Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. - Steve Jobs

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Halloween Half Marathon


Jake & I got up Halloween morning at 4am & got ready for my very first 1/2 marathon. He was really sweet & drove me up past Sundance to the start of the race at Aspen Grove. The race started at at 9am & had over 700 participants. At least 1/2 were in costume. I went as Slammin Sue to represent the best of roller derbie.


You heard me!



It's important to hydrate a lot before a race. The suggestion is a gallon of water a couple of hours before the race. As you can see, the bathrooms were busy all morning.


There were over 700 participants.



Runaway bride



I was 1 mile in when my bladder starting screaming at me to find a bathroom. I ran past men who were standing on the side of the road urinating. I couldn't believe how close they were to the other runners. I could see their pee streams & the steam coming off of it. Not fair! I was desperate enough I thought about squatting on the side of the road but I would have been completely exposed. It hurt so bad I wanted to walk but I knew that my only choice was to run as fast as I could. It was 5 miles before I hit the first restroom stop. Ah! Sweet relief!!



I ran in my skateboarding pads to complete my roller derbie look. I love the Flash costume. The runner was actually super fast & averaged a 7 min mile the entire time.



I can't beleive she ran in this. Incredible.


She was a costume winner & averaged a 10 min. mile. Crazy.


My favorite.

I came at 2 hours & 30 min. Over all I was 650th out of 727. Hee. Next year my goal will be to come 649th. The fastest runner ran an average of a 5.3 minute mile.

I wasn't tired at all when it was over.

One of my favorite costumes. I tried to get a picture of her backside as it was all blue leatard & a gray thong going up her behind. Takes a brave woman to run in that.



My poor feet have suffered the most out of this adventure. I have had blisters the size of quarters, blood blisters, bruised toe nails, & cauleses on the end of my toes that are thick are peeling off. This picture doesn't do it justice, but I had to show my hard work.

My pinky is my only injury from the race. The first 5 miles was steep technical running with an elevation loss of 2,000 ft. My really messed my toe up from all the down hill running. The entire end of my pinky is a blood blister & dad said my toe nail is going to fall off. That should be pretty.

My swag. I love the shirt we got & we also got an awesome medal for finishing as well. I can't wait to do it again next year.

A Very Important Quest


I wanted to give Seth a birthday present for his very special day of being born. I had a particular idea in mind so I had to wait until fall to give it to him. This present may only make sense to those who have played World of Warcraft or who enjoy Dungeons & Dragons or role playing games. The present was really for Jon.



I wanted to surprise Desi & Jon with Seth already in his outfit. We were at Jenny's Saturday morning & Jon was very accommodating & happened to come & offer me his baby to play with. Jake & I snuck Seth to our bedroom & changed his clothes while his unsuspecting parents were down stairs.




Seth & Jon opening their gift. I knit Seth this hat & fabric glued an exclamation mark to the front of the hat. In World of Warcraft, a character who has an exclamation mark above their head has a quest to give. Seth hats signifies that he has a quest to give Jon & Desi.

The quest is on Seth's shirt. If you double click on the pic you can sort of see the quest he was given. I hand stamped the quest on one word at a time. Here's what the shirt says.


A Bundle of Trouble (please note spit up already on shirt)

Objective
  • Raise a level 1 huminoid

Required

  • Change 2920 diapers

  • Defeat 145 sleepless nights

  • Gather 3000 pictures

Required Players

  • The village

Rewards

  • 3500 experience points

  • +15 urine dodge rating

  • Increased fatherhood by 1000

Seth's outfit also came with 5 items to assist him on his quest.

Twin Spoon of Azzinoth

+ 10 Agility
Increases critical green beans strike by 23
Increases applesauce attack power by 99

Bear of Calming Tears

Held in off hand
+23 Water absorption
Increases sleep rating by 34

Infantile Regalia

+16 Comfort

Blanket
Reduces Fear Duration by 43

Booties
Reduces frost bite by 56

Conjured Fruity Spring Water

Requires Level 1
Use: Restores 4100 mana over snack time
Allows the imbiber to sleep for 2 hours
Must remain seated while drinking
Infinite Charges; Must be washed between charges

Pumpkin Walk



Jenny's family had the awesome idea of having us all dress up & go in costume to the Pumpkin Walk this year. Everyone looked awesome in their Halloween wear & it was fun to show off our costumes as we enjoyed the artistic pumpkin display.



I brought Jon the grass skirt & coconuts to wear as his costume. It was a gift Jake brought back for me when he went to Hawaii when he was 18. Seth was the cutest Tigger.


The viking preparing to eat his meal.


They had M&M's hidden in each display for you to try & find.


Ummmmm............? We couldn't figure out what was going on here.


Jon didn't quite fit the grass skirt. Good thing he had on a pair of shorts underneath & he wasn't going Braveheart style.


I went as Alice but had my costume covered up cuz I was cold. I was trying to look like a fierce viking wife but I just look depressed. I guess I need more tips from Tyra.


Tigger konked out.


The sneaky bandits tried to steal the M&M's from the pumpkin displays.

The fierce pirate stoped them with his sword fighting skills.


I made Jake's costume from top to bottom except for the hat of course. It was my first time making a pair of pants & I didn't have a pattern to work from. I cut up a pair of old sweats & used them to make the pants. I was really confused & luckily Debbie was a pro & walked me through how to sew them. I still managed to sew one butt cheek in front but I was eventually able to get things right. Woot!


Jenny's costume was rockin. She was one hot pirate wench with some fierce knife fighting skills.

This display was awesome & disturbing at the same time. Double click on it & you can see the pencil in the pumpkins eye. Nice.


This was my favorite display. I was so sad Julie wasn't here this year to see it.


The displays this year were really incredible. It seems that they keep outdoing themselves each year.


I loved this peacock.


This witch seriously looked real. At first I thought it was a real person holding still to try & scare people but it was just a pumpking witch.






The bus ride was a lot of fun. The driver was cracking pirate jokes & Jon was complimented several times on his coconuts.




It was fun to have Derrick join us this year. He came without costume but new exactly what to do when he heard we were in costume. He had on a black shirt & black pants, so he put white tape on his back the said "Stage Crew."


Jeff & Desi rockin the bus.


I was busy taking pics on the bus & smacked my head really hard on a pole. Ouch!


I got this killer fur hat in an antique store when I was 20.


The sacrifical offering.


I love Jake's face in this pic.

Jon & I got excited this year about reliving the childhood memory of making rock monsters. We slaved all morning & came up with the following master pieces.


Jon: 5th Element Rock. Maren: Bug eyes Pixar rock & Purple raisin monster. Amy: Watermelon monster. Jeff: Evil eyebrow monster. Derrick: Spiked Duck.


I made the wicked witch of the west & the wicked witch of the eat. Desi was awesome & made the house to go on top of my witches legs. Jake put together a rock monster & it ended up being a great throne for my witch.


Thanks to Jenny & family for throwing such a spectacular party! We had delicious pumpkin soup cooked inside a pumkin. Yummy desserts by Desi, & Butter Beer served up by Jeff. Good times!