I want to be a loser

So today was weigh in day.  Cleaning day.  I have been feeling good since the race.  Haven’t been over eating.  So I stepped on the scale.  150.  Stepped off.  Moved scale.  Stepped on. 148.5.  Stepped off.  Moved scale.  Stepped on. 149.5.  Keep it.  I was looking back and the last time I stepped on the scale it said 154.  I think I have lost 5 pounds.  Yeah!!  Need to stay on track and if I do I will meet my goal for my reunion. 

My house smells like a fricken dog kennel.  Two weekends ago we had my mother in laws dogs.  I don’t know if it was her dogs or ours, but they used my dining room carpet as a bathroom.  I have been trying ever since to get that stench out.  If my latest attempt doesn’t work I am calling a professional.  I have lost my appetite when I sit in that room.  Maybe that is why I have dropped some weight.  :) 

My goal is to get up and go for a run on Thursday morning.  Friday maybe go for a hike in the gorge somewhere.  It is my last day with my kids before they go back to school.  My toes are feeling ok.  I am going to lose 2 of my toe nails. 

Well here it is.  I will do my best to remember everything from the weekend.  That I can write about.  With 8 ladies in a van with no sleep we can get a little goofy.  So I will try and keep it to the facts. 

Woke up at 3:45.  The night before I had set my alarm clock for 4, but I woke up before the alarm went off because my daughter woke up and thought I was late.  But that was fine.  Shut the alarm off.  Got in the shower, shaved my legs.  :)  Out the door I went.  4:25 am.  Perfect.  I got to church, that was where we were meeting.  Half of the ladies were there.  So we started packing up.  The van had been decorated the night before and it looked great.  I loved watching peoples faces when they saw our van along the course.  They got a kick out of it.  We were out of the parking lot by 5 and found the starting line with no problems.  Had to wait around for about 20 minutes for the 6 am starting gun.  And away our first walker went.  The sun was sort of up.  And it was a little cloudy.  But that was good.  Then it wouldn’t be so hot.  Then we all piled in the van and off to meet her at the next point.

A little background real quick.  This race is normally walked with 12 walkers.  This relay has 24 legs.  We walk it with 8 walkers in one van and we each do 3 legs of the race.  The first 2 years I did this race I did it on a 12 person team.  Then a couple of us decided to try 8 and I will never go back to 12.  I like doing it that way.  You really get to know your friends.  I mean REALLY get to know them.  But it is fun!!

So, it was my turn next.  I was walker 2.  6.06 was the mileage I was going to be doing.  Walking along a busy road.  Which I found out at the end of the race that a teenager from one of the high school teams was hit.  That is my biggest fears is that I am going to be hit from behind along that road.  The race has us walking the same direction as traffic.  Which I grew up knowing that you walk against traffic.  Anyways.  It wasn’t my section of course that she was hit, it was the next leg.  But I understand how it could have happened.  I passed only 3 people and was passed by 7.  Not too bad.  I felt great.  The weather was perfect for the race.  My first walk I did 14 minute mile pace.  That is what I did last year, so I was happy with that. 

Everything else was going really good.  I have two complaints about the race in general.  One, was that they only had 6 port-a-potties at some of the check points.  This is not good when you have 400 walking teams going through and everyone is having to go potty.  I waited 30 minutes at one place to go potty.  It has never been like that before.  It did eventually get better as the teams spread out.  But I think people might have been drinking less because they didn’t want to wait in line to go potty.  My second complaint was that when you got to an exchange point the traffic was so bad that you couldn’t give your walker support because you knew you had to get your next walker to the next exchange.  It is hard to explain, but basically the Portland to Coast Committee better rethink how they do things next year.  This year was terrible with their timing of things. 

My second leg was at 5pm.  It was warm out, but we were starting to get up in the hills.  And by a creek so it kept it a bit cooler.  This leg was 6.81 miles.  1.5 miles straight up.  Then 1 mile down and the rest of it rolling hills.  I can’t remember how many I passed or how many people passed me.  I did catch somebody right at the end.  She had pink hair.  She was a walker from a team called Hunt for the Cure.  So they were breast cancer survivors.  They all had matching outfits and had a great attitude out on the course.  I walked this leg under 14 minute mile pace.  I don’t know my exacts yet because our team captain has all the times.  I can’t wait to get them so I can have a better idea.  Last year I did these same legs and I walked a little bit more than 14 minute mile pace.  So I improved.  I will give my props to running.  I think that helped.  

I had to walk that leg with my reflective vest on.  It was starting to get dark.  We were having a blast.  Laughing.  Making jokes.  Last year I had fun.  And I did again this year too.  I am doing it again next year too.  We just have so much fun.

Everyone was doing great on their legs.  We were moving along great.  No injuries. 

My third and final leg was at 2:30 in the morning.  I had been up for almost 24 hours with NO sleep.  I was feeling great.  Excited that I was almost done with my portion of the race.  It was COLD!!  But once you start walking you warm up.  This leg was 5.85.  I was not looking forward to walking that far.  Then someone on my team says ”it is only 5.35″  I looked at the map and sure enough it was 5.35.  Yeah!!  It’s half a mile shorter than I thought.  Amazing what .5 mile will do to make me happy.  :)  So, my walker handed off to me and off I went.  In the dark.  I had bought early this year a light that attaches to my hat and it was great.  My hands were free.  I had listened to my ipod my first two legs but this one I wanted to be able to hear what was going on around me.  It was DARK out there.  The only time you could see everything around you was when a car went by.  Remember the scene in Pee Wees big adventure, when he puts on the light glasses?  That is what I expect when I look around me while walking.  So, I keep my head looking forward and keep bookin’ along.  Sub 14 minute mile pace for this leg too.  I was on fire! 

And I felt great.  Glad to be done. 

Couple good things that happened were that while we were parked at one of the stops a van pulls up next to ours and this guy gets out.  I just happened to glance at him and I knew him.  He was my high school math teacher.  From 20 years ago.  He was a driver/coach for one of the high school teams that was running.  I told him about the 20 year class reunion coming up and he wants the info.  I think he is only about 5 years older than me.  We were his first year of teaching.  He couldn’t believe that I recognized him. I liked him as a teacher. 

Then at the next exchange my daughter was there volunteering so I was able to see her. 

We had a great time and I look forward to doing it again.  I think in the 32 hours I was with my team I only closed my eyes to rest for about 10 minutes.  I never slept the whole time.  I slept about 45 minutes on the way home.  Because I rode home with my daughter.  She drove.  :)  Then met the ladies back at the church and helped clean up the van. 

To tell you the truth I ate pretty good along the course.  Lots of water.  String cheese, wheat thins, grapes, turkey sandwich.  A baked potato(with butter and sour cream).      Then for lunch on the way home a shrimp salad and clam chowder. 

It is going to take me a few days till I am walking normal and then I am going to start running again.  I might even post a picture if I find one I like from the race. 

In twenty four hours I will be done with my first leg.  In 48 hours I will be done with my 3rd leg and the whole race and back home in my own bed.  It is weird to think of it in that perspective.  I am ready.  Bag packed.  Food packed.  Blankets in the car.  I just need to set my alarm for 4 fricken am.  Out my door by 4 fricken 25 am.   I am ready for bed.   I am just waiting for my daughter to get home from work. 

I will try and remember every moment to come back and share.  I love this race.  This is my 9th year of doing it.  And hopefully not my last.  I would like to have 10 medals. 

Race is 3 days away.  Actually 2 and 1/2 days away.  I am nervous and ready at the same time.  Concerned about the weather.  I don’t care if it is hot, I just don’t want it to rain.  There is nothing like walking 6 miles and getting in a van wet. Sitting for 6 hours. Getting out of the van and walking 6 miles, getting in the van wet.  Sitting for 6 hours.  Getting out of the van and walking 6 more miles.  And everyone else is wet and doing the same thing as you.  And no one is drying off soon.  Soon being 30 hours later.  So bring on the heat.  Still need to go through my outfits and figure out what I am wearing and when, but can’t really do that until I know the weather.

I just found out that I am going to go to my 20 year class reunion.  Not looking forward to it.  Why go you ask.  I went to my ten and hated it.   Vowed I would not go to my 20.  Never wanted to see any of them again.  But I was friends with 2 guys and have stayed close to them.  They did not go to the 10.  They are itching to go to the 20 and today we made a pact to go together. No backing out.  With our spouses.  We 6 are all friends and we should have a good time.  One of the spouses went to the same school but a different year so should have fun.  The other wife is probably who I will hang out with.   And my husband knows a few people too.  But he hates to socialize. 

So my new goal is to lose 10 pounds by October.  Is that doable?  As soon as this race is over this weekend, I am starting to run again.  Maybe we will see how it goes and I will shoot for 15 pounds. 

I have been so emotional today.  Crying most of the day.  Husband is out of town.  Knowing I have to lose weight. Just a lot going on.  Working.  Although I still love my job so that isn’t why I am crying.  I am starting to work more days a week after Labor day.  It should work out good.    There are other things too, but don’t like to write them down.  It seems like it always bites me in the butt.  So, I bottle things up. 

But today I was in the office crying (I was alone in the office) and my cell phone rang.  It was my friend and she was seeing if I wanted to walk.  No.  But I need to talk I said. She was literally 5 minutes from my office.  So she swung by and we talked for 15 minutes.  It was nice.  She just let me know what I was feeling was ok.  She called at the right time.  Wish I would have had time to walk.  Next time. 

So starting Sunday I am going to be writing down everything I eat here.  Then when I am healed from my race I will start running again.  Those are my new goals. 

One and a half weeks till the race.  Last night we had a meeting to discuss who is bringing what, who can drive the van, who is staying at the beach and who is going home. 

Before the meeting a few of us met up and walked 6.1 miles.  Felt good.  I know I will have no major problems on the course.  Just sore.  But isn’t that why they make Ibuprofen?  :) 

Will try and walk some hills tonight.  No walking tomorrow.

I am home.  So glad to be home.  I love going to Sunriver.  I love the house(in-laws have a house). I love the house we rent.  I love it down there.  Beautiful weather.  Fresh air.  Relaxing.  Oh, that’s right, in-laws will be there.  Not so relaxing.  We drove down last Sunday and it was so peaceful.  My son had already gone down with his grandma so there was no constant talking.  I love him but he likes to talk.  Only half the in-laws were there.   

No walking on Sunday.  Monday morning I got up and went for a 5 mile walk.  It was my baby’s 15th birthday this day, so he had decided he wanted to bike down from Mt. Bachelor.  I can do that.  So we loaded up the truck with 6 bikes, 3 boys, my dd, grandma, my dh and I.  Water and power bars.  Went almost all the way up to the top and unloaded the bikes, 3 boys, grandma, dh and I.  My dd was going to drive the truck down and follow us to make sure we were ok.  Last time we did this ride my husband rode his bike to see how fast he could go and when he stopped his front tire fell off.  He is so lucky it didn’t fall off.  So that is why we have a follow truck.  We had a great time heading down hill.  It was easy.  Except for the pain in my area.  Not very comfortable.  Needless to say, it kept me off my bike the rest of the trip. 

Tuesday I ended up going to Bend to work.  Lots of walking between the 2 houses.  I would get to the main house and realize I forgot something, so I had to go back… etc…  I wish I would have worn a pedometer. 

Wednesday walked 6 miles.  Then went to the library to check email.  Found out that my grandpa wasn’t doing well.  So after hemming and hawing decided my dh and I would drive to Salem to see him and say goodbye.  That was a long day of sitting in the truck.  But worth it.  As of Sunday he is still kickin’. 

Friday I needed to go to town again for work so I got up and went.  While in town I decided to walk Pilot Butte.  1.5 miles up.  1.5 miles down.  It was really muggy and hot when I did it.  Usually I do it twice, but I had not brought any water with me and it was our last full day of vacation so I headed back home.  Everyone was going to the pool.  I am not into going to the pool.  So I laid in the sun on the back porch. 

Saturday headed home.  Glad to be here.  We had taken our dogs.  When you are in Sunriver there are no fences so you have to keep an eye on your dog all the time.  So that is my favorite part of being home is knowing I can open up my back door and let my dogs out and they aren’t going to run away.  I am weird that way.

No exercise today.  Dh wants to go see a movie.  Kids are gone for the week.  They went to camp.  I am joining them on Wednesday.  That will be fun.

Best news of the week: We got a van for the race.  It is the same van we have used in the past. We traded another team for the Excursion we were going to use for the van.  YEAH!!!!  I can’t wait to do the race. 

I love Saturdays.  Sleeping in.  Lazy day.  Laundry day.  Need to get it all done before we leave. 

I gave my daughter a choice.  Stay home. Or go with me to feed my dad and then meet my friend to go walking.  She chose to go with me.  Brought her homework to do while I fed my dad or while I walked.  Went and saw my dad.  While we were waiting for the food one of the residents came over to us and asked me who she was.  This is my daughter, I said.  Oh,  you look alike, but she is prettier she said.  It was so funny.  Yes she is prettier, I will admit.  I love the honesty of Alzheimer’s.  My dad ate almost all of his lunch.  I got him settled in his room.

Then off we went to meet my friend.  So I knew I was going to be cold where my dad is living so I had worn my spandex shorts under my yoga pants and had brought shorts to wear while walking.  My daughter and I were in the parking lot of where we were walking and I told her I needed to put my shorts on.  I opened the car door and stood right outside the car and pulled my pants off.  The look on her face was priceless.  She didn’t know I had shorts on and she was so shocked I was changing right in the parking lot.  But she was fine with it when she saw the spandex.  I was laughing so hard.  

My daughter decided to walk with us.  Not to be mean, but if she wants to walk with me she needs to keep up or shut up.  And she does that.  We made it to the 2 mile mark and she was toast.  Along this path there happened to be a party and so she sat on one of the benches away from the party and waited 30 minutes while my friend and I did another mile out and back.  Then she walked back with us.  So she did 4 miles and my friend and I did 6.  90 minutes later.  Yeah!!  No homework was done either.  Guess what she is going to be doing on vacation.   

We have our start time.  Too early for me.  But not as early as one of my friends team.  2 of my legs will be in the daylight and then one of them at night.  Or should I say morning.  Like 2 in the morning.  Cold, misty and dark but then I will be done and can put on my warm sweats and eat a hamburger at 8 in the morning.  It is weird what you eat and the times you eat it.      No calorie counting on the race course. 

Friday.  I woke up early and took my son to his grandmas house.  He is going on vacation early.  Went to Costco and had a field day.  We have food in the house. 

Then went home and had lunch.  Chicken noodle soup.  Laid down to take a nap.  Phone rang.  Isn’t’ that the way it goes.  It was a good phone call though.  It was my sister.  We have talked more this week than for a long time.  We are taking turns checking in on our dad while my mom is out of town.  So we have been calling or texting each other to let each other know how my dad is doing. 

After the phone call went and laid back down again.  Hubby was in bed too so it was too tempting not to.  But eventually I dragged my butt out of bed and put on my walking clothes and shoes.  Off I went.  I could have turned around at any  point but I kept on walking.  6.5 miles.  Yeah.  Felt good too.  I walked by a snake.  I am trying to download the picture. 

Tomorrow I am meeting with some walking friends and we are going to do 7 miles.

Then off to vacation.  I think we are leaving early enough on Sunday that I should be able to get 3-4 miles in when we get there. 

No exercise today.  I ate pretty good.  But if you didn’t guess, I love my job.  I love the challenge of having a huge stack of bills on my desk and things to do and when I am done for the day my desk is cleared off. And not just all stuffed in a drawer.  Well, some of it is, but it can wait till the next time I go in.   I am going on vacation this week and don’t have to worry to much about stuff going on at work.  Check the phones a couple times and mail bills on certain dates.  Take something to the bank on another day.  Another one of the days I am meeting with someone for the company and getting paid.  So on vacation and getting paid for what I do.  To me that is good. 

Breakfast this morning was toast, lunch was yogurt, dinner was taco del mar. I guess that wasn’t good.  Snack tonight was cherries.  Might have some fat free ice cream too.  I need to drink some water still tonight. 

My goal for Friday and Saturday is to do some major mileage.  We find out our start time on Saturday.  I am praying for a 7:30-8am start time.  That way I can get a full nights sleep before the race.  The one thing I could change about this race is our vehicle.  We have to use a Ford Excursion.  Which isn’t so bad.  But it seats 9.  Tight.  There are 8 of us on the team. But one of use is out on the course walking at all times.  Plus all the luggage, coolers, water bottles, blankets.  Last year we used a 12 passenger van and it was perfect.  Always space on the last row of seats for someone to lay down and rest.  We go the whole time.  No time for breaks.  Unlike 80% of the other teams which use 2 vans and get a six hour break.  My daughter is going to pick me up at the end.  Last year she came down and met me and it was really cool having her there.   Then she can drive me home and I don’t have to  ride back in the Excursion. 

My son turns 15 on Monday.  But we celebrated today, or I should say, he opened his presents today.  He didn’t want to open them all in front of his cousins.  Maybe we will tie balloons to his pool chair.  He is leaving early to go down to Bend with his grandma.  He is helping her load her car, and unload when they get there.  It will be a hard week for my kids.  This is the first vacation at the family home with out grandpa.  My daughter doesn’t want to go.  But she needs to go.  I don’t want to go, but I have different reasons.  13 in-laws, 6 of them under the age of 20, 8 dogs(yes, you read that right) 8 DOGS!!  In one house.  Thankfully, my dh and I stay in the second house.  No dogs.  3 great girls(one of them is mine) and locks on the doors.  :)  The other house does not have locks on the doors.  Lots of walks and lots of mojitos are in my future.