Life at a fast pace

Nope, no internet. Long story short, last Saturday I got dial-up, so I can check email (at least) and read a bit, but with the speed it is I have no patience or time posting and writing. Work also had been crazy last 2 weeks, all these "hot projects at cutting edge science" begin to drive me nuts. My feet are killing me by the end of the day and I have no time to exhale. Don't remember last time it was like that - and it says a lot, because with my hyperactive boss it's pretty much always "exciting and lets do it now" stuff. Stephen's boxing is 3 times a week, that takes all evening on Mo-Wed-Fri, although I do go to the gym and work out there. While I try not to push it and follow a plan Scott Jurek suggested 3 years ago (gosh, has it really been that long?), it left me sore for two out of those 3 times, what was kind of funny. I miss structured running a lot and a rigid schedule - I am one who likes to adhere to organized things in life. The other day I drove to work and thought - OMG, I want to run this path again! I guess time to get back to it more fully.
I did take lots of pictures, so below is my week in review:)

Tuesday - my birthday gang.












Thursday - Hashing night!

It was my first ever experience doing it - gotta expand the boundaries, right? I did feel awkward, especially at first, when I had no idea what to do, what to yell, nobody to talk to (it is obviously a social club, not running), and was getting cold at every "check" point. But after a "beer check" stop it has gotten better:) I actually ran faster, did outbursts to check on directions and even talked a bit and yelled all those "on, on" thingies. It started raining mid-way, but the regular OR drizzle. I went on after second beer check too fast and managed to finish the "trail" first, despite been a "virgin". For what I had to drink that much more - as a virgin and as a winner. Yeah, well, may be not every week or not even every month, but it is an interesting night:)









Saturday Gorge - Gail is back!

It was an early morning...the fog was so thick, it looked like clouds. But as the sun broke in, the day had turned into such a gorgeous one!!













After the run, that we surprisingly did in 2:30 (with 2:14 PR on the same loop back in May, and it seemed that we crawled, I wasn't looking for anything under 3 hrs! so I guess we're OK, not totally out of shape), I picked up Stephen, Max (Monika's son) and my friend Anna and we drove to Oregon coast. Man, it was a blast! Now, look at the pictures above and below and tell me I don't live in the most beautiful place of all!

Saturday - Oregon shore! Ecola Park and Cannon Beach























Candy store!!!
Kids had a sleep-over at our house that night, high on sugar:)

Sunday - another day with "hurry up, get done" - but not before I caught this on film.



Drop Max off in time for his soccer game, go to work (weekends had been like that a lot, work, work, work!), drive to meet up witjh my SD100 runner Adrien for confirming plans, drive back and cook for 3 hrs, get to my friend's house and drive to a hair salon - and that was the experience I wasn't looking forward to. 4 hrs, people, do women really spend that much time there often??!! I got tired sitting there:)





And that would be the end of my week, now get back to work, hustle!

p.s. Oh, I got email from our Montrail rep Paul. Apparently, I am giving a presentation along with Dave Terry and Sean Meissner at the REI/Montrail clinic on October 24th at 7 pm about ultrarunning. The good news is that probably means I am still with the Team for another year (why else would I be invited? I am excited!!!), the not-so-good news is that I have a fear of speaking in front of the crowd! OK, breathe deep, lets do it! If you are local, I'll post the place later - at least I hope I have time for it, because on Friday I am leaving to sunny San Diego and won't be back until Tuesday night!