Northwest Trek

Instead of a slammin party for my 30th birthday we went to Northwest Trek. It was great, no really, it was.

The hour and a half drive was the only anoying part. But after we arrived the whole day was wonderful. The weather was at its best. 70 degrees and not a cloud to be seen. Northwest Trek is a nature preserve full of bison, big horn sheep, elk, moose and lots of other animals. We arrived and met our friends the Hostutlers for lunch. Then off to the "tram" tour. They take you all around the park and you get to see the animals up close, through open windows, rather, no windows. These animals had clearly been through the drill and could have cared less about us. They were not about to charge the bus, but one can always hope. Climbing around the bus was probably more exciting for the boys than the wild dangerous animals just feet away.

We walked through the rest of the exhibits and saw the bears, large cats, eagles, otters, raccoons, one skunk and probably some I am forgetting.

I got Starbucks on the way home, because afterall it was my birthday.

We give Northwest Trek two thumbs up.

The Problem With 30

The only problem with 30 is I don't feel like I have 30 years of wisdom. I feel like I am still a very immature, selfish, silly 16 year old. But I have changed somewhat. I care less about what others are doing and what others think about me. I can eat by myself, in fact I kinda cherish that now, but it is probably because eating by myself means missing out on screaming, demanding, messy, messy, messy meals. Even though I am fatter, and slower, and just generally more tired, I like me much better. Don't get me wrong, I will probably forever live in a hopeless pursuit of the body I had at 16. I am nicer now. I am much more considerate and patient. I think these are all good things, and hopefully I will be even better, and thinner, at the next milestone birthday, 40 (GULP).

Thirty isnt so bad, I guess.

IRON GIRL

Eight weeks ago out of desperation to "accomplish" something big before I turned 30, I signed up for the Iron Girl 5K. It was to take place one week before my 30th birthday. Like most things I sign up for, I began with gusto, jogging 4-5 week, then by the third week, down to 2-3 times a week, by week seven I started seriously doubting that I could run 3.1 consecutive miles. Why would I submit my self willingly to so much pain. (For me as a person who has NEVER been in shape, to start running, there was A LOT of pain involved).

But since it was a class I paid for my encouraging husband would not let me back out. So the the Wednesday before the race we did our "practice" race. I came in 5th out of our group of 7. I ran two miles, then walked/ran (okay, slowly jogged, because lets be honest, none of what I do can be considered running) and crossed the finish line in 36 1/2 minutes. My goal was to do it under 40 minutes and not passout. I was pleased, but not convinced that I would be able to run the whole thing in three more days.

Sunday Sept 7th rolled around and I was on my way to Green Lake in Seattle. My group lined up in the 11 minute pace place. And we started to run along with 2,400 other women. Being so crowded was a blessing because I focused so much on passing and not tripping that it made the race go by faster, at least until mile 2 where the crowd thinned out a bit. Then I turned it all over to God. I said a prayer before I started that if I was to finish running it would be God working through me, and most obviously not my athleticism. Where I am weak He is strong. I said the Lords Prayer, and Proverbs 3:5-6 over and over, concentrating on how He was making my path straight. I thanked Him for the beautiful weather and scenery, Green Lake is very pretty even when you think you may throw up from not breathing!

So, God got me across the finish line, in 34 minutes, 4th out the 7 in my running group, and 583rd overall. Not too bad for someone who couldn't run a mile 8 weeks ago.

In the extremely small picture, I am the second person back on the left. Nothing remarkable to see. I was blinded with exhaustion at that point and just trying not to make some horrendous face for the camera, luckily the picture is so small you cant see my expression anyhow.