Great to see so many of us out there. Hope everybody survived the heat and did okay in the race. I had a PR of 3:34:57. I was really hoping to break 3:30, but not to be this time.

Fay

Congrats Fay And your PR! And great job to everyone that participated in the Flat Half!
Randy

I think I must have counted about 12 Portland Fit shirts out there yesterday! Not to mention a couple that weren't wearing theirs! What a wonderful way to start of the 4th of July. I GOT A PR coming in at 2:03:41 a 9:26 average pace. I was hoping to break 2 hours but I knew there was a good chance that might not happen....I'll be there next year! I'm happy with a PR (how could you not be? ) It was definitely warm out there! Congrats to all finishers!

Thanks for those of you who supported my participating in walking the half mile. I walked/jogged at 15.46 a mile, so feel good about it, though daunted at the idea of going another 13 miles. I know we'll work up to it. This was a fun event, though quite hot!
Becky

What a hot day for a half! Congrats Marion!! I really want to break two hours at some point. My fastest is 2:07 so ... maybe I will catch you next time! I did manage to get my 12 in last Thursday. not as fast as yours though. About 10's. Welp, see ya all Saturday.

I had a fabulous time at the Sauvie Island Half. Since I haven't been walking much since getting out of the hospital, I decided to do this half marathon for the fun of it and not be worried about time (but hoped for a 4 hour finish). To remind myself to take things easy and keep it fun, I wore a Miss America crown & sparklers on my head, and had sunglasses with a torch and Statue of Liberty crown. I also had on my "No Whining" shirt and got a lot of chuckles from people on that. In the first part of the marathon, some women were standing by the side of the road cheering for us and waving flags. I said "Now that it what I forgot!" and they gave me one to carry on the route. I must say it completed the ensemble and even AC Sharon would be proud of me...

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I talked to a lot of people on the course and saw many Portland/Vancouver Fit members. Even talked to a few members not wearing their shirts who saw mine. Sharon, a walker in Portland, had been reading my prior posts and asked a lot of questions about getting started with triathlons. I think we've maybe hooked another one for triathlons/multisports... [insert evil laugh here]

I got to walk at different times with Wendy Kizer from Vancouver Fit (and her friend Pam - another potential new member into the Vancouver Fit cult [insert another evil laugh here], I walked with my friend and Portland-to-Coast team member Barb Thomas, and struck up conversations with just about everyone I passed (or who passed me). I caught up and passed quite a few people, only to have them pass me when I stopped at the bathroom (caught up with most of them again though) We got to cheer on the marathoners who did 2 loops around the island. The fastest passed me when I was at mile 1, and we saw a few go by every mile...

After I finished (3:50 finish - YAY!), I watched for Wendy and Pam to come in (4:05) and chatted with them for a few minutes, then walked back to my car at the farmer's market and enjoyed some roasted corn on the cob and a salmon burger. While there, I struck up a conversation with a woman who had just finished the marathon and was having lunch with her husband and young son. They were at the next table but hey, I still had my crown on & her son recognized me! We got to chatting, and she was a little disappointed with her results - said she was having some knee pain throughout the race. (I looked up her results and she finished in 4:34). But that is only part of the story. What an amazing woman! Her name is Charlotte Crotty and she is running 14 marathons in 14 weeks to raise money for the National Brain Tumor Foundation. Why 14 marathons?

“It is not a long story“, begins Charlotte, “just a strangely magical one. This summer is the 14th anniversary of my mother’s death. She died of brain cancer. The magic is that she lived 14 years after being diagnosed with Anaplastic Astrocytoma Grade 3, and was told she had no more than 6 months. The final magic to this number is that I was 14 when she disappeared from my life.”

See an article about her here http://www.racecenter.com/blog/2007/06/wom...n-14-weeks.html
(She also ran the Pacific Crest Marathon a couple weeks ago and came in 2nd woman and 9th overall) If you are as inspired as I am, there is a website to make a donation to her cause.

All in all a fantastic day! See you out there....

Angela, you are a crack up! I loved the hat and can't tell you how much I appreciate your encouragement and support!
It was very special to see you waiting for Pam and I at the finish!

Thanks for your inspiration....and also to all of the rest of you fitters who nurture us newbies!

Wendy

Darling picture Angela; you look so cute. And thank you for that amazing story (and link) on Charlotte. What a Gal!
Congratulations to you on the Flat Half. Having fun is the most important thing, or else why would we do it, right?

Kathi

Sauvie Island Half = 4 of July Flat Tire...

Too Hot out there for AC Jess - you can read the gory details on my blog.

I did see Angela out there and she brought a huge smile to my face. It will be one of the better memories of the day!

Congrats to everyone that ran!

Jess

I just want to comment on my first 1/2 marathon @ Sauvie. I missed the Helvetia so this was my option. I went by myself hoping to see some shirts or purple shoe tags and hook up with someone. In the porta-potty line before the race I met two non P.Fit women who invited me to walk with them. We had a great time getting to know each other and one of them had a plan for timing since this was about her 5th 1/2 marathon. So, we started out slower and ended up faster. Seemed to work out well but that last mile was a killer! We finished in 3:43. Since I had set my own arbitrary goal of 3:45, I was thrilled. But, I really realized the gift of companionship along the way. Support from another walker makes all the difference. Also the chit chat makes the time go by faster! Just wanted to share. First year P.Fit walker, Nancy