the white house at the right time

First, I'd like to thank ASI/Marathon. While I muse over which photos to purchase, I'll borrow your photos for this post. Michele and I coming across the finish with lots of other people. Randy coming across the finish line. Solo. Alone in the pack. Notice the smile. He is a happy runner. 2nd marathon this month for him! O.k. so at least this pic shows that it takes some effort on his part to clip along at about 7 min. a mile. I admit when I saw this I thought, "Whoah cheeka you look strained. Hurt?" Actually, Michele and I were pretty regular and easy going the whole race, we talked about our kids, famlies, friends, and goals. Luckily the effort to run a half is less than half the effort for a full.

Which turned out so much faster than we both thought! Not only was it not raining, blessed be , but it was overcast and pleasantly cool, perfect for running, until the afternoon when the sun burst out and blue skies reigned for the rest of the day. Randy ran his personal best marathon time 3:06:56 which earned him a little recognition in the Seattle Times Sunday sports edition as an "overall leader". Pretty awesome! Knowing a little about how much time and training it takes, I am so impressed. So are the kids. But definitely not overly surprised. He is a pretty amazing athlete, aside from being a pretty amazing husband. pretty amazing teacher. pretty amazing husband. pretty amazing honest guy.

Ringing the bell sending off the next runner in my first relay race. Suzanne, Tracy, Makay , Michele, Moi, Bianca. All of them great runners. I was asked by these ladies to join in on a 50 mile relay race from Mt. Rainier to Ruston Parkway (on the Puget Sound). I think people think I can run because Randy is such an awesome running machine, and a great compliment, though I am only slow and steady. I am just getting back into running and have socially been a little quiet lately. So I decided having some girl time and a new experience would be good as long as they weren't counting on me for a fast time. As it happened, Randy also had a marthon the same morning. The Green River Marathon, which he took nice and easy since he is battling a pulled hamstring and is trying to be careful before his next upcoming marathon in 3 weeks. 50 miles later, the finish! In between here and there. More in between here and there. Ruston Parkway. Beautiful. Sunny. Paved :). This was my part of the ...

April Boston Marathon - he trained May and June took time off from running, ran 4 maybe 5 times no more than 8 miles, started visiting chiropractor about pain in back, had x-rays, June 24 another chiropractor appointment June 25 decides to run marathon June 27 runs the inaugural Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon to help coach some friends during their first marathon. Randy, Jason, Jolynn, Aaron, David, Rob This was Jason, Aaron, and Jolynn's first marathon and Randy ran with them as their coach. David ran the 1/2 marathonl, with little training. Rob went for a marathon personal best and got it! He totally loved it, he wasn't running for time, no pressure, it was an absolutely perfect, sunny yet cool day. Is this the face of someone running a marathon ? Seriously, this is crazy! When he saw us along the way, he stopped and gave the kids kisses. He felt good the whole race. He was totally relaxed enjoying the run. Randy already signed up for next year. Still trying to talk me in...

He is one wicked fast runnah ! WAY TO GO..... seriously, I mean it you went way FAR....I am so proud! O.k., it has taken me awhile to get this post up because I had to pay for my few nights of undisturbed, absolutely peaceful nights of sleep - I came home to my baby pushing through 2 more teeth and now she is sick (no, not swine flu!) and is up, and up, and up during the night, and NIGHT is the time I usually work on the computer....so when I get sleep it trumps blogging! So why does he run? Because he loves every horrible, wonderful minute of it! That's part of it, the other part is that it was an outlet after his mom's passing. Now that is a part of his mental running plan...imagining his mom at the finish line, because that is where she would be. I am starting at the finish instead of finishing at the start..... After the marathon, Randy was cold. A biting northeastern wind was blowing and the guy doesn't have a lot of body fat...running does that to him....poor thing. U...