Goodbye Big Sis!

Teresa Jean Ferrel
September 9, 1965 - April 21, 2013

No farewell words were spoken.
No time to say goodbye.
You were gone before we knew it,
and only God knows why.

May you finally be in peace!

Say "Hi" to Dad and Darlene for me!

Kirkland Shamrock Run

Last Saturday my friend Teresa and I ran the Kirkland Shamrock Run 5K. For someone who is 14 weeks pregnant, just moved the weekend before, and has an 18 month old toddler at home, it was AMAZING for her to get up on a Saturday morning and run with me.

The weather was pretty mild. There was a slight wind, but the big wind and rain didn't start until after the run, thankfully!
The run through downtown Kirkland was UPHILL for the first 2 miles. I'm not kidding. It was BRUTAL! The last mile was downhill, but too late to make up enough time for me to get another PR. I was only 1 minute off my PR time, but those hill killed my time.
Teresa finished 1 1/2 minutes before me. Not bad considering that the last time we ran together she finished almost 10 minutes before me! I've gotten better and her being pregnant worked in my favor! :)
After the run, "the baby" was hungry! Worked for me! We went to Hector's for breakfast - and a Mimosa for me! All in all, it was a great morning with a good friend and a little exercise!

Before the race at the "famous" Kirkland Cow & Dog statue.

The only photo during the run we are both in. Teresa passed me up this hill and I didn't see her again until the finish!
 

Belles of the Ball

The Belles! Paulette, Christa & Kris

Rainier Yacht Club Commodore's Ball - I can't believe I went to a Ball! It was actually really fun, like a grown up Prom, except drinking was legal! We had a great time with our friends.

Grown Up Prom Photo
Paulette, Ryan, Christa, Leo, Kris & Tim

Off to the Ball - Self Portrait!

A New Boat!

WHY? Because Tim wanted one! Seriously, that's the only reason. There was no need for us to get a bigger boat. Tim found a "great deal" on a Repo and decided it was his Dream Boat. Whatever! Me, being the good wife, went along with it and let him buy it. The only problem was that we were buying a new boat before we sold our old boat. That made me more than a little nervous! Thankfully, our old boat sold within a few weeks. Whew! The new boat, as a repo, needs some TLC. Tim has to keep reminding me as I am cleaning other people's dirt (and it is DIRTY!) that I am making $20,000+ in equity by cleaning it. That seems to be logical to me!
Her name is Scoring Points. I heard it was back luck to change a boat's name, so we are leaving it as is. She is a 1999 Sea Ray 400 Sedan Bridge. She is about 45 feet overall in length, has 2 staterooms and 2 heads (that's a bathroom in boat lingo!). There's even an electric pull out couch in the salon (living room) so we can technically sleep 6.
Our first boat adventure is scheduled for next month for the Daffodill Festival in Tacoma. Just wonder how much its going to cost us in gasoline to go through the lakes, the locks and to Tacoma and back. I'm frightened to even think about it!!!

First Ever 10K!

My first ever 10k! Tim and I flew to San Diego last week so I could run in my first 10k on Coronado Island. It was a great event with about 3000 people. Tim ran the event too.
My goal time was 66 minutes. I finished in 60:57.
I was so happy to be done and so proud of myself for accomplishing something I never thought I could do. I even got a little emotional on our walk back to the hotel.
I NEVER have to run again! But, I realized that I actually like doing these events and pushing myself. So.....time to plan the next one!

First 5K of 2013!

MLK Day 5K at Magnuson Park - I finished in my best time ever...28:59! Tim, Emily and I all braved the 32 degree temperature to run yesterday. It was cold, but each of us finished faster than last month!
The "big" race is next month in San Diego where I am crazy enough to try at 10K! Wish me luck!

~ Clam Lights ~

Last night we went to Clam Lights at Coulan Park in Renton. We boated over from our friends' home on Lake Washington and walked through the lights at the park. On the way we had a delicious stew dinner, adult beverage and amazing lemon cupcakes for dessert! It wasn't raining, which made for a great night for a walk in the park. It was cold, but that's what coats, gloves, and adult beverages are for!

Last 5K of 2012 - Holiday Fun Run

Emily & Kris

It was a freaking cold December morning on the shores of Lake Washington at Magnuson Park for the Holiday Fun Run 5K. Battling the wind and rain, Emily, Tim and I all finished the 5K. I finished at my fastest pace of the year 9:38/mile! So proud of myself for 9 races in 2012! Bring on 2013!!

All my 2012 Race Bibs!

Turkey Trot 5K

The rain held off for the 5K at Marina Park in Kirkland today. Kaitlyn, Tim and I met up with my friend from work, Blair this morning and we ran with hundreds of other people from Marina Park to Carilon Point and back. The rain started back up again as we hit the car for the drive home. Amazing!
I had my best 5K finish time yet, at 29:49. :)

Pumpkin Push 5K

It was pouring down rain this morning and we still got out there and ran...with about 730 other crazy people. This was the first of my 7 5Ks that Tim actually ran with me. It was fun to do it together. Our friends Christa and Leo joined in the wet fun too. The race was around Seward Park and then up into the middle. The hill was brutal and killed my time. I am just thankful I survived and finished the darn thing. Didn't even throw up this time! 31.29 Following the race, in our soaking wet clothes, looking like drowned rats, the 4 of us went out for breakfast. That was the best part of the morning! :)

My best 5k time is the Haunted Hustle that I did just 2 short weeks ago with Kaitlyn and Charlie. I finally broke the 10 minute mile and finished in 30:34 - that's a 9:52 mile. I'm not going to win any prizes, but it is a heck of an accomplishment considering 7 months ago I couldn't run around the block! :)

 

All Grown Up!

This is what 19, 20, and 21 looks like!

 

Another 5k.....

Yep! I finished my 5th 5K last weekend. It was the Harmon Tap Room Hustle. I improved my time again to 31.34. This was a Pub Run....so after the race everyone met up at the Harman Tap Room for beer and pizza. It was a pretty fun way to end the race!

 I am well on my way to my goal of a 5K every month since I finished my "Couch to 5K" class in April. I have my October and November races scheduled already. Next month is the Haunted Hustle in Puyallup with Kaitlyn and Charlie on October 14th.

 

5K #4 - Redmond's Great Day of Play

Last night I completed my 4th 5K race, and I did it in record time. Well, record time for me anyway. 32:02!
This was my 4th 5K in 4 months. My goal is to do one every month for the rest of 2012. I finished my Couch to 5K class in April. My first 5K was in May (Color Run), June was the Shore Run. In July, Kaitlyn and I did the Redmond Derby Day 5K Dash. This month though, it was just me. Kaitlyn had already moved back to Portland for school. Tim was there supporting me (yelling at me to sprint). There were about 400 people running along the River Trail in Redmond from City Hall out toward Marymore Park and back. The first half of the race was brutal. Every time I do these races, when I'm about 10 minutes in, I am always questioning my sanity, wondering why I thought this would be a good idea. Thankfully though, I don't quit, I keep running and then feel like I've accomplished something when I cross the finish line. Getting to the turn around point last night seemed to take forever! The run back wasn't as bad. I tried to pick up the pace when I was about 1/4 mile from the finish. The only person I am truly racing is myself. My goal is always to beat my last time. As I got about 60 feet from the finish, Tim was there along the path, yelling at me to Sprint. The only thing I got out of my mouth was, "what does the clock say?" Unfortunately, the time clock wasn't showing on both sides. When I finally crossed through the tent and turned around to see the clock, I was very happy. My time was better than the last one. Having given it my all, as with the last race, once I cross the finish line, I find the nearest grassy section, because I feel like I am going to throw up!
When the official timing chip results are in a few minutes later, I find that I was 51 seconds faster than my last finish. Yay Me!
Next race...September 15th....This one is a Pub Run! How fun is that? You run 3.11 miles and then head to the bar for a party. Sounds like a good time to me!

The Shore Run 5K

Today I completed by 2nd 5K run. My goal was to finish the race in under 38 minutes. My official race time was 35:05! Yay! Kaitlyn was a good sport and got up early on a Sunday morning to run with her Mama again. Two of my friends from work, Teresa and Blair also ran with us. Teresa kicked butt and finished in 25 minutes and shortly after Kaitlyn came in at 27. Awesome!

The Shore Run - Benefiting Fred Hutchinson Survivor Center! 6/10/12.

The Color Run 2012 - Mother's Day

I DID IT!!! I finished my first 5K!

The "Before" Picture. All ready to run through some color!



It's over and Kaitlyn got all colored up!



The massive color plume at the finish celebration!

This was one crazy run! The 3.1 miles included several hills, one that was not steep but really LONG and steady. Then, just when you think you are free and the finish line is almost in sight, you turn a corner and there is one last steep hill. Ugh! This hill almost got me, but I pushed through and finished. I ran the entire 3.1 miles. I was so freaking proud of myself! Kaitlyn and my friend Emily ran with me. It was awesome. Kaitlyn came in about 10 minutes before I did, but Emily stayed with me the whole race. After the race we went out for a much deserved breakfast celebration including Mimosas!

I have already signed up for my next 5K run - The Shore Run on June 10th.