Road Trips - Summer 2010

Summer 2010 was fun with parents visiting and well planned trips. We did couple of road trips this summer within Washington, which has made me appreciate WA's varied landscape more.

1. Cascade loop with stay in Lake Chelan

We did the cascade loop, a scenic highway loop in WA in June. We took I-5 north, then drove east through I-20, stopped at Diablo Lake for lunch. Passed through Mazama and stopped at a quintessential small town, Winthrop for some coffee and icecream. After another hour and a half drive we reached Lake Chelan. It was a clear, sunny day and the scenery on the drive there was stunning. The landscape in western Washington has tall coniferous trees but once you cross the North Cascade mountain range and get to the eastern side, it is all rolling hills, a completely different panorama.

Diablo Lake

Driving through the North Cascades

Lake Chelan

We stopped by a very beautiful vineyard which had a great view of the lake and the hills. 

Visited a local farm and did some strawberry picking. 

Strawberry Picking at a local farm

Strawberry Picking at a local farm

The plan was not to do much, just kick back and relax and we managed to do that. I was still training for the half-marathon and hence went for a run along the lake in the morning. We just wanted to lounge in our room and take in the view and that is what we did.

2. Cherry picking in Yakima and Palouse Falls

Cherry picking in Yakima

Cherry picking in Yakima

Palouse scenic byway on the way to Pullman, WA

Palouse Falls

Palouse fields from Kamiak Butte County Park

Palouse Hills

Rock n Roll Seattle - Half-Marathon

I finished the 'Rock n Roll Seattle' - Half-Marathon yesterday and I feel elated about finishing it just within my target time. My goal was to finish it under 2:30 and I did it in 2 hrs 29 mins and 14 secs - my speed being 5.27 miles/hr. This is such a big deal for me as this is my personal best. Even during my training long runs my average speed was 5 miles/hr.

The morning started off pretty well. The race start time was at 7:00 AM and I was out of the house by 6:00 AM. The commotion started when we reached the exit at 6:30 AM to see a long line of cars stuck at the ramp. There was a signal at the end of the ramp, a one lane road about a mile long with signals to get to the runner drop-off point and a good number of people like me who had planned to be there just around the same time. Some of the runners actually started to get off the car in the highway and were running towards the start line through some short-cut. Just then cops come swarming by and started yelling at people to get back in their cars or else they will have to give them a ticket. Time was ticking and we reached the exit signal at 7:15 AM. I was panicking by then. After all the preparation I would be damned if I actually started the race late and alone or if my worst nightmare comes true and I actually miss the run (most races do not let people start running after a time limit). After taking the exit, the traffic crawled all through that 1 mile distance ( which seemed like forever to me) and we reached the runner drop-off point at about 7:30 AM. The race start point was another .5 miles from the drop off point and I was already a half hour late! I got out of the car in a frenzy and scrambled to the start point while everyone else around me was calm and walking. It was as if they all knew something I didn't. It was 7:40 AM when I got to the starting point and I saw and heard some crowd. So there were people still at the start line. My corral number was 30 and when I reached there corral 27 or 28 was taking off. There are so many people running (About 17593 for Half-Marathon and 4080 for Full-Marathon in this race) that they actually divide runners into different bays based on their speed and wait for few minutes after each bay takes off so that it doesn't get insanely crowded to run. I was allocated corral 30. And it was still there! I started to breath properly then and joined the crowd. It was another 10 min's before my corral got the signal to go. After the little drama I actually started my run at 7:50 AM along with the runners in my assigned corral. The .5 mile panic run to the start line served as a good warm-up and I started off in a good pace. There was actually 39 corrals in this race. So there were people starting well after my corral left too.

While rest of the Seattle was probably cursing the cloudy, chilly Seattle weather on a weekend, I was very happy it was cloudy and chilly. It was just the perfect weather for running. There were water stations and bands playing music at every mile marker. There were unbelievable number of  people on the way cheering the runners in innovative ways - banners with interesting slogans/quotes both funny and inspirational, music and interesting costumes. There were lots of cheer-leading groups from different schools too, especially before the uphills. All these kept my mind distracted and helped me take on the hills without much struggle. Also the running route had great views of Lake Washington through most of the way. We also ran through the I-90 tunnel for a little bit (it was dark and there was a band actually playing inside the tunnel and the music was blaring inside. The dim light and air inside the tunnel was suffocating that I had to increase my pace a bit to get out of there sooner) and on the I-90 bridge with Seattle downtown view. After 11 miles the course entered Seattle downtown and there I spotted my folks waiting for me and soon there was also the 12 mile marker. The last mile was the toughest and probably the slowest as my energy was draining off. But the thought that I am almost done and that I can actually do it within my target time if I don't slow down now, got me going and helped me to the finish line.

Compared to my previous half-marathon, this time I was better prepared both mentally and physically. All those groups runs I did during my training period proved to be very helpful. I still hate running alone outside. I need good company, even if not running along side of me, I need someone ahead or behind me. I can handle 3-5 miles on a treadmill, more than that I get bored. I cannot run with headphones. I tried it many times only to find that I remove them pretty soon. I hate to run when it is sunny. It exhausts me. Seattle's cloudy/chilly spring morning (without rain) is my best weather choice for running. I still cannot begin to comprehend how people  undergo training for and actually finish full marathons. That is beyond my realm of endurance.

Our trip to Texas

We took couple of days off and visited V and family in Houston last weekend. We had a great time - enjoyed awesome food, good company and warm weather. We also managed to do a one day road trip to San Antonio from Houston. It was a little more than 3 hrs drive, one way from Houston.

We visited Alamo, roamed about along the river walk and had lunch by the river.

Alamo

San Antonio River Walk

I would have liked to spend more time there - shopping and walking but we had to hit the road again pretty soon to make it back to Houston in reasonable time. It was a little hectic but felt good to be on the road - grabbing coffee on the way, talking and just hanging together as family.

Tamil Concert - 'Geetanjali'

Geetanjali is non-profit Tamil music band that performs yearly for ASHA's cause in the Seattle area. I find it to be great way to entertain and also raise money for a good cause. This is my third year attending their concert and this time I was completely blown away with the way the event was organized and executed. Hats off to the Geetanjali orchestra, ASHA team and all the volunteers. And boy, was it entertaining. The singers were all so brilliant and the band amazing! They also had a kids orchestra, playing instruments like - violins, saxophone and guitar. It was so wonderful to see and hear the young talent.

I have concluded that I am a great fan of live performances.

My weekend mornings

My Bharathanatyam classes on Saturday mornings - I thoroughly enjoy my classes on Saturday mornings. Everything about the class is just PERFECT! I love the timing and I relish my 15 mins slow drive to the class on Saturday mornings through inner roads - the roads free of traffic, my car playing my favorite SPB melodies and me soaking up the morning freshness and scenary.

I have new found appreciation for this dance - its sophisticated and impressive style. Also, I adore my teacher - her talent and her way of teaching.

My group long run on Sunday mornings - As a part of my half marathon training my long runs are on Sunday (early) mornings. And that is the only run in the week that I do it with team ASHA runners. I have missed it couple of weeks only on unavoidable circumstances. The first day I joined them was a 3 mile run, the next week was a 5 mile run and both went well. The 6 mile run has been the hardest one so far - I had severe shin splints for the first 3 miles during the run. The only thing that kept me going was the 3 runners who were running about 20 feet ahead of me. I kept my eyes on them and just kept moving. The other half was much easier once my shins eased up. It is one of the toughest but yet one of the fulfilling runs I have ever had. I am sure that I made 6 miles in 72 mins only because there were other people doing it along with me. So group runs really do work for me. The 7 mile run was also great and since I have 3 other ladies running in my pace, I make it through the runs and am actually having some fun. Tomorrow it is going to be a 8 mile run.

I do struggle to make my 3 weekday runs that I do by myself in a nearby gym. Some weeks are great and some weeks I slack. But I have got my stamina back! I am able to run 5 miles/hr all through the run. I manage to even hit 5.4 miles/hr in between but not for more than 10-15 mins continuously.

All in the spirit

I ran a half marathon in 2006 October. That was my first one. Or I should say that has been the only one so far.

It all started when my husband ran his first 1/2 marathon as he turned 30. That was the first time I witnessed a running event. The cheer and the group spirit of it all excited me so much. It was very inspiring to watch little kids cheering for their moms. Next came his full marathon run. I got so inspired watching a 66 year old man finishing his umpteenth marathon. The momentary inspiration made me take the plunge. So without giving it much thought I decided to train for a 1/2 marathon.

Since I was not a runner I had to start from scratch and my training period was long. My training days were a mix of emotions. I got bored easily when I was running. I would start questioning why I decided to run in the first place. I remember there were days I hated to be outside and running, as my mind repeatedly went over million other things I could be doing instead. I hated it as I thought it was taking too much of my time. I lacked the discipline and was too cynical. I also remember being afraid especially going uphill, I would have a mental block which would be far worse to overcome than any physical pain. I did not have a goal and enough inspiration to keep me going.

But I also remember that after finding my running pace, days when I had to do 7 or 8 mile run, I actually did enjoy running. My body was willing to and was very much able to run but it was my mind that would not want to do it. Well anyway, after the roller coaster training period I did finish my half marathon. I did it in 2 hrs 48 mins which is about 4.6 miles/hr, which is not very bad for a first time runner. I went from 'I don't run' to 'I finished a half-marathon'.

It has been 3 years now. Now I am thinking of doing it again. This time I want to do it with an open mind. I want to try harder and discipline myself better - at the same time have a good time. One other reason is to become fitter! Full time desk job, comfort food and the cozy winter weather is taking its toll and I better watch it.

There is a marathon in Seattle in June which sounds just perfect to me. There is enough time to train. Spring would be a great time to run in Seattle. Not crazy hot or crazy cold. Also this time I am thinking of doing it for a cause (ASHA miles for smiles), so I have a reason to keep going and engaging in group runs whenever possible to make it more fun.

Meaning of life and everything...

History of our earth:

The earth is apparently 4.6 billion years old. Here is the earth's time clock as scientists believe it to be:

"For a nearly a fifth of its existence it was cooling down - crust melted, cooled remelted and cooled again. It took another 300 million years before life had evolved enough to produce the oldest known fossils.  For the next 3 billion years life on Earth had evolved so much that early dinosaurs appeared. Dinosaurs dominated the earth for 185 million year (nearly twice as long as mammals have existed). Age of the mammals lasted for about 65 million years and man-like creatures have been around for about 4 million years!"

(The above information is from the book "Marvels and Mysteries of the world around us" published by Reader's digest. I just love the book. Its easy to read and has brilliant illustrations and pictures.)

So recently my mind had been pondering about this whole meaning for the existence of life on earth and more so ever on the existence of complex creatures, that's us humans.

There is this book 'The hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy' by Douglas Adams. I read this book few years ago. I remember a very funny part in the book, where in a galaxy far far away there is a complex computer called 'Deep Thought' which is fed the question "what is the meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything..." The computer takes seven and a half million years and comes up with the answer as '42' to the despair of the men who fed the question in the computer. The computer says that is the answer to the question. It also says that the question has to be understood properly for the answer to be satisfactory and adds that it will build a more complex super organic computer to understand the question which would be called the 'Earth'. The men in that part of the galaxy wonder about the strange name - Earth.

As I sit here worrying about the long list of things to be done, making plans and time for everything I need to do to keep my mind in peace I just can't help but wonder what on earth am I doing here.