If you're lucky enough to be in the mountains, you are lucky enough.

When something bad happens, you have three choices: let it define you, let it destroy you, or let it strengthen you.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Super-busy

...and on a single-life thrend:) Dropped my guys at Seattle airport Sat 5 pm (although cut the morning run to 2 hrs) and met with Kendra, Lisa and Leah for a great meal at some "Green Papaya" place. See picture by waitress (on Lisa's camera - how do you give photo credit in this case?) here. The food was awesome, but catching up on each others lives and gossiping was much better! If it possible with that fantastic food. Thanks, Leah, for a choice! Lisa told us about the sport-medicine conference she was attending, Leah shared Mexico trip to run with Tarahumara indians (link in previous post) and Kendra told about behind-the-scenes Chuck-a-nut. We had martinies, very yummy too, and around 9 pm I headed back. The drive was horrible, I was falling asleep in pouring rain and on empty roads, and the gas station I pulled out to was out of coffee! But I made it. I slept extra (couldn't get up after midnight arrival) and bailed on Gorge (wanted to spend more time with Stephen and cut the driving time). I ran the route I planned on for Saturday, the trail portion was hilly and muddy, but the road portion (8 miles total) knocked my legs to soreness, but I ran the whole thing in 3.5 hrs (the fastest 20 miles since I became a convert to trail training only for my long runs), and then I added a few miles with puppy. I finished the week with year-high 87.

We had friends visiting later after lunch, then went to visit more friends with Stephen. We are two very well known Pooh Bears:) I crashed at 9 pm before my boy.

Work is over-the-head, so I'll be short. Oleg and Alex made it to Latvia ok and enjoying their family. My dad will visit them in Riga to spend time with Alex (my dad is 70 and keeps thinking life can throw a fit and he won't see his now-oldest grandson before that).

The biggest fun thing I am looking for is a weekend adventure in Boise. Stephen, Charlie and I are driving to Idaho to visit my good friend and teammate Theresa Schut (who just ran great Hell canyon ultra), and we'll be spending time with lots of kids, dogs and mountain trails! Is there better life?

Have fun out there!

13 comments:

Jamie Anderson said...

Ah, life is indeed sounding good for you. Awesome!

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

Olga Said:I was falling asleep in pouring rain and on empty roads, and the gas station I pulled out to was out of coffee!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OH I hate that, I have been before SOO needing a coffee for the ride home to get nothing :-(

Sounds like you had a great time, and WOW 87 miles what an awesome week Olga you ROCK!!

Bob

Unknown said...

You quadrupled my mileage for the week and I am happy to hear it. I wish I could have met up with you for the short time while you were here, but the girl time sounds like it was good. Boise sounds like a lot of fun as well. Hope to see you soon.

Wes said...

Yea, I hate falling asleep while driving too, and in the rain is super scary! Busy, busy, busy! Can keep ya happy too! Have fun and enjoy that biking and family time.

Donald said...

Have fun in Boise. I've heard fantastic stories about Idaho trails. Enjoy them!

Sarah said...

I'm tired just reading your schedule. : ) Awesome job cranking out 87 miles. Nice that you have a fun weekend to look forward to. Enjoy!

Kendra Ralstin said...

Hi Olga, I had such a nice time with you and the gals - the photo shows it all. I can still taste how good that food was at Green Papaya. I am relieved that you made it home all right - that was not easy to do after such a long day and a guava martini and deep fried banana to end the meal with! I'm glad we got to spend some time together and hope in the future it will include pounding down some trails. Although dinner and talking was just the ticket for that night.

Journey to a Centum said...

Do you ever slow down? And why the heck didn't you stop to see us when you were in the area?

Sounds like you had a lot of fun with the girls in town. I don't think I've actually ever had a martini. I'll need to put that on my list of things to do. But then you probably have never drank a boilermaker so that makes us even for now.

Is your puppy wondering about this whole running thing yet?

Stay healthy!

Backofpack said...

Olga,
Looks like you had a good time in Seattle - I guess Eric and I will have to go try that place out!

It was raining really hard Saturday night - I'm glad you made it through that safely.

Have fun in Boise!

Phil said...

Have a great time in Boise. I've never run there. Be sure to let use know what it is like.

Good luck.

Ryan said...

Looks like good times! Enjoy your weekend in Idaho with family, friends and trail running, looking forward to hearing more about the mountain trails!

meredith said...

How in the world do you fit 87 miles into your week?

I am trying to figure out how to get it all in and still manage to work and be a "good" wife. You continue to inspire me!
mer

Anonymous said...

Olga,

Keep traveling a little further east from Boise (ok, a fair bit further), then we could run together!

Hope you have a great time in Idaho. No, Udaho. Nope, Idaho and Uhado. So, if Idaho and Udaho, who be Daho in Idaho? Hee, hee. I have too much time on my hands... :)

Meghan
www.running-blogs.com/meghan