That's it! Today is the Big Sur International Marathon, and we did it (well, hubby did, my son and I did 5K)! But first, let me thank ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
o_yannik, suffolkgirl, stilettos81, and Mick who left wonderful encouragements and well wishes for me and my family! 
Both hubby and I had a hard time felling asleep last night. We were excited and nervous (at least I was). I worried whole night long that we wouldn't get up early enough to catch the race. For my hubby, he had to be at the bus pickup place at 3:45 a.m.! But everything all went pretty smoothly. It turned out to be a perfect day for running--partly cloudy and a little foggy along the coastline. It was a bit chilly before the race started, but it was so nice not to have to deal with the added heat from the sun during the race.
As results go, we are all happy that we each beat our personal time from last year. I'm super proud of hubby who clocked at 4:46:27 (chip time). He was about 50 minutes faster than last year. I'm glad that his training for the past several months has paid off. My son clocked at 46:59 (finish time) when he went down the "chute", and I was one second behind him. We were about 16 minutes faster than last year. Although I suspect our actually running time is probably somewhere between 37 to 47 minutes since we ran the 3rd wave, which started 10 minutes behind the 1st 5K send off.
One thing I'm embarrassed to admit though: half way through the first mile which was all uphill, I had to "beg" my son to slow down--I was having a difficult time keeping up with his pace! Also after the run, my son was still energetic. After we came home and took a shower, he dragged his dad to take him to the Monterey Bay Aquarium as a reward for finishing the race! I of course begged off the outing and stayed home instead.
So now, the 2007 Big Sur Marathon is behind us, and I learned several lessons from this year's experience:
o_yannik, suffolkgirl, stilettos81, and Mick who left wonderful encouragements and well wishes for me and my family! Both hubby and I had a hard time felling asleep last night. We were excited and nervous (at least I was). I worried whole night long that we wouldn't get up early enough to catch the race. For my hubby, he had to be at the bus pickup place at 3:45 a.m.! But everything all went pretty smoothly. It turned out to be a perfect day for running--partly cloudy and a little foggy along the coastline. It was a bit chilly before the race started, but it was so nice not to have to deal with the added heat from the sun during the race.
As results go, we are all happy that we each beat our personal time from last year. I'm super proud of hubby who clocked at 4:46:27 (chip time). He was about 50 minutes faster than last year. I'm glad that his training for the past several months has paid off. My son clocked at 46:59 (finish time) when he went down the "chute", and I was one second behind him. We were about 16 minutes faster than last year. Although I suspect our actually running time is probably somewhere between 37 to 47 minutes since we ran the 3rd wave, which started 10 minutes behind the 1st 5K send off.
One thing I'm embarrassed to admit though: half way through the first mile which was all uphill, I had to "beg" my son to slow down--I was having a difficult time keeping up with his pace! Also after the run, my son was still energetic. After we came home and took a shower, he dragged his dad to take him to the Monterey Bay Aquarium as a reward for finishing the race! I of course begged off the outing and stayed home instead.
So now, the 2007 Big Sur Marathon is behind us, and I learned several lessons from this year's experience:
- Running is fun and inspiring! Now I'm hoping we'll do another 5K this year.
- A good pair of running shoes is really essential for long distance running! Last year, both my son and I had blisters after the run. But this year, I bought myself a pair of Saucony running shoes, and my son a pair of Asics. They really work wonders--neither of us had any problem with our feet during and after the run! One of those high-tech socks that they sell at running stores are a must too--they are much better than cotton ones that they wick the sweats and keep the feet cool.
- Next year, I should not register the event through my son's school. I didn't realize this until now--they only count the results for 5K Open registration runners. I was quite disappointed at not able to find my son's name on the Results list even though his time was good enough to be on it. Oh well, like hubby says--the important thing is for my son to participate. But still, I would like to have my son to feel his hard work counted.
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From: (Anonymous)
no subject
Glad you guys made it through! Did JB's comments in the magazine help your hubby at all?
That's a shame about your son's name not appearing on the results list. Sounds like he had a fun day!
Good for you!!!
mick
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I haven't been online very much recently, so I missed your post yesterday. That's so exciting that you all did so well! Too bad you didn't get to run into JB (no pun intended - lol) but as you say, there's always next year!
Tell Andy his Aunt Laurie in Alabama is very proud!
(oh, and I've been reading about Monterey in an attempt to convince Brad that we need to allot some vacation time there and the Aquarium was a big plus - our girls just LOVE aquariums! Maybe Andy can show us around there next year :) < crosses fingers > )
From:
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Oh, tell Brad that since we are members at Aquarium, you guys can go there for free (without waiting in line too)--we have guest passes! I think Elizabeth and Catherine will love it there. It's my son's favorite place around here! He also loves to go to the beaches.
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You finished the whole darn thing! I would have promised anybody anything to let me stop half way through the first mile. And 3:35am?!?! I'm so proud of you all and especially my god-son. Please give him a big kiss from me.
I'll try to be there to cheer y'all on next year. I promise!
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Yeah Geoff says it's really a bummer that he had to get ready by 3:35 am for a race that doesn't start until 6:45 am. Because the roads were closed, the runners had to be bussed to the starting point. Once they get there, they had to wait for quite awhile before the race would start.
I will give Andy that big kiss, and it would be so cool if you'll join us next year!
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If by "join" you mean I'll be there to pass you a bottle of water when you are all huffing and puffing, then, sure, I'm your woman. But, if you meant for me to "join" the said huffing-and-puffing? No way! You know me, and know how unfit I've always been. All that running around (or sweating) is gonna kill me.
Though I really should do something to get a bun-of-steel like your hubby's. :P
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But I'm thrilled if you'll be able to come here next year!
By the way, I LOVE your icons!!!
From:
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Thanks! Btw, I read you've broken into the Photoshop business. Welcome to the ranks! May it drain as much of your time as it does mine. ;)
PS. I am still on PS7. Let me know how you like CS2, and if it's worth my while to upgrade.
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I've never used PS7 but I think CS2 works very well. I heard it gives more flexibility at what you can do. Since you are so good with images, I think maybe it's worth while for you to upgrade.
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Well, I dunno. There are still lots of tools in PS7 that I haven't quite figured out, and I'd feel kinda stupid trying to compensate my lack of skills with even fancier software than what I have now. Makes me think of guys who like to run around with big guns, if you know what I mean (and I think you know what I mean). *snicker*
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Guys who run around with big guns?! Who says it's only guys? Why am I having an image of Kara running around with big guns?!
Since I never used PS7, I couldn't tell you what features CS2 improved upon. But I have to say I'm very happy with CS2 so far--much better than Paint Shop Pro IMHO! I think I'm gonna get (or make Geoff get) CS2 once my trial period is over.
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Yeah? Thanks!
I am going through a "paint" phase -- trying to emulate all sorts "painting" look. That one is brush-paint, and here are watercolor and oil, respectively:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4328/bsg309uballuvialw2.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/553/bsg309ubem7.jpg
From:
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I did notice the "paining" element in your creations, and I like it very much.
You used Chinese painting on that "Hold On" icon, didn't you? I love how the background has a rice paper texture feel to it. And that hand on the bare shoulder? Serene and sensuous at the same time. This icon has the look, the feel, and the message all going for it--FABULOUS! I so want to snatch it, but I feel bad for "stealing" every beautiful thing you've made!
I like this "Trapped" icon you used here too. I see you used hand-on-shoulder crop again. :) Did you make this icon from scratch, or did this come from one of your wallpapers?
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You have a designated folder for my stuff? Wow! I am so flattered. BTW, I think you may like the one I recently made for Black Market better.
I make all my icons as, well, icons. I don't like cropping from large scale WP for various reasons. But "steal" to your heart's content. The pleasure I got out it was in the making. You will be honering me by using them.
From:
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Thank you for letting me snatch your icon again.
Now that I'm breaking into the Photoshop world, I'm getting a taste of how much fun it can be playing with the images. I don't think I'll ever be close to your level, but I still had loads of fun making banners and icons, and I'm learning new things with the software each day!
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Anyway, once again, thanks for letting me have this icon...
It makes sense that you make your icons as icons instead of cropping your WPs. They do have that refined quality that's hard to get from just cropping larger scaled images. I only had the question because I noticed the words on some of your icons (for example, that b&w Kara icon) are so small, I wonder how you can put them on there when you are only working with 100x100 pixel canvases.
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OK. Here us what I usually do. I like to make my art work in the size of the finished product, meaning I try to scale pic(s) up or down no more than once. So, for 100x100 icons, the size of my canvas is indeed 100x100.
That being said, I don't mind scale up or down my background. So, to make the text really tiny, I'll open another file with canvas size of, say 400x400, add the background text, flatten and scale down the image, then transfer it to the 100x100 canvas.
... or I'll just use the image of a CD back cover, as I did with that b&w Kara icon. LOL!!!
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I would never guess the background on that b&w Kara icon is the image of a CD back cover!