running in review

So as the Day for the Bellingham Bay Half marathon looms,I am looking back at the past six months and reflect. I cannot believe I am going to participate in a Half Marathon let alone run it. Those who know me well know that I have never been athletic in any many. For those of you who don't know a marathon is 26.2 miles, making a half marathon 13.1. Over the past six months I have gotten up early on Saturday mornings to train for this event. Several times I was tempted to roll over in bed and not go in, and I am proud to say I only missed 3 runs. When we first started I couldn't even run a full lap around Lake Padden (2.6miles) without walking breaks. Now when people say they are going to do a 5k, I think "no problem, I do that on my own during the week pushing a baby in a stroller".
Our coach said at about halfway through training that going from 0-6 miles was harder than 6-13 miles. I would have to agree. It seemed that once we go to the 7 mile point I had no problem with the bigger runs.
the other day I was asked what I think about while running. well I have to say i have been blessed to be able to do the long runs with my future sister-in-law Kristi or with two girls I knew from grade school. So when you have a buddy you can chat with it makes the miles fly by. But during the week or the times that I haven't had a buddy, my mind wanders to very thing and anything. from what I will write about on our Christmas card to what I will do this weekend. I truly believe the I-pod is the running gizmo of the century. Having songs that lift you up not only in a mood but spiritually has been wonderful. I tried to figure out why I have kept up with this program. whether it is having had someone to be accountable to or just having a goal to work towards. In the beginning when running for 25 minutes was a challenge and I wanted to stop and walk for a bit. I would tell myself "if you don't push yourself now, how do expect to finish the race later?" Really this has been true the whole time and I have found it to be true in other aspects of my life.

So I hope to update after the big race and tell you all how it went.


Side note:
as I have been doing this Joel has been really supportive by taking Phillip on Saturday mornings. When I first talked with Joel about doing this he said "Yeah, what it's like for six weeks?", "no" I said "six months". Joel has taken on the whole responsibility of getting Phillip up and sometimes dressed and fed, while I am off running. The funny thing that I have noticed is the clothing combinations that Phillip is wearing. sometimes it might be the extremely dirty Carhartts he wore on Friday, others it is tan camo shorts with a turquoise shirt. As I was running the other day I thought, "oh no all of Phil's clothes are in laundry baskets(clean), Joel probably doesn't know that". Sure enough Phil is wearing a thermal shirt and Really short sweat pants, like 12month size. This last week I told Joel there is a pair of Overalls on drying rack he can wear, when I came and got Phillip he had on the overall, but the shirt Joel paired with it was on Backwards. so if nothing else this training has brought a smile to my face when I see what combination of clothes Joel has picked out for him.

Six years of wedded Bliss or Something Like it

Then

I can't believe Joel and I have been married for six years now. Sometimes it feels like it feels like it has been a few months and other times it feels like an eternity. I can hardly believe the journey we have been through. The highs and lows, the struggles and the triumphs. I know without a doubt we could not have done it without the help of The Lord. I do Love Joel with all my Heart and hope that we are Blessed beyond all we can ask or imagine, from our Heavenly father, in the years to come.

Now

Rockaby Baby

I once heard someone say, "you don't know the last time you will read 'Goodnight Moon' to your children, until it is already over." Lesson being, cherish moments with them, because you never know if they will be your last.
Yesterday Phillip woke up from his nap in a cuddly mood. Phillip is not one to be very cuddly, except after he has woken up, he will sometimes lay his head on your shoulder for a minute. So yesterday when he hung out on my lap I savored the moment. Pretty soon I saw his little eyes get heavy and soon he was off to sleep again. As I sat and rocked him, I wondered "will this be the last time I will rock my baby to sleep?". I had thought this the last time this happened a few months back, but today I was bless with this moment again. I contemplated going and putting him back in his crib and getting on with my house work, but I opted not too. Taking in the precious few minutes with my "not so little any more" boy in my arms, for this very well could be my last time to rock him to sleep. I was not about to stop this moment short.
Shortly after a radio commercial startled him and he woke up again. He soon hopped out of my lap and went on being his normal toddlers self. The few short minutes made me think about how much he has grown and how fast it has gone. Soon he will be driving and bringing home girlfriends, but today he was my baby, and always will be.

GO Belles

So we all went to go see the local Baseball team play last night. We had a great time cheering on the Belles. I can't tell you a whole lot about the game, because I was to busy watching Phillip. We think His first Ballgame was a success. Here are some highlights.

Watching the Game and Eating my Nachos.

Having a drink, if nothing else, Phil liked the Baseball game, because of all the food.

Bouncy House, the second Phil saw this he wanted to do it. Then when it came time for him to go in he was scared so the girl let Joel go in with him, then He didn't want to leave.

approx. 5 MPH

So I ran the Chuckanut Footrace on Saturday. This is a 7 miles running race from Marine park to Larrabee State Park. I finished without having to go in the ambulance!!! that was my number one goal!! My time was 1:19:54 about an 11:20 mile. although this is no that great, I feel I I did fairly well considering 7 miles is the most have ever run.

So here is a Mile by mile:
Sign in: 900 people at marine Park, Long lines for the Bathrooms, not standing in those, will regret that later. Don't have to stand in line long to get my Number and chip. Get all that fastened on. Find Friend, Hillary, I have been running with, good won't run alone. Then See Kristi, She is more goal oriented so she doesn't want to run with me this time. get in the line up, way in the back with all the other 11min milers.

9am gun starts. 9:01 I cross the start line. really slow going there are a lot of People here. first mile is really sunny and Hot. Finally we get on the trail, shade Finally!! Hillary are keeping in pace with each other.

Mile 2 are they measuring this right? feels we have been running forever. Man I should have stood in line for those bathrooms, not stopping now. California Hill really Big and long, I'll walk up it. Friends have told me this is a better Idea, you don't lose as much time, but save a ton of energy walking big hills.

2.5 miles Water Station Yes. kicked back some GU (an electrolyte Gel).

Mile 3- Hillary are keeping pace, but I can tell she is struggling to keep up

Mile 4- a little old lady pulls up next to me (she could seriously be about 70 years old). There is no way I am going to let her beat me. Speed up a little. Lose Hillary. put ipod in. Yes good songs come up.

Mile 5- feeling great Water Station Yeah. Small, but steep down hill loose gravel, walk down it as I hate down hill. then replace time powering up some small hills.

Mile 6- Blisters start forming, oww. funny pain in my shins start coming up. no big deal. almost there. See park and Traffic. Start Sprinting (I don't tend to do this in training, but in races it just comes natural to power on to the end). Cross the street. downhill, slowdown my running, as to not lose control and fall over the finish line.

Mile7 - Yeah!!!!! find food and Water and Friends and Joel(that is another Story).

4th of July Weekend

Joel and Phil at Birch Bay throwing rocks


Our weekend started on Thursday Night. Joel Came home and Took Phil and I out to dinner at CJ's Beach House in Birch Bay. we had a wonderful meal and then went over to the beach and watched the sunset. Phil enjoyed throwing just about everything smaller than him, back into the bay.



Friday we slept in!!!! even Phil as we kept him out late the night before he slept til 10am. After Breakfast Joel had to finish a few things at the Yard so he took Phil with him until Nap time. What a nice little Break. Friday Night we went to a BBQ at our friends the Struiksmas. we had fun just sitting around, eating, watching fireworks. Poor Phil did finally fall asleep, but woke up from all the noise and was very scared after that.




Phil with Grammy and His cousins Annie, Quin, and Madi watching fireworks


Saturday, I got up at 6am to go run an easy 4.5miles on the interurban trail!! back home by 9am after a quick stop at the store. Then after I got ready we went down to get Breakfast in Ferndale. Most of the rest of my fourth was spent running a few errands and cleaning out my car. in the evening we went to had a BBQ at my aunts with my cousins. It was so fun to Watch Phillip play with his cousins who are all older and girls. we came in and they were playing with the castle and princesses. they quickly changed gears to Farms and Noah's ark for Phil in Fear he would break the pink carriage. Later they lit of Sparklers and other small Kiddie fireworks, Phil wasn't scared this time. Afterwards we drove over to Grandma where we could all watch the city of Bellingham fireworks from their Deck. Playing with the cousins

Sunday we went to church. I had to sing and Joel had to drive the Church bus. Joel wasn't back at about the time we were starting and I couldn't find anyone to watch Phil so I just carried him up there. Phil took one look at my Mic and grabbed it and went aaahhh right in it before anyone started it was so cute. Then Someone from the back was motioning that she would take him so I started to put him down and he would not have it. For a few minutes the front of the Church was the Beth and Phil Show. Before we were through the first song Joel Showed up and rescued Phil (or was it me that was rescued?). We got home and and took the rest of the day easy. Our late night the last few days made us all pretty tired.

all in all a nice holiday weekend!!!

Lake Chelan Vacation

Phil on the Beach

So it has been almost a Week since we got back from Lake Chelan, and I am just Getting around to posting the experience. So I am Sorry. Well our week in Chelan was really great just a nice time with my Family, relaxing and playing around. We took over my Grandparents as they were the ones with the time-share and they really shouldn't be driving very far any more. So we all loaded into the Truck. We packed just about everything except the kitchen sink. Our Friends the Coty's lent their SeaDoo and Kayak so we were able to pull those with us as well. the trip over went Fairly well taking, Phil got fussy only at the very end of our trip right outside of Chelan.

First Time on a Teeter-totter

Our condos were right on the beach so we only had a short walk across the lawn and we were at the swimming area. We spent plenty of time playing with Phillip in the sand. Often going for walks up to the playground, or the indoor pool. one day Joel and Phil went for a Bike ride they had so much fun that all three of us went the next day. One morning we went for a paddle in the Kayak with Phil (who really needed a nap), well this is about the second time Joel and I have gotten in a Two person man powered boat and I think it will be the last. Joel makes it his priority to tell me how I can't steer. Joel and I Enjoyed going out on the SeaDoo when the weather cooperated.

Learning the art of blowing bubbles

My Mom, Grandma and I were able to go to Chelan one afternoon and Go shopping, while the boys went and scouted the territory and found a really nice view via "unmaintained roads".

Joel and Phil on a Bike Ride, aren't they cute?

We were also able to kick our feet up while Phillip slept and watch some TV (something we don't have at home). Joel and I were able to go out and drinks and Dessert one night alone while Granma and Granpa watched Sleeping Phil.

We found a really good breakfast place called Blueberry Hills, Joel and I would make the trek over there just for Breakfast if we could it was reeeally good.

Granma, Phil, Joel, Me and Granpa wearing our Hairnets at the Aplets & Cotlets Factory!!

On the way home we stopped at Cashmere Washington to tour the Aplets and Cotets factory. Very Interesting!! Then drove over to Leavenworth for Lunch. We made it home Safe and Sound.