Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Funny Meeting You Here!

Lesley, Lucy & Ronda
I won a giveaway! The fabulous Lucy had a Sweaty Bands giveaway, and due to my never ending stalking, I won. Woo Woo! Yes, I meant to right Woo Woo - another Lucy/blog/graffiti reference. Okay really, why aren't you reading her blog? Click over there after you finish mine.

Anyway, (Oh, Hi! I'm starting to climb out from under my rock. I hope it isn't temporary. After 9 full days of vertigo and ear issues, I am soooo ready to be back in action again!) Yes, anyway, I was telling Biker Boy about how I met Lucy in person and it got me laughing. The awesome thing about running, for me, is that I have met and will meet so many awesome people. I was always so intimidated by running in general, that I never thought I'd end up meeting other runners and having it take over my life. I remember my very first race. December 5, 2009. Corvallis, Oregon. It was a 5K Fun Run that started at ended at Reser Stadium at Oregon State University. My step-dad walked me to the registration table so I could check in and get my bib and (only) cotton race shirt. I was so excited! Then I was terrified. I was trying to warm up (it was 27º) and stretch without anybody seeing me. I didn't want to be laughed at. When it was time to line up I was almost in tears. My mom actually had to push me into the crowd, forcing me to leave her side. I was in a complete state of panic. I felt all alone, clueless about what was going on, and I didn't say a single word to any other people (non-family) except for the guy checking me in.

My how things can change in such little time!

Remember Sushi Guy? I met him at a race. The first race I ever went to alone. I wasn't sure where to check in, I turned to ask anyone if they knew, and he was the one behind me. Whatever happened to him? .... He's really into this crazy downhill biking stuff now. I see he got a first place medal for something this weekend actually!

MaryAlicia. I met her through active.com and then in person at the SkirtChaser last year. I was again hiding while stretching under a tree, looked up, and knew right away it was her.  She was also witness to my first finish line upchuck performance! We've met up again since then .... outside of the porta-potties, also in Washington.
 
L, Becka, A & Ronda

Lucy. We were texting like crazy for the Princess Half. It was still dark outside (OMG wasn't that an awesome morning/race/day??). Lesley and I had been up way too long working on our make-up (some day she'll forgive me for the pink eye). We got to the start/finish area and it was crazy packed with people. First thing, bee line for the bathrooms. No sooner do we get there, and there she is. Lucy! What a lovely way to meet -- outside of the smelliest porta-potties EVER!

Brooke & Becka got to meet me while I was sweating my ass o
Ronda & Brooke
ff. My mom and I prepared for cold weather - since last year we were frozen. Florida turned on the heat this winter! There I was, sweaty, ready to race with my hair DOWN for the first and only time, in black pants with sequins down the side and a black veil bedazzled all to heck. They must have all thought I was crazy! Two days later I'd be sitting on a bench outside of Epcot waiting for my BFF and there would be Brooke walking by again --- in all of her Disney Princess Half attire!

Lesley and I have had tons of meetings. First at a bus stop. Then at some crazy kid's races where she had this frantic look of panic on her face. And then we were roomies! Yep - slumber party at my place (i.e. Port Orleans)! She is the raddest. Wait, I don't play favorites. Oops. Well, if you aren't reading her blog yet, then watch out. Go start reading, and then tell me you don't feel inclined to start racing every weekend! And here's my word of warning, if you race WITH her, she's tough. She won't let you slack. She'll quote Prefontaine (or your respective running idol) to you, she'll bribe you with visions of your mommy at the finish line, she'll fix your hair so you can feel prettier while throwing yourself on an incredibly yummy pirate!

Giraffy & Ronda
Also in the darkness of that very early February morning I had too brief meeting with Giraffy! I'm so glad we got it in just in the knick of time. We were all in our corrals ready to go. Becka and I were talking via FB that Giraffy was trying to find me to give me my blog giveaway winnings. Well hot dog, we got to meet! Yippee!! In two weeks and a few days we'll meet again. Yay!!!

Katye also appeared out of the blue, and actually started the race with us. Little did I know I was starting my first half marathon with someone that would grace the pages of Runner's World magazine! That girl has spunk and is a tough cookie, let me tell ya!
Katye, Lesley & Ronda
I met Courtney while I was soaking wet. She was nice and put together a get together at Old Key West. I had been at Animal Kingdom that day - and went on my old ride, Kali River Rapids. Of course I was the one to get every single bit of me soaking wet. I bet I left my mark on her couch! And then .... as if the meet up wasn't fun enough, she was nice enough to drop me off at Downtown Disney where I actually got to "tuck and roll" out of the car. Loved it!
Courtney and I at Old Key West
Stacie and I have met up twice now (yet she didn't take me to NKOTB??). She and her husband are a lot of fun, and I bet we will all meet up again in the future. How could we not?

Abby & I in Seattle
Abby is my east coast twin. We have crazy stuff in common. Who would have thought the Southern Oregon girl and the girl living in New York would get to meet up face to face at a concert in Seattle? Yeah, we did, and it rocked!  (Now I just need to meet Christina, my other twin!)

Ronda, Cilley, Jules
Don't forget Oregonians now. There are a lot of us! Kim, Small Town Runner and Laurie were all instrumental in getting me to run a 5K race last year, where I actually PR'd even though I was sick. Woohoo!! That was only the first meeting .... we've all 3 had dinner together since (plus Julie!), I saw Kim at a 3rd race, and Small Town and I will see each other again next month at the Pre Memorial! (She even let me touch her Boston jacket .... which I credit to helping me get my 1/2 marathon PR the next day!) Cilley Girl won my first blog giveaway. Our dogs look alike. It was natural we would meet, and so we did. Actually, it was on the first date weekend with Biker Boy. She and Jules met up with us for a fun dinner and then the next day at the race. They are so much fun!! Cilley and I (Jules, you're coming, too!) have a date with an 80 year old drag queen some day AFTER we finish Portland Marathon weekend!


The Eugene Marathon gang (including Amy, Beth, Laurie, Julie, Kim, Small Town & Stacie (plus the dudes)
What's up? Who will I inevitably blog about next?

How about some of these awesome ladies: Rose -- my next race partner X 2!! We are going to dominated the Disneyland 5K in our own little way, and it will be epic. I have no doubts! Rad Runner -- after sending each other pre-Princess presents we will FINALLY meet up! More Becka and Giraffy face time - including all of their adorable little girls!! And Jenn -- we better meet up in Disneyland! Lucy and I will take over Vegas together later this year (why do I make everybody go to drag shows??). Oh man, so much is about to be going on, I can't even keep it all straight!

This long, rambling post basically is about how we are all awesome! I'm so glad all of you fellow runners have let me into your circle. It has been a blast so far ... and this is only the beginning for me!

13 comments:

  1. I love all the different people you get to meet at races and just running in general! You've got quite a list already! And YESSSS...we will definitely meet up in Disneyland...in TWO WEEEEKS! (sorry about all the exclamation marks, I got a little excited) In the next day or two I'll post a blog asking who else wants to meet and I'll also send you my digits and stuff on FB/email (sounds scandalous).

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  2. Don't forget you also got to see the awesome treehouses too! :)

    I love all of the people I've met through running. I'm terrible at meeting new people and can be very shy as well. The running community has really brought me out of my shell.

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  3. Did you read where Darcelle got arrested the other day? Something about the state liquor commission and serving minors but then he allegedly assaulted the inspectors. Charges have been dropped but it was interesting...

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  4. I did!! That's how I knew he was 80!

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  5. I'm glad you're starting to feel better. You've met a ton of people. How cool!! I wish I was running the Pre memorial... maybe next year.

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  6. I think it is so so fun to meet up with like minded, healthy habit sharing people that you meet on line. I've been doing it for 8 years now!...but I don't think I've met as many people as you! That's a lot of blogger friends!

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  7. Wow - it is amazing how many people you have met!

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  8. love this post! might have to steal this idea soon!

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  9. Crazy awesome. I mean I had to explain that I spent the night in a hotel room with a blog stalker. Bwahahaha!!! And no, I do not forgive you for the pink eye. ;-). Maybe tomorrow I will. Love ya!!! (Best 3 hours ever!)

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  10. It's so awesome meeting new people at races. I hope I get to meet more than only the Minnesota bloggers who read my blog. :)

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  11. Im so behind on your posts (sorry).

    I hope we get to meet someday soon! And I need to run with Leslie because apparently her and I run about the same pace - so lets do it girls!

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  12. I feel left out, I wanna meet you :-(

    Hehehehehehe And Leslie, because apparently her and I run at the same pace-ish?

    Lets do this girls!

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Thanks for reading my little blog, your comments rock my compression socks!! ºoº