Month: November 2010

I literally unpacked my suitcase last night, did laundry and then repacked it for Thanksgiving in southern California.

I never travel, so this is an unusual back-to-back deal, but thank goodness I’ll be leaving Seattle’s snow/ice situation behind for some more pleasing temps in Cali!

I packed my running shoes, but who knows if I’ll get out to pound the pavement of Brea/Placentia/Yorba Linda. It is Thanksgiving, after all! But there’s talk of a possible trip to Disneyland on Black Friday, and all that walking would count for something, right?

Riiight.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I’ve packed my swim trunks, my flippy floppies and my running shoes for my Caribbean vacation, plus about a zillion other things that make up one very heavy suitcase. How can little tank tops weigh so darn much?

The cruise ship has a fitness room with machines that I assume include treadmills, so I hope to run at least every other day… or maybe a day here and a day there… uhhh, I’ll just do the best I can between the buffet and the bottomless pina coladas.

(Pretty sure there are no bottomless pina coladas, but I’ll try my darndest to make it seem like there are.)

I’m planning for this to be an active trip, with shore activities like ziplining and snorkeling on the tentative agenda. The Green Lake Gobble 5K is the morning after I get back, and I’ll need to stay at least a little in shape to get through it in defiance of jet lag and overall post-vacation exhaustion.

I think I’ll feel better and have more energy, too, if I can get some exercise in. Isn’t that always the case?

I’ll let ya know how it goes!

“Running has taught me that the pursuit of a passion matters more than the passion itself. Immerse yourself deeply in something and with heartfelt intensity – continually improve, never give up – this is fulfillment, this is success.”

• Dean Karnazes

3.85 nonstop miles in 40 minutes.

Half a (crunchy) peanut butter and raspberry preserve sandwich on wheat and an orange for dinner. Yum!

As soon as I got home, Don shoved an ad for the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon under my nose.

I’m thinking half-marathon. June 25, 2011. Yeah?

“There’s really no mystery to what I do. It hurts me just as bad as anyone else. I’ve just learned an essential insight: your legs can only carry you so far. Running great distances is mostly done with your head… and your heart. The human body is capable of amazing physical deeds. If we could just free ourselves from our perceived limitations and tap into our internal fire, the possibilities are endless.”

-Dean Karnazes

“My newfound love of running seemed to awaken a sense of hope. There was something in our future to look forward to; something, perhaps, grand and monumental… My parents could sense my enthusiasm, and I could sense theirs. A flame had been ignited.”

-Dean Karnazes