dreaming over the ocean

and there's so much i want to say..." but maybe not the right words to express. funny how that works, hey? (ps, i love that song. maybe one of the best lyrics ever exist in it: "it feels like lightning running through my veins, every time i look at you..." today is thanksgiving. not for me. nor for many of the people around me. but for "all y'all" down there, i hope you had a fantastic day. Today was the first day since the year 2000 that I have not celebrated with you. so, it has indeed made me miss it a bit. a few things i thankful for: i am thankful for my friends. both ones who are close, and ones who are far. i am thankful for goals. they get me to wake up in the morning. i am thankful that i live in a country that i do not feel like i am going to wake up one day, and be bombed. and, for people who may live in countries like that, i hope that the world changes so that you do not ever have to feel that. and, for those of you who are scar...

so, half marathoning has come, and gone. I raced this morning, and, i am not going to lie. it was fantastic. tremendous. just challenging enough, but not wrecking. fresh. filled with good solid energy. great food at the end. a great way to realize the fall goal of "not hating running" was achieved. fun. (i would like to make note that i have never done a 70.3 triathlon. this shirt is a bit of a lie. i did the relay on this one. so, i got a shirt, cause we paid the entry fee ;) ) i think the text message that i sent to my friends this morning to have them send me good leg energy helped. :) long and strong. long and strong. we used to say that with rowing, and yet it is so applicable with running as well. keep those legs moving long and strong. as well, in rowing, during my last year, our coxswain (Laura) gave each of us in the V8+ a specific word that she would say to us. mine was "relentless." i have kept that little piece of paper stuck on my tack boa...

So, all of a sudden it has creeped up on me... (is creeped a word!?!?) that, on sunday, I am running a 1/2 marathon. it will be the second time that I have done a 1/2 in my life. the first one, was a mostly downhill run from the valley above the dead sea, to the lowest place on earth, for the Dead Sea Marathon in April 2007. Yeppers, the feet were burning by the end, and there were camels on the side of the road. yes, indeed, i travelled to Jordan (with one of my best friends, Zach), and ran a 1/2 marathon. It was amazing. this is at the carb loading party, and then at the pool post race :) I went for a (approx 10km) run today.  I think the wind was blowing about 10 million km an hour, and it felt impossible to run. but, not only that, but my legs felt like bricks (the first 3km, my feet couldn't stop clumping on the pavement), and  they are sore (from what?!).  so ,the run turned into a walk-run.  mentally, that helped.  but strange.  i don't quite understand how one day,...

so, i was in edmonton this past weekend.  and, as much as it was a fantastic weekend, it feels good to be home.  I got back into vancouver yesterday at about 4:45, and went directly to my friend Audrey's, where i then went out for an hour run, and then finished the night with a potluck dinner...  it was pouring rain.  i got soaking wet.  but, there was a strange feeling of being "home."  so, here comes the rain again.  and, i guess it is not going anywhere until at least march.  ;) hopefully though, on sunday for the 1/2 marathon, the sun will come out for at least a while.  some photos from the weekend.  briefly, i got to edmonton, drove directly to Calgary, slept over night, and then went caving the next day in Canmore.  not going to lie.  I am more of an "above ground" adventurer, but the girls (my niece Makayla, and her "foster sister" [for lack of a better word]) had a great time, experiencing things that totally expanded comfort levels.  Then, ev...

and, it made me want to throw up last night.... i entered two races in the span of two days.   a 1/2 marathon on the 16th. and, this one.   that is the one that makes me puke.   don't ask me what inspired it, but at least the entry fee will keep me committed to it.   i could barely sleep last night.  and, i couldn't quite determine if it was excitement, nervousness, or complete fear and questioning if i have gone nuts. ahhh! :) 

so, yesterday, i did this run in the dark. and, it was fantastic. the funniest bit about it was when i was in stanley park, approaching lost lagoon, and all of a sudden, i see some white stripes coming towards me. alas, it was not the somewhat well known band, but rather a multitude of skunks. and, im saying, not one or two. i think i spotted at least 6 of the critters. let's just say that my pace picked up a bit at that point. 'cause, i wouldn't have been able to go home on the bus. and, if i even made it home, i doubt Erika (my roommate) would have let me in the house. that is right. i would have had to sleep in the garage, or in the jeep that is not being used. i would have been homeless. the run was serene. the run contained vancouver night time lights of downtown, and a slit of a moon over the water. the run went by swans on lost lagoon. the run felt strong. the run was not mentally exhausting. the run went by lovers in the park, reminding me of how wonde...