Portland Fit Week 5

All I can say this week is that we actually ran 7 miles up into Forest Park and back, and We both ran 99% of the way. This is a huge commitment but so far we are on track.

Portland Fit Week 3

Week 3....All I can say this week is that 5 miles is a lot farther than 3 miles. Our run was good this week. We both now have MP3 players so that we can listen to music. After much discussion Bill has finally agreed that he does not have to run the entire way with me, which is a very good thing for both of us...
Our treat after the run was finding a new coffee shop. We stumbled upon one in the Pearl District: Barista. It was an interesting place and they were purists. No white chocolate, no french vanilla or even hazelnut and not whip cream. It made it very difficult to do a taste test because a dark chocolate vanilla mocha without whip doesn't taste a thing like a white chocolate mocha with french vanilla and whip. I survived. Bill survived too, but it's not to difficult to get a latte' he just had to do without his sugar free vanilla and deal with real vanilla.

Unfortunately today it's 86 and we are scheduled to run 30 minutes. I suspect it's going to be a very very long 30 minutes in this heat, but all we can do is try.

Portland Fit Week 2

Well we have survived the second run with our Portland Fit group.

Last week, Bill did much better than I as he could actually move without moaning and groaning those first couple of days after our three mile run (which was mostly walking). I thought my body was done for. I couldn't climb the stairs at work on Monday because I still hurt so bad. As the week progressed we both felt better. It was a 20 minute run on Monday (followed by yoga) and 25 minute run on Tuesday and then rest on Wednesday and a 20 minute run on Thursday.

Saturday morning was scheduled as a 4 mile run. We accomplished that with a minimum of walking and felt pretty good. One of the Medical Advice Staff gave us some great suggestions for nutrition and stretching right after our run and here it is Monday and we both feel great!

Looking forward to this week to see how it goes.

Portland Fit Week 1

Bill's goal for the year is to run a half marathon by his birthday or at least by the end of the year, and I volunteered to support him by being his workout partner.

I won a free membership to Portland Fit which is a group that trains you to run the Portland Marathon and then my company offered a 50% discount for employee's and their families. How could we resist joining?

The group gets together every Saturday morning for a run starting in NW Portland.

Yesterday was the orientation and the first 3 mile run to determine what group you would be in.

The opening speaker for the orientation session said the only difference between a walker and a runner is that the walker knows when he or she is going to be walking. We heard lots of motivational items that yes we can do this.

Neither of us have run in several years, and I can tell you that running 3 miles when you haven't done that in several years is quite a challenge.

We did complete the first run and there was some walking involved but we have made the first step towards reaching that goal.

Today is the morning after, my legs feel like jelly and I am dreading next Saturday because we will be running 4 miles instead of only 3.

A Day At The Mountain

2008 ended with a bang, about 24 inches of snow on the ground in Sandy and we had about 18 inches here. There were multiple Christmases due to weather delays and just when we thought 2009 would start on a quiet note, we spend about two hours on New Years Day evening trying to stop our garage from flooding, then my Mom’s well pump went out the pump house needs to be replace, her hot water heater broke and flooded her utility room, both of our work situations are a bit stressful so to try and have a stress free day we headed to the Mountain to ski in the morning and for Bill to work a shift as a Ski Host at Timberline in the afternoon.

We had a wonderful time skiing and then I went up to the lodge and had the best ever hot chocolate and read an interesting book called “The Shack” while Bill spent the afternoon as ski host.

Towards the end of his shift I wandered over to the “Bruno” chairlift where he was stationed to get a few pictures and my timing was perfect. A three year old little girl fell asleep on the chairlift with her ski instructor. When the they got off Bill carried the skis and the ski instructor carried the little girl back to her parents. What a sweet way to end a
incredibly relaxing day.

Weather, snow, weather, and more snow

It is now 17:45 and still snowing at home. Snow has been falling most of the day. Bonnie and Bill ventured to Sandy to grocery shop for Lois, Bonnie's mother. We stopped in Sandy and put on chains to travel down Ten Eyck, well more for traveling back up the hill. After Bills issues yesterday, a bit of caution was due. The chains made the trip up the hill a safe one with all the ice on the road.

Snow, amazing how much snow there was in Sandy. At least eight inches and it continued to fall the whole time we were there. Our concern now is loss of power at Lois's place. With temperatures in the low twenty's the house will cool quickly without the fan in the propane stove circulating the heat.

We can always tell when Old Man Winter has arrived. The robins come to clean the holly tree of its berries. Fun to watch them pick through the tree. Amazing how quick the berries disappear.

Our picnic table on the deck at home has a good eight inches on it. Per the weather reports, there is more snow to come. And then possibly the transition from snow to freezing rain to rain. A time Bonnie and Bill are very concerned about.

Early Christmas Gift Exchange 2008

Last evening Bonnie and Bill were at Dale and Kristinas with Tonya, Noah, and Izabella for an early gift exchange. With weather and all it was decided to swap gifts early.
Dale and Kristina hosted a very nice lamb dinner. Nice to have good amature chefs in the family such as Dale and Kristina. With daughter Tonya being on a gluten free diet, Dale whipped up an almond cake with creme frachie for dessert.
A very nice evening overall. Even the dogs, Emily and Archie got along.
Merry Christmas to All.