Fundraising!

Since I knew that I probably wouldn't be able to raise the full $5,600 from personal donations alone, my friend Katie and I have organized a Silent Art Auction & Raffle. Talk about an ordeal! I had no idea planning an event like this was so hard.

As if training wasn't hard enough to fit into my schedule, planning a fundraiser completely tips the scale of time I'm dedicating to this cause. After a month of planning, however, things are finally starting to come together.

We got the venue donated (the Pyramid Alehouse in Seattle) which is fantastic. Yes, it's a little strange to have an art auction at a sports bar on a Tuesday night. However, it makes sense if you think about it! People's weekends are packed this time of year, there's tons of free parking, easy access to food and drinks....and again, we don't have to pay to rent the space.

Now it's just "the details." You know, the tiny tasks of trying to get food and drinks sponsored, getting cool raffle prizes donated from local businesses, gathering 100 pieces of art to auction, making invitations, getting the word out, making a website, etc., etc., etc.

In any case, you all can keep up with the progress from wherever you are by checking out the event's blog (yes, our event has its own blog. It's so advanced!).

Spread the word!

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Seattle, Spring. Spring, Seattle. I'd REALLY like for the two of you to get acquainted!

I think the Weather in Seattle is a little confused at the moment. Last Saturday was 77 degrees, sunny and perfect. Yet today, I literally biked through rain, sleet, snow, and hail.

I didn't sleep very well last night, so when I rolled out of bed this morning and saw that the temperature was below freezing outside I was not very enthusiastic about today's ride. Actually, I probably would have skipped it all together except for the fact that the Team had a 'Halfway Party' planned for after practice.

I bundled up in as many layers as I could, but I was still freezing. Note to self: buy better bike gloves - ones with both padding and a warmer lining. It was so cold, the Team was divided up into several groups: some people decided to do a run instead, others decided to go on to the house and help set up the party, and everyone else decided to brave the elements on their bikes.

We all rode out three and half miles to the actual bike trail. At that point, Coach Lance said that we could either go back or make a loop around Mercer Island. I pondered. I couldn't feel my hands or feet, I was already tired, and I couldn't see very well with all the snow blowing in my face. Bike 13 more miles or 3.5, hmmmm...

I would like to note, though, that the return trip was uphill. All of it. So by the time I returned to the starting point, I had definitely warmed up.

I sloshed over to the party house and partook of a delicious potluck brunch. I felt kind of bad because I have a hard time in social scenes regardless of where I am, but it's worse when I'm tired. I talked a little, but mostly kept to myself. Socializing is work for some people, and I am one of those people.

In any case, I'm glad the pool is indoors since it's looking like it's going to be just as cold tomorrow morning. I'm going to get in a nice full night of sleep tonight.
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Hardcore

So just when I'm feeling good about my training, I read about things like this and feel like a complete pansy.

An excerpt from stuff.co.nz on the Maasai:

"They survive on fresh blood drained from the neck of a living cow, they often run for days and nights on end to find water and their shoes are made from car tires cut up and strapped to their feet.

So running the London Marathon should be no problem for six Maasai warriors who have come to Britain from their village of Elaui in northern Tanzania as part of a campaign to raise money to find a vital water source (www.maasaimarathon.org).

"Back at home we sometimes run for 5 or 6 days, day and night," Isaya, a young warrior clothed in a red robe and adorned with traditional beaded jewelry, told Reuters in an interview. "Twenty-six miles not far."

He and his fellow warriors, all between 20 and 25 years old, expect to reach the finish line of Sunday's race within four and a half hours."


Um, yeah. The blood of cows? Seriously? All the Gatorade marketing in the world can't top that.

I'm going to go eat my nice, viral-free Subway sandwich now to follow up my hour-long urban gym workout.

Steph out.
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Making Up For Lost Time

After feeling guilty about barely training at all this week, I more than made up for it today.

Early this morning we had another brick workout (run/bike/run). My shins had been hurting just a little from my 4 mile run on Thursday, but they seemed in good enough condition today. We started out with a quick 1 mile run, and then hopped on our bikes for the long haul.

I was shooting for 18 miles today. We were biking the Sammamish River Trail and 'Hollywood Hill.' For some reason that word "hill" didn't register in my mind until I actually saw the monster. It was about 7 miles into our ride and I asked the person next to me "Are we biking up that?!?". Once that was confirmed, I started to feel a little panicky. Actually, I think my exact reaction was "No f*#$-ing way!!"

I didn't even make it a full minute up that hill before my lungs felt like they were going to burst. Our biking coach Lance came back to help me and give me some pointers. He was so nice about it! He rode with me the entire way, letting me stop a few times to catch my breath. That stupid MOUNTAIN was at least 2 miles up. He kept telling me that it would have been a lot easier if I had clip pedals (small pedals that you buy special shoes for to clip in and out of - you basically become a PART of the bike). With clip pedals I would have been able to pull up on my pedals, not just push down. My quads were incredibly fatigued afterwards and I definitely had to lean back and rely on my glutes a big part of the way.

BUT! I made it! And then I continued to bike - for 11 more miles. I mistook the directions and ended up biking 22 miles total. Whoops... Then I ran another mile. THIS time I could definitely feel the infamous sensation of switching from the bike to the run. My legs were all noodle-y and my balance was completely off. At least my chest and back didn't feel as tight afterwards like my last ride.

I followed up my 3 hour ordeal with a heaping plate of biscuits and gravy - a just reward, to be sure.

Now for sleep.
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Balancing Act

The reason I haven't updated in forever is that I am so so incredibly busy.

Talk about having too much on your plate!!! I just went home to Georgia last week for a visit, and when I came back the iron curtain of responsibility descended upon me. I'm going to quickly itemize, just so I can wrap my mind around everything I have to do:


1. Training - obviously. Haven't had time this week. And I'm getting worried...

2. My professional affiliation - Our chapter awards are due this month, and I'm responsible for putting them together. I've spent the bulk of my time this week on these.

3. Fundraising! - Yes, that $5,600 still has to be raised. I've gotten $1505 so far (and THANK YOU to all of you who have donated!!), but I still have to do additional events. My friend Katie and I are currently planning a Silent Art Auction - an intimidatingly large endeavor that, like everything else, takes lots of time.

4. My job - I still have to make a living.

5. My Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Accreditation - Basically, I have to take a giant test by May 9. Many many hours of studying are a prerequisite for passing this thing.

6. My taxes - I still haven't filed them.


In my 'spare' time, I'm going to discover a way to clone myself so that I can get all of this done.

How do I get myself into these situations?!?

If no one hears from me in a few days, it's because I've locked myself in my apartment and am battling the onslaught of panic attacks.
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