Step by Steping into Relay Mode

Yes this post is delayed but you weren't the wiser.  

Post Banana extravaganza - wait, do you remember this?  

I received a random Tweet from Mason (of NUUN) saying 'Meet your teammates'.  My response - what the what?  He must have me confused with some other awesome blogger/runner.  But no, he meant me and it turns out NUUN wanted me to be a part of a twelve person relay team running Ragnar Northwest Passage! You can read all the details about the race here.

Since the formation of the team my teammates have been continuously brainstorming name and costume ideas (they are all much more creative than me). Just last week we landed on NUUN Kids on the Block with nothing short of the most spectacular neon 80s attire we can muster.  Check out the poster my teammate Holly came up with (just substitute our heads in there and we're golden).

Now back in the day I was anti-NKOTB but the 80s theme is something I can totally get behind. Who doesn't love krimped hair, scrunchies, spandex and neon (to name only a few)?  The team outfit brainstorming session has already begun and I am 100% all in!  In fact, for your viewing pleasure, I present you with my currently selected relay attire.

Modeling - 'In the Van', 'Warm-up', or 'Rainy Weather'

Modeling - 'Team Cheerleader', 'Night Running', or 'Cool Weather'

Modeling - 'Race Ready - Hot and Cool Weather'

Modeling - 'Race Ready - Hot Weather'

I don't know - I think I'm set.  Nothing screams comfort like a bathing suit over shorts, old school kicks, and a track suit.  You'll find these awesome digs flying as Runner #6 of this relay - or better know as legs 6, 18, and 30.  Here are the leg profiles.

Well, until the next installment of neon race attire I'm off to train.  Follow the rest of my nine other blogging teammates below and stay hydrated using the promo code "bloggerslovenuun" to get 15% off your purchase at the NUUN webstore (PS they have a new type - NUUN all day - with awesome flavors like Blueberry Pomegranate).

Becky - runfundone
Alanna - lovemyrunners
Megan - The Daily Sweat
Holly - Leaps of Faith
Stacie - Skipping in Seattle
Lauren - MarathonLar
Jenny - Coming Up Lemon
Tasha - Health Diva
Dawn - Running at Dawn

Aloha Hawaii

This post really could have been titled 'How to skip town when the weather is going to hit record highs... in spring' but that would have been long-winded and overly dramatic.  Because honestly who could argue with 80 degress, on an island, away from home and work, and white sand beaches.  Not this girl.

I somehow squeezed all of this into one carry on.

Gabe and I went to Oahu for a week with my side of the family to celebrate my parent's 40th anniversary and... because we could.  One of the best things about this trip - leaving from Bellingham!  Okay, probably not one of the top best things about this trip but it ranks pretty high up there.  I know - I'm simple.  Seriously though, it's really nice to fly out from home without having to drive an hour plus south and deal with traffic or coordinate someone to take us.  I'll take a five minute drive to the airport with a five minute security check any day.  Small town airports flying cool places FTW!

We flew mid-day and landed in Honolulu around dinner time.  We were pretty pooped early due to the time difference and called it a night after dinner.  The next, and pretty much every day after that involved a beach.  We were staying right in Waikiki, which although crowded and touristy, it's still pretty convenient.  

A summary of our trip - beach, driving, eating, sleeping, running, drinking gin and tonics and mai tais, taking pictures of Zoey, beach, driving, running, drinking, visiting with relatives, eating, beach, drinking, beach, stand up paddle boarding (SUPing), chasing turtles while SUPing, beach, running, driving, eating, sleeping, drinking.  Okay, I think you get the point.

We had a lovely time.  I came away with a new appreciation for tan lines NOT from bike shorts, Udon noodles, sand everywhere, and the palapas of Mexico that give you some shade on the beach... which Hawaii needs to seriously invest in.

As is typical I have pictures to share so here you go if you haven't skipped here already.  Mahalo family for convincing Gabe and I to go.  Oh and Demetra and Collin - you have a child and therefore I have no pictures of the two of you.  Zoey wins!

The view from my parents room.

Beach Time!

Flora

Food and Drink

Walking and Running

Zoey

Traveling Home in Style... or Lack Thereof

Hiking in the Pacific Northwest

This year I promised myself I'd hike more.  I'd take advantage of the extensive trail system I have in my own backyard.  Well, the opportunity presented itself this morning when the forecast had rain and my motivation for riding my bike went right out the window.  Gina jumped right in and said 'how about we go hike the Oyster Dome instead?'  Done!  Sold!  I'm there!

I'm pretty sure I've been up to the Oyster Dome before but it's been years.  Like probably 10.  So all in all this was a 'new' trail for the both of us.  Even with the overcast skies and the slight drizzle through the forest canopy the hike was spectacular.  Great company, beautiful landscape, and excellent exercise - I was pooped at the end.  Here are a few pictures of our adventure.

How Not to Run a 5k and Still PR

A few weekends ago (yes, this is delayed as per usual) I ran the Haggen to Haggen 5k race.  It's an ultra-competitive local race that I've never done before AND everyone swears I should.  It's a race to PR at because it's a net downhill for the 3.1 miles.  Count me in!  I decided late in the week that I was running it.  No real preperation other than simply being able to run again without pain.

Of course in my overly eager, post Huge Eug PR spectating awesomeness, I came up with a race plan that may/may not have been the brightest idea.  I decided that I was going to see 1) how fast I could go and for how long and 2) if I could mentally push through wanting to keel over and die and finish the race strong.  I was going to find the heels of someone fast and hold them as long as possible.

In theory this was a great idea.  In practice... well I kind of did what I set out to do.

Saturday morning I awoke excited and a bit anxious.  I haven't had race nerves in quite some time so it felt good and yet a bit silly to have the butterflies for a 5k.  But such is life.  Corinne and Kyle picked me up and we headed to the race registration.  After registering, shooting the sh** and warming up, we meandered to the starting line - an overly crowded, narrow, and angled side street.  I worked my way up to the front and found my friend Kristi - the 'fast friend' that I was going to try and hang on to.  More shooting the sh** as we stood there and felt more and more like cattle and then the countdown came.  Go time!

Starting out I felt great.  It's a bit of up and down as you make your way towards a main road and since I was towards the front of the pack it cleared out in a hurry.  I was tailgating Kristi like crazy, zigzagging through the crowd just simply watching her shoes and trying not to sprain an ankle in the cracked pavement (the roads in the first part of this race suck by the way).  I saw Amanda and Julie right on my heels as well and knew we were all cruising - this was going to be great...

Until it's not.  Basically once we rounded the corner onto Holly Street and I hit about mile 1 I wasn't feeling so hot.  It's downhill at this point (or a bit earlier but really this is 'the' downhill section) and yet I felt like my body was shutting down.  My arms and legs were like lead weights.  I pulled up a bit and let Kristi, Amanda and Julie pull away.  They were still in sight however, as I negotiated with myself that I would give my body a minute and then make another surge.

Yeah, that didn't happen either.  They slipped further and further away and I watched as a 7 year-old in a cross country kit flew past me.  Oh the good 'ol days - can I go back there?  Mile 2 was just about slowing down a bit and holding on.  Negotiations were happening in my brain left and right but I was determined to just slow down and not stop.  There was no pain and there was no reason to stop.  BUT... My arms still felt like lead, my breathing was labored, and I was just plain sucking wind - and/or just sucking in general.

And so I walked.  Only for a few seconds but man did it feel good.  Oh yeah, and then I walked again... and then maybe one more time.  Seriously!!!  Yeah, that happened.

I just wanted it to be over.  I didn't look at my watch the whole race because frankly I didn't really care about overall time but my expectation of being able to hold on and go fast the whole way was crashing down all around me.  The last mile plus was really a blur.  A guy in fishnet tights, Vibram shoes, purple arm warmers, and a glitter start painted next to his eye passed me right towards the end and that made me die a little inside.  LUCKILY the second 7 year-old to creep up on me (granted there were many others out there and probably a few that beat me) I held at bay.  VICTORY IS MINE!

The finishing time was 21:34.  A PR and yet a disappointment and one gigantic positive split race - AWESOME!  5k and sub-20 you will be mine!  Just let me train for it first.

Death by Banana Suit

Admittedly that title is a bit overly dramatic but on Wednesday and Thursday this week I was seriously starting to dislike my decision to cheer in a banana suit for four hours in Eugene.  Don't get me wrong - I had the time of my life DURING the cheer fest.  

But... Wednesday morning came bright and early and I found myself with a strange tingling/pain on the entire left side of my neck, upper shoulder, and left side of my skull.  It didn't hurt to move it around and I first figured I was just getting sick.  I spent most of that day miserable at my computer, popping zinc cough drops just in case.  

Thursday came with the same results.  My skin felt burned but only on the left side.  It hurt to touch.  With a little prodding from my mom I called my nurse practitioner and was able to get in for an appointment.  I knew this was a little excessive but if the appointment was that easy I figured 'why not?'.  

The result - a pinched nerve I believe (or rather the nurse practitioner believes).  Which makes complete sense based on the dermatome chart seen here (I would have copied the picture but it seemed like that was illegal).  You'll notice the section labeled C2 and C3... yeah, that's exactly where the skin simply hurt.  And if I look it up on Wikipedia (the source of all information these days) - a 'dermatome is an area of skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve'.  Thus, a pinched spinal nerve means weird sensation in my skin in specific areas.

You'll notice, as I've nicely outlined in the picture below, how low the suit sits on my head.  I spent 4 hours with my head cranked back so I could see who I was cheering for - or simply walk from one mile to the next.  The result - I pinched the nerve at the base of my head/top of my neck.  So, note to future self - wear a bigger hat under the 'Naner suit OR opt for the gorilla costume OR the chicken hat.  I like to mix things up anyway.  

PS - the neck is loads better today and I think it's safe to say the nerve has been un-pinched.  Back to cheering for me!