July 19...

Good morning. I think I slept the best I have slept in weeks last night. I am bracing myself for an eight mile run this morning...God I love tapers. Yesterday, Saturday, I went to Ape Caves with Tyler, Jesse, and a bunch of Jesse's relatives. It was different than I imagined (the caves, not the relatives). One tunnel was about a mile and a quarter long and was very dark duh) and had all kinds of lava boulders you had to climb over. I worried I'd hurt my foot or leg...but it was fine. I did get car sick on the way there though...but not as bad as the water slides at Great Wolf Lodge.

When we got home, Tyler, Jesse, Kim, and Jason wanted to go to Plaza Jalisco for dinner but it was almost seven!! I first said no, but then thought it Saturday night in the summer for gosh sake and I am not an old woman...so I went. However, I won't tell you I was good company. I practically fell asleep in my plate. Tyler took bets on how fast I'd be asleep on the way home.

Yikes, I have running camp tomorrow!! That's an early morning get-up. Oh, and I have been forsaken in my running. First my "stretching friend" from camp (I still don't know his name or even if he is associated with the running camp, but he sure makes my hip feel amazing) won't be there this week. Oh no! Who will stretch my hip??? Eadie! And my on-line training friend is incommunicado fishing in Canada. However, Devin Sume texted me a "good luck" last night and it meant the world to me as I feel pretty overwhelmed right now.

Gotta run...literally.

Ape Caves-Saturday July 18

We went to Ape Caves today. I am sure anyone helping me get ready for next week's marathon would appreciate me walking in the dark, dank caves on lava piles.





Me, finally here and car-sick.

Tyler and Jess...

Walking back to the car for the twisty-turning ride back...gag.

So, What Have I Given Up for the Marathon?

I haven't kept up with routine car repairs or maintenance...
(And the Prius touts itself as "green").

Trees and landscape have been pretty much ignored...My motto is "if it's green it's grass; if it's not it's a flower; if it's dead it's low maintenance."

... I have fallen behind with home maintenance projects.

But hey, I'm ready for my marathon!

Running Route: Six Mile Route

Welcome to my six mile

route with me! It's July 16, 85 degrees, and I am exhausted from work at "running camp". This is the Cowlitz River Bridge at the beginning and end of the run.

Way in the back are the most adorable ponies. There is a decaying deer though near the fence in front of me that reeks. Ponies don't like to get too close to fence and I don't like to stand around with the flies and stench. Soon, though, I will get a closer photo: deer is almost "gone".

These are fancy cows on the 25 road flats. I notice they don't have pooh all over them like the black and white dairy cows up the road. That's a good thing.

Two miles into the run, give or take, you take the Spears Road. Take a left at the horses. They ignore me.

That's Mt. Rainier as seen from the Spears Road. I like the Spears Road: it's shady, quiet, and a nice place to be if you are "caught short" as they say in Lord of the Flies.

This is mile 3.5 or so. Way across the field is the 25 road where we started. Damn it's hot.

Looking back at mile four (or so) is Mt. Adams. You people are really slowing me down today.

This is "Donkey". If he were mine he'd have a nice name. He ignored me today so the photo is not a great one. I want to steal him; but his owner, Carrie is on to my plot. Donkey lives at the one or five mile mark depending on which way I take the loop. I always say hello.