my shirt from the child standing up and reaching for somebody who would change his diaper and buy him a cookie, sorry kid not today! As I was on the inside track again I was met directly by a hunk of some sort of meat product on a tray. Yes, the familiar holiday staple Hickory Farms! The thought of all those people coughing, sneezing, and breathing  around that tray made my stomach turn. I was almost glad to see the next kiosk killer! 

As I passed the final kiosk ( a wire head massager?) I made it to my destination. It was just as busy inside and I had to find a respite. I made my way to a bench and sat down. I started to watch people and wondered if they were enjoying themselves. Some yes, and most no. I asked myself the same thing and found that I was, but there were many other factors that spoiled some of that joy, most of them out of my control.  In light of these observations I have gained a new outlook on the holiday rush. Amidst all the hustle and bustle you need to ask yourself, am I doing this out of obligation or out of the pure joy in giving to make someone else happy? As far as the spoiling factors go, my recommendation is to start shopping early and not wait until four days left!

Happy Holidays! 

The meaning of Christmas!

 Well if you take the time to read this then you will have a great Christmas ever! Now I'm going   to tell you about the real meaning of Christmas!So Christmas is not about receiving gifts it is about giving gifts.So for example today (12/14/08) I wrote a letter to Santa  (at Macy's)  and it told me to tell Santa what made me special and I wrote " well I'm glad that I know some one who understand what the real meaning of Christmas that it is about giving not receiving gifts" then I thought to myself if Santa gets my letter will he take my advice and do the same with his family well I hope so!