Happy Halloween

Sadly this year I had NO trick or treaters..

Last year I was on a plane so I have no idea if I had any trick or treaters stop by.

I heard about this cool idea called Trunk or Treat where a group of families park their cars in an open parking lot and the trunk becomes the 'front door'. It seems like a great and efficient way for kids to get their candy in a safe environment.

My only Halloween festivity was carving a pumpkin! It was a little weird to carve a pumpkin without my dad. I have not done this in several years so good news I still know how!

I hope all you got a treat. I know I like my chocolate covered raisins :)

Happy THANK YOU More Please

I saw this movie on an airplane going somewhere for work. I asked my co-worker about it and said he didn't like it. Fully wrinkled his nose. I have to say I really liked it. 

I need the piece of wisdom from this movie. WARNING I am going to ruin the title for you:

One character says she is told by her cab driver that the universe wants her to have happienss and she needs to be more grateful. 

Asking: "How do I do that?" 

He says "You just need to say 'thank you'" 

She says "that's it?" 

And he says "yes, and then you need to say "more please"".

The story is a crazy little tale with several characters. I have to say I have been feeling a little okay a lot overwhelmed at work lately. 

I also have this idea to apply for graduate school which seems to add on to my already busy schedule. You can maybe sense that I"m not exactly very grateful right now. So from today forward I am going to try to remember- "Yes, Thank you.. MORE Please" It is true even looking back at college when I thought I had too much on my plate the opportunities that came along taught me more than if I had let them slip by. 

I hate to make an analogy but if my life is a crazy roller coaster ride I want to actually enjoy it. Instead of feeling like I am holding on for dear life!

thank you more please :)

SUP

Otherwise known as Stand-UP Paddle. 

I just tried it a couple of weeks ago thanks to a few friends. I had a chip on my shoulder about it because SUP guys get in the way while surfing. They have this huge big scary paddle and a giant board. Needless to say I did not want to be a SUPper.. Maybe they should be shark SUPper. So my first time I paddled around a shallow area with no waves. 

The next time out, I thought about catching waves but I just started paddling to get pretty far from the beach. All of a sudden I was near boats! Another SUPper actually paddled over because he was worried I was out there alone. Frankly I thought it was awesome and it wasn't until he said something I started getting scared about being alone out there. All in all, I got some great pictures. 

  Yes, I was in Hawaii. 

 My home away from home.

 See I was by boats!

RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI - Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa

Possibly the coolest and strangest vacation I have ever taken. It all started about a year ago when my co-workers found out that I like to ride my road bike. So February 2010 came around this year and I signed up for RAGBRAI. While I felt like I may have made a hug mistake. I went for it. We did several training rides. It also helped me train for my triathlons. 

The actual week was hotter than I don't know what. I road my first century (100 miles) in 107 degree heat!

My biggest regret is not eating more not so good for you food. 

Some of the highlights included fresh squeezed lemonaid, touring a farm, eating ice cream slow churned. I also saw the 6 year old Jake and Jake's Mom. They had signs on but he biked 57 miles in one day! It definitely showed me it doesn't matter who you are or what you do. Get out and ride your bike!!

 I hope I can do it again!

  Me on the first day

What every town looked like

Bike buses. There were several of these. Each one had their unique traits.

Run Run as fast as I can

Finally I'm seeing some results.. running results or maybe I'm not as bad as I thought I was a running.

First I placed third in a work 5K. Third in my age group- really? I definitely did not think I would place.

Second, I found running trails I like. I love running on the road. Having suffered from shin splints the road seems to be the softest surface to run on. And running along the PCH is priceless. I have turned off the i-gadget and just listen to the waves hit the shore. Or running while on travel. I had a great run in San Diego.

Another hint I picked up from the 'pros' after a triathlon or hard run get into cold water. It is so uncomfortable but the result is my legs feel ten times better the next day. 

I just ran a 10K on July 4th. I finished 2nd in my age group! I ran it in 50:42. That's an 8:11 minute mile pace. I had to stop for a fire truck and I slowed down at the water stops. I might have done better had I not been so hot.  Compared to where I was over a year ago, 10K at Wildflower was 9:03 minute mile that's some progress. I am definitely still learning about running, my feet went numb, too. Anyone know the cause of that?

Especially considering how much I despise running I am getting there. Who knows maybe I will do a marathon in the future.