w a i t . . .what the . . .

This is my 202nd POST?! 

"How did I miss making way too big of a deal over my 200th?"

 --- that was the thought I had this morning until I realized it [200th post] could not have been better. 

It was this.

I did have something all fun planned for my 200th though.  I guess, I'll just have to save it for 300.

After our Portland fun.  Did I mention, I'd move there in a heartbeat?  We moved onto Washington.  Now Gina, this is for you.  The best photo I have ever captured on my iPhone.  [you must check out her blog.  her photos are taken from her iPhone.  we have the same version - so [very] apparently she knows what she is doing and I do not.]

The bridge connecting Oregon to Washington.  Beautiful.  Need I remind you I live in AZ.  The last time I was on a bridge was when I was in Seattle last year and the time before that probably on a family trip over the Hoover Dam in 1998.

We ended up in a city, town, dot on a map place with a population of 494 497 people - and just in case your grandma lives there [I'm not mentioning where].  A little dodgy.  But we were soon back into areas like this.

Ok, seriously, you Washington & Oregon dwellers . . . I really hope you know how awesome you have it there.

We spent a night in Port Angeles.  I loved that city.  SO did Peanut.  The starfish were freaking huge.  huge. alive ones nonetheless.

We of course made our way to Seattle.  Where I got my fabulous sandwich three days straight [ya, the place at Pike's market with the line out the door... started with a "m".  Sorry, didn't care about the name - I knew where to find it and that's all that mattered.]

Peanut thought this was pretty sweet.

I'd rather have a scorpion on me than a bird in my hand but --- she loved it.

And apparently, you have to have your photo on [or with or rubbing] the pig?!  whatever.  we [they] did it.

And you know how it goes . . . where ever there is a Nordy's I'll surely be close.  But we captured Peanut in front of this sweet recycled penguin thing there instead of a photo of my credit card bill.  I'm one smart chika. ;)

But check out her new kicks.  nice.

We stopped at the aquarium for this horrible and freaky photo.

But we saw this on the walk there.  awesome.

Hey Kovas, you should have bought this instead of the minivan. ;) joke. joke.

But my favorite photo from the whole trip . . .

 .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Yep, our best Nordstrom [shoe department] photo ever.

bulletproof [portlandFTF marathon]

Just so you know ..... you'll want need to go get that morning diet coke, coffee, toilet break or pillow.  I will try to keep it on topic [but you know that never rarely goes well].

Ahhhh Portland.
I love you. Everything about you. I mean seriously... You had me at our aerial arrival.

[a huge, "I'm sorry" to anyone who has ever flown into Phoenix---ugggg ugly]

You had Peanut by the terminal walkway. Okay, so Starbucks rice dream bar & hot chocolate may have had something to do with it but by the time we reached our rental car station - we were having a blast.

Race packet p/u was awesome. Well staffed and also included smokin' deals on attire. Yay!! Even Loved the try-on rooms where I got a photo of this

 and in another unmentionable place where I saw this

Next, we were off to a place I saw on diners drive-ins &dives [food network]. Byways Cafe.

Yum. Yum. Yum.  Blue Corn Pancakes.

I hear even the orange wedges are good.

The marathon was held at Sauvie Island. Beautiful. However, the closest hotel was 7 miles away but at a Priceline cost of $59 - who freaking cares. ;)

Don't usually get too nervous before races so that's a definite plus for me. Got there early which was very good due to the amazing insane amount of traffic. [As there is only one road inti SI.]

6:28am came around we they sang something in celebration of July 4th. Some Americana song. I was too busy cracking up at our their horrible singing voices to even recognize the song.

6:30am - I am off.  It all boiled down to one simple element ---- keep my stinking Garmin at a pace on or below 7:44 and I've got this.

Mile 1-7:24.
Mile 2 - 7:32
Mile 3 - 7:29
Mile 4-7:39
Mile 5-7:47 -- didn't like that one but wanted to make sure I didn't go out too hard at the start [pre mile 18 anyway]

Mile 6-7:41
Mile 7-7:42 --- I think I have found my pace guy.  I have a need to do this every race [especially small races where no "pace teams" are to be found.  A guy with 8 [I had time to count] Gu packets around his waist.

Mile 8-7:40
Mile 9-7:43
Mile 10-7:39
Mile 11-7:44  - I really am wanting to pass Gu guy but this guy has issues with chicks passing him.  Seriously.  The back of his shirt should have said, "If you are female and pass me, I will forego the next water station to be back in front."  hilarious.  It motivated me and I loved it.

Mile 12-7:39  1/2 gu.
Mile 13-7:38
Mile 14-7:40  1/2 gu
Mile 15-7:39
Mile 16-7:42. I see peanut & the pita.

Mile 17-7:43. This stupid running dork photo was captured.

Mile 18-7:39. Cramps. Toe cramps set in.  Like twisted over the tops of each other cramping.

Mile 19-7:38. -8 gu belt boys tells me,"I'm done w/you. You got me." not sure what that meant exactly but I passed his Gu bum & [sincerely] smiled.

Mile 20-7:39 cramps moved up to shin.

Mile 21-7:42 I belch something fierce while passing a 1/2 marathon walker. Completely freaked her out.  Seriously, felt bad but I could hear her cracking up a few seconds later, as I was still yelling out my apologies.

Mile 22-7:43 1/2 gu.
Mile 23-7:41
Mile 24-7:37. 1/2 gu.  [last photo OP until finish line]

Mile 25-7:36. I can see the finish line. Tears well up in my eyes. I turn on "bulletproof" one more time.  loud. & I begin to smile ear to ear.

I've got this.  I've freaking got this.

Mile 26-7:34. I think of my dad and try to sprint as fast as my cramped toes [and right shin] will allow me.

.2 = 1:51

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

In my peanuts arms. Her first words, "mom, you did it. You did it better than your goal!!"

Followed by "can I have your medal it's awesome. It's made out off all recycled materials.".  [made from recycled bicycle chain-completely awesome]

Then like someone had kicked her in her backside she had to run to the car where she brought me the sweet necklace KP & her daughter had made for me.

3:20:29

Goal met = happy Emz

portland -foot traffic flat 7/4/10

I came.  I saw.  {I ran}.  I [finally] conquered.

3:20:29

Heck Ya.

RR - to follow.

I'll tell you what I want what I really, REALLY want

Well, I want a crap-load of things. 

Hey, no judging, 99.99% of them I can't buy.  [Oh man, how I wish I could.] 

But for this weekend, I want this:  a smiling/happy/carefree Peanut, awesome fireworks, my family & friends to know they are my back bone & my 3:23 marathon.

Hope you all have a fun and SAFE 4th of July.

AND

Thanks to Grace for the

The first official "award" given to me on this little blog of mine.

As requested a few things about me [which may be regretted later]:

*I am the only girl in my family [of 4 girls] who is lucky blessed enough to have an older brother.
*I am big on manners.  BIG.
*My love for animals could use some serious [I'm not mean though] improvement.
*I have 14 credits left to get my degree.  The same 14 credits I've had to get for the last 12 years.
*My radio in my car has not been turned on for 8 days [and I just noticed it yesterday].  I am loving it.
*I bake my "magical chocolate" cake approximately 2 times per week.  "people" please ask me to bake something else, I swear I can.