well, the marathon is over (at least this one) and christmas is oh so near! as is my sister's wedding, my sister's birthday and thanksgiving. couldn't you have spread things out a little bit for your old sis? haha
i found some really fun yarn at joann's last weekend. it's cream with a bit of purple and gold twisted through it. i just bought one ball thinking i'd make it into a scarf for a present or something. ;)
the pictures for the marathon have been posted online and the ones i'm in crack me up. i'm grinning in every picture. not sure if this is because i saw cameras and smiled or if i was really grinning the whole time. there are some things you just can't remember during a time like that. last night was the first night i could run again and it was so nice! i'm gonna miss arcadia...especially the families of gorgeous peacocks you have to weave through when you run through the neighborhood. :)
today is sooo glorious outside! but it's time for me to get crackin' on a billing something or other for work. tonight it's packing time and counting rsvps for my sister time. i'm hoping to have a few spare moments to knit or work on a "race day" sketch...
Monday, October 17, 2005
i ran my first marathon yesterday.
running a marathon is a strange thing to talk about afterwards. all i remember are these snapshots of the race itself.
the beginning...getting up at 4...arriving at 5:30...lightning over the ocean...the stars shining on the bikers who were preparing for their 6:00 a.m. start...getting to the port-o-potties twice before the crowds hit them (it's a good thing to be early!!)...stretching out with the beach runners...going to the start...weaving our way through the crowd...telling ourselves we'd do a 9 minute pace...the gun shot...pinching myself that i was doing this...under the bridge...over to the queen mary...a band that was setting up...thinking that by the time they were set up we would have all passed them...going up the hill i had trained on for months and passing two amazing men in wheelchairs...incredible...the tugboat spouting water in the distance...
back to downtown...cheering...onto the bike path...being passed by the barefoot runner himself...surreal to see him after reading so much about him...he was so light on his feet...the bike path and the stiff headwind...the girl who slipped and FELL and who jumped up quicker than anything (dear God, is she okay?!)...the waves crashing onto the sand...such a gorgeous day!...that gel that was too sweet on mile 9...the split for the half-marathon at mile 12...looking back and seeing the crowd in the distance at the finish line and thinking, 'well, i'll see you in a couple more hours'...the neighborhoods dotted here and there with people holding out bags of jolly ranchers and peppermints (at the end)...going down past mother's beach and looping back up appian way before the overpass...seeing cute guy (who trained this whole last summer in long beach) running behind me (never saw him again)...
the loneliness of mile 18 and 19 before cal state long beach..."julie" who had phil. 4:13 on her shirt (saw her 3 or 4 times)...being so thankful...and overwhelmed at God's goodness...the people you pass and who pass you the entire race...the korean guy in a speedo...the interior muscles of my knee cramping as i ran up a hill (it hurt MUCH worse to walk, so i continued running--owwweee)...the cheerleaders cheering in front of their school that made me get choked up...the lady with the flag who apparated 4 times during the course...my ankle making its presence known with an hour to go...sucking on candies...the pads of my feet making their presence known...was there a rock in my shoes or was i imagining it?...not wanting to run anymore...telling myself i wouldn't walk and then walking 2 seconds later...
running with steve up the hill at mile 23...getting a picture with steve at the end of that hill...thinking how fast he was going and then thinking that he was probably thinking the same about me when he said, "wow, you're flying-keep it up"...thinking how unnecessary all the hills on this "flat and fast" course were...being sad to be passed by so many people (you are passed the entire stinkin' race)...finding two guys to become my arch nemesises and passing them over and over again (i beat them in the end)...a bite of orange somewhere...a beautiful cup of homemade pink lemonade that a little girl gave me (i love you, little girl)...the rain starting on the fourth hour...being given an army bar (hooyah? i knew i couldn't eat it but wanted it for later)...seeing bits of said bar spit along the course...wondering when it would ever end...wondering where in the heck i was...thinking, "wow, i'm a middle packer" over and over (i have no idea why)...a guy yelling out "1349!" and thinking that was my split for the mile i had just run and how slow i had become (it was actually my race number)...
having to walk a couple times during the last 2 miles...the family that cheered me on the last 5 blocks and got me going again...the old woman who passed me and who i passed on the way in (bad jennie, such bad manners i have)...the family that accosted their daughter on the corner with tears and hugs and how she sprinted so fast for the finish line, she beat me by at least a minute...the crowd at the end...the finish line--oh, the amazing finish line...wanting so badly to cry...being handed a bottle of water...seeing a sea of people and just wading through the crowd...the legs...oh, the legs...walking to the grass and seeing nae on the other side of the fence...nae laying my jacket out and helping me down to the grass (it's a bit hard to sit down that far when your legs are stone)...lying there with my legs to my chest...bliss!!!...steve coming by and shaking my hand...bless him...being incredibly hungry and disappointed in the post-race party which had no food except for a kettle corn booth...wandering back to the car and seeing the finish line one last time...chattering all the way home...eating a baby hamburger and a small chocolate mcflurry...YUM!!!...getting home and realizing, 'wow. i just ran my first marathon.'...being oh so very thankful again.
running a marathon is a strange thing to talk about afterwards. all i remember are these snapshots of the race itself.
the beginning...getting up at 4...arriving at 5:30...lightning over the ocean...the stars shining on the bikers who were preparing for their 6:00 a.m. start...getting to the port-o-potties twice before the crowds hit them (it's a good thing to be early!!)...stretching out with the beach runners...going to the start...weaving our way through the crowd...telling ourselves we'd do a 9 minute pace...the gun shot...pinching myself that i was doing this...under the bridge...over to the queen mary...a band that was setting up...thinking that by the time they were set up we would have all passed them...going up the hill i had trained on for months and passing two amazing men in wheelchairs...incredible...the tugboat spouting water in the distance...
back to downtown...cheering...onto the bike path...being passed by the barefoot runner himself...surreal to see him after reading so much about him...he was so light on his feet...the bike path and the stiff headwind...the girl who slipped and FELL and who jumped up quicker than anything (dear God, is she okay?!)...the waves crashing onto the sand...such a gorgeous day!...that gel that was too sweet on mile 9...the split for the half-marathon at mile 12...looking back and seeing the crowd in the distance at the finish line and thinking, 'well, i'll see you in a couple more hours'...the neighborhoods dotted here and there with people holding out bags of jolly ranchers and peppermints (at the end)...going down past mother's beach and looping back up appian way before the overpass...seeing cute guy (who trained this whole last summer in long beach) running behind me (never saw him again)...
the loneliness of mile 18 and 19 before cal state long beach..."julie" who had phil. 4:13 on her shirt (saw her 3 or 4 times)...being so thankful...and overwhelmed at God's goodness...the people you pass and who pass you the entire race...the korean guy in a speedo...the interior muscles of my knee cramping as i ran up a hill (it hurt MUCH worse to walk, so i continued running--owwweee)...the cheerleaders cheering in front of their school that made me get choked up...the lady with the flag who apparated 4 times during the course...my ankle making its presence known with an hour to go...sucking on candies...the pads of my feet making their presence known...was there a rock in my shoes or was i imagining it?...not wanting to run anymore...telling myself i wouldn't walk and then walking 2 seconds later...
running with steve up the hill at mile 23...getting a picture with steve at the end of that hill...thinking how fast he was going and then thinking that he was probably thinking the same about me when he said, "wow, you're flying-keep it up"...thinking how unnecessary all the hills on this "flat and fast" course were...being sad to be passed by so many people (you are passed the entire stinkin' race)...finding two guys to become my arch nemesises and passing them over and over again (i beat them in the end)...a bite of orange somewhere...a beautiful cup of homemade pink lemonade that a little girl gave me (i love you, little girl)...the rain starting on the fourth hour...being given an army bar (hooyah? i knew i couldn't eat it but wanted it for later)...seeing bits of said bar spit along the course...wondering when it would ever end...wondering where in the heck i was...thinking, "wow, i'm a middle packer" over and over (i have no idea why)...a guy yelling out "1349!" and thinking that was my split for the mile i had just run and how slow i had become (it was actually my race number)...
having to walk a couple times during the last 2 miles...the family that cheered me on the last 5 blocks and got me going again...the old woman who passed me and who i passed on the way in (bad jennie, such bad manners i have)...the family that accosted their daughter on the corner with tears and hugs and how she sprinted so fast for the finish line, she beat me by at least a minute...the crowd at the end...the finish line--oh, the amazing finish line...wanting so badly to cry...being handed a bottle of water...seeing a sea of people and just wading through the crowd...the legs...oh, the legs...walking to the grass and seeing nae on the other side of the fence...nae laying my jacket out and helping me down to the grass (it's a bit hard to sit down that far when your legs are stone)...lying there with my legs to my chest...bliss!!!...steve coming by and shaking my hand...bless him...being incredibly hungry and disappointed in the post-race party which had no food except for a kettle corn booth...wandering back to the car and seeing the finish line one last time...chattering all the way home...eating a baby hamburger and a small chocolate mcflurry...YUM!!!...getting home and realizing, 'wow. i just ran my first marathon.'...being oh so very thankful again.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
after your first marathon, it is only fitting to make an inspirational collage, right? :) unfortunately, this picture is pretty blurred, but the verse says:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
love that.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
the night before my first marathon...everything's ready and i have nerves like no tomorrow. good grief! i found myself sending out a desperate mass email to all my family and friends begging them to pray for good weather (there's supposed to be a downpour tomorrow)...breathe, jen, it's gonna be alright. :)
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
the etsy site is so much fun i thought i'd post a couple of new iwa scarves on it. oooh, i LOVE these scarves! the "fall-time" scarf is thick and scrumptious--it would be perfect for a COLD day. the "dreamy" scarf is lighter, but since it is a wool blend, it is also nice and warm. i just love these colors. :) mmmmm
click here to go to the shop
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