Weekend Updates

Bike Sebring 2008. This was two weekends ago on February 16. Curt rode from 6:30am until almost 6:30pm to win second place in his division. He rode a total of 193.2 miles. He consumed 9,000 calories and one bike tire. It was exciting to see the 12 hour cyclers finish and to watch the 24 hour cyclers being diverted to the race track at Sebring for their final 12 hours. Most of the first 12 hours is on the road but the cyclers just lap the race track for the last 12 since it's at night. One of the highlights of the race was a handcycler who was trying to beat a world record and he did! His name is Keane West and he rode 322.4 in 24 hours. The previous record was 267.3 miles. Congratulations, Keane, you were awesome out there. If you ever find yourself reading this, I'm the one you were flirting with on each lap in! ;)





Last weekend I drove to Columbus, GA to visit a friend I haven't seen in quite some time. Four hundreds miles each way and tons of music in between. I like to drive and my car likes to be driven. It's so true what they say about enjoying your journey more than your destination. Half the fun really was getting there. On the way back, another corvette teamed up with mine for almost two hours. You would have sworn we were together. I hated to see him go. Nothing like a little company on the road. Paula and I are both Scorpios - both born on the same day, matter of fact, except Paula is two years younger. Here we are on Sunday morning scoping out some sculptures that are on exhibit downtown. It was cold (brrr) in GA.

Then we launched into our artsy fartsy stuff. We were lucky enough to get someone to take our picture together once but then we had to improvise. We decided that all those glass window fronts were perfect reflections of us! This next one reminded Paula of a condensed version of the Beatle's Abbey Road. I'll have to agree.

















We both especially liked this next one not so much because we're in it but more because of what is captured in the background - just look at that gorgeous tree!

















Next up are a couple of the featured sculptures downtown. I need to get the background on the one Paula is examining but I found an article in the local paper, the Ledger-Enquirer, detailing the one of the little girl in the poncho. It is called "May Flower" by artist, Susan Geissler, of Youngstown, NY.


















This is just the side of a building in downtown Columbus that I thought was cool.










It was SO cold Saturday night - how cold you ask? Well, it was a three dog night but Paula only has two. Meet George, her oldest, and Mercy, her youngest.



























And what weekend would be complete without a Champion car show? Here is my favorite car, evah. It's a 1963 Corvette - the only year with a split window in the back. Stevie Wonders...isn't she lovely?

My Pace or Yours?

Gasparilla 2008! And my first half marathon (13.1 miles). The weekend started with an Expo at the Tampa Convention Center. That's where we picked up our race packets and wandered around looking at all the running gear. There were some great t-shirts from OneMoreMile.net. My Pace or Yours? Find Your Happy Pace. Do Not Pass - Race Official (my favorite). Will Run for Wine. In My Dreams, I am a Kenyan (Curt's favorite!). Team in Training (TNT) held a pasta party for all the Gasparilla half and full marathoners. Stacey, Laura's daughter, and Curt joined us for dinner. That's when we learned that our team raised over $114,000.00 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Together, Laura and I raised over $3,600.00. We feasted on carbs and headed back to our room at the Tampa Hyatt. That was one of our perks - being put up in the hotel the night before. Stacey spent the night with us but Curt needed to go home. Zookeeper duties, doncha know?

Wake up call!! Time to get ready for our 6am race! We were out the door by 4:30 to meet our teammates for breakfast in one of the hotel suites. We left as a group at 5:15 for the start line on Bayshore Blvd. I found Curt right away - my wingman. Lord knows he could have run this race in half the time but he never left my side throughout the entire race.

The first six miles were on Davis Island. There were flute players, violinists, jugglers, and a whole bunch of folks having their morning coffee while watching the race. Race organizers tried to keep it somewhat subdued in the early hours so as not to disturb too many people that early in the morning. But when the sun came up and we got to Bayshore Blvd for the last leg of our race there were all kinds of bands and people cheering us on. And what race would be complete without everyone's favorite sherpa? Check out Diana (circled in yellow) with her cowbell who joined Laura at the finish line. We couldn't get a late check out at the hotel so we missed Bigun finish the full marathon.

It was a glorious morning. We ran in shorts and t-shorts and the temp was in the mid 60s which was perfect running weather. I was definitely in pain and this is when the coach tells you that it's a good idea to take an ice bath. We went shopping for 4 hours at two different malls. We just thought that's what everybody did! Our victory party was later that afternoon and, once again, Curt and Stacey joined us. My last picture is with Coach Steve and mentor, Marai. A couple of people you don't want to train without! We're going to see them again this summer at the FL 70.3 where they will both be competing in a half Ironman that Curt is registered for, too.

Everybody keeps asking me what's next!! If you have any ideas, just let me know. Meanwhile I'm following the coach's advice and taking it easy for a couple of weeks. I think Curt is going to write the coach a letter! At one point, when I told him I didn't think I could make it, he told me to run harder!!!!! Alrighty then...Been There, Run That.