Never before has that phrase sounded so sweet. I did it. 26.2 miles. I. finished. a. marathon. (those periods are there so you read and pause long enough to contemplate the incredible feat I just accomplished! )  Also, you may want to cue this up in another window before you continue to read: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEF4zH6XHCk. There, now you can get a real sense of my accomplishment.
I apologize for my extended blog absence, but as you can see from my photo essay below, I’ve been rather busy. I also think I’m suffering from post-marathon depression. It’s strange…when I finish a race, I feel incredibly proud. Afterwards, when I’m in my room putting my stuff away, each time I’ve felt a wave of sadness. I did a little research on this, and as it turns out, I am not alone. As with any big life event where you plan many months for something that lasts only minutes or hours, you are disappointed when it ends. For me, it’s almost a form of loneliness.
I know part of this sadness stems from the fact that TNT is such a social organization. I will truly miss waking up early on Saturday mornings to meet the team at one of the many beautiful DC trails (except for the W&OD Trail…see the photos below for that story!). I realize I need to look at the entire experience from a different perspective. Instead of feeling down, I need to relish the race I just completed. I must remind myself what it felt like to hear strangers cheering “Go Julie!”…how it felt to walk in the dark before San Francisco woke up…the jolt of energy I got when heading up the hill in the Presidio…the excitement and pride I felt when I saw Katie, my mom and my dad on the sidelines…the laughs Danielle and I had when we saw the girl whose shorts kept drooping to show off her plumber’s crack :)…the strength I felt in my hips and legs while passing mile marker after mile marker…the total body aching that stayed with me from mile twenty onward…yes, even that was a good feeling considering where I might be if it weren’t for Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (oh, and Laura too!).
I found this quote, and it is so appropriate. I only wish I wrote it myself: “Savor the pain, you deserve it. The couch potato lives in a body numb world not knowing the feeling of being totally awake, alive and aware. The non-athlete will never experience the true feelings of taking the body to the limit. As an athlete you will also experience true satisfaction when you are at rest or relaxing.” (from a piece in RunningFit.com about post-marathon depression) So from here on out, you must always refer to me as an athlete! Hmmm…I wonder if other “athletes” eat mounds of Halloween candy and have chips and salsa for dinner sometimes.
My photo essay below is the main event for this blog post–hopefully you will feel as though you were right there with me. I once again carried the names of all my donors in my hip pack, and of course you were all with me in my heart. You will notice that pride seems to be the theme of this post. I walked for you because I wanted to make you proud. I walked for other patients because I want them to feel what it is like to regain strength. Mostly though, and I’m not ashamed to say it, I walked for myself. Yes, I needed to prove to myself that I could do it, but more than that, it satisfied an urge to challenge my new self, my JuLaura bone marrow that just recently celebrated its second birthday!
Think on this for a second, folks: “Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.” (Dr. Alexis Carrel) I love it! Life is what you make it (wow…my quote is not nearly as eloquent as his!), and I have a long list of goals. I do not know how long I will be here (hey, no one does!), and this marathon was one way to remind myself of both the challenges and joys that await. Just to throw in one more quote (because you know I love them, and I want to see if I can fit as many as I can into one post :)), “Sports is human life in microcosm.” (Howard Cosell) So, with all that said, who wants to join me in doing the Marine Corps Marathon next year? That’s right! A hometown race! I still plan on going out to San Francisco, but I will do the half marathon instead of the full. I am hoping they have another “Race for an Entry” 10K in Quantico this spring, so I won’t have to worry about making it into the Marine Corps Marathon lottery. I plan on fundraising for the Nike Women’s Marathon and doing the Marine Corps on my own. I’m already excited to start training in May!
Before I forget, I wanted to include Laura’s text to me after finishing. I figured you’d all appreciate what the “gift of life” had to say: “Congrats!!! Very proud of you & knew you’d do well…you literally couldn’t have done it without me!” hahahahaha She’s right though! Thank you, Laura, for giving me the gift of new experiences!
Now, without further ado, I present the many photos from the past month and a half. Skim if you must, but you might just be missing an important part of the story. If “Chariots of Fire” is no longer playing, choose one of the songs below…each one played (no pun intended…hahahaha) a key role in keeping my hips swaying and my feet moving along the course. I created a “San Francisco” playlist–too bad there’s no easy way to just share it with you because it’s darned good, if I do say so myself.
Lots of love and gratitude for your support.
Enjoy!
Julie
Oh, one more thing! If you want to see some professional photos, go here and enter bib number 21172…I love that you can hear Mom, Dad and Katie cheering for me throughout the video.
PS I can’t believe I almost forgot to include this! Are you ready for the final fundraising numbers? Thanks to all of you, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has $5,067 more to put toward patient services and research. Also, we learned at the pasta party that 3,800 participants at the Nike Women’s Marathon raised $13 million, yes MILLION!!!!!!!!  Congratulations and THANK YOU!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0H3bJHWGl4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTdCzIduUb4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ab1l2TwFp8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr3YCNy6HUM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59qR4kRdhLE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foNWLp5Nzow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3LAFJbKyY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsEjsIbWq88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgSyB5xSo2U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAsqZTwp1lQ
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Wow...you can tell this blog has taken a long time by looking at the trees...no gorgeous fall colors! I took this to show you what a beautiful sight I see while getting ready in the AM...deer greet me in the backyard...
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...and the front!
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Here we are on the Capital Crescent Trail on a beautiful day for some long mileage.
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As you'll see, I took my time and really stopped to smell the flowers. :)
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There are some really pretty wildflowers here in the DC area. One of my favorite things about Team in Training is that it introduces me to so many different scenic trails.
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And this is the trail from my point of view! :) Always with my big ol' cowboy hat...I think my doctors would be proud of my very careful attention to skin care, don't you?
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Aren't these amazing? Does anyone know what they are?
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Every Saturday, someone comes out to do at least one water stop for us...it was nice to have a little puppy helping out too!!
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Isn't he a cutie?
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After our trainings, a group usually heads off for some coffee, and I was able to join them today!
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Karen, I think I caught you in the midst of talking! :) Karen, Carmen and Terri
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From left to right: Carmen, Terri, Jan (a former coach who now lives in China!! She was in town visiting and getting ready to go to the Nike Women's Marathon for the first time as a participant instead of a coach!) and Jacque (one of my awesome coaches)
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Sara (my other awesome coach!) and Cindy, a fellow survivor.
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Tom is usually our official photographer, but I snuck in a few of him!!
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What a great way to start the day...a long workout and some morning conversation with teammates.
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hahaha That's me, by the way.
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Karen and I were cracking up about the butt picture, and some stranger offered to take our picture because they said we looked so happy. :) Karen was my carpool buddy---we drove to lots of practices together!
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And now for a mini Bella photo shoot...
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"Julie, seriously...get the camera outta my face!!"
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"Oh, OK...nevermind...if you scratch my neck just so, you can keep shooting."
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I love it when they knead with their little paws.
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Such a sweetie...do you know she's probably about 14 or so?
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Lori came over to help me make some signs for the Grevey's TNT Fundraising Happy Hour...we certainly are talented artistes, aren't we? hahaha
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I think Indie likes Lori.
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Grevey's Happy Hour!! Pete and Trish hanging out with my dad.
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Mom, Mrs. Morgan and Mariella
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Marc, Katrina, adorable Evie, Bob and Mr. Morgan...thanks for coming, everyone!
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Katrina, Lori and I have known each other since elementary school...crazy, huh?!
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Shantanu and Seema...Shantanu is on my walk team and he and Seema came out to support me!
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hahahaha I like Jenn's pose in the background. :)
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Um, Tim, you got a li'l somethin' on your forehead!
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Look at those crazy muscles (on me, not Tim)!! :)
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Tim, Lori, Kristi and Dave
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Sue with her bro, visiting from Curacao.
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It was a really special night...I'm gonna go ahead and say it again...thank you EVERYONE for your support.
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Doesn't Dave look cute here? He looks like a little kid holding all those balloons.
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It was definitely a night for purple and teal!
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Go team!!!!!! hahaha I look slightly ridiculous here.
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Do you feel like you're out there training with me? Here I am trying to catch up with Shantanu and Karen. Saturday trainings are always fun because they're so social. Carmen termed it "trail therapy". :) We talk about anything and everything and before long, the miles are done AND we've had a little therapy session.
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So this is the day we did 20 miles, and as you'll see, I took some time to take more photographs.
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I guess this butterfly was as intrigued with this flower as I was.
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It was so incredibly sunny and hot this day, so I was happy to stop and take some shots.
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I actually started getting angry. I started cussing under my breath and I took this photo to show you how much shade there is on the W&OD Trail...definitely NOT one of my favorites!
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I was still angry, mind you but I thought these were pretty.
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Pretty, huh? That does it for the photos of this training walk. The 20 miles were very difficult. Between my anger at the sun and heat and some stiff joints around mile 15, I learned for the first time what it was like to hit the wall. I finished all twenty miles, but it was pretty rough at the end.
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After the miles, I got in the car and headed up to PA to hang out with Tracie and Steve et al. This was the fifth year of the Autism Awareness Fair that they host! In this photo, little Addie shows Aunt Di how to use an iphone.
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She is actually quite advanced!
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Ethan and Addie Bean
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Is she a cutie or what?
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I like this one...if you look behind Addison, you'll see Tracie smiling in the doorway.
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She's my little buddy! If you can't tell, I really love my goddaughter. :)
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Ethan is a wonderful big brother.
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Tracie sent home some bottles for Laura to use...Addie demonstrates how it's done even though she's a long-time bottle graduate.
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"Now Grandma, let me try to explain this to you again..."
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Talking to Katie.
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"KATIE! Are you still there?!!"
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hahahaha She even looks cute with a 'stache!
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Apparently I used to make a similar face when people asked me to smile in photos when I was a youngin'.
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:)
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We're cute, dont' ya think?
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Why am I the only one making a face in this one?
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What the? I saw this when I was driving home from PA.
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Dr. Kales gave us tickets to the Nationals, so my dad and I went...it was a rainy night, but gorgeous...my first time at Nationals Park!
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It's a very nice stadium, and the bright lights looked even cooler against a stormy sky.
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This sure is a busy blog! Now we're in Florida! My mom came with me to help me at a volleyball tournament and to visit Aunt Ellie et al.
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So we're driving this car that looks like a mob car and it happens to be from Chicago...
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...and there's a coffin in the backseat! How very gangster of us! hahahaha Well, obviously, it isn't really a casket...it holds all the goods for the Side-Out Foundation, but we felt like gangstahs in our Dodge Charger from Chicago with this in the backseat...
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...so it was only fitting that we found a Buca di Beppo to eat a nice Italian meal.
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That was lunch...now here we are at a beautiful riverside cafe with Ryan for some dinner.
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Gorgeous, isn't it?
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Outdoor bar and all!
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I really like this photo of my mom and Ryan.
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We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful night.
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Looks like a fake background, huh?
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Ryan was a very gracious host during our visit...thank you, Ryan!!
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It had been way too long since we had seen our Georgia/Florida contingent, and it was so nice to see everyone (you'll see everyone else soon, don't worry!).
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Given the beautiful location, I thought a piña colada was appropriate...my last one of the year.
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Here I am at work, all pinked out! Most of our high school Dig Pink® Rally events take place in October because it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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Aunt Ellie and Christopher posing at "Columbia Restaurant", a delicious restaurant in St. Augustine.
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Christopher came to help my mom and me out at the volleyball event on the second day.
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After watching the teams play for a while, he turned to me and said "Those girls are really pretty." :)
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Looks like he has good form!
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Better than I do anyway.
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Christopher made a couple friends during the day...they took a break from ball tag (i.e. dodgeball) to pose in front of our display.
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I think they look so much alike in this photo!
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No wonder he's exhausted! They were playing some serious ball tag! I couldn't hang...I pretended like I needed to go help my mom, but secretly I was afraid because they threw that ball hard!
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Happy Halloween, everyone!
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Careful, Ryan!
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I think he'll be waiting a long time for service.
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We're at a restaurant called "Clark's Fish Camp"...the Halloween decorations were amazing!
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Uncle Jim, Ryan and Aunt Ellie...check out all the lights behind them.
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It is so good to be down here with you guys. Did you know that I'm named after Aunt Ellie? Yup! Eleanore Kay and Julie Kay.
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My buddy Christopher
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Ryan's sad because that's all they brought him for dinner.
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Christopher and Terry...Christopher is another young iphone expert!
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Just kidding about before folks...look at the size of that steak!! Ryan looks like he has crack eyes!
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My mom makes inappropriate shapes with her food. :)
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Back at the hotel and Christopher is ready for an outdoor snooze.
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The perfect night for a cigar...the smell of cigars always makes me think of Thanksgiving and hanging with the family.
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He is out!
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Aunt Carol is one of his very favorite people.
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I can't wait to see you again, buddy!
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Uncle Ryan, another one of Christopher's very favorite people...they're all decked out for the Jags game!
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We'll see you guys again soon (and you too, Laurel)! We'll make sure of it. Love you all lots.
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Thank you, Ryan, for being such a wonderful chauffeur and tour guide!
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Back in VA and at a Saturday morning training...this is a puppy Puggle (mix between a Beagle and a Pug)...just look at that adorable face!
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And now we're going apple picking! Are you getting exhausted yet? You've been to a lot of places with all these photos!
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One of the many cows that calls Grave's Mountain home.
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I guess I'd never seen piglets feeding before...it is quite a loud experience!
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Indie is very curious about all the creatures in the barn.
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We got to the end of the stalls and this cow surprised her...very funny.
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Just some goats!
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I'm such a dork...notice my shadow "holding" the apple.
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Look at Laura's belly!!!! Soooooooo exciting!!!
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Such a beautiful pup, that little Indie.
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Look how tiny it is!
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Hey kids...apples are not meant for throwing!! Katie and friends
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Katie has the advantage of height when it comes to getting some of the best apples!
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Look! It's a Charlie Brown apple tree!
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Katie, thanks for organizing the apple picking trip! It had been years since I'd gone!
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I like this one. :)
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This little series of photos is funny...Katie tastes one of the apples.
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Hmmm...that looks like a definite sign of disgust there...guess she got a bad apple. hahahahahahahahahaha get it? bad apple? hahahaha
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This one must be better...she's smiling!
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It's hard to keep this group under control! There they go throwing them again. :)
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Looks like Stephanie is the only one serious about this apple picking! Look at that box!
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Ow...that would hurt.
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It's pretty exciting now that Laura's showing. This will be one very spoiled baby!
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Katie made me do this. :) A little apple augmentation.
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A lot of hard work went into that box!
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I'll look forward to coming back again next year!
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Laura is a very cute pregnant lady.
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Thank goodness for this boy scout who towed our purchases back to the car for us!
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I think Indie is ready for a long nap.
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This is what I saw when I came out of work during lunch a few weeks ago...those two beautiful trees made me so happy. Fall is really here!!
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WELCOME TO SAN FRANCISCO!!!! Meet Maverick, the guest relations manager at Hotel Palomar.
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He is a rescue from Golden Gate Labrodor Retriever Rescue (http://www.labrescue.org/index.html), and he was the best employee there!
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An artsy fartsy photo taken from a table at Tadich's, the oldest operating restaurant in San Francisco and the state of California! It happened to be delicious too with charm to spare.
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Can you believe Maverick was on the list to be put down at the shelter when he was rescued? Just look at those eyes!
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What do ya know? I found a pretty flower! Weird, huh? :)
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The Nike Women's Marathon, the reason we are here. I've been training for this since May and thinking about it since the fall of 2007 when I first joined TNT.
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And just across the street from the race packet pick-up area, Tiffany's. That's actually quite fitting because the Nike Women's Marathon gives out Tiffany necklaces to finishers instead of medals...AND firemen dressed in tuxes hand them out. They were certainly keeping women in mind when they planned this!
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In another corner of the square is Niketown. You see that wall of pink? That is a list of every single participant in the full/half marathon.
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Now the question is, how long do you think it will take me to find my name?
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Only a few minutes, luckily! They're in alphabetical order, and I was right at eye-level.
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That's right, I'm doing a marathon!!!!!
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My teammate, Margaret, found hers too. If I remember correctly, she's done this race every year since it began seven years ago.
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A pretty little sidewalk cafe.
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That's actually Maverick in the poster to his right...he's a mascot for the rescue organization. I donated to them because he was absolutely the best guest services manager I'd ever met.
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Getting ready for our first cable car ride!
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We were there when the Giants were playing in the National League Championship and this car was all decked out!
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Katie looks like a cable car natural.
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Those are my toes...I have to admit that although I loved it, I was also a bit scared...those hills are enormous!
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OK, well that one's not so huge, but still.
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Karen and Tom hanging out (literally) on the other side.
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Is it weird that the whole time we were on it, all I could think of was Rice-a-Roni?
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We had to stop for a while because a car on the hill ahead was very close to the cable car line...our driver was quite friendly and had everyone smile for me.
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Now Katie's just showing off...texting and cable carring.
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If you look closely, you'll see Katie and me in the reflection.
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This is Katie's first time in California!
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Hmmmm...a little too close for comfort.
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Despite the fact that it turned out blurry, we thought it was cool.
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What an incredible view!
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You have to enlarge this to get the full effect of this tree. Crazy, huh?
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Tom found this delicious restaurant in the North Beach neighborhood...I highly recommend it: "Albona Ristorante Istriano".
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The hotel puts out signs to welcome each four-legged guest...this hotel is just too cool.
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Plus it has a pretty floor!
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Now I'm going to take you to the amazing Ferry Plaza Farmers Market...here you have Buddha's Hand...it's in the citrus family.
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My time at the market was limited because I had to meet my fam at the hotel to go on a movie tour...next year I will be spending hours there on Saturday morning!
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Tom was my official market guide, and he did a wonderful job!!! Thank you, Tom!!
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Mmmmm...you cannot ask for a more perfect combo in life: tomato and basil. I can almost smell it right now.
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This is kale...I liked the texture of it.
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Even the root vegetbales look gorgeous!
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One of my favorite market shots. Morning lighting is so perfect.
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Did you know brussel sprouts grow on stalks? I didn't! I'll make sure to share that new important fact with everyone on Thanksgiving Day.
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The Bay Bridge
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Everyone kept talking about the tamales at the plaza. I wasn't too excited about having a tamale for breakfast, but now I'm craving one!
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This is melon juice and it too was fantastic.
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I am loving this city!
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I was feeling so overwhelmed by all the beautiful baked goods in this shot.
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Photo credit to Tom...beautiful!
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I loved all the criss-crossing cables in this one.
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We went on a movie tour of San Fran...it was wonderful! If you're ever there and looking for some entertainment, check it out: http://www.sanfranciscomovietours.com/about.html!
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Our knowledgeable guide, Dan.
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I think Mom and Dad are enjoying it. :)
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This is a piece of art on loan from China through 2011...it's from Shanghai, China (San Francisco's sister city) and it's sitting right in front of City Hall. It's called "Three Heads Six Arms"...I wonder how they ever came up with that one?!
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The sculpture is enormous!
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And now for one of the stops Katie and I have been waiting for...the park near the "Full House" house.
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They have a shoe garden there as well...hmmm...interesting...a little creepy, but interesting.
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This is Alamo Square.
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And those are the famous "Painted Ladies".
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Enlarge this to see Katie and I re-enacting the opening scene from "Full House"...unfortunately we didn't have any picnic stuff, but we did our best.
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That hill is so steep, it looks like it just drops off.
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Finally, the Golden Gate Bridge!! I thought it would be something you could see no matter where you are in the city, but that's no so, my friends...not so. You have to seek it out. By the way, it's not technically in this shot, but it is right behind me!
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The fog only makes it more intriguing, don't you think?
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I like this one.
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What's wrong, Katie? Is it a little windy here?
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Dad used to live in San Fran many years ago, and he was very happy to return.
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This photo reminds me of geometry class...it's cool though.
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You're right, Katie...it is actually quite nippy out here!
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Back and cozy on the bus.
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This is the home of Christopher Columbus (seriously, that's his name). He's a filmmaker ("Home Alone", "Mrs. Doubtfire", Nine Months", "Harry Potter" and the like)...his place was looking pretty spooky!
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And this is the other stop we were all excited about...Mrs. Doubtfire's house! Did you know that almost all of the filming was done inside this house? It was pretty cheap too because Robin Williams was actually living in it at the time. But, they made a big mistake in the movie. At one point, Sally Field's character actually gives away the true address of this house. Apparently people have been flocking there ever since. If you haven't seen "Mrs. Doubtfire", you're missing a true classic!
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Just a striking hydrangea outside the house.
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Another drop-off hill.
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Enlarge this one to see the sign posted on the left...it reads "Hill", as if someone would not know that.
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This is interesting...this is Danielle Steele's home. Apparently she has 23 cars, and her neighbors are up in arms because she also has 23 parking permits, leaving some of them without! That is indeed a scandal...how annoying would that be? By the way, she owns the largest house in the city, the Spreckels Mansion...she also has something like nine children...now you have some useless knowledge to disperse.
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And now for the start of the big event!!! Welcome to the TNT pasta party (the night before the marathon)!
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We walked into the Moscone Center and all we could hear were cheers, cowbells and cheering sticks. The only thing they didn't have were vuvuzelas---actually, come to think of it, they probably did have those. It was incredibly touching...as we made our way down the escalator, I got teary. It was a moment I will never forget.
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His sign reads "I am a Survivor Because of You."
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Our wonderful coaches, Sara and Jacque.
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People kept coming and coming and TNT staff and coaches from all over the country kept on cheering...I think they must have stood there cheering for an hour or more.
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These were at our tables (the National Capital Area team) when we sat down.
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Lots of chapters brought their honored teammate displays.
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They're still coming!!!
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It was a huge area. 3,800 people and their guests plus coaches and TNT staff.
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Eric, Micheline, Cindy, Alice and Jan
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Dad, Katie, Mom and I...nice, Mom!
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Danielle and friend and a guy I can't remember. :)
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These lovely ladies are from our TNT staff...Amy and Jenny. They make the entire process of fundraising and planning so pleasant!
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Guess who this is? Tom took this shot as well...he got to go to George Lucas's studio when he took the movie tour.
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I kept Yoda's advice in mind throughout the race: "Do or do not. There is no try."
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That time has come!! It is October 17th, about 5:30 in the morning, and we are ready to go!!
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The DC chapter is well known for our bright green hats--makes it so easy to spot other team members on the course!
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Jacque is indeed an angel, thus the wings. She and Sara impart some last-minute wisdom.
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Tom and Naomi are set to go!
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GO TEAM!!!!!
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A sea of heads.
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I'm pretty sure I smiled throughout the entire race. I just couldn't contain myself.
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Peggy and Michael. Peggy is also a survivor...she has done countless events to include a century (100 miles) bike ride the week before Nike!
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Thank you to all my donors. I carried your names with me through all 26.2 miles.
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Naomi and her sister, Ruth. Ruth gets credit for several of the photos on here too!
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The Green Hat Brigade is ready to go!
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Cat lended me a little help texting Dad one last pre-race message.
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It sure is early! They let the walkers start at 5:30...everyone else starts at 7.
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Looking down at a sleepy city.
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The pink men were quite an attraction on the course...well, some are women, but in any case, they wore full pink spandex costumes...of course I had to stop and pose with them.
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Gorgeous.
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San Francisco is starting to wake up! See the lights in all the houses below?
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One of the hills in the Presidio.
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Apparently this is Robin Williams's neighborhood! He wasn't out cheering for us though.
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It is a very classy neighborhood.
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Micheline and Danielle were my pacers during the race. I knew if I did my best to stick with them, I would do well!
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hahahaha nice!
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So pretty...I could live there!
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Interesting, isn't it? Does anyone know what it is?
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I like the winged walker.
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One of the cool things about starting early is that the fast people, the ones who will win the race, come up behind us around mile 8 or 9. Here she comes!! She's superfast...that's why it's blurry. :) Still, we were cheering her on and she sped by with a smile on her face!
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And there she goes, followed by a race motorcycle. She finished in a time of two hours, forty-six minutes and forty-two seconds. That's an average of six minutes, twenty-one seconds.
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This is such a beautiful marathon...I mean, look at that view!
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The windmill seemed kind of random, but pretty.
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Hmmm...tempting, but I think I'll stick with the full!
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Just a pretty little pond in Golden Gate Park.
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Yey!!!!! It's Katie!!!! Oh my gosh, I LOVE the signs!!!!!!!!
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Even Tiso sent a message! I love it!
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hahahahaha seriously...who did invite them? Danielle and I walked together the entire race and pretty soon we catch up with Micheline again.
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Here we come!! Look out people, some superfast speed walkers coming through! Look at me...I'm even clapping for myself! hahahaha
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There's Dad!!
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As you can see, I took time to really enjoy myself...there's plenty of time for photos!
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A cloudy yet beautiful walk along the shoreline.
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There's Katie and Mom! Katie sure does get around this course!
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I had the best cheerleaders out there.
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I love the guy in the orange jumpsuit behind me!
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There we are! It was so nice to walk with them...we really kept each other going strong.
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I bet they were cold! It got rainy and chilly...obviously I was doing a lot of moving around, but they had to stand there and just wait. Thank you soooo much for coming out to support me. You made the trip so special.
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Walking around Lake Merced...I wish you could smell those eucalyptus trees!
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That's the twenty-five mile marker!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? We're almost there!
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"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat." ~Malcolm S. Forbes~ I guess I consider leukemia a defeat of sorts and this marathon is my ultimate victory.
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elated [ih-ley-tid]-adjective-very happy or proud; jubilant; in high spirits
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I don't think this moment can get any better.
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I think part of what kept me smiling throughout was thinking of my family. Knowing Mom, Dad and Katie would see me compete and finish made me proud and grateful. They watched and cheered as I went from a patient to a marathoner. This is a victory I will forever cherish.
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hahahaha This sign cracks me up!! They always tease me about this photo because 1)I'm a tad bit chubby :), 2)I'm wearing a ridiculous outfit and 3)I have food on my face and hands (I still swear it's marker though!).
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A rainy, cold finish line area.
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The Team in Training tent is quite large at this event because any funds raised during the Nike Women's Marathon go toward the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is a big TNT event.
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I earned it. And I run to be healthy. I also run to be confident. I run to be proud. I run to say that I did it. (just substitute walk for run :))
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I'm not really sure why I took this photo while I was stretching back in the hotel...maybe to remind myself that I'm still smiling after 26.2 miles?
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Just in case you didn't notice it a few photos ago, here is my finisher's necklace. Would you believe that they actually ran out of them? Some folks from the team will have to get theirs in the mail!
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I am officially a finisher of my first Nike Women's Marathon!!!
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While I was stretching and taking random photos back in the hotel, my mom, dad and Katie checked out Chinatown!
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I think this is a great shot. Katie said Mom was embarrassing because she didn't know how to use her chopsticks so she just kept stabbing everything.
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In the meantime, I decided to take a little nap...napping never felt so good although I was so excited, I barely slept. I just kept calling and texting people to tell them about my adventure.
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Shannon (in the middle) is on my team and Marsha, her mom, is on the team from Arizona. Shannon is also a survivor!
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I'm not sure what I'm saying here, but it looks like I find it quite amusing while Katie does not.
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By the way, we're now at the TNT Victory Dinner.
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If you look real close, you'll see my mom in there too!
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With Jacque and Sara...I can't wait to train again with you next year!
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Moving right along...welcome to Google!! My boss, Rick, was in town for a Dig Pink® event, and being the google lover that he is, he joined us for the tour.
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hahaha This cracks me up. These bikes are for "googlers" (people who work at Google), and they use them once and leave them at their destination for someone else to use...notice the bright google colors!
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John rounds us all up!
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This is an amazing campus...a volleyball court...
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a dinosaur eating a flamingo...
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a vegetable garden...
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an herb garden...
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an amaaaazing cafeteria where the food is free for googlers and guests! I was certainly not shy about filling my plate! Give me a break, guys! I just finished a marathon!!
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Relaxing at lunch before our tour.
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Did you know you can even bring your dog to work here? Too bad I'm not a computer genius.
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It was another nice day. We visited several different buildings on campus.
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Including the one with the new Google store! This is my cute droid, a giant stuffed animal gift for the dogs.
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As I said...too bad I'm not a computer genius. I'd come out every day and take advantage of that hammock. I'd have to after eating a huge lunch!
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This is the famous Google Holodeck, where you can play with google maps on a scale you've never done before!
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You can enter in your own address or pick a well-known place to visit.
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I worked Droid into several of these photos. He's cute, don't you think?
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Well, he was cute...until I introduced him to Jameson and Guinness. Now he has a large gash through his smile.
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There's our house!
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I think we're in Yosemite.
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Yup, that's the Ahwahnee, a famous hotel in Yosemite...looks gorgeous! No roughing it for those folks!
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And now we're in New York!
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The detail on these maps is truly incredible.
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We had a hard time prying Dad away.
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He's a cuddly little guy.
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A google bike.
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I have to learn how to sew so I can put this cute little guy back together. I thought the dogs might just use him for a pillow...I know, that was pretty stupid of me.
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I'll send you another pic after I sew him up. :)
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Well, Katie's a lot of fun!
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Remember when he never used his cell phone? That was pre-iphone, of course.
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Looks like another foggy day here in San Francisco!
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I thought Katie said "Hey! Look at that big a#@ spider!!", but she swears she said "big BLACK spider"...whatever, Katie. :)
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We went to check out the Castro district...if you've seen the movie "Milk", you'll remember that this is where Harvey Milk got his start.
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Before he was a politician, he owned a camera shop, and his shop became a center for political activism for the gay community. If you haven't seen the movie, you should. Sean Penn does a wonderful job.
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The Castro district definitely has a lot of character!
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The Castro theater is a famous San Francisco landmark, full of history and well known for its theatre organ. Go to this link to hear it in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boj1wXguz3w.
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It seems like a quirky and fun neighborhood...definitely dog friendly! We saw a few different dog-geared stores on the same street, within a block or two of each other!
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I wish Katie didn't have to go home today, but it's been a wonderful trip!
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We discovered some more pretty neighborhoods on the way to the airport.
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:)
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I love this house.
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And these too!
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Well, we got rid of Katie and now we're headed back toward the city on our way to Napa.
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We took a wrong turn somewhere and happened upon this beautiful pumpkin patch/farm market.
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I've always wanted to come to Napa...it's as beautiful as I imagined.
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These are actually a type of sunflower...the variety is called "Teddy Bear". Cute, aren't they?
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Another Dodge Charger!! This car logged many miles for us!
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Well, that looks inviting!!
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Time for a nice lunch in Napa...aren't you guys glad Katie isn't here? hahaha :)
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"Tra Vigne" was delicioso!!
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It was a gorgeous day to sit outside and enjoy some wine and Italian fare!
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And iced tea, of course! But no iced tea can match that sweet tea I had in Jacksonville...I always have to get my fill when I head down south...there's no tea like sweet tea.
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What a nice way to relax and enjoy the day after the craziness and cold of the marathon and the city.
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What do you think? Does this look like a marathoner to you or what?
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I thought this was pretty cool if I do say so myself.
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Mmmmm...remember how I talked about that combo of tomato and basil? Well, here you have the finished product and boy was it good!
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That looks quite appetizing too...I think I'm hungry. I'll be right back...it's snack time!
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Wow...doesn't that look scrumptious?
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OK, let's hit those vineyards!!
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Beautiful...just like in the movies.
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This is where it all begins...some happy grapes.
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What do ya know? Another pretty flower.
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:)
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I think this is a wonderful idea for a place card, even for someone like me who's not incredibly crafty...did you notice how during the race, my name was written on duck/duct (whichever word you prefer!) tape? Well, that was to cover up the iron-on letters that didn't turn out so well.
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My dad took this shot...pretty cool, huh?
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Get ready to be jealous, everyone!
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You see those grapes?
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I'm 'gonna stomp them!!
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Wow...this feels sooooo good on tired marathon feet!
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Maybe they can have a grape stomping booth at the end of the marathon next year...my toes would appreciate that.
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Don't worry...they didn't use the grapes I stomped on...it's all part of the touristy fun! Here I am getting hosed off.
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I don't think I've ever had Grgich Hills...I'll have to try some, although I've heard it's very expensive.
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Again, I'm glad Katie's not here! :) Just kiddin', Katie. We miss you!
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Inspecting the vine.
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For some reason, this photo makes me think of "Fried Green Tomatoes"...it must be the train track and the dusty road.
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Fall is definitely the best time of year...I'm a sucker for a good lookin' gourd...and they look even cooler sitting in the back of an antique pick-up truck.
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As always, they are very patient with my many stops to take photos.
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Beautiful!
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Have you guys seen "Bottle Shock"? It is a terrific movie, and if you enjoy wine, you will love it!! It's also based on a true story.
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It is so pretty driving through here.
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We're headed back to the city...see all that fog? First we thought we'd make a quick stop in Muir Woods...
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...so we drove up this windy, isolated road and straight into the thick, thick fog...very creepy, but it didn't scare us off!
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It was just getting dark when we got there, but I saw some of the gorgeous redwood trees...check it out...do you think there's a ghost in this shot?
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I'll be very happy when we're back in civilization...we almost got locked into the park. Can you imagine?
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Off to "Mel's Diner" for a quick bite before heading home.
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This place has a lot of personality.
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I'm pretty sure those are smiles of relief for making it back into the city after our adventure heading up to Muir Woods.
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Dinner tonight not quite the same as our elegant afternoon cuisine, but it hits the spot nonetheless. I have a hard time imagining life without the occasional mozzarella sticks and onion rings.
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Well, I couldn't really pack the posters up and bring them home easily, so I wanted to make sure I captured them on "film"...can we even use that phrase anymore? It sounds much cooler than "on my memory card".
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hahahaha Verrrrrrry funny!
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This one was such a wonderful surprise...thank you, Tiso!
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The view from our bed and breakfast (I was only at Maverick's hotel for the first 3 days).
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It's our last full day in California, and we decided to check out 17 Mile Drive.
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Dad drove this road many years ago, and he was more than happy to go again.
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Another cloudy day, but a spectacular drive.
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That's Pebble Beach Golf Course over there...I know it must be famous because even I've heard of it, and I know very little about golf.
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This is one of my favorites from the day.
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I like this one a lot too.
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To read more about the drive that goes from Monterey to Carmel, go to http://www.seemonterey.com/17-mile-drive
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This ground covering or whatever it is seems to be everywhere out here...is it a type of jade?
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There are some absolutely incredible houses along the way.
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Not bad, huh? :)
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This is the "Ghost Tree", so called because it is now bleached white. It is a Monterey Cypress.
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We stopped at a bakery in Carmel, drawn in by this creative display of Halloween goodies. It was one of those places you just stumble upon and it was really good.
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We liked the name of this oyster bar.
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Back in San Fran!! It was a wonderful trip...we packed a lot into a few days and I can't wait to come back and explore some more.
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Back home and back to work, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be comfortable and happy...and that goes for my phone as well. I bought it a beanbag pillow at Google. You may think it's ridiculous, but it elevates the phone to the perfect height for texting...not that I text while I work...well, OK, sometimes...but it's mostly really important stuff. :)
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I went out to the last fall TNT training. It was a beautiful morning, and I took the pups.
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We walked from Gravelly Point Park to Iwo Jima, a little preview for those doing the Marine Corps Marathon the next weekend.
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The team waits to cheer us on as we get to Iwo Jima.
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The dogs had a wonderful time!
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Carmen, the best TNT mentor around!
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hahaha Can you spot me?
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I thought this was a good pic for Veteran's Day. Happy Veteran's Day to all soldiers and veterans, and thank you for all you've done. But mostly, Happy Veteran's Day to Tiso! Sending lots of love to Iraq.
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The run and walk teams listen as the coaches share some motivating and inspiring words. If you enlarge this photo, you'll see a lady with lots of ribbons on the back of her shirt...some people put the name of each donor and/or honored teammates on their shirts. It looks cool, but I wonder if it would get annoying and feel floppy during a race.
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Guinny looks inspired by the speeches.
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Shantanu's dad joined us for our walk...he came into town just in time to watch Shantanu do the marathon!
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I love the cloudless blue sky.
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Tom took this one...don't I look cool with my cowboy hat and stylin' jacket? :)
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This only represents some of the fall walk team. Not everyone was able to come out for the last training.
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And these are the fall run and walk teams (well, those that were able to come that day).
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We are so lucky to live near this gorgeous city.
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Walking back to Gravelly Point.
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A spectacular morning...absolutely the most perfect fall morning.
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Taking a little rest.
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The pups admire the scenic view.
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For some reason, I seem to be really in to trestles...I had some in previous posts, if you recall.
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Wow. Isn't nature incredible? Look at that color!
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I had never been to Gravelly Point Park before. It is really cool.
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The best place for watching planes!
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"Whew! I'm tired! Good thing I don't have to come out on your walks every weekend!"
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But our fun day isn't over! We headed to Old Town to take advantage of the weather and to see the farmer's market.
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The Masonic Temple
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Unfortunately, the farmer's market was closing down, but it was a nice day for a stroll through town.
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The dogs pulled me into this pretty garden area near the visitor's center...I'd never really noticed it before.
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Old Town is one of my very favorite places.
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"That duck's looking at me funny."
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It looks like a Rubix Cube!
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hahahaha He's a funny one, that Jameson.
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I got new dog beds for the pups, but Indie was one of the first ones to climb in.
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I LOVE this photo! This is Katie in her United Way costume for work. It makes me smile.
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I think he likes it!
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They kept me company for the many hours I worked on the blog.
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If I fit in this bed, I would sleep in it too...it's very cozy.
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The only problem is that those pillows are shaped just like some toys we've had in the past. :) So far, they're still intact, unlike Droid.
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My parents and I went out to dinner with Laura and the Tisos to celebrate Laura and Tiso's anniversary...we missed ya, Ben!
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Future grandparents!
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The first fire of the year...woohoo!!!
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Look at those eyes.
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Watch while Guinness and Indie destroy this toy.
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Jameson watches from a safe distance.
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hahahaha
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"What?! Was I not supposed to do this?"
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"Thanks for getting these beds, Julie! I think you were one short though...there are only two here."
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Now...a few shots to show you how hard I work for all these photos...
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I blend right in, don't I?
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Well, I hope you enjoyed the many, many photos!!! And I hope you forgive me for being a slacker blogger. :)
8
AM
Julie,
Just wanted to say congratulations on such an accomplishment. You should be proud of yourself. Loved all the pictures too. Looks like you enjoyed both the Marathon and your time in CA.
8
AM
Wow, Julie, you’ve accomplished so much since I was your next door neighbor in isolation in Seattle. I’m not running marathons, but I’m doing a lot better than two years ago. God love you for all you’ve done….. good for you.
Much love, Mary and Yoshito
8
AM
Wonderful blog. You have inspired me to get back to work on my own and figure out how to include more photos.
BTW, did you know I’m really proud of you and very glad to have you back “on the team”?
Call me if you want to do some miles on the Mt. Vernon Trail.
Walking Tom
8
AM
Julie,
Thanks for sharing your blog. this is a beautiful and very inspiring blog. I’m happy I have met you during the fall training and I look forward to being on the trails again with you. Have lovely holidays and see you soon.
Dominique Raelison
8
PM
Julie,
Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful blog. It is truly inspiring. It’s been an honor getting to know you this season. I look forward to many more TNT seasons and races in the future.
Take care…
Terri
18
PM
Wonderful blog Julie and terrific pictures. I think you have a future as a nature photographer. I think you should send some of those pictures to the National Geographic. Seriously!
Shantanu.