Team Transplant, UWMC » rock ‘n roll marathon

Savor the Memories – July 5

greenglove — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 04:14:15 +0000

It all started when I showed up down at Safeco Field around 4:25 am.  Shirley Schultz and Ida Boecksteigel were already there. I parked my car a couple of blocks away, and as I walked to greet them, I started to feel kind of guilty…really…was it necessary to have them get there so early?…I made a lame attempt at apologizing, saying something like, “you know…this might’ve been overkill. We’ll have to talk about if we really need to get here so early next time.”
To which they both energetically responded, “Oh…Dick’s already been here and signed in!”
I waited with them for the next hour seizing the opportunity to recharge my energy stores by plugging into the enthusiasm that Mark Scott, Micah Gwinn, Janette Morantes, Jason Stahl, James Boecksteigel , Dave and Carla Trulson Essenberg, Katherine MacDonald, Allen Vary, Jonathon Baird and his niece all brought with them as they chose to launch their journey down to Tukwila from our check-in station.
Leaving downtown around 5:30, I headed out to my post. I parked above I-90 with plans to run to Seward Park. It’d been a long time since I’d made it out to run that early…shocking how tight I am at that hour! Nonetheless, I timed everything just right so that I had enough time to run up the very long hill from Seward Park to the Colombia City Cafe Vita for coffee and a piece of squash bread before the first runners came through. Otherwise, I’m sure I would’ve collapsed on my couch much earlier in the day!
I positioned myself at my post just as the elite runners started to run by…and made small talk with the event official until our team members started to appear….
The first Team Transplanter on the scene was Jennifer Herlihy. Looking very fit and comfortable, she cruised down the hill with training partner Lynne Sloan, yelling, “We love you Alysun!”   To which I responded, “I love you more!”   They looked awesome…like they were on an easy Sunday afternoon run.   I know Jen was hoping for a big PR, but her time of 2:0:40 was still very respectable especially when you consider that she was injured most of last fall.   Her performance on Saturday was a certain sign that she’s back and that she has a good training base to take along with her to the Transplant games later this month!
Next to arrive was  Allen Vary.   While Allen’s become a self-proclaimed aerobic training junkie since his transplant, he’s had all kinds of obstacles challenging his status as a super endurance athlete. The most recent was a stumble (something about admiring someone’s shoes??) that left him with a broken hand about 3 weeks before the race. While this curtailed his cycling, he managed to maintain enough of a running/walking regimen to finish the half marathon in a very fine 2:18:01…It’ll be exciting when he actually gets a day when all the pieces to fall into place…I hope to be there to see it happen!
Mari Jo Fraser once again squeezed us in between baseball games…I think I read somewhere on Sunday night that she had completed a half marathon and 3 baseball games over the weekend. Now…really….how many people can say they’ve done that in a lifetime let alone in 2 days?!! Her half marathon time was 2:33:45.
The next participants were a bit of surprise.   Lenard Yen and Mark Scott somehow found each other during the first 5 miles of the race. And anyone who’s come to a practice knows that when you mix a little Lenard Yen with a little Mark Scott…well….you just have to hold your breath and hope for the best. And heaven forbid you should get a dose of an awful lot of either one of them! From all reports (well…this would be all of the reports from Mark and Lenard), they spent the entire race egging each other on and pushing each other. If you look at the race photos, you can’t find one shot that doesn’t have both of them in it…or one that doesn’t show the steely determined look of competition on each of their faces.   When they flew by me going downhill to Seward Park…it was very clear they were on a mission…
In the final results…Mark, aka, the “coyote” or ”the sticky green guy,” prevailed with an official time 3 minutes faster (a reflection of the corral start) than Lenard, aka, “rock star” or ” cheerleader charmer,” although from the race photos, it’s obvious that in the head-to-head competition, Lenard wasn’t about to Mark an inch and just clipped him at the line. Both finished with incredible times with Mark finishing in 2:52:31, a near personal best, and Lenard, who has spent the last 2 years ringing on the 3 hour doorbell and who had apparently grown weary of waiting for someone to answer, deciding to just go ahead and bust the whole darn door down. He crossed the line in a mind-numbing 2:55:27!
And…what of that other walker??….the one that would not be named…the mystery Team Transplanter of Lenard’s e-mail…the one who was sneaking along the course disguised in a hot pink skort… Well….Far be it for me to ruin the intrigue or blow her cover…but I believe it’s important to give credit where credit is due…and while I have yet to get a formal confirmation…I believe that that elusive walker…the one who managed to overtake the cat’n mouse game just ahead of her… was none other than lung transplant, Anne Hagerty!   Anne completely ripped up the course, finishing in a super spectacular PR of 2:45:13!!!   Coming so close on the heels of her big race down in Oregon where she set finished in 2:46:30, it’s obvious she was able to ride that thin line between recovery and preparation in the months leading up to the Rock’n Roll Half…not an easy thing to do! Nice work, hot-pink-skirted mystery transplant walker!   We’re proud to call you one of us!
Jonathan Baird once again had an impressive day that showcased his incredible consistency.   While he got off to a slow start this season, he rallied his training over the last few months, and was bouyed by the support of his niece, who has become a regular at TT events, on race day. As they passed me, they flashed big grins and laughed…Who laughs in the middle of a half marathon?? People who are having a good time, that’s who…It’s awesome to be in the kind of shape that you can go out and do 13.1 miles and enjoy it! Jonathon, wearing his floppy safari hat to the end, finished in just over 3 hours, as his chip time was a very fine 3:01:54.
Next…was newcomer, Maggie Kim. Hard to believe this Team Transplanter is just 6 months out from her surgery as she coasted through the course, running every other mile.   It was a lot of fun to see her cruising downhill to Seward Park…headphones in place…dressed in a brown tank top with her foliage green TT shirt wrapped around her waist…and huge smile on her face! hmmmm… seems to be a theme here!   Maggie finished in a stellar debut of 3:04:35!
Dan Tennant made his second appearance in the Team Transplant green…and make no doubt about it…we love seeing him in that color! Another recent transplant, it’s amazing to see the progress he’s made in the past year! He was someone who got right into training after his surgery which probably explains why he looked so comfortable as he walked by. He and his wife finished in fine form with a very respectable 3:22:11.
And then…came Dennis Cole…What an incredible story this is! Dennis received his 2nd heart transplant about 2 years ago…His first one lasted 18+ years. I can’t tell you what a thrill it was to see him running down that hill. Also dressed in his best TT green, he was flashing one of those amazing smiles as he paused to give me a report on the first half of the race…and make some editorial comments about the water. I know he slowed down a bit at the end…his final time was 3:27:05…but you know…that just means he’s got a good goal for next time!
Now…about this point, you’re probably thinking…STOP!! Stop it with all the good stuff, Alysun…I can’t take anymore, but…I can’t do that…because you see…there’s still more good stuff to share! And…rememeber…I’ve had all this marinating and simmering inside of me for a WEEK so I’ve got to go somewhere with it…
The next wave included our kidney transplants, Micah Gwinn and Jason Stahl. Micah was in a group with James Boecksteigel that was commandeered by Janette Morantes. They were all business as they marched by…Janette was determined to keep everyone moving and on task. Incredibly….they all fell in line and the extra focus paid off as Micah who has really been making great strides with his training this past year, finished along with Janette in an unbelievable 45-minute PR, completing the 13.1 miles in 3:28:45….James, who’s also overcome some incredible obstacles to be there on Saturday, finished in 3:10:04 (obviously he used the corral start to his advantage)…
Jason Stahl, biding his time back in the chase pack…was soaking it all in…the crowds…the music….the scenery…the cheering squads….He had waited one very long year for this moment and he wasn’t going to miss out on any part of it! He cruised by looking incredibly at ease and relaxed…With this approach, it was obvious that he was in for a big day…and a big day it was! He chopped an astounding 30 minutes off his time in Seattle last fall crossing the line in….3:48:11!
Also sneaking in with this group was Carla Trulson-Essenberg.   Walking her second half marathon as a Team Transplanter, she once again showed us that gritty determination and competetiveness that we’ve come to expect and love. Despite a foot issue that popped up during the week leading up to the race, she hung on to finish in a time that was just 5 minutes off of her impressive debut in last year’s event.    I know it was big race for her as as both her husband and son walked along with her this year. Carla’s official time was 3:47:11.
Dick Fitzgerald and Ron Adkins, two of our seasoned veterans, rounded out the squad.   Both steady and focused, they wisely avoided the quick early pace and patiently made their way along the course as they waited to make their big strategic moves up the hill to I-90. When the dust had cleared, Ron, together with his daughter, Heather, managed to edge out Dick at the end, crossing the line in 4:24:14. Dick still pulled off an excellent finish, winding up the 13.1 mile race in 4:24:30!
Once everyone had cleared the Seward Park area, I started to make my way back to I-90 and my car…darting in and out of the competitors and stopping to walk with team members…whew…it had been 5 hours since I’d last journeyed along this path. Shocking how stiff I can get when I stand around for 5 hours in between runs!   As I approached I-90, our cheering section was still going strong. The Millers and Laura Lewis were still every bit as excited to see people come by then as I’m sure they were earlier in the day. I stayed with them until everyone had passed the 9 –mile mark….
I retrieved my car….headed back to QWEST Field…enjoyed the music and reverie of the finish area…and then once everyone was in, headed back home where I had 45 minute break until the fabulous celebration started back up again in my backyard.
It was a wonderful day…and a wonderful celebration. Thanks to all of you who helped make it possible…especially those of you working behind the scenes and on the sidelines!   The day would never have happened with out you….
•   Sign in /Sign Out…
Shirley Schultz, Ida Boecksteigel, Jeannie Reynolds, Suzann Stahl, Cindy Weber, Colin Rines, and Vanessa Whitacre
•   Mile 9 Hoopla Station!
Lenore Miller, Steve Miller, and Laura Lewis
•   BBQ
Kris Hendricks, Steve Miller, Dennis Cole, Janette Morantes, and Susan Bussell…and everyone else who contributed to the potluck! It was unbelievable!
And… I need to give an extra big helping of thanks to Steve and Lenore Miller…Steve was at my house on Friday afternoon ready and eager to report for yardwork duty; both of them were out at the Mile 9 Hoopla Station all morning on Saturday;  and then they showed up early to help with the BBQ set up and ran the grill for all of us.   They definitely earned their Hollywood stars last weekend!
That’s all for now…I’ll be sending updates on our fall season very, very soon. Tenative plan is to start up training again the week of August 9th!
Have a wonderful summer…and savor the memories!

Alysun

Race Day is Upon Us!

greenglove — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:54:16 +0000

This is it!

The Second Annual Seattle Rock’n Roll Half Marathon…a wonderful celebration of everything you’ve accomplished over the past 16 weeks! The whole process of getting to this point can seem so mundane…going out for your daily walk or run…eating right…stretching…hydrating…pacing. Just looking at any one individual day, it may not seem like much…but when you add them all up…each day that you followed through on your commitment to exercise; all of the time you shared with your teammates….or enjoyed the solitude of a walk or run in the rain…or spent reading one of Alysun’s lengthy e-mails; every healthy lifestyle behavior that has now become routine…it all becomes something incredibly special!

It becomes the bundle of memories, learning experiences, relationships, improved health, and sense of peace that makes all of the hard work and early mornings worth it. It redefines how you see yourself…adjusts what you see as your limitations…and expands how you see your role in this world. Finishing a half marathon is a big deal…there’s no doubt about that…but even bigger is the ripple effect that accomplishing such a feat can create. If you can walk or run 13.1 miles…what other things are out there waiting for you to conquer?

Yes…training can be a grind…but having the discipline to stick to a plan…to set a goal that you actually reach…to put yourself out on the start line on race day…well…those are mighty powerful things! And they’re the things that you can take with you to your next great endeavor…

But…let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before we solve the problems of the world…and yes…I believe this group could make some great strides toward doing that…let’s not overlook the specialness of this Saturday morning. You’ve worked hard to get to this point, and it’s going to be an amazing day….an incredible reward for sticking to the daily grind. So soak it up! Enjoy the bands…enjoy your teammates and all of the people around you…and enjoy the fact that you truly belong out there…It’s going to be a wonderful celebration!

Go Team!

A few final tips…

It may be warm tomorrow…
Remember to hydrate! Both during the race…and before. If you have a long wait at the start, be sure to bring (or seek out) water to sip on.
Dress appropriately! If it seems chilly at the start, remember that it (and you) will warm up! Layer your clothing for easy removal later in the race when you may not want all of it.
As the sun comes up, try to run and walk on the shady side of the road…
…and remember SUNSCREEN!!!!

For those of you not participating in the race, consider meeting up with Lenore Miller and Laura Lewis out on Lake Washington Blvd where the racers connect with I-90. They’re planning to show up around 8:00am.

That’s all for now…Take it easy today…Get some good rest tonight.

I’ll see ya at O’Dark Thirty tomorrow morning!

Protected: Schedule Update – June 22

greenglove — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:45:17 +0000

Protected: Schedule Updates – June 18

greenglove — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:41:31 +0000

Protected: Schedule Update – June 11

greenglove — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:48:11 +0000

Get Involved!!

greenglove — Sat, 22 May 2010 03:29:56 +0000

Just wanted to pass along these opportunities to be involved with the team…and the transplant process!

Transplant Patient/Family Advisory Council…
We are starting up a Patient and Family Advisory Committe for Transplant. If you are interested in being involved, you can call UWMC Patient and Family-Centered Care at (206) 598-2697 or e-mail Hollis Guill Ryan at pfcc@u.washington.edu. We’ll have brochures at practices if you’d like more information.

• Race Day water station at Rock’n Roll Half..
The UWMC Exercise Training Center is sponsoring a water station…Help is needed from 5:30am to 12:00pm. Full and partial shifts are available. All helpers receive a t-shirt, marathon goodie bag, breakfast, and “good karma!” Activities include set up of tables, handing out cups to runners/walkers, and breakdown of tables.

To sign up, go to: https://2010rnrseattle.theregistrationsystem.com/en/registration/login/618

You will be asked if you are a new volunteer. Answer “yes,” and it will direct you to the form you will fill out. Remember you are volunteering for the UWMC Exercise Training Center Water station…there are several groups, and it will be on the half marathon route so you can be sure to cheer for your friends as they fly by!:-)
•   Team Transplant help on race day…
We’ll also be looking for people to help at the start and finish areas…as well as to provide support along the way. Contact teamtx@u.washington.edu if you’re interested.
•   Team Transplant post-race BBQ at Alysun’s house!!!
This will be in the afternoon of June 26th following the race.   Contact Janette Morantes at morantes@u.washington.edu if you’d like to help out!

Schedule Update: April 1

greenglove — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:53:59 +0000

If you’re wondering why you’re receiving this a day early…it’s because…number one…I have the day off tomorrow…and number two….I have extra time on my hands because I am done with NCAA basketball. I completely lost interest after last Saturday’s game. Honestly…UW is out. Gonzaga is out. KU (yes, even KU would hold some interest for me) is out…and my beloved Kansas State Wildcats? They’re out too. What’s the point?

Sad…to be such a fair weather fan of the sport.
…Fairweather fans…The stands are full when the team is winning; the athletes are heroes and the community swells with pride…..but when the team has a down season…well…when you catch a glimpse of the games on TV, you wonder how the teams are making it financially when there are so many empty seats in the stadium….Why is it always about the winning and losing? Shouldn’t we just love and support these players anyway? And does it always have to be about my team? Shouldn’t I just be interested in watching the tournament for the pure appreciation of the effort these athletes are pouring into their games?…sigh…there’s got to be something in it for me…

Well….That’s the nice thing about training for a reason other than to win games or championships. The goal becomes more about improving and making healthy changes and having fun. In fact….it becomes really very hard to lose. That’s because the marks in the win column come from your own personal gains. They might include improved health; a faster time in your next race; or finding a new group of friends to hang out with. And as long as you try….you will see those marks add up. And the more marks you get…well…the less fairweather you’ll feel and the more loyal you’ll be to this new healthy lifestyle!

Updates
Saturday, April 3rd, 8:00am…Volunteer Park! This was a new route for us last fall, and it was a big hit! Come join us for some urban scenic action at its best!

Saturday, April 10th, 8:00am…Alki! Join us for some urban beach scenic action!

The Rock’n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon is…….
SOLD OUT! http://seattle.competitor.com/
News you can Use….
Ever interested in learning more about figs? Yeah…me too… http://www.californiafigs.com/

Superstars of the Week
Jonathon Baird…Jonathon was our superb water station helper last weekend, helping out out at Sixty Acres Park. Jonathon, who had a liver transplant some 15 years ago, joined our team in the fall of 2008, and has been on a trajectory of improvement ever since! The best part for me is just how much he loves coming on Saturday mornings…You can tell he really enjoys the training and hanging out with all of you! In fact, last weekend he went to the extra effort to make homemade Fig Newtons for his water station! Now that’s some enthusiastic team support! Upon my request, he has passed along the recipe to share with all of you…see attached and…as Julia would say… ”Bon Appetit!”

Kenneth Bullis…Ken, a newcomer to the team, who just joined us about 2 weeks ago has already shown that he knows what it takes to be a Team Transplanter. He stepped right up to the plate to help out when one of our water station helpers couldn’t make it on Saturday! With team spirit like that, I know for sure that he’s going to fit right in!

Protected: Schedule Updates – March 12

greenglove — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:23:30 +0000

Wow! That was fun!

greenglove — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:32:12 +0000

Wow! That was fun! I don’t think we could have asked for a more beautiful day…While it might have been a touch on the warm side for racing, it was pretty much perfect for spectating. And, in my role as the Queen Bee Spectator, I can’t believe how many of you I was able to see during the race…I mean there were like 24,925 people I had to sort through to find you…And what I saw when I saw you was so darn cool…You all were having so much fun!….no cares in the world…trekking along “oblivious to pain, worry, and the external world”……Nirvana? Only you can be the judge of that. A rockin’ good time? You made me a believer!

But what was most impressive was how much you all enjoyed looking out for each other and seeing each other before, during, and after the race. That kind of camaraderie is a special thing…not all teams have it. But you guys…you guys…I think you do. According to Wikipedia (I’m branching out here), the most effective team is produced when “all the individuals involved harmonize their contributions and work towards a common goal.”

Now, I know I tend to be the competitive one of the bunch so I always think this means winning, but truly, you all understand that there is a goal bigger than winning a race or championship. It’s overcoming obstacles…and not letting little things drag you down. It’s striving to get the most out of life…and enjoying every single moment of the day. It’s embracing a healthy, active lifestyle…and showing that transplant recipients and donors can live that way too. It’s surrounding yourself with people who support and encourage you…and to whom you can return the favor once in awhile.

A band at every mile? Who needs that? With UWMC Team Transplant in the mix, there is bound to be plenty of good harmony all along the way!

Race Wrap-up

As I mentioned before…and I’ll be the first admit that this is pretty unbelievable…I managed to see all of our transplant recipients as well as many of our other team members during the race. Here are some of the highlights:

Jennifer Herlihy finally eclipsed the 2-hour barrier with her brilliant 1:59:48 effort! She’s been chipping away at this mark for quite awhile…and you know, she’s done it through sheer consistency. She runs during the week and makes it to practices for her long runs on Saturdays. She also had some great pacing by Lynne Sloan who ended up edging her out by about 15 seconds…Congratulations, Jen! It’s been a privilege watching your progress!

Allen Vary has certainly rebounded from his injury-laden fall finishing in 2:17:56 in only his 2nd attempt at the half-marathon distance. The transition from professional bowler to endurance athlete isn’t always an easy one, but he seems to be getting the hang of it. He plans to spend some time bike racing this summer. With the solid aerobic base that’s going to give him, it’ll be fun to see what he can pull off in November!

Mari-Jo Fraser made a stealth appearance, squeezing the race in in between baseball games and kids’ soccer games and boy scout meetings, and despite her crazy, busy schedule, she managed to finish a very solid 2:18:30. She’s definitely our poster girl for the benefits of cross-training!

We added 3 new members to the sub-3:00 club:

* Jonathon Baird, taking advantage of some excellent pacing by his niece, had the breakout performance of the year, finishing in 2:56:07. Only his second half marathon, it just makes you want to ask..What will this guy do next??!
* Anne Haggerty, who gets the prize for the best color coordination. Gatorade Green, hot pink, and bright blue…Who knew? I loved it…It looked awesome! And I’m sure she stood out as she crossed the line right behind Jonathon in a brilliant time of 2:56:20.
* Suzanna Moran, who just continues to improve by logarithmic leaps and bounds, dipped under 3 hours with an excellent time of 2:58:55! Turns out this was a goal of her’s…amazing what setting goals can do for you!

Not far behind them, and definitely not to be out-fashioned…Lenard Yen, sporting a pair of colorful OP/Jams-like shorts to accompany his TT Gatorade Green shirt, continued to ring on the 3-hour doorbell, with his outstanding 3:03:31, rivaling his breakthrough performance at the 2007 Capital City Half Marathon! In reviewing the finisher’s video on the RNR website…he once again had to pull out that amazing finishing kick of his!

Tami Sadusky was not far behind, and enjoying her own phenomenal race of her life. Tami clipped 5 minutes off her previous personal best time, crossing the finish line in 3:21:41. At one point, she was even ahead of husband, Mike, who had to throw in a little surge to catch up with her.

Newcomer Carla Trulson-Essenberg is proving that she is and always will be a Team Transplanter at heart (hmmm…or should that be at lungs)…. Carla completed the 13.1 mile course with a stellar debut of 3:42:48. I can not wait to see her back in the fall!

Vanessa Whitacre, another person who just continues to get better and stronger and fitter pretty much every single minute of the day, finished in an incredible time of 3:45:22. Gosh almighty! I just did the math…That was a 38 minute improvement over her November Seattle Half Marathon! Craziness!!!

Our heart guys all turned in strong, gutsy races with Mr. Dick Fitzgerald leading the way in 3:53:54, a sure sign that he is back on track and has overcome the setbacks that have sidelined him the past 2 years.

Sam Patterson was on a (rock’n) roll. Sam, whose hockey team recently placed 2nd in the National Senior’s Tournament, knocked over 12 minutes off his PR, covering the course in 4:00:59…He is on the brink of becoming a sub-4:00 guy. I can feel it!

Ron Adkins has also been battling a busy schedule and multiple interuptions to his training schedule, but he still managed to pull off rock-solid performance, clocking a very fine 4:03:50, which is not too far off a personal best for Ron…

Micah Gwinn, who was seen for the first time ever without his green jacket at the post-race BBQ, collaborated with Lenore Miller for a most excellent 4:17:34… rumor has it that they’ve already got plans to continue training through the summer. Let that be a warning to all of you planning to take the summer off!

Special kudos go to Dan Evered, our pre-lung transplant, who walked about 7-8 miles of the race. I was not actually expecting him so it was quite a pleasant surprise to see him, his daughter by his side, cruising along at the 6-mile mark. Outstanding effort!

And, finally, let’s have a round of applause for our marathoners, which included Amanda Preston, Greg Mead, Cara Oliver, Rachel Lyons, Christina Sugg, and Cathy Seifert.

Fantastic job, everyone!

Superstars of the Week

Thanks to everyone who helped out at the finishline….James, Ida, Jason Stahl, Colin Rines…Knowing you all were there to make sure everyone got across the finishline in one piece was huge! It’s so nice to have someone around after a race, to acknowledge your accomplishment and to care about how you did…To be honest, I can’t imagine a more enthusiastic, welcoming bunch! Thanks so much for be willing to get up early (or perhaps you never went to bed?), come downtown, sit around in the QWEST Field parking lot for 6 hours, and then fight traffic afterwards to get home. Hopefully we’ll get to see you taking your turn out on the race course very soon!

Thanks to Julie Sprinkle for the GREEN balloons! Next time I’ll know to pick a meeting location that isn’t right at the shuttle drop-off and port-a-potty lines!

Let’s hear it for everyone who helped with the post-race BBQ…Lenore Miller, Jennifer Herlihy, Susan Bussell, Ida and James, and Janette Morantes all showed up at my house on Friday afternoon to help with some last-minute yardwork and set up tables and service lines… I know Mark Rosinbum, Jennifer H., Tami Sadusky, Harch Ooi, Lenard Yen, Julie Sprinkle, Lenore M., Susan Bussell, Janette, and Diane Vetres all brought items to share at the BBQ…Diane V., Tess Brown, Siobhan Ginnane, and Laura Lewis all helped with clean up…I’m sure I’ve missed people…just know if I did, your help was greatly appreciated…It was a crazy long day and some of the details are blurry!

Special thanks to Janette for spending her post-race recovery time grilling hamburgers and veggie burgers for us! She did an awesome job…The burgers were wonderful…much better than you would’ve gotten from me…though I’m sure she had to rely on a few packets of GU to pull it off!

Plans for the future

Hard to believe but we’ll be starting up training for the Seattle Half next month! Look for information in your inbox in the next few weeks. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve practices, the race weekend experience, or thoughts on apparel, please pass them along! We want to make sure we’re all harmonizing toward a common goal!

Have a great summer, everyone! Look forward to seeing you in August!

Alysun

Superstars of the Week! – June 27

greenglove — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:21:18 +0000

Thanks to Julie Sprinkle for the GREEN balloons! Next time I’ll know to pick a meeting location that isn’t right at the shuttle drop-off and port-a-potty lines!

Let’s hear it for everyone who helped with the post-race BBQ…Lenore Miller, Jennifer Herlihy, Susan Bussell, Ida and James, and Janette Morantes all showed up at my house on Friday afternoon to help with some last-minute yardwork and set up tables and service lines… I know Mark Rosinbum, Jennifer H., Tami Sadusky, Harch Ooi, Lenard Yen, Julie Sprinkle, Lenore M., Susan Bussell, Janette, and Diane Vetres all brought items to share at the BBQ…Diane V., Tess Brown, Siobhan Ginnane, and Laura Lewis all helped with clean up…I’m sure I’ve missed people…just know if I did, your help was greatly appreciated…It was a crazy long day and some of the details are blurry!

Special thanks to Janette for spending her post-race recovery time grilling hamburgers and veggie burgers for us! She did an awesome job…The burgers were wonderful…much better than you would’ve gotten from me…though I’m sure she had to rely on a few packets of GU to pull it off!