running out of steam

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A few weeks ago I decided to start running again. Other than a few runs before my annual Seattle Jingle Bell Run the last time I had really run much at all was in high school so it had been a few years. Usually about a week or 2 before the Jingle Bell Run in December I would suddenly decide that maybe this year I would run the whole 5K but after a couple of days I would realize that maybe I should have started just a bit earlier.

Usually I would end up running about 1/2 of the Jingle Bell Run and then decide I would definitely run the whole thing the following year. Well after 5 years I still hadn't made it. Cardio just isn't really my thing - I would much prefer to go to yoga, pilates, lift weights, or anything else that wouldn't require me to perspire too much or worse to get red in the face. My face turns bright red after any extended cardio - a sign I have always taken to mean that I shouldn't bother.

But my big mouth once again caught up with me when I told my sister Tanya that I would sign up to run if any of the runs she had been doing had a 5K instead of just a 10K. Of course she found one and suddenly I was committed. I had started running a few weeks before signing up but hadn't gotten very serious about it.

Now that I had to run a 5K in 4 weeks I had to step it up a notch or 2. Tanya helpfully sent me a 5K training schedule for beginners. Well it wasn't much help since it had the first day starting with a 2 mile run. If I could run 2 miles straight I wouldn't need a training schedule. I am pretty sure within 4 weeks I could certainly add on the additional mile plus. Instead I was starting from the point of just running down the block. I needed another training schedule that started from the beginning.

After searching for a while I didn't find anything that started at the level I was at and got to to running a 5K in 4 weeks. The smallest distant I had to run on any of the training schedules started at 1.5 miles - this wasn't going to work. So instead I came up with my own plan. Of course this started with shopping - because if you can't run well at least look good doing or or look like you know what you are doing. And I can always find a reason to go shopping and buy some new toys.

I bought a GPS watch so I could time my training sessions and know exactly how far (or how much further I needed to go). Then of course I needed new sport style headphones. My new gear didn't really improve my performance but I was starting to look the part more - or until I started turning bright red after a block or 2.

My plan is now to go 3.2 miles every day that I can in hopes that if I run until I have to walk and then repeat until my 3.2 miles is done that I will continue to improve. Sam even volunteered to go with me over the weekend while we were in Poulsbo on the boat. Guess he wanted to see how far I was progressing himself. Of course I did tell him that running was my new fitness plan since that meant I could do it from the boat with no equipment (well other than my new accessories). It is amazing what Sam is willing to do if it is somehow tied to a boat.

So with 2 1/2 weeks left I need to improve dramatically or find some new running accessory that will enable me to run a 5K. Really what I am hoping is that I will get a huge rush of adrenaline and it will get me through on the day of the event. In reality I may just have to walk a bit during this one but come December for the Jingle Bell Run I might actually make my goal of running that one. Really 5 years isn't that long to wait, it will just make it all that much sweeter when I finish. See I do accomplish what I set out to do - it is just on my own time table.

babies aren't really my thing

While many people (usually women) love babies I am not among them. I think they are fine but don't experience the excitement other women do when they see a baby or if they are very lucky, get to hold one. I do the courtesy hold since refusing is usually not an option and make the obligatory comments about how cute he/she is but all the while I am usually wondering how long before I can return them back to their rightful owner.

It is a tricky deal but usually there is someone around me eagerly awaiting their turn so I can hand them over pretty quickly. Don't get me wrong I don't dislike them but I don't really think they are terribly interesting.

Now when babies turn into toddlers and start walking, talking, and interacting I am interested. This is a stage where their personalities start to come through and I think they are very engaging. I enjoy having them talk to me and want to play and I can actually do something with them. Babies don't do much - and that is primarily why I don't find them fascinating as a lot of the population does.

Now maybe you are thinking it is because I don't have children but I don't think that is really the case. 2 of my sisters have children and they still aren't baby people either. They much prefer children when they have left the baby phase. I know many people miss the baby stage when it is over but they think leaving the baby phase behind is a good thing.

Labor Day weekend I headed over to Wenatchee with my sister Carla and her husband Dave. Sam was heading to Paris for business so I hitched a ride with them. When they arrived at my house I got in the back seat with Baby Ethan who is 5 months old. Now I think he is pretty cute but so far he doesn't do much though he loves to smile.

After watching him smile and laugh at me for 3 hours though I started to get the baby thing a bit more. He has the biggest grin and laugh - as far as babies go he is very happy and content. Carla says that everyone at his daycare loves him since he is one of the happiest kids.

I was thinking maybe I could start to get the baby thing. But then of course Baby E did what all babies do eventually - cry and keep crying. And as he had gotten older the crying has gotten louder, much louder and didn't stop for quite some time. The next morning when he was up at 5 on a weekend just verified my thinking all along - babies aren't really my deal.

Ethan, for a baby I think you are about the cutest one out there right now and I enjoy holding you but honestly I am ready for you to be a year old and start talking to me and interacting more. Because honestly if you haven't gotten me into the baby phase no one will.

going solo

Friday evening after work I sat on our boat at Elliott Bay Marina waiting for Sam arrive back from Paris. He was getting in after 6 and most likely wouldn't get to the boat until around 7:30 or so even coming directly from the airport.

Typically I am waiting on him to arrive from work and the boat is packed and loaded but this time he was arriving later than usual on a Friday evening so I had been ready to go for a bit. Since we weren't going very far for the weekend, Bell Harbor Marina, I was hoping we could have arrived at lunch and then headed back to work. But his business trip got in the way of my plan.

As I waited for him I wondered why I had to wait for him to come back to go to Bell Harbor. Well actually I did have to wait for him since I have never driven the boat without him on board and he talks me through docking. I didn't want to meet him at Bell Harbor only to greet him with the news, after not seeing him for a week, that our boat was going to have to spend some more time at the boatyard. Not conducive to a great weekend together.

Granted we have gotten a few marks and dings on the boat but they are his marks and dings since he is usually acting as skipper and I only dock the boat in conditions that won't cause damage. Up until now I have preferred it that way - or as I like to state "His boat, his problem." If he wasn't on board that statement suddenly wouldn't fly anymore.

But as I waited I wondered why it was that I couldn't grab a friend and take the boat over to meet him. There really wasn't a reason I couldn't do this other than I would have to learn how to do it. Most things I can do myself when I want to (though some I feel are things Sam should do and I just don't do them on principle or lack of interest such as emptying the head or cleaning out the drains) and why would driving the boat without him be any different.

My sister Tanya told me she should have come over when she realized I would be missing out on part of the Cougar Yacht Club festivities by arriving so late. Then we both laughed knowing that there was no way we would attempt it, but it sounded good in theory. By Friday evening though I had seriously started wondering why I wouldn't do this.

So now because I am a bit (okay maybe a slight understatement here) independent and like to take charge I have now suddenly decided I should be able to take the boat out or at least dock it without Sam on board or even in the vicinity. Of course that means I have to practice docking more, tons more, which will make Sam happy since he is always trying to get me to dock the boat.

Now I have another item to put on my bucket list and it is a bit bigger than docking the boat with an audience. Now I want to drive the boat and dock it without a skipper - just me and someone who is willing to jump at least to the dock when I get within 10 feet.

I will say though we made a grand entrance into Bell Harbor Marina with the huge Coug flag flying from our mast. Most everyone was on the dock and we were greeted with loud cheers and Go Cougs. This was a much better entrance than I would have gotten coming in during lunch. Maybe retaining my first mate status wasn't so bad.

But by Saturday once again I was wondering going solo. Now I need to figure out if boating insurance is like car insurance and for new drivers the premiums are higher, but I think I will refrain from asking so my premiums won't suddenly skyrocket.

So if next year for the Cougar Game in Seattle if you see a gray sailboat heading towards Bell Harbor steer clear of me and if you are at the Marina please come by to grab my lines. It could be me trying out my hand at solo sailing. Won't Sam be surprised when he gets the call to meet me at Bell Harbor instead of at Elliott Bay? I think he will be pretty pleased as long as those bumpers do their job and the dockhands know what they are doing.

oh to be 8 again

If I got to choose to be anyone else I might have to be my 8 year old nephew Levi. My nephews definitely lead the good life in part to a bit (lots) of spoiling from lots of people but Sam and I are probably spoil them the most. This week he is in sailing lessons for the week - yep pretty sure Uncle Sam had a bit of an influence there. After his first day at sailing camp he ran out to greet me telling me how awesome it was and he didn't want to stop sailing. Definitely taking after his Uncle here.

He is sailing in an Opti all by himself with the instructors coaching from dinghies. I was a little concerned the first day about how he would do and if it would all go okay and kept my phone close but turns out I had worried for no reason at all. Which I guess as far as worrying goes is really a good thing.

Levi shared his whole day with me, then with his mom, his Uncle Sam, and then with his dad. I am pretty sure at that point he was done recapping but each time he told everyone about it he got excited again about how well it went.

Yesterday he told me he sailed all the way to the floating bridge and on Friday they will sail from Meydenbauer Bay to Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island. Pretty impressive all in a small, tipsy, one child sailboat. The whole no motor idea doesn't hold much appeal to me for some reason. We tried that a few weeks ago and I really missed it.

Watching the kids in the boats it is pretty impressive how quickly they catch on. Also saw one kid fall overboard and within a few seconds he was scrambling back on board with a huge grin on his face. That is a kid thing for sure - can't imagine many adults still grinning or climbing back on so easily onto a very tipsy sailboat. Having tried to get back on board our Harbor after going swimming it was more like a beached whale flopping around since we didn't have a swim step.

What I have realized is that I should have started sailing as a kid then maybe the leaning thing sailboats tend to do wouldn't bother me at all. I also maybe wouldn't be so worried about tipping the boat since that is the very first thing they had all the kids do in class on Monday. Levi thought that part was great and quite fun - perspective certainly changes with age.

Guess if they get it out of the way early then they aren't scared when it does happen. But Sam it is a bit late in the game for that so don't get any ideas now - I prefer to keep our boat upright in a soft lean - no cleats in the water for me, blame it on not going to sailing camp as a child.

the true marriage test

I have thought a true test of a marriage is docking a boat together or even sharing a double kayak together - though for the sake of our marriage we have elected for single kayaks after a single double kayak ride once. We know our limits and a double kayak simply isn't for the two of us - a little something about both of us wanting to steer. I would now like to submit crossing a start line in a sailboat race with no or little wind as the true test now.

Our second weekend of vacation Sam had signed us up for the Shaw Island Race. This is a very casual race - which is the only reason I agree to participate. I have done numerous duck dodges in our boat but that was a 20 foot Harbor that was very easily maneuvered. This is a boat we would take out on the 4th of July on Lake Union and sail among all the boats quite easily so not quite the same as a 37 foot sailboat.

In fact the race was casual enough that our 4 month nephew Ethan was on board along with my sister Carla, her husband Dave, my mom, and dad. Am pretty sure Ethan would have received the youngest sailor award if there was one. Hey you have to start them early now though it turns out right now he enjoys power boating a bit more and sailing is a bit slow for him, I am sure Sam will figure out a way to make him a sailor eventually - look what he did to me.

We were all assigned jobs by Sam and I was the tactician. What that really meant was that I would tell Sam where other boats were in relation to us. About the only tactics I called were those when Sam didn't have a clue which way was best and he could ask me so I could be to blame when we lost ground.

Once again there was no wind at the starting line. Normally I am pretty happy without much wind but in relation to starting a race I would like a decent amount of wind so at least we wouldn't drift into each other. After jockeying to the line we ran out of wind along with many of the other boats and started to drift into each other. Fortunately we fended off each other without damage though there was some (a lot) yelling involved.

I think there is enough to figure out during a race without having to fend off other boats. Since I get nervous if a boat is within 50 feet being able to reach and push off another boat really isn't for me. Sam doesn't quite get why I am so freaked out and worried about hitting other boats. Maybe it is because we have been hit a few times though not in this boat - other than a nasty scratch on the side when we weren't around. I mean he doesn't seem too happy when another car gets that close.

So while Sam is enjoying all the excitement and loving the adrenaline rush I am freaking out and wondering once again why I agreed to this. Usually during this time there is a bit of yelling at each other but Sam says that is just part of the racing thing. I on the other hand would prefer a start away from every other boat even if it would mean we didn't have a great start, I see no reason to have to remind another skipper when we have rights.

This time we were right in the middle of most of the fleet and it took us 10 minutes to cross the starting line - not quite the start we were looking for. Eventually we drifted across and we were off - well kind of. The wind did pick up and we were finally moving along a bit. Of course because we were no longer right next to all these other boats and I felt we were out of danger I suddenly became competitive and wanted to win. Now I wanted to pass other boats and choose the best course to finish well.

Really I should figure out a way to climb on board after the start - I am sure Sam would prefer it that way but who would tell him when he was going to hit another boat or point out every boat within 200 yards that could possibly tack into us. Somehow he doesn't understand why I don't think the start isn't much fun and I get a bit stressed. I try and explain it by reminding everyone someone needs to be the responsible cautious one on board but I don't seem to get much appreciation or agreement from everyone else.

The rest of the race was great and I enjoyed myself though I was asking Sam why we weren't passing up our competition and how we could have done better. When he reminded me that races are often won at the start I decided first place might not be all that important anyways. I mean weren't we just out for a nice day on the water - who really needs a trophy? If it means I have to be stressed out for the 15 minutes before the race and the 5-10 minutes after the gun worrying about who is going to sail into us just finishing is fine with me.

thunder and lightening

Well after the boating experience the other weekend Sam was lucky I decided to step back on board. But I was pretty sure I had fulfilled my boating drama quota for at least the rest of the year so I felt it was pretty safe.

We headed out from Anacortes Saturday morning and saw an available mooring buoy at James Island so decided we should stop there. Since there are only 3 buoys getting one on a summer Saturday was pretty lucky. The weather was beautiful - sunny and calm seas and we had a mooring buoy. Not having fully recovered from our previous attempt at anchoring the buoy seemed much safer and a lot less stress.

Since we arrived early we had all day to explore by dinghy and for Sam to drop his line overboard in hopes a fish would bite this time. We got the crab pot set and then I convinced him I just needed some reading time on board while he trolled around in his dinghy.

Sam went to pick back up the crab pot and while he was around the island suddenly there was the clap of thunder and sure enough there was lightening as well not too far off. He decided to head back to the boat and get on board, I thought he was just coming back to keep me company but really it was cause being in the cabin was the best place to be. He had also gotten 3 crabs so it would be a crab dinner instead of brats on the grill - a much tastier option.

During the whole evening it kept up with the thunder and lightening and sure enough we were the tallest thing around though the island is covered in trees so that made it a bit better at least in my mind. After cooking up our crab dinner Sam was still pretty nervous about the lightening and it didn't help that it would suddenly seem like it was moving away and then it would come closer again.

Finally he decided we needed to turn off all our electronics and put on our rubber flip flops to be safe down in the cabin. I tried to lobby to keep the fridge on but Sam wasn't going for it. I do have to say he got pretty nervous about the whole storm (which was totally unexpected) but then I think that was because the sailboat is really "his" boat.

The good news is that we had a motor that would start (at least before a lightening strike), and were firmly tied to the buoy. I was also pretty confident I could swim to shore if needed, though in my own mind as long as land is visible I somehow think I can swim in. I did notice though that the suggestion to turn off all the electronics came after I had cooked up the crab.

It came out later that he figured if he was going to have a last meal fresh crab would be at the top of his list. I am just glad he waited to share that with me at a later time, a few days after the storm in fact when I was on dry land. Good call on his part.

boating drama

I think just taking a boat away from the dock or even owning a boat means you will experience a significant amount of boating drama but the other weekend put most of the things we typically experience into perspective.

Saturday morning Sam and I headed left Elliott Bay early to head up to the San Juan Islands where we would leave our boat for about a month while we visited on weekends. We love the San Juan Islands but aren't willing to leave it up there year round so once a year we leave it up there for a month so we can enjoy it without having to spend all weekend just getting it up there only to have to turn around.

Our trip up went well and we made excellent time for a sailboat. There were some pretty large rollers but fortunately they didn't last for too long and most of the way was smooth motoring. We left the dock at 6 a.m. and by 3:00 we were at James Island and about to turn the corner to go to Anacortes. We decided we should find a spot to spend the night at either James Island or at Spencer Spit. James Island was full and only anchoring was available and since it isn't recommended we went to Spencer Spit.

Of course the mooring buoys were full but we decided to anchor. For some reason we didn't follow our normal anchoring procedure and I didn't think we were set very well. I had already turned off the engine and told Sam we should reset the anchor. So I went to turn on the engine and it made a horrible sound - just like your car does when the starter won't engage. Not so good. After calling around trying to get assistance over the phone we realized it wasn't going to start. Sam even tried starting it with some kind of electrical arc but no luck.

I had now gotten more looks at our engine than I ever wanted to at this point and I am sure Sam was feeling the same way.

Of course about 2 hours after we anchored a mooring buoy opened up but sailing over there would have been a bit of a challenge so we stayed put. The afternoon and evening was nice and since there was very little breeze we decided to wait until morning to try and sail out to Anacortes or Friday Harbor.

Of course once it got dark the wind started to pick up and by 11 it had started blowing about 30 miles an hour and the lightening and thunder had started. We kept checking the boat and we seemed to be in the same place. At midnight I was awakened by the sound of Sam yelling at me to get dressed and come up - seems our anchor had slipped. The bad news this wasn't a nightmare and I was truly awake.

We had planned for what we would do if this happened but of course all the planning in the world goes out the window when I couldn't pull in the anchor by myself. Turns out the electric anchor winch only works when the motor turns on. So now it was up to Sam to pull in the anchor by hand while I sailed us out of there. Luckily Sam had quite a bit of adrenaline rushing through him so he was able to bring it in. The wind of course had died a bit and I couldn't get the sails to fill so we started to drift towards the rocks. I rarely sail by myself in good weather and now I was expected to sail in conditions that were less than ideal and in the dark.

Just in time the wind came up again and I was able to get us headed in the right direction. Now we were sailing at 12:30 at night with a thunder and lightening storm, no motor, a very scared first mate, and no destination in mind. The wind kept changing anywhere from 0 knots to 25 knots without warning so one minute we would be drifting and the next we would be moving right along. In the midst of this we were also in the ferry path and had to avoid the ferry so we needed to make a decision on where we would go.

Sam decided to head to more open water so we headed towards Anacortes. We called for a tow but it would take them 3 hours to get to us so we were on our own. Once we got into Rosario Strait we both breathed a bit easier since we no longer had to watch our depth quite so closely.

Just when it felt like I didn't have to be quite so scared Sam suddenly spotted a large boat on our radar screen coming towards us. We finally saw the lights and realized it was a tug of some sort and yep it was on course with us. We had been sailing along at a pretty good clip with some large waves hitting us sideways but once the tug got close the wind died and we were in its direct path.

At this point Sam was more frightened than I was probably because I was exhausted and after 2 1/2 hours I think I was too tired to be so scared anymore. We were in the direct path and now we had hardly any wind so we were pretty much stuck. Sam didn't want to turn around because the tug should see us and turn the other way and if we turned we would turn into the same path. Sam kept saying I just want to see the green light all I see is red. By this point we had realized they also had a large tow which only made it worse. Finally less than 1/4 mile away from each other Sam finally saw the green light and realized we would make it if just barely.

I can only imagine what the tug captain thought when he saw a sailboat sailing at 2:30 in the morning. It certainly was not a time I ever wanted to be out sailing when I was so close to land and marinas.

Since the wind kept dying at this point it took us 2 hours after our near miss with the tug to get so we were turning to Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. The sun had started to come out and we were close to putting an end to our experience. Of course though just after before rounding the corner the wind died again and this time we had absolutely no wind and lost all of our momentum. Finally we got about 2 knots and rounded the corner and hoped we could hang on long enough to sail into the marina.

The wind didn't hold though and soon we were right outside the entrance - the very shallow entrance - and the current had come in and we started to drift. When I asked Sam the depth he told me I didn't want to know which pretty much told the whole story. Just when I thought we would go aground someone headed out to do some fishing left the marina and we waved them down. All the times we had towed other boats paid off and we got a tow into the dock.

The boat towed us in and then we had enough momentum to get into the dock though our anchor did hit at this point I hardly cared. I was so relieved that it was finally over and we had made it. Exhausted we crawled into bed.

Later that morning Sam found someone on the dock to come take a look at our engine. Turns out the 2 bolts holding the starter together had somehow come loose and were lying on the floor. He put them back on and told us that it must have been an error in the settings at the factory since they never should have come off. The large rollers we had hit were what had probably jarred it loose. I will say that was the best $84 I ever spent to get that kind of news and have our motor start.

I am confident that Sam was wondering if I would be willing to go out boating again right away but this last weekend I was once again on the boat heading out. Now he didn't get to sail but I blame that on the fact we were on a time deadline but really I feel he got plenty of sailing time in last weekend I just wanted to enjoy the sound of the motor. While others say how calm and relaxing sailing can be I think the sound of the motor can be the best sound one can hear on the water since it means it is working.

After our motor was fixed we made a beeline for West Marine and spend some cash on more safety equipment and for once I didn't complain about how much we spent at the boat store. Seems I felt it was worth every penny and I was already asking about additional items we suddenly needed on board. Wonder if a sailboat can have a kicker motor - I am investigating.