Athletic Sisters

I have huge respect for my two sisters.

JoAnn, who has competed not just once, but three times in mini triathlons in the Carolinas. An event that includes a 250 meter swim, a 9 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run.

Kate a runner who has successfully completed many races including a half marathon and who recently ran and completed the 26.2 With Donna marathon last weekend. Living at the beaches in Jacksonville, Florida where the marathon is held, I was able to be a part of my sisters success.

The 26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer is only in its third year, but has 10,000 racers coming from every state and all over the world participating in the marathon, half marathon, relay marathon and fun run to benefit breast cancer research at The Mayo Clinic.

It was quite a race and quite a weekend. Kate arrived Friday evening with her husband and biggest fan, Tom, in tow. We attended the expo to pick up the race packet and got pumped up getting the lay of the race course with all its twists and turns. The night before the race we had the requisite pre-race dinner of pizza (and a little wine). Tom and I planned our viewing strategy; Kate applied her running strategy-- the pace tattoo.

Getting ready. Pace tattoo in place, check.

Race day started at 0-dark hundred hours and was chilly. The racer is excited, nervous, and ready to run.

Breakfast of champions.

Waiting for the shuttle to the start line.

Kate crossed the 9 mile mark hardly breaking a sweat with a big smile. The band was playing, Tom and I had our cameras ready.

Looking strong after 9 miles!

The sun was shining as Kate crossed the finish line running. Her time: approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes. I think she was exhausted but ecstatic.

The happy runner and #1 fan.

We hot footed it back to the house to soak a tired and stiff body in the cold of the pool (second best to an ice bath).

53* -- Brrr but ahh.

We toasted her success with champagne, some Advil and an early bedtime.

Congrats and kudos to Kate and Jo. Proud and inspired. Gotta love my sisters.

Winter Solstice?

I am sipping a cup of Bigelow Lemon Lift tea enjoying the music of George Winston - Winter Solstice. Classical music I haven't listened to in years. It is classified "holiday" music, but somehow feels appropriate as I try to lift my spirits this rainy, raw day in mid-February. Today there is no golf, bike riding, beach walking, or outdoor activity of any kind. It is a day to sit cozily by the fire with a cup of tea and enjoy catching up on indoor activities that I usually feel guilty doing when the sun is shining. I know officially Winter Solstice was two months ago, but it feels more like mid-winter now than it did in December. The sun doesn't rise until after 7 a.m. and there have been more than usual gray and dreary days (not what we are used to in the Sunshine State) that certainly don't seem longer on the other end yet. But, surprisingly there are a few early signs of spring, some trees have red buds I see popping on a rare sunny day walking and my pretty yellow and blue pansies are still in bloom. So I embrace today as I sip my tea and pine for sunnier, warmer days that I hope are just around the corner.

2010 Fight for Air Climb Jax

It is hard to meet a person these days whose life hasn't been touched by cancer in some way. Cancer reared its ugly head in my family about 35 years ago. For all the many types of cancer out there, there are foundations, associations, and fund raisers to help beat those cancers. Last fall I went to a Light the Night Lung Cancer event at the Prudential Building in Boston. This event recognized and honored the many lives that have been affected by this silent killer and at 9 pm sharp we lit candles and the lights of the top floors of the Pru were switched on. I didn't know much about lung cancer so this event was informative, inspiring, and beautiful.

About two months ago, I came across a newspaper article promoting a Fight for Air Climb to support lung cancer research. Further investigation revealed that this is a national event in cities across the country on the same day. In Jacksonville it was the second annual. The climb takes place at the tallest building in Jax, the Bank of America at 42 stories. So I signed up, went to several training sessions, my quads and calves took a beating, but it was good preparation. The climb was last Saturday, Feb. 6. Here are my pics:

The Building

Have chip will climb.

All finished, ready for a massage.

The view from the top. Awesome.

There were 299 climbers in all raising over $120,000 (each climber had to raise a minimum of $100). The fastest climb was 4:49 (zowie), slowest 42:21 (there were also 2 climbers at around 1:30:23). Total women climbers numbered 178. I came in 9th of 32 in my age group, 55th of all women climbers. lst in my age group climbed in 8:24, my time was 10:17.

Two friends climbed the Mellon Building in Boston, 84 flights of stairs. In NYC they climb the Empire State Building, maybe next year.