22.1 k in 1:51.

A week ago today I decided I'd run a half-marathon in Red Deer. It went well. Cool, windy weather (so I began with a "throw-away" top and gloves), but I prefer that to the heat. I can't run in heat. I shucked the sweatshirt and top about 7 km in.

Studying the route, morning of the race, in a hotel on Gasoline Alley in Red Deer, Alberta.










I loved the spirit of the thing. Camaraderie and support amongst the runners before, during, and after.

Greg, directly after finishing his marathon. Great time: 3:39.

Pre-race I fretted about a) whether or not I'd get over the start line without being trampled in the stampede of over 1100 runners (178 marathoenrs; 933 half marathoners) and b) accidentally taking the marathon route or some deer trail, and getting lost.

I was also nervous about my time. Could I finish the thing in under 2 hours? I hoped so, but I hadn't been running for six weeks, and didn't know if my injury was properly healed. Would I run 10 and 1s, and I'd done with Greg a few times on long runs in the river valley, or run straight through.

Speck in the distance: Greg rounding the corner to the finish line.

I chose the latter, and for whatever reason, I did not find it taxing. The ks seemed to click off, and even at 18k I felt great. The last three were harder, and I had to push on the last k (up a hill, before down again to the finish line), but I never stopped, and man, it felt great to accomplish my first half. The announcer even pronounced my name correctly. Bonus!

I can see how people get hooked on these things ....

I didn't know that even halfers get wrapped in a silver blanket. I didn't know that we'd each get a medal. I didn't know about the huge food tent -- all free for the runners. Bagels, muffins, bananas, yoghurt, coffee, juice ... it was a little paradise. I didn't know about the door prizes (didn't win one).

After the race I walked around and soaked up the atmosphere while I waited for Greg to come in from the marathon. Truthfully, when your partner's running a marathon, a half doesn't seem like such a big deal.

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In other news, we have the main floor of our house and a 2-bdrm basement suite for rent beginning June 30th. The top floor is available until August 15th, the bottom until the end of August, and beyond. E-mail me for info. Ads are on kijiji and craiglist, Edmonton.

Almost too busy to breathe these days. Oh, and I'm writing book reviews. Many book reviews.
And gardening. And landscaping. And frequently getting lost in IKEA. That place is like Hotel California: you can check in any time you like, but you can't ever leave.

Song I'm currently enjoying most on guitar: "Horse With No Name" (America). I've finally discovered that I should use a capo on the 2nd fret for most songs.

Hurray for the weekend, rainy though it be.

Red Deer: Half-Marathon. (Guess I'm only half crazy).

Bibs. For adults. For runners. For (gulp) us.

It's the night before the Red Deer race. I only decided to do this two days ago, so I could be far better prepared. I was off running for more than a month due to a knee injury, and after one physio appointment and a few easy 10ks, here I am, registered for the Woody's RV World Red Deer Marathon (and Half Marathon).

Well, I'll have it easy-ish. Greg's running the full meal deal. His 6th. And he's in whippet-like shape.

Stay tuned for post race details.

YARD and PERENNIALS Sale

Saturday, May 15th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

106, 3rd Ave, Middle Lake

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myriad perennials

including

chives, strawberry plants, hollyhocks, lupines, delphinium, marigolds, irises, sunflowers, poppies, heartsease, goutweed, astilbe, shasta daisies, columbine,

etc.

plus

books, movies, music, household items, clothing, cross country skies,

a bit of funiture, some free items (ie: an ugly but working BBQ),

and more

Mother's Day Hike with Son: A Photo Essay, with Snake (Mangled by ATV?) and Logan's "Best Skull Find Ever"

How we love the black lagoons.
Where one finds bones

and treasures.

We could do this all day.

(thus, of course, we do)

Wild boar.

And a snake story.

(They grow them big up here.)

Mostly you don't have to turn rocks to find them (we just like flipping rocks).

The day: cool, overcast. And 17 snakes.

An unbelievably cool day.

All art galleries, all the time. Here's Taylor at the AGA, where we very much enjoyed the Goya prints, the Janet Cardiff and George Burgess Miller sound installations, the Degas sculptures, and the Yousef Karsh photos. Re Karsh, Imagine being privy to all those amazing people, from Audrey Hepburn to Winston Churchill, Desmond Tutu to Grey Owl, Glenn Gould to Einstein, Martin Luther King to Nehru, the Queen of England (she was a princess at the time) to Karen Kain.

I need to get back to the Alberta Gallery of Art before this show changes.

(below) Taylor at the AGA in Edmonton.


After 9 (yes, 9!) art galleries, we were off to the Carrot Community Arts Coffee House, in my neighbourhood, and Tay played her original composition "How Deep Does The Ocean Go?" and sang for the crowd. (I played a few ditties, too.)

At the Karsh exhibit, there was a "studio" set up where one could take their own portraits, then e-mail the to their computer. So neat. Mine is below.

And here I am in front of some of my favourite pieces of the day, at The Front Gallery on Jasper Ave. The artist is Doug Jamha.

(The above and below photos were taken by Taylor Leedahl.)

Below is Taylor's Karsh photo. I love it.

After the galleries, the Carrot, and the Farmer's Market on 118th, we had dinner with Greg, then the three of us walked back to 118th to see the contemporary, Edmonton-set play "The Gift," written by Collin Doyle and Jeff Page. Two thumbs up, and we were especially impressed with actor Amber Borotsik. (Wish I had time to post a decent review, but I'm running out the door, and am Saskatchewan bound.)

Until next time, amigos.

And now for something entirely different.

spoken word poetry

photography

guitar

singing

video



This is "Understory: Greig Lake Suite". View it here:



www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kRUP7JhMnQ