Monday, December 17, 2007

My city

Millesinge. I'm not sure what will happen with this but each time someone visits my population goes up! So go visit and let's see what happens! check it out!

Monday, December 10, 2007

It's official now


The results are in, I did better than I thought. 16 seconds better. ; ) 31:44. I can do better and I will do better. Just watch me!

Here's a picture of the mighty racing girls in the car on that blustery morning. (stolen from jenny)


Sunday, December 09, 2007

it's not official

Friday night I went to the Century Ballroom to see Wayne Hancock and do some dancing. Turned out to be a fabulous night for me as I was the only girl in my group of dancing friends! I two-stepped, jived and east coast swung until about 12:30. Oh I also spoke a little French. Got home about 1, woke up at 7 and made it down to Jenny's in federal Way by 8:30am Sat. morning.

It was a cold morning but at least the sun was shining! We drove down to Kent, pinned on our numbers and rushed back to the car to preserve a little heat. I could not fathom taking off my winter jacket and going back into that cold to wait at the starting line. Yes, Sat. was the day of my first 5k.

I'm not sure how I feel about races. There were so many people on that one little trail. I couldn't keep up with Jenny. That girl has a need for speed and she found it! So I was alone and assumed that eventually things would even out and someone would automatically become my running partner. Not so much.

We ran along the Green River and the blackberry bushes along the banks had a straight line of mud from where the river was several feet higher just a few days ago. Huge earth worms littered the path. Most had already been stepped on but one was stretched out to almost a foot long. I had to turn around and save it. I couldn't bear the thought of someone's heartless foot coming down on it.

It was shortly after the worm save that I decided to walk. The trail seemed to go on forever and without knowing where the end was I couldn't keep my legs moving. I had no watch so I couldn't tell you how long I walked for but I don't think it was too long at all.

When the end was in sight, I felt my strides get longer and I passed by a few folks. I saw Jenny rounding the corner to get a spot where she could cheer me on. (Thanks Jen!)

My legs are sore today. I don't remember the last time my legs were sore for running. Even when Phil and I went four miles over Thanksgiving they didn't feel like this. It's a good sore though and it means I ran had and I feel less bad about walking. It also shows what great shape that Jenny is in! Holy crap, girl!

It's not official but I think I came in at about 32 minutes.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Nature is so amazing!

Disclaimer: I do not want people to get hurt or for their property to be damaged, but nature is AMAZING!

Seattle was just hit with over 5" of rain over the past couple of days. We are used to rain, yes, but not quite like this. Our soils have not developed over thousands of years to regularly absorb this kind of water. Flooding is natural, however. That is why we have such fertile areas like the Auburn Valley and fields of tulips up north. When the river spilled over its banks, historically, it would displace nutrient rich silt we still enjoy today.

Over the past two hundred years (give or take) we have cut forests, paved land, drained wetlands and straightened streams. No one can argue that these practices have altered the natural flood regime. We try so hard to control nature that when an event like this occurs, I cannot help but cheer nature on! "Lay your silt! Gouge those river banks! Find your own way!"

I am sorry for those who are facing injuries and damages to their property.