My hiking buddy!

Schmoo and I (my friend's dog) had a great time at Deception Pass a few weeks ago! My friends brought me camping for the very FIRST TIME!!!! I think I'm hooked. We've already purchased a tent and we are all ready for the next time. Know of a great place with fun trails to run?

You can see how fast we were going, because no matter how I tried, I couldn't get a picture that wasn't a "motion" shot. :) I had a blast and a really fun workout. This trail was about 40 feet above a beautiful beach.

Just some chalk...

I forgot to write that the team did something really special on Saturday. I never would have thought it would have the impact that it did... but it meant a lot. The team leaders, captains, mentors, and coaches all wrote names of patients currently fighting and patients who have lost their fight with cancer. From loved ones to friends to coworkers, the names were written in chalk, extending a quarter mile down the Burke-Gilman trail. The names where there as we started and ended our run. I recognized a majority of the names, I pictured their faces, remembered their stories. I don't have much else to say except for that it was very touching and it made things seem even more "real". It made me that much more grateful to be out there and even happier to be raising money for such a great cause.

Thanks for reading.

-One humble runner

Whewwwwwwww!

This weekend's run was from Redhook to Marymoor... I had difficulty getting out of bed on Saturday. I almost, almost stayed home in bed.... but my thoughts kept wandering and I couldn't get back to sleep. It was partially out of guilt, partially out of "I should", and partially because I knew it would be good for me. Oh, and I had to use the bathroom. So, I got up, got ready, and got to practice too late for the "early start". It was gorgeous outside and very cold, steam and fog were hanging low along the Burke-Gilman trail as I started off by my lonesome .... on my 8 mile journey. I forgot my ipod and was worried.

This was the best practice by far. I discovered that I was expending so much energy, too much energy, but trying too hard on the run portions of my run/walk combos. I experimented with stride length, cadence, and how my feet hit the ground. I ended up running, running, running, and taking small 20 second breaks to take deep breaths and focus energy on just planting one firm foot in front of the other. I can't even say how happy I felt... I almost found myself in tears because I was having an amazing amount of fun. I think I felt a huge relief in moving forward, using pent up energy, and feeling my body so free.

I've had incredible stress lately, my mom is checking into the Cleveland Clinic today - she's been sick for over 2 years, seen over 19 doctors, and has no solid diagnosis, treatment plan, or means of "recovering". I've been picking up the pieces after someone broke into my car, etc. It just felt so good to feel like I was in "control" of something for a change. I was just in that moment, no thoughts about anything else. When I finished, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted. It felt like such a blessing to sit next to my friend Kit by the fireplace at Tully's, sipping coffee, and feeling so grateful to be alive, healthy, and refreshed. I'm feeling empowered, happy, a tad anxious, and truly grateful as I enter this new week.

Thanks for reading. :)

World's Worst "Morning Person"

I have got to take the cake for the world's worst morning person. Really. Maybe you don't know me so well, but mornings are my enemy. Especially now that it is so dark for so long in the am. Ramiro has been out sick, so instead of waking up at 8am, I've been waking up at 5 and working his earlier shift, and mine. I started off trying to wake up earlier to do my run in the morning, but I started to bonk around 2pm - and my shift doesn't end until 6pm, so I was craving sugary snacks and caffeine all afternoon. I solved the problem, or so it seems. Today is an experiment. I didn't run yesterday morning. I made it through the work day okay. I was antsy when I got off work, but went through with errands, etc. I ended up running later last night because I couldn't bear not to - I felt like I had so much energy and stress that I wouldn't be able to get to sleep if I didn't. I went out into the pouring freezing rain ....... and ran as fast as my fat little legs would carry me......and I had an absolute blast. There is something about running in the rain that just speaks to the kid in me.. and it is absolute joy. This was a totally different experience than waking up early to run and not really feeling the "call" to run, but feeling "compelled". I ended up having a great run, with barely a moment of walking, and back at my front door a half hour later, breathless, soaked, bright red, and thankful. After a hot shower - I felt a ton better and slept like a baby. Now for the experiment - how will things go today? First thing first, this schedule leaves more time for coffee and coffee = less grouchy. :)

Before I forget to blog about it, I'll add that this past weekend I went camping with friends and had an AMAZING time. I did a lot of hiking and felt like it was some excellent cross training. My friend's dog Schmoo and I cleared the way through the woods, traveling as fast as we could still be "walking", overlooking the gorgeous beach below.

Workin' on my fitness!

Met with my surgeon yesterday - she is amazing! Things are healing well and I couldn't stop raving about how much easier it is to run, be active, and have fun. The only thing I regret about surgery was not having it sooner. Then again, I'm glad that things happened like they did and that I was at this point in my life, ready to make the decision that was right for me. If you are interested in surgery like mine, check out http://www.christinenygaard.com/ for more information. She and her staff are truly phenomenal.

In terms of what I blogged in the last entry... I'm taking care of the theft issue. I closed accounts, filed reports, got the window fixed, etc. Things are looking up.

So, that brings me back to what is right now first and foremost in my mind - fitness. Today is a day in Seattle that represents just one of the major cancers : Colon Cancer Awareness Day. http://www.metrokc.gov/health/news/07030701.htm The Pacific Northwest has a high rate of cancer incidence, period. Why is it so high? I've heard rumors about it being from people lacking vitamin C, something in the water, or the higher incidence of depression. I've heard a lot of "rumors" and what special supplements people can take to "spark their metabolism", "cleanse their bodies", or "battle the bulge"..... but what ever happened to just getting outside a bit? For me, this feels like the best option. Some good old fashioned running and eating right. Mix in a little dash of weight training and I'm set. I can't help but think that maybe I can truly become a healthier person from the inside out... and what better way to do it than while helping others? I'm no poster child for fitness, but given the current state of affairs, I'm trying to legitimately take all precautions within my power to ensure myself a long healthy life.... one step at a time.

Get Cookies!

Who can donate blood?

You probably can! It takes about an hour, costs you nothing, and it can help so much! Did you know the average person would rather give money than blood? I'm getting a group together to donate blood on April 23rd. Let's celebrate life and have a great time doing it? Here are some awesome facts about blood donation...


Who Needs Blood?
Many patients need blood now. The major reasons are:
• Trauma injuries and burns
• Cancer
• Blood and immune system diseases
• Surgery
• Heart and blood vessel disease
• Organ and bone marrow transplantation
Nearly 900 people must donate blood through Puget Sound Blood Center every day to meet the needs of local patients!!!!!

Best Part? You get all the COOOOKIES and Juice you could want!

How about coming with to donate? Let's have a party! Email me if interested (OR) if you are unable to donate, please consider a donation to LLS in lieu of blood donation!

-Stacey

Oh brother...

The run yesterday at Seward started out.... um... not so good. I did my 10 minutes out and on my ten minutes back - I started feeling some shin pain. I took it easy and ended up walking nearly the next mile. I started picking up the pace... and walked/ran for the 2.5 mile loop around Seward. On the second loop, my coach ran with me and I found myself losing focus on the pain and gaining more focus on the fun. I started to relax as it started to rain. He stayed with me quite awhile and then went out to look for other stragglers such as myself... and then there was the water stand at the end of the loop - I felt like it came out of nowhere. I didn't feel that it had taken me long enough and I couldn't have gone far enough for this to be true? I felt empowered... and then realized that they were packing up the water station and that I was one of a handful of the last people for the day. I felt a little defeated... and thirsty. I said my goodbyes and ran out to my car... to find that someone had broken my passenger side window and stolen my purse/bag from the car. What a bummer. I sat and waited for the police - my teammates were amazing and waited with me until Kate arrived. We waited for the police, but to no avail, 2 hours later they were still nowhere in sight. We gave up and drove the care home after knocking the rest of the glass out. What leads someone to do something like that? How could someone have know that I had that bag stuffed under my dashboard with a black coat on top? Was someone watching me the whole time? I felt so violated. It isn't the window, the bag, the hassle, or the money... it is the principle and I felt so horrible. Just a warning to you other walkers/runners/etc be careful of leaving belongings in the car. No matter how safe it looks and how many people are around... you never know. Anyhow, I'm not defeated.

I picked things right up today - went and bought some new runnings shoes at Seattle Running Company, got some good exercise, brought the pooch to the park, met up with friends, had a good dinner, and I'm ready for a workout in the morning. I guess perspective is everything. My window will be fixed in the morning, I was not injured, and at the end of the day... it will all work out.

Yay for friendly competition...

You know, friendly competition isn't really friendly unless you are doing well. Ha. Ironic, huh? Running isn't easy, until one day it is. Money isn't worth anything, until you have some. I'm living life right now in the following way.... faking it, until I make it. Just trying to get by, squeak by, but as times goes on, I realize that I've stopped "faking" it.

A friend of mine is buddhist and one day I asked her, how did you become buddhist? She told me that she just "did". You follow the principles, life your life, and it just "comes to be". There is no initiation, no hazing ceremony, no sacrificing lambs, or even dribbling water over the forehead. There are many times in life when we just "become". We "become" children of our parents, brother or sister to our siblings, friends, girl/boy friends, etc. We fall into roles because they fall onto us. The roles that are even more interesting to me are the ones that we choose in life. I'm always curious how people came to be where they are in their life, what roads they took, what roles they played, how long they had to "fake it" before they made it....

Tonight, I'll be "faking" a 3 -miler at Green Lake while waxing philosophical.... thinking about the day when finally, I'll be a grown-up... and when I'll become a "marathoner" and not just a girl who does some marathons....

Blown away...

I am just blown away by the amazing feedback I've had so far!

Some comments:

"i'm rooting for you!" - Cari

"You go babycakes...I'll support you. Don't expect me to be up at the {crack} of dawn to run with you..but I'll totally donate some money to ya..LOL." -Robbie

"Stacey -I want to donate $50.00 and I will pass this along to Nate and my family." -Morgan

"Good work in keeping the passion alive, you and all those whom you've helped will be blessed for this." -Hao

Thank you all so much for the really amazing feedback and encouragement - it really means a lot! Thank you to my sister, Katie Holda, for providing the very first donation on my donation site!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/StaceyHolda I really appreciate your genorosity and love. I am headed to the gym to do -3 miles on the ole treadmill and then a little weightlifting. Today is supposed to be an "easy" or "crosstraining" day and I want to make it count. Thank you all so much for your continued support!

Love,
Stacey

Gasworks Park

Today's practice went SO much better that I feared it would. I had an awesome time. It has been more than a year since I've seen all these great people and yet, it seemed to great to be back. It kind of reminded me of seeing extended family at holiday time. You kind of just pick up the pieces where you left off. Speaking of seeing family, I am planning a trip to Chicago for the end of May for my cousin's wedding. The violet strapless bridesmaids dress might be part of my motivation to get fit and stay focused. I said "might". :) I ran more today than I thought I'd be able to. You know how Crayola distinguishes it's crayons.. blue-violet or violet-blue.... today I felt more like a runner-walker than a walker-runner and it was a good feeling. I got a chance to see a past season's honored teammate, an incredible man named Skip. He held a fundraising breakfast this morning that was well-attended and very well appreciated after our practice this morning. We all sat out at the picnic tables at Gasworks, steam coming from the hashbrowns, eggs, and coffee. There is nothing quite like the food you eat right after you run... it is amazing. Except for rice pudding after the Vancouver marathon... but that is another story.

For the mean time...... I'm on my way.