(Almost) Wordless Weekend - Rancho Siempre Verde Tree Farm

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at one of our favorite holiday places: Rancho Siempre Verde tree farm! It's the perfect place to spend a little time playing in the hay bales and on the swings, roasting and eating marshmallows by the enormous fire pit, and making wreaths!  We lucked out with the weather, because we had high fog from our house all the way to Pigeon Point Lighthouse, but it was sunny at the tree farm.

View from the top of the hill, toward the ocean

One of the gazillion swings hung from the trees

Someone liked building hay forts with a bunch of new pals

View of the wreath-making tables and the fire pit

Mmmmm!  S'more time!

Time for Pubsgal to make a wreath...

Why do we torture these children with such boring outings?

A ride on the swings can be so Zen...

Things on swings!

(Yes, Mom and Dad were on this outing, too)

2011 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run 5K Race Report and Other Stuff

She's ALIVE!!!

It's a small, pre-Christmas miracle:  I have a few minutes to put together a blog post!  Woot!

Naturally, I have about 5 gazillion things I've been wanting to blog about.  But since there are probably about 50 gazillion other things I should be doing right now (like sleeping), I think I'll stick to just a few things I've been wanting to catch up on for awhile now...

December Already?!?

Aaaaiiiieee!  Aaaaiiieeee!  

It's time for The Tree!!!

We've got the tree and the lights up, and most of the kids' gifts purchased, but we're facing the annual quandary:  what photo for our cards this year?  Hopefully we'll have some nice weather next weekend, so that we can figure out a family photo.  Maybe at our favorite tree farm, Rancho Siempre Verde...where we never buy a tree, because we have an artificial one, but where we go to make wreaths, roast marshmallows, and ride on the tire and rope swings.

2011 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run - Race Report


My 4th Pumpkin Run! I love this race - it was the first one I did when I was regaining my fitness, and so it has a special place in my heart. I'd been revisiting the Couch-to-5K program, because I had felt like I'd lost a lot of my running capacity this year, and I was in week 5.  So my main goals this year were to have fun, to finish, and to feel grateful that I didn't have any injuries to keep me from running it this time.


We'd had the most gorgeous week we'd had all year, and yet...Sunday, October 16, 2011 dawned grey and overcast.  Not too cold, and it didn't threaten to rain like last year.  But it seems like every year the race is overcast.  Sing it with me:  tra-di-TION!  TRADITION!

This year's was enjoyable, as always, and I think this one was the biggest one yet!  I counted, in the results, 556 people in the 5K and 272 in the 10K! The female 40-49 group is the biggest by far, in both races.

There were a ton of people milling around before the race, enjoying the usual pre-race goodies.  I was enjoying the pre-race lines at the ladies' room!  The kids' race was the usual cuteness overload...so many beaming faces running across the finish line.  I also enjoyed all of the pumpkin attire-hats and shirts-and one group of ladies had gone with a "wicked witch" theme: bright green t-shirts with witches and the stencilled words, "Wicked Witch of the South Bay," North Bay, East Bay, etc.  Another thing I noticed this year were some tutus!  Tutu'd running seems to have finally reached the coastside.

(Oh!  I just found a very cool YouTube video of the race.  Click here to see what it's like!  I especially liked seeing the PUMPKINS group's approach to the finish line, which I didn't get to see in person at the race.)

I discovered this year the problem with an unchipped race.  I was in the bathroom when it started, and trotted across the starting line right behind the walkers.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a peek at the starting line clock, so I will never know what my true time was for the race.  But I am proud that even though I didn't even come close to a PR, and though I hadn't finished the C25K, I ran just about all-only a short walk at the water station-and I didn't have anything left in my tank by the end.  I think my favorite part was chatting with the runner I'd been leap-frogging during the race, a relatively new mom who had just done C25K and who was running her first race!  I had kept a look out for some of my hula class friends, but it turns out they had run the 10K instead; I did see several of my kids' preschool friends' families.  I love that in this race, there always seem to be a few familiar faces.

By my watch, I finished in around 36 minutes, but my official time was 38:15.
Finished? Check!
Had fun? Check!
Felt grateful to be out there and running? Check!
Wish I'd trained a little better?  Check!  But that'll just make me hungrier to do better next year, right...? ;-)

 Here's to #4, and hopefully many more!

Random Item, Filed Under "Coincidences That Seem Contrived"

Do you ever have incidents in your life that are coincidental, but seem otherwise?  I was out of one of my lunchtime walks one day, about a month ago.  Mr. Handsome-and-Handy and I had been grumpy with each other that morning, and I was thinking about how sad I felt about it.  Then, there in my path, was this lone leaf.  I saw it as a sign that I was so loved, even when I didn't feel like it.  I also see it as a good sign that I jumped to the "heart-shaped" conclusion.  Because upside-down?  It kind of looks like the opposite sort of thing that The Mr. and I were both sort of being earlier that day.

Weird Stuff Pubsgal Eats #534:  Chocolate Kale?!?
(This probably belongs over on the sadly abandoned "Pubsgal Eats."  But oh well.)

The other day, I was in a funk, and close to a Whole Foods.

When I'm in a funk, I know in my head that food is not the answer.  But sometimes, nothing soothes the soul like either something chocolate or some crispy, intensely-flavored kale snacks.  Usually the two are mutually exclusive.  But in my moment of weakness, I succumbed to a quirky combination I had been eyeing but hadn't quite gotten the gumption to try yet: chocolate-covered kale snacks.

"Ingredients:  Organic Kale, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Cacao Powder, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Vanilla Extract and Blessings."  Curious...I didn't know that "blessings" tasted like vanilla...they must have confused it with the cacao, or else were simply being redundant, since "cacao and blessings" is sort of like the anti-"corn syrup and sugar."

Hmmm...such an unfortunate appearance.... 

Most of the crunchy kale snacks I eat are quite crisp, like a dehydrated salad.  The chocolate kale pieces were heavy and hard, but when you started chewing them, they turned out to be more chewy-textured than crisp.  The taste was kind of interesting...sweet, nutty at first, then quite chocolatey.  I didn't taste the kale very much at all. Given the appearance, I had expected something much more chalky in taste and texture.  Admittedly, this stuff stayed in my desk drawer far longer either chocolate or other kale snacks typically do...but you know, for a "what was she thinking" purchase, they were pretty good!  It sure would make a fun holiday gift for any friends who are following a vegan & raw way of eating.

That's all for now!  I look forward to reading about everyone's holiday adventures.  I might not comment as much as I used to, but know that I'm reading and cheering you on!

"If you can't beat 'em, offer 'em shots"

Or, "A Volunteer's View of the Half Moon Bay International Marathon"

So much to write about, so little time! But I've gotta take a little time and write my latest race recap...

On Sunday, September 25, 2011, I woke bright and early and prepared to head over to the inaugural Half Moon Bay International Marathon. It was actually several running events: a free 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon, and a full marathon.

Sadly, I wasn't going as a runner. Or even a walker, for that matter. It sold out!  But it was as something I'd been wanting to try for a long time: as a volunteer. So if I wasn't racing, why did I have trouble sleeping? Maybe I was channeling all the pre-race vibes floating around our town...

I arrived at the parking lot at the base of the Pillar Point bluffs before dawn.  It was dark, but not too cold.  There were staff people coordinating the high schoolers who were stationed along the bluffs to direct people along the trails.  The aid station organizers arrived, and we set to work:  mixing the electrolyte drink, cutting the Cliff block packages in half, and setting out cups of water and electrolyte.  The wasps were bad - trying to swim in the electrolyte cups and all - but no one got stung, thank goodness!

About an hour later, we heard the sirens:  the marathon had begun!  The event was limited to 500 entries across all races, and there were a little over 100 people in the marathon.  However, they would pass our station four times, so we had to be ready for them.  I liked the way the race bibs had the participants' names printed on them, and how there were red bibs for the first time marathon racers - a nice touch!  We cheered, we handed out goodies and beverages (it made it easier when runners would call out what they needed before they quite got to us, so we could direct or get the right thing in place).  We chatted in between waves.

One marathon racer, I noticed, was carrying a pink rose.  On his 4th pass, we found out why:  he was racing in memory of his wife, who had died this past spring of breast cancer.  She was only 42.  Hoo boy, that really got to me.  We all gave him hugs and wished him well, and not just in the race that day.

On a lighter note, on the 3rd pass, one of the runners called out, "You must cheer on my beautiful friend Dee Dee, who's right behind me and is going to pass me soon!"  So we all started chanting, "Go, Beautiful Dee Dee, go!"

Our aid station was near Mile 2 of the first loop,
the trail out to Foo Rock at the foot of the Pillar Point bluffs

The aid station, all stocked and ready!
Our station leaders were well-prepared!

How 'bout a shot?

(Yes, that's my "I though they said 'rum' " shirt.  

Too bad it was too cold to show it off, except for in this picture!)

After my time at the aid station, I went over to the start/finish line to help. They had the essentials pretty well covered, so one of the staff members had me help as one of the recycling assistants. While I felt a little superfluous at the time, helping people properly sort their disposables, I think the event has a good shot at their goal of attaining a Gold Certification through the Council for Responsible Sport organization (CRS), if this picture of the landfill waste I saw is any indication: one of those big ol' garbage truck boxes with a bitty pile of bags at one end of it.

What was cool was talking to the finishers, and seeing some familiar faces. One was of one of my former neighbors who ran the 1/2 marathon; she placed 13th in her age group! Another was one of the women in my hula class. I also saw the Pink Rose Runner and his family, but he was without the rose. I saw this photo later: he had laid his rose at the finish line.

Popping in for a Quick "Hello"

Wow, that "summer" went fast!  (The quotes are because I think we had less than 10 sunny days the entire summer.) There's a lot I could write about right now, but we're back to school today.  The first day went great; Things 1 & 2 were very happy when I got home.  I knew Thing 1 was excited and happy; he has had the same teacher for 3 years now (it's a combined 3/4/5 classroom) and he knows what to expect.  Thing 2 was anxious about having a new teacher, but she reported that she LOVES her new teacher.  Whew!  Things 1 & 2 go to a small school, only about 80 kids, so they know everyone in their classes except for a few new kids to the school this year.

Anyhow, I have 10 minutes before bedtime.  Here's tonight's train of thought:

• How are Pubsgal and fast food restaurants alike?  Saw a great article on the Mills Peninsula blog, about portion sizes, by one of their nutritionists. The link includes a video segment.  Here's the link: http://www.mphsblog.org/2011/05/portioncontro/.  Here's an interesting fact regarding restaurant portion creep:  The child-size portion at fast food restaurants today? "That was a standard adult-size portion 20 years ago." This is timely, because the panicked ranting & raving post I drafted back in January and never published, about not having an "Overweight" BMI anymore?  Well...same situation, plus a few more pounds.  It's not so much about the number on the scale or BMI number anymore as it is about as feeling physically uncomfortable in my own skin, never mind my pants!  And I swear I thought of that before I started listing to Lynn's interview on Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone, in which she talks about becoming physically comfortable in her own skin, and that discomfort being a sign to rein things in.  Anyhow, my food plan is to weigh and measure portions and to use the My Fitness Pal tracker daily.  I've been enjoying this tool, because I swear, its search finds EVERYTHING!  I hardly have to enter any new data. My other goals are to stay under my quite reasonable calorie allotment, eat healthy things I enjoy, and limit my starches and sugars to only the MOST worthy items and quantities.  Oh, you know, all the stuff that worked before when I did it consistently. ;-)  Updated fitness goals to follow:  right now, I'm rebooting my running with C25K in preparation for the Pumpkin Run in October, hoping hula class will survive the new school year, but I need to figure out a new strategy for getting more strength in there.

• Speaking of running:  ALL events at the Half Moon Bay Marathon were sold out before I had a chance to register!  How RUDE!  But before I could get too "pouty puffer" about it, I submitted a volunteer application. Turns out that I'll be working at the Maverick's aid station, and then helping at the start/finish line.  I always wanted to volunteer for an event, so this is a great opportunity!  (With riding my bike to and from the event locations and helping out, I'll probably burn as many calories as running my 10K. And my volunteers' t-shirt will be free.  :-)  If you're interested in volunteering, here's the link: http://halfmoonbayim.org/event/volunteer/.  They need help for the race expo on the days preceding the event, not just event day itself.
  

• Speaking of sports and events:  Diabetes Hands Foundation will be having a fundraising party at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek on September 10, from noon until 2 p.m. (It's Thing 1's 10th birthday, so I can't go, but maybe YOU can!)  According to organizer Emily Walton, "We will be screening our fundraising videos, offering food and drinks, and you will receive a coupon for 10% off everything you spend. Sports Basement will also donate 10% of everything you spend to DHF! They have great TRI gear, trust me, I shop there all the time!" Event details on the TuDiabetes web site: http://www.tudiabetes.org/events/583967:Event:2160403.
  

• And speaking of triathlon and fundraising:  Can the woman who kicks Type 2 diabetes' ass on a regular basis help kick blood cancer's ass too?  If anyone can, Foodie McBody can!  She joined Team in Training and is going through an amazing, "stress-citing," and inspiring journey in triathlon training.  Read all about it here: http://foodfoodbodybody.wordpress.com/ And here's her donation page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/Marine11/sitoo6.

 Sheesh...how did 10 minutes turn into 1 hour?  I had better post this and get to sleep now....

Fit Stanley is here! (And other summer stuff)

"Fit Stanley" is here!

A new friend of ours arrived from Austin, TX last week!

"Hi!  I'm Fit Stanley!"

He's enjoying hanging out with the Things...

"Is this another one of your blog things, Mom?"

And I took him for a walk on the coastal trail...

The trail was sunny, but there was fog on the water.  

So much for Stanley's first view of the Pacific Ocean!

He climbs trees with grace and style!

What?!  Trash on the trail?  

Ever mindful of his fit'vironment, you know Fit Stanley had to transport this to a proper receptacle.  

\

Fit Stanley is a great fit'venture companion!  

He never grumbles about the pace being too slow or too fast, and no activity is too humble.

Stay tuned for his continued adventures!  And be sure to check out Fit Stanley and Fit Stella's blog at http://fitstanley.com/.  (Fit Stella just had a great time visiting Christie O, and she even got to go surfing!  Sorry, Stanley, but you'll need to look to another family for that sort of fit'venture.)

How does your garden grow?


Remember this? My "restrained" shopping trip at the nursery?

I thought you might like to see how they're doing now!

This pot was in perfect bloom for Independence Day!  

The catnip, though, is a little worse for the cat love...

Post-planting.  (Actually, this is a few weeks later, because the carrots are starting to show.)

Here it is now!

We've had a couple of snow peas, but no beans yet.  The plant in front is a "ronde de nice" zucchini, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it does here.

Annie's Annuals alpine strawberry.  They stay white, so it's kind of hard to tell when they are ripe...

Lettuce and a blueberry shrub - the blueberries are tasty!  

We just don't get many all at once, though.

Annie's Annuals snapdragons

The snapdragons have been the biggest surprise. I bought single apricot, double apricot, and double pink one, and they are now all blooming.  So beautiful!  The photo really doesn't do them justice.  The shape is different from your regular snap - you can't pop their mouths open and shut, which I was looking forward to showing the kids.  And these got really tall for snaps, the tallest spire is 2.5 feet tall.  (They look taller, though, due to the camera angle, don't they?)

Happy Summer, everyone!

"Be Present" - Not Just Another Pretty Crunch-Granola Phrase

I've been quite absent lately from the blog world. I have Google Reader, which is great for reading, but not quite as good for commenting. And there's this idea in my head that I need to "catch up" with a mega-brilliant post, and that's feeling pretty daunting. (Then again, Crabby McSlacker of Cranky Fitness made a comeback--yeayyy!--so maybe it's not too late...)

"Hmmm," I thought to myself. "Maybe I could just post little 'postlettes,' but more frequently? Or maybe I have something in my drafts that would do?"

And then I came across the following in my rough drafts. I wrote it over a year ago. Funny how I sound just as harried then, eh? This past year has also taught me a lot about how powerful that can be, being present for others, so this finally seemed like the time to post it. Without any further ado....


Ever feel like "just being there" for people can sometimes seem so...passive? Not useful, because we've come to associate usefulness with concrete action?  I know I feel that way more often than I'd like to admit.  It's not a comfortable feeling for me.  I prefer to jump in, do things, take action to bring about the desired result.  

Some of you may remember that time in early 2009, when my mom was admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure and needed heart valve replacement surgery.  I made two trips downstate, while Mr. Handsome-and-Handy kept things running smoothly on the home front.  There wasn't much I could do, other than "be present" with my parents and be their phone liaison to our extended family, so that my step-dad and mom could have the time and space they needed.

Talk about feeling passive and helpless!  To my mind, the important doing was in others' hands.  I was just an extra thumb.  (Although maybe an extra thumb is more useful than one would think.  One of my ancestors had with an extra thumb; too bad I can't go back and ask him.)

Anyhow, one of the mornings we were sitting around, sipping coffee and reading the local paper.  I'm not a big news reader, so I was browsing for the comics, and I came across a Q&A column syndicated from The Kansas City Star called Searching for Answers. The topic was, "How do you comfort a grieving person who doesn't have a faith?" (This article was published on 2009-01-17, Page F12, Kansas City Star, The (MO).  Their archives are available by subscription only, so I'm unable to link to the original.)  Two ministers' thoughtful responses were used for the column.

I know, not a very happy topic when one's mom is in the hospital, is it?  But boy, the first minister's answer and its timing was quite what I call a "woo-woo moment": that is, if my life were a movie, that would be the moment where the soundtrack plays that "woooooooo-EEEEEEE-ooooooooo" music.  You know those coincidences that make you sit up in your chair a little straighter and pay attention?  That makes you ponder along with the X-Files' Agent Mulder: "If coincidences are coincidences, why do they feel so contrived?" Yep, one of those moments.

Rev. Pat Rush advised something called the ministry of presence:

"The ministry of presence requires a willingness to spend time with another in a nonjudgmental and nondirective manner...simply crying with others in their sorrows and rejoicing with them in their good times.  It is the ministry of love and concern for another, fully respecting what the other both believes and doesn't believe.  It is the ministry of 'staying close together' with another." 

In other words, "being present" for someone.  This article and its timing helped me understand that I was doing--by not doing--exactly what my parents needed me to do for them.  (And happily, it all turned out fine:  my mom healed and is doing great, and both parents quit smoking.)

I clipped and saved that article, and I've wanted to blog about it for awhile now.  For some reason, this just felt like the right time to share it.  Maybe because I've been really busy lately and have been unable to "be present" here as much as I'd like to be.  Maybe because I (and others) seem to be struggling with the health and fitness stuff a little more than usual.

When I wonder whether things like Twitter or Facebook are just big time-sucks, or when I feel a little overwhelmed by the whole blog thing, I think about the times when I've shared joys and triumphs, grieved with others, waited and hoped with others for various news or results, or simply listened or felt heard.  This "bring present" thing?  Powerful stuff.

A Trip to the "Candy" Store

Let me take you on a little trip to the candy store...well, a trip to a gardener's "candy" store, that is!

I love flowers and veggies, but I'm a gardener only in the loosest terms.  Mr. Handsome-and-Handy has been bitten by the gardening bug lately, though, and he prepped some planters and wanted me to do a little shopping.

Hmm.  Flowers?  Shopping?  I'm so there.  And I knew just the place for it.  I think I'll just let the photos do the rest of the talking....

Here's the place!  It's like a botanical garden, but everything is for sale!

This is a small section out front - perennials and roses

I thought of Lori when I saw these!

I was really tempted to buy this peony, but I've never grown them, $32.50 is kind of an expensive experiment to try on the gopher-and-snail farm that is our garden.

Here's the inside!  I loved all the hanging baskets.

Did it take a lot of patience to set out all of these impatiens?

I loved this garden-in-a-pot! (Why do mine never look like that?!)

A whole section of just lavenders!

Big, fluffy hydrangeas

Mmmm, freesias!  So fragrant!  I almost bought that one in the foreground.

They fit all this in one container!  ($140?!?  I'll pass.)

A quiet corner of the nursery grounds.  At least the view is free!

This is what "restraint" looks like.

An Anniversary, A Healthiversary, and a Race Report!

Hello, Blogosphere!
(Hello!...Hello!...Helloooo!...)

Well, here we are, nearly at the summer solstice!  I've sure missed posting and commenting in blogland, but I have been reading and silently cheering everyone on! 

Much fun and frolic and end-of-the-school-year craziness happened during the past month, but it's done and we're...well, if not fully chillaxin' here in the fog bank, it's a leetle less crazy.  A couple of photos of our goings-on:

Hangin' with my BFF in the PDX.  Some totally worthy chocolatey stuff at Alma!

Dance Recital time!  

We laughed, we cried, it was better than "Cats."

Oh wait.

It was  "Cats."

(Thing 2 was an elegant black kitty, and Thing 1 had a principle role of  "Bustopher Jones")

Now waiting for the Andrew Lloyd Weber ear worms show tunes to exit my brain...

An Anniversary
Today was Mr. Handsome & Handy's and my 14th wedding anniversary!  Don't worry, I'm not going to get all mushy-gushy and stuff.  He doesn't read my blog.  If he did, though, I'd tell him I love him and thank him for the best 17 years ever!  (We met 17 years ago yesterday! ;-)

A "Healthiversary"
Today is also my 3rd "healthiversary."  Or maybe I should say my "re-birthday."  Coincidentally, today's email from Prevention magazine had the subject line, "You've been diagnosed with diabetes.  Now what?"  3 years ago today, that's exactly what happened and what I was wondering.  (Type 2 + horrible cholesterol panel + borderline osteoporosis, oh my!) While at the time it felt horrible, in a way it was a gift.  Diagnosis helped me get the support I needed to regain my health and well-being.  Thanks to my family (especially Mr. Handsome & Handy), my health care team, and you--my wonderful friends in the blogosphere--I'm hanging in there (granted, by a thread or two at times) and keeping healthy.  And oh, I guess I had a little to do with it, too.  Thank you, me of 3 years ago, for digging in and doing the hard work, for working that "IFNO" mindset.  But and most importantly, for making the decision to live instead of merely exist. 

And a Race Report:  The Pillar Point Run 10K Encore!

Sunday was the 2011 Pillar Point Run!  My running has been sporadic lately, but I really wanted to do this in honor of the "healthiversary."

As I wrote in 2009, the Pillar Point Run was my first foray into 10K races. The event features a 10K, 1/2 marathon, and a family fun run to benefit the Coastside Infant Toddler Center. It's small and low-key, but well-organized, with many water stops along the route and friendly volunteers.  And it seems to get better every year!  I realized during the Rock & Roll Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon, I decided then that the 10K distance was just right, and this race confirmed it.  It felt long enough to be a substantial run, but not so long that I was totally incapacitated for the rest of the day.

So I got up bright and early on Sunday...well, early anyway.  It was too foggy for the "bright" part.  I fetched the family donuts, ate a couple of holes with some peanuts and coffee, and biked up to the harbor.  That was a nice warmup!

 

 My trusty bike at Pillar Point Harbor!  

(Where you wouldn't know it was late Spring....)

I registered for the race and milled around with the rest of the 10K crew, the 1/2 marathoners having left a half hour before us.  The starting point was a little different than the previous time I ran the course, but otherwise it was the same route on my home turf, the Coastside trail! 

At 8:30 we were off!  I felt a giddy little rush as our pack started off, but the gazelles quickly surged forward and the rest of us strung out a bit.  I tried keeping pace with a girl in a purple t-shirt, but she was a bit too quick, so I ended up falling in behind a couple of women, one of whom was running with a jogging stroller.  Their pace seemed a little slow at first, but it ended up being a good thing that I held to it, because it ensured that I had enough in me to run almost the entire way.

I usually don't run with music, but I decided to do so in this race.  I kept it low enough so that it didn't tune all the sounds around me out, like songbirds in the meadows and the ocean.  I don't know that I'll run every race that way, but it sure helps with the longer distances.  (They are not allowed in triathlon events...then again, I can't watch movies when I bike, either, and that doesn't stop me from using that to help me stationary bike more enjoyably.)

Before I knew it, we were at the turnaround point!  Which is right across the highway from my neighborhood.  But there was no heading home for another donut hole:  a big loop around the parking lot, and we were heading back to the harbor.  I walked a little while my "pace stroller" stopped briefly for a break at the water station, then fell in behind them again heading back.

Then the coffee caught up with me.  I held out until the Dunes Beach restrooms (flush toilets, as opposed to pit toilets - that's one of the great parts of the Coastside trail, all the state beaches mean plenty of facilities) and made my stop.  But oh no!  The pace stroller was way ahead!  I started running in earnest then.  It felt kind of good, there was one point where I felt almost giddy, probably the endorphins.  Those gals were rather hard to catch, but I got almost caught up at around mile 5.  Then the stroller's passenger - quite the little mobile cheering crew, cooing at all the runners coming the other direction - started melting down.  "Pace stroller" turned into Formula 1 vehicle, but my body was saying, "Run your own race, now, girlfriend!"  So I didn't try to keep up as they booked it for the finish line.  I finished with a respectable 1:15 and some change, and I was very pleased with that!  When I looked back, I saw that it was only 6 minutes more than my 2009 time, and I was running much more frequently that year (not to mention carrying about 10 pounds less, *cough*).

At the finish line!

(And why IS there never any rum?!?)

I felt like a little post-race fueling, since I also had to bike home, so I probably added about another 1/3 mile or so walking to & from the gelato place. (Lori, they had your macarons there, too!  Another time, though, the gelato was calling...)  The ride home was so pleasant!  I passed a few of the 1/2 marathoners, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the trail.  All-in-all, it was a nice way to celebrate my "healthiversary."

But at least there was gelato!  Yummy-yum-yum!

(I was not the only racer who stopped at Mezza Luna Cafe for a little "schmackerel of something sweet," as Pooh-bear would say...)

So...anyone up for one of the running events at the inaugural Half Moon Bay International Marathon on September 25?  There's a free 5K, a 10K, a 1/2 marathon, and of course the full marathon.  I'm feeling kind of torn about which one to sign up for.  I know I can do the 10K and feel good, the 1/2 marathon would require more training and be a bit more painful...and then there's the full deal, a distance I have never done and never thought I wanted to do.  Not to mention, it's only a few months away.  But sheesh, there's just something about the idea of saying that I participated in the first one...  (Having chatted about it with my doctor yesterday, she said that if I trained for it and just aimed for completion, I could do it if I wanted to.) Something to think about, anyway.