Hood To Coast Leg #1 - The Good

26 August 2011 - A.M.  Mt. Hood To Portland

Friday, as noted previously, started bright and early!  It was Hood To Coast Day!!!  We posed for the obligatory team shot.  

Mason, Jocelyn, Emily, Dorothy, Kimberly, Me, Lauren

It was at this point that I "lost" my first item.  Of course, it was my camera.  I knew that I'd thrown it down on my seat, but for the life of me couldn't see it when I got back into the van.  I wasn't able to locate it until we stopped for coffee a while later.  Turned out that it was under the front bench and I just didn't look hard enough (which would be a continuing theme for the next 2 days).

Once we were packed in like sardines - between ourselves, our gear, 2 photographers and their stuff (including a bike we loved to hate) it was tight - we were off.  It's a long drive to Mt. Hood.  Generally our time was taken up stopping for coffee or bathrooms and learning the ins and outs of Twitter.  I learned a great deal, but mostly felt out of the loop since I don't have a phone that can use it.  My iPod was my friend after a while...

I honestly have no idea how long it took to get up to Mt. Hood.  But the reality of what was going to happen started to kick in once we started seeing vans for other teams as well as transitions and runners.  It was crazy to think that people had been on the road since 3:30 am!

It was at this point that I put in my music and started to zone out.  Yes, I could see the mountain looming larger, but I was happy to just shut it all out.  It's not that I didn't appreciate the beauty of the route or want to see what all the legs looked like (albeit backwards).  I just didn't want to psych myself out and it looks an awful lot like British Columbia anyways.

We got to the top at about 11:45 and since I was set to start us off at 12:30 we didn't have a lot of time to look around and take pictures.  All of us made sure we had our Nuun tattoos and we took a few group shots.  Other than that it was making sure I had all of my stuff together - a quick sprint back to the van for sunscreen was absolutely necessary - and getting to the start line.  Tricia and I both got to the line and before we knew it we were off!

It is definitely surreal to not only find yourself starting a 200 mile relay and running down a mountain, but to have your own personal photographer/videographer as well.  Becker tracked us from his bike as we ran.  I felt a little odd trying to focus on running and not turning to wave every 2 seconds.  I'm excited to see the footage, but also scared to see what my form looks like!

I finished my first leg about 2 minutes over the predicted time, but I'm super happy with it.  I found a last little bit of speed to track down a runner from Handful right at the end.  It wasn't much but I think I got 2 "roadkills" for the leg.  Unfortunately that would pretty much be it for those for the rest of the relay.  I forgot to write down my times (a little disappointed about that) however I think that it was about 51 or 52 minutes for 9.08km/5.64mi; about a 5:40min/km.  At that rate it would have been a 10km PR!

The rest of the day sort of went by in a blur.  It was a lot of stops and starts to let out runners, give water to said runners because it was so hot and do it all over again until all 6 of us were finished!  Everyone did so well!!!

Next: Friday 26 August 2011 - P.M.  Portland and Leg #13 aka Things Go Awry

Team Nuun Tuesday - Let The Reports Begin

I can't quite bring myself to say that this is the last Team Nuun Tuesday.  I'm pretty sure that I'll have enough to write about until at least next week!  Let's begin with a recap of Thursday's activities, shall we?

25 August 2011

I had the luxury of driving down to Seattle to begin my epic weekend.  While to sign telling us that the border wait was 50 minutes was accurate it wasn't any fun.  Especially when we discovered that the lane we were in was not the one that splits to go to the other booths at the end.  And it's even less fun when all three of us started with the requests for the washroom with about 20 minutes to go. 

There's a sign when you enter the United States that shows a bunch of national landmarks and Spud wanted to know what all of them were.  Thank goodness the Space Needle was on there because he kept asking to go see them.  Sorry, Bud, but the Statue of Liberty and St. Louis Arch are a little too far to drive today.  Guess what Colin got to do after they dropped me off?  After waiting so long to cross the line I decided that it didn't much matter if I got to Seattle too early.  I'd already missed the first of the bunch that came in on early flights and knew that even if we drove straight down I probably wouldn't have that much time to hang out.  It turned out alright, though, since I got to spend about half the day with my boys.

We've been down to Seattle enough to roughly know our way around.  I figured out about 1/2 hour outside of downtown that while I knew the address and which side of the freeway the Nuun office was on I didn't actually have a map.  Oops!  The other problem was that we usually are able to take the express lane and it has different exits than the regular road so we didn't see the one we were looking for.  Thankfully I'd remembered that they were near the medical centre so I knew to go north...  and we drove by the hotel on the way there too.  Our fears were all for naught since we got where we needed to be with minimal aimless driving.  After circling their block to find parking in a slightly sketchy area of town we went up and I got to meet Kim (event marketing and Nuun-Platuun-er)  for the first time.  It was a brief introduction and then Colin and Spud walked me to the hotel.  They didn't have time to stick around because of parking so we said our goodbyes and I did my very best not to cry.  Tear up, yes.  Outright cry, no.  

I think I waited about an hour - reading the free Seattle magazine - before Melody called me and said they were on their way back from Pike Place Market.  I felt bad because it was hot (PNW hot, that is) and the walk was uphill.  In the meantime Tonia (toe-knee-ahh if you need the intensive or just call her T) arrived and got settled into our room.  She was very nice about me butchering her name at least 3 times!  We decided to go downstairs to wait for everyone in the lobby and I was pleasantly surprised to see about half a dozen bloggers sitting around chatting.  It amazes me how not awkward it was to meet everyone.

Once most of us were at the hotel we started with van decorations.  Let me just first say that our team went with an "ignorance is bliss" and "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission" attitude.  We hadn't been told an outright no in terms of writing on the vans and not just the windows with our markers.  This is what we came up with:

I loved our design.  We made sure that people knew we were from Nuun as well as letting them know they could follow along/contact us during the race.  And I loved that it was rainbow-y.  It turned out to be really easy to spot out on the road and in the middle of a field parking lot.  I'm a little bummed that the photographer/videographer wasn't there to document our decorating abilities since we did have a lot of fun doing it.

Once we were done it was time to head over the Nuun office to meet everyone and have dinner.  I have to admit that I love their office.  It's on the fourth floor of a warehouse conversion and it's just cool.  Yes, that is the historian in me talking...  We were introduced to the staff that would be joining us (Kimberly, Kim, Caitlin, Mason, Casey, Alex and Ken) as well as those that were just still around for the day.  After a round of get-to-know-you with everyone it was time for pizza and salads, beer and Nuun.  Ask Megan what happens when water accidentally gets into a Nuun tube and the lid is put back on!  After a couple of hours and a gift exchange - I got a sweet Austin, TX shirt from Tricia - we all headed back to the hotel.  I thought I wasn't tired, but with an early wake up call (5:30 - ew!) I ended up going to bed at quarter after 9.  Since I was paranoid about missing my alarm on my watch I woke up at least 4 times before it went off...

Next up: Friday 26 August 2011 aka The Day I Started "Losing" Stuff 

Monday Musings: HTC 2011

This is by no means a recap of this past weekend at Hood To Coast with Nuun.  I'm pretty sure it's going to take a week's worth of posts to get all that down!  Here are just a few random things to tide you over....

• I am actually not that sore.  Surprising, considering that I ran down a freaking mountain.  It must have been the almost 3 hours of rolling with the stick I did sitting in the border line up waiting to get home last night.
• I am emotionally overloaded right now.  There were so many ups and downs (both literally and figuratively) this weekend that I'm trying to process.  Being the most introverted person in the van will bring that on.  Holy overwhelmed, Batman.  
• Canada needs better data plans (re: cheaper).  My sad little flip phone was a slight embarrassment when everyone else had a pretty iPhone/Blackberry to tweet with.  I mostly just read over their shoulders and listened to my iPod.
• I had an amazing team and I wish I got to spend more time with Van 2.  It felt like we only saw them for a couple of hours during the whole event.
• How many companies do you know of where the president is game to not only wear, but run, in a sparkly pink skirt?  
• We had an official photographer/videographer for the weekend.  I love this shot:

Taken on Becker's iPhone

• Watch for Nuun to be bringing out new flavours some time in the near-ish future.  We've been sworn to secrecy since they're still testing, but there were a couple of good ones in the batch we got to try.  Sorry, Mason, but you know that one was just gross.  And, yes, I know that you didn't force me to try it...   
• Our team finished (unofficially) in 28:12:46, which was good enough for 4th in the Women's Corporate Division!  That should mean an official invite to come back next year.  So, Nuun, do we get to make up the team again?!?  You know we're all game!

This is going to sound exceptionally cheesy, but you'll understand if you've run it: it's a life changer.  Although I'm still decompressing - and it's going to take a while - it totally lived up to the expectations I had.  Not just about meeting other bloggers and learning from them, but learning about myself too (that's going to be a post in and of itself, I think).  

I'm going to miss everyone I shared a not-so-stinky van with.  Our relationships started as only having blogging (or Nuun) and running in common.  That was enough, though, for us to get each other.  This is an amazing community to be a part of.

Thank you again (and always) Nuun for choosing me!  

It really was an adventure of a lifetime!

Sorry, I Can't Blog Right Now. I'm Busy Running Hood To Coast!

What?  You didn't know I was running a 200 mile relay this weekend?  Have you been living under a rock or do you not read every post I write?  If you're on Facebook you have no excuse not to know - 90% of my updates have been HTC related since the end of June! 

Anywho.  

Hood To Coast starts on Friday!  Guess it's finally real since my stuff is all packed up and ready to go.  I'm not sure if I'll even have time to think once things are underway.  Luckily both Nuun teams - After-Nuun Delight and Nuun Platuun - have the same, non-cringe-inducing start time of 12:30pm (it's a staggered start from 3:30am - 6:15pm).  We received our detailed itinerary and, while most things are looked after, there are things expected of us.  Yes, we need to bring our own general supplies and such stuff, but we need to make Nuun look good too.  As Ambassadors we'll be responsible for promoting Nuun and educating other runners about their product.  It's actually quite a big responsibility if you think about it!*

Obviously I will be incommunicado over the next few days.  I don't have a fancy, or even not-so-fancy, smartphone.  And even if I did I would have such a huge long distance/roaming charge that it wouldn't be worth my while.  Here are a bunch of ways to follow along: 

Facebook: Nuun

Twitter: @ministryofnuun  and #nuun

The whole team on Facebook: Bloggers Spreading the Nuun Love Hood to Coast

After-Nuun Delight Twitter: @AfterNUUNDelite

Nuun Platuun Twitter: @NuunPlatuun

For official HTC updates:

Facebook: Hood & Portland To Coast Relays 

Twitter: @HTCRelay and #HTCRelay

To specifically follow me you can check at approximately the following times:

12:30pm (Leg 1)

9:30pm-ish (Leg 2) Based on HTC predictor. 

6:40am-ish (Leg 3) Based on HTC predictor. 

Check back often and look for references to #alanna (for all you Twitter-illiterates like me you can type that into the search) - that's me!  




* Hopefully some of you have learned something new in the last couple of months too...

Wordless Wednesday: 1 More Day!!!

Pretty!

I bought running clothes.  Colin bought a new car.  That's a pretty fair trade in our house.

My Husband Loves Me...

...so much that when I told him in a quiet mumble how much I spent on running clothes all I got was an exasperated "Alanna," a sigh and an eye-roll.  Best husband ever!  

Seriously, though, this is all necessary.  Just ask any of my regular running partners.  They're sick to death of seeing me in the same stuff.  The following represent why I'm willing to stick with a job in retail.  I certainly wouldn't have gotten it all if I'd had to pay full price.  This isn't to brag that I get sweet deals.  I'm just really excited that I've finally gotten new clothes after about 2 years!

1. Champion T-Back Sports Bra:

Necessary because I currently only have an oft-washed much too old Lululemon one right now.  And awesome because it's sized like a real bra.  

2.  Nike Dedication Long Bra II:

You can't see it very well, but the back is entirely mesh.  This has been on my list for a while.  Why, yes, I do make up wish lists while I'm working.

3. Diadora Fitness V-Neck: 

Fits well enough and cost about $7.  Score!

4. Diadora Short Sleeve Technical T-Shirt:

Even cheaper than the v-neck!

5. Adidas Response 3/4 Tight:

Another wish list item.  Super comfy (re: tight enough at the bottom) and have mesh panels at the waist and on the backs of the knees.  These will probably become my go-to pants for fall.

6.  Diadora Reversible Yoga Pants:

Something comfy for the van.  Also potentially part of our team "uniform" to go with our hoodies.

7.  Under Armour HeatGear Lo Cut Socks:

Not exactly the Injinjis I'm used to, but I paid the same price for 4 pairs as I would for one of those...  They'll do for the relay!

Team Nuun Tuesday Thursday

Okay, so life got in the way the other day.  Spud had a playdate in the morning and the mail I was waiting for finally arrived in the afternoon, so we got to trek all the way to Colin's work (thanks, Mum!) to deliver it to him.  I didn't even log onto the computer until after 9pm.  I may have lost out on a ticket to Pearl Jam because of it - please cross your fingers and toes that I didn't because I love them - but not getting around to being online once in a while isn't really a bad thing...

So on to Team Nuun whatever-day-it-happens-to-be.  Fun and exciting things all around.  It's hard to believe that it's only 8 days until race start!  It does not seem like it's been 2 months since I found out that I made the team.  Now I feel like I have to pack a million things into too short a period of time!  I have runs to do, things to pack, things to buy, etc., etc., etc.

∗ Here's what makes it more real:

We have a logo!  Aw, crap, I'm running from a mountain to the ocean.  And not like here where it's a 10 minute drive.  200 miles.  Really?!?  I begged and pleaded to do this?  Sorry, my head just barfed that out through my hands.  No worries - it'll be fine!  

∗ There are (almost) a million-and-one ways to follow us during the relay!  We have a dedicated Facebook page, individual Facebook pages (yes, I did jump on that bandwagon - come join the 11 other people who "like" me), twitter and, of course, our regular blogs.  

Follow along!

My fb page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Running-42km/264470343579390 (I won't actually be updating next week because a) my phone isn't capable and b) even if it was I'd have a monstrous roaming bill when I got home).
Our unified fb page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloggers-spreading-the-Nuun-Love-Hood-to-Coast-2011/135670549857284
Nuun's fb page: https://www.facebook.com/nuunhydration
Nuun's twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ministryofnuun
After-Nuun Delight twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AfterNUUNDelite
Nuun Platuun twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/NuunPlatuun

∗ We got our itinerary recently and it looks like we'll be having so much fun.  Mainly because we aren't the ones planning it!  It is amazing how much work has gone into this as well as how much Nuun is willing to provide for us.  Other than bringing along specific foods (if we want/need them) and personal items we really do pretty much only have to get ourselves to Seattle.  I thought that I was going to have to go out and find ice packs, but even those are on the list.  

∗ Hood To Coast released the shirt design today.  How awesome is this?

I'm really hoping that it's red not orange otherwise I'll probably look like death wearing it.  I know I'll wear this one til it's worn out, though, even if I look bad.

∗ Members of my team have totally gone above and beyond in terms of getting us free stuff.  I feel bad that I have zero connections...  I'm going to have to have a post solely dedicated to the amazingly generous vendors once the relay is over!  And, believe me, it's going to be long!

∗ I went out and bought new running stuff today!  I might have to talk Colin into letting me keep it all, but everything really is necessary.  Especially considering it's recommended to have new outfits for each leg and I have enough for about 1-1/2.  Thank goodness I work in retail and can get a discount on this stuff!

∗ Only one more downhill training run!  I'll probably run the same route as last Friday.  Need to focus on my form and think of being, as one friend recommended, "light on my feet."  I guess technically I'm tapering!

Monday Musings

Lack of imagination, creativity and concentration gets you bullet points once again.  Here are the random thoughts that need to escape from my brain:

Ø Less than 2 weeks until Hood to Coast!  Lots to talk about tomorrow for my Team Nuun Tuesday post, but it's insane how fast the time's gone by.  
   
Ø I did my first downhill run on Friday.  Originally I was supposed to run a route with a friend that would have been pretty much identical to HTC, but the timing just didn't work out and we didn't want to be running it as it was getting dark.  Between traffic, no sidewalks, and possible animal encounters it was probably for the best.  Instead I did a solo run that, in part, saw me do 5km/3.1mi with a 1000ft elevation loss which is about half of what I'm expecting.  I tried really hard to focus on technique and think I did fairly well.  That said, however, I'm still feeling it now.  The hunt for appropriate ice packs is on!

Ø Colin went out for his usual long run yesterday and remembered something cool about his bear-encounter a couple of weeks prior.  There's a section that he had to run through where the bears' route went from tall grass, into a ditch, across the road, and then into the blueberry fields.  When he was running he was actually going through the wet bear footprints!  When I said that's why we need a little camera to run with he mentioned (wisely) that the last thing he would be doing would be stopping there! 

Ø I've discovered that waiting for something in the mail is like the old idiom "a watched pot never boils."  I'm quite certain that what we're waiting for will arrive when I go out which, of course, means that I can't pick it up until after 1pm the next day.  It's driving us nuts!  

Ø We're signing Spud up for playschool this fall!  That means that I'll get 2 days a week where I can do whatever I please for 2-1/2 hours.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to be the mum that shows up before and after class in her running attire and will have to endure strange looks from other parents.  Maybe I'll have to make sure that I run at the start and have time to shower before pick up.  I don't want to be the smelly mum...

Ø Colin and Spud went to the local airshow this past weekend while I was at work.  It's a family tradition to spend a long, hot day around noisy airplanes and this year's show didn't fail.  Not only were there the requisite planes in the air and on display, but there were also booths set up by local companies and law enforcement.  Here's the reason that prisoners should always be handcuffed:

Post-Dash Drive: Whistler - Home

Since I'm still working on my recap for Warrior Dash here are some pictures of the drive home.  I'm so blessed that all this is within a 2-1/2 hour drive from my house...

Black Tusk, Garibaldi Provincial Park
(my first hike ever with Colin was here - 8hrs and 32kms)

Mount Tantalus

  

Salish Sea, Squamish
(there were lots of kiteboarders here due to high winds off The Spit - can you find one?)

Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
(popular with climbers - left side - and hikers - right side)

   

Shannon Falls Provincial Park

  

Anvil Island

Sea to Sky Highway
(looking back toward Squamish)

I tried to get a great shot of Vancouver from the highway coming into town, but between the trees and the smog it wasn't worth it...  Here's what it would have looked like if I could have gotten the shot:

More Pictures: Dirte Dashes Some More

It's amazing what a little investigating will get you.  I was bored looking at Warrior Dash results so I found the youngest female finisher in the results (14) and looked up her pictures.  What did I find, but my husband falling out of the mud pit!  

All photos © Sport Photo

Wordless Wednesday: Tipsy and Dirte Do The Dash

All photos © Sport Photo