Our First Marathon

We made it! Looking back today (we finished just a little over 24 hours ago from when I am writing this) there were many many times where I wondered if I would. It was fairly grueling. The first half was pretty comfortable for me. At about mile 13, I started to notice my legs getting tired and sore. By about mile 17 I could have stopped and been ok with it. Around mile 19 or 20 I was almost to the point of tears, but then I started almost hyperventilating, and that with running isn't a great combination (my throat got very small), so I had to chill so I could breathe. I wanted to stop so many times. Everything hurt. Probably the one thing I told myself that kept me going was: "If you stop now, it's still going to hurt, and you're going to have to walk all the way back. At least if you run, you'll get there sooner!" The last few miles felt like they were never going to end - each step seemed to hurt more and more. With about a quarter mile left Narasimha grabbed my hand and pretty much literally pulled me over the finish line. Somehow I beat him by 1 second (it was "chip" timing, so he probably technically started a little before me or something).

When we were done, all I wanted to do was sit down - after all, I had been looking forward to that for about 9 miles! But, Narasimha was pumped. Some kind of runner's high or something. He was walking around, eating everything, talking to all these people we knew and didn't. It was pretty funny. He's already talking about doing another one.

I know we could do better - we did not train as well as we could have. In the last 6 weeks of our training schedule, we missed over 100 miles of running, and that was out of only 270 miles. Which is too much to miss if you want to be consistent. So, all of that considered, I think we did pretty well. Our time was 4:02:42. That's an average of 9:16 minutes/mile. Our first 13 miles were under 9:00 pace, and then until mile 21 we were under 10:00 pace, but from mile 22 until the end our pace was over 10:00 - as you can see, we just slowly ran out of juice. But, we finished, and we never walked (we knew if we stopped to walk, even for a bit, we'd have not been able to convince our legs to run again!), and I think we did the best we could :)

Thanks to everyone who offered encouraging words during training or before the race - you are appreciated!

Just a few minutes before the start.

This was a little before the half-way mark - mile 13 was just a little after this.

Almost there - Narasimha has my hand and is determined that I will finish with just about a block or so to go!

Done - just by a few minutes, and talking to my mom and sisters.

Some of our cheering squad - my mom (middle) and sisters. Some of our friends from Narasimha's work also came to cheer for us, and then some friends from around my parent's house were there as well.

A (Long) Change

I just axed off most of my hair. I have been thinking about cutting it for a while, and did, until about an hour ago, have very long hair (when straight it went to at least my lower back). Then I thought, well, if I am going to cut more off than just a trim, I should really do something with it. So I decided to do Locks of Love.

I got to the place, and I had thought that they needed 8 inches - turns out they really need 10. But before they cut it they put it in a ponytail, and then they cut straight across from that. Then when it's off, it's all jagged, so they have to even it out (the hair around your face is an inch or 2 longer than what's in the back). So I lost 10 + 1 or 2 inches - right around a foot of hair. It was pretty long before, so I think it's still about shoulder length.

After I got it done, I went to Narasimha's office to show him (he didn't know I was going to do it). I thought it would take him a minute to get used to, and then he'd like it. Turns out, he doesn't. I knew he liked my long hair, but figured, it's just hair, right? I'm sure he'll get used to it in time.

So now I will start growing my hair out again - in a few years it will be the same length it was earlier today. Now I'm going to hit the shower before Narasimha gets home so I can try to make it look good, and maybe that'll help talk him into liking it. Although next time I do this, I think I will straighten my hair before I go - I think because my hair is wavy/curly, I probably lost at least an inch, maybe 2, more than I would have if my hair had been really straight when they cut it.

How long it was on July 4, 2008.

How long it is after my cut - although it is straight here and I really won't straighten it very often.

Update as of 8:30 PM: Narasimha has decided that it "isn't so bad" now that he has seen it done. I kinda like it, and it feels so light!!! And easy! And sometimes something a little different is just fun :)

Iowa State Fair

We got to go to the Iowa State Fair yesterday, and had a good time. We looked at some of the stuff and ate lots of good food. Narasimha and I went with my family, and also met up with a good friend from high school and her fiancé. It was a beautiful day - not too hot, which is unusual for fair time in Iowa. We only stayed for a few hours, but with the crowds of people and all that's going on, a few hours is definitely enough.

Me and my sister enjoying a corndog. She told me she knew the best stand to get a corndog, and she was right. That was the best corndog I have had in a long time!

Our group: Narasimha, Dad, my sis and her boyfriend, and my other sis and brother. We were resting in the shade and having our first round of calories.

Farewell to Friends

A few years ago when I worked at the hospital I met a girl (woman?) and we quickly became very good friends. We don't actually have a whole lot in common, but she is from the same city Narasimha is from (in India) so we kinda had that to go on.

Over the few years I have known her we have had a lot of fun together, and I fell in love with her little boy during the time I spent with him. I got to babysit him almost every day for several months, and we learned a lot from each other :)

Anyways, she has decided to move to the East Coast so she and her husband can both pursue professional opportunities. I am so happy for them and this step, but I do wish I'd still be able to see them whenever I felt like it.

For dinner we went to this great Indian restaurant, with this booth that had a table very close to the floor (eastern). It was cool and the food was delicious.

Best wishes to Sirisha and her family - Narasimha and I will miss all of you :)

Narasimha and I, and Sirisha and her family.

Me and Sirisha

Green Ride

Ok, so I guess if you want to be technical it's actually blue and silver. But I wasn't talking about the color green...I was talking about that new trend our society has of labeling environmentally-friendly things "green." And environmentally-friendly this is...

We bought a new little motor scooter today. For those who may know, it's called a 2008 Yamaha Vino 125. We thought about buying one a few years ago when gas prices started spiking, but couldn't afford it at that time. I think now it's likely we'll make up money spent in saved gas (although that could take a while). This little thing gets over 90 mpg! And, it goes at top speed about 60-65 miles per hour (though comfortably for 2 people you could probably expect 40-45 mph). Not bad.

These things are popular this year - we had to drive a few hours (which is a long ways in Iowa) to be able to find a place that had any left.

It also reminds us of India - there these things are the main source of transportation, from anywhere to single people to full families (I have seriously seen 5 people - dad, mom, and 3 kiddos - on one no bigger than this more times than I could count). The roads are so overcrowded there that having anything bigger than this is in many ways a disadvantage - these weave in and out of traffic very well.

So, this little guy easily fits both of us, and for those times that we just need to make a trip into town, and don't have much to carry going or coming, we can ride this. It will likely function as Narasimha's work car when the weather is good.

And, it's fun to ride - you know, with the wind and mosquitoes flowing through your hair :) It'll have to do for now - someday I fully intend on being a "biker babe" with a Harley :) So, now we both have to start studying for our motorcycle license.

Kinda cute, right? :)

A Wedding, "Old" Friends, and Good Times :)

The wedding I referred to in a few earlier posts was that of a girl friend from high school. She and her new hubby live in Kansas City, so I rarely get to see her. Narasimha and I did get to go to the wedding, which was very nice, and to the reception which was held close to where I grew up. It was a lot of fun, not only to go to the wedding and see her, but also to see all my friends and some of their significant others, and catch up in what seemed to last a very short time but actually went on for at least a few hours.

At the reception most of us sat at a few tables that were next to each other, so after the meal we all morphed into one big group and sat around telling stories and laughing and chatting about what several of our friends who weren't there are up to, and of course sharing stories about what all of us are doing.

It was fun to see everyone - in the group we had a few farmers, a few teachers, a few med students, a law student, an engineer, a couple of business people, a doctor, a few coaches, and probably others I'm forgetting. And me, a "homemaker."

I really did have a good time seeing everyone. I wish it was possible to see people more often, but maybe not seeing them is the way to appreciate time when we do get together.

9 of us from our graduating class.

Road Race

Today we ran a road race. I have not run in a race in a long time, and today was actually Narasimha's first race ever. We did pretty well - right about what we wanted to do for time. We train together, so we stayed together for the race. We finished within a few seconds of each other. It was a 20K(ilometer), which is 12.4 miles. It took us right at 1 hour 45 minutes (the official time is longer because that starts with the gun, and it took us about 90 seconds to reach the start line, and I didn't start my watch until we stepped on the start line). My mom and several friends ran too. The weather was beautiful, and not a whole lot of wind. Although we're both feeling a little slow and sore tonight, we had a good time today with our road race.

My dad rode along the course on his bike and took a few pics for us - Narasimha and I are the ones waving :)

Here we ran with my mom for a while (we are the 3rd, 4th, and 5th ones from the left).

DONE!!! Sore, sweaty and tired, but still smiling :)

Memorial Day - We Remember

Today we remember our family and friends who are no longer with us.

I, as always, was asked to play Taps on my trumpet for ceremonies around the Des Moines area. We normally do services at 2 cemeteries and the WWII Monument in downtown Des Moines, and today we also did a short ceremony at a retirement home outside Des Moines.

I really appreciate the opportunity to be able to do this. I think I have done services every Memorial Day and Veteran's Day for about 12 years now (since high school). It is a simple way for me to serve others, and more important to me, it has taught me so much about our nation's history, and the price many have paid for my personal freedom. I have an appreciation for our military (especially World War era) that I doubt I would without having gone to so many of these ceremonies and hearing the speeches and stories from these brave men and women.

To me, Memorial Day is so much more than a day off work and BBQ-ing with family and friends, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to say that year after year.

Taps, at one of the cemeteries

The "Freedom Flames" at the WWII Monument in downtown Des Moines. The Memorial Day ceremony is held here every year.

Taps, at the WWII Memorial (after the 21-gun salute).

Congrats Grads!

My "baby" brother graduated high school today. He will be following my footsteps and going to Iowa this fall (making me proud :).

Narasimha and me (front with brown hair) and my 2 sisters, with my brother the graduate.

Also, 3 of the girls from the volleyball team I coached this last winter graduated high school as well this weekend.

It was fun to spend time with family and friends this weekend, and to even see lots of family (aunts and uncles mostly) that we don't get to see very often.

Congrats to all who have graduated, and best wishes to you as you start whatever that next step is!

Over Too Soon

We are now home from our vacation in Florida, and I can honestly say that it went too fast (as always). For the better part of the week we: took our time, got up when we wanted, were beach bums, hung out with the fam, etc. Most of the time we basically stayed on the beach (besides Tuesday at Sea World for Narasimha and me). This week was super windy it seemed like, so that made it feel a little chillier, but still, I can't complain when my standard for comparison is Iowa winter (and a relatively bad one at that). Dad has a surfboard, and he and my brother tried that out a few times. A few years ago we bought a skim board, which has been a lot of fun (this year we had to buy a new one because we broke the other one). Basically to use a skim board, you wait for the very shallow water that results when the tide comes in on the beach and goes back out to sea, and then you throw the board on that ¼ inch or so deep water, and then chase the board and jump on. It's a lot tougher than it sounds - you have to get your feet on perfectly, throw it down onto the water consistently, then keep your center of gravity just right, and adjust your balance for differences in water movement and depth. Even then sometimes you wipe out, which is pretty funny to watch but it can hurt a bit (or a lot) to fall hard on wet sand (think sand paper or rough concrete). The first year we had the board we all went home with scrapes and bruises - now we are much more tentative and careful, and some of us are maybe even a little better at using it :) On the beach we also like to boogie board, play volleyball, throw the football, kick the soccer ball, play frisbee, go for (sometimes long) walks, and lay out in the sun to tan and sleep or read. You get the point - a whole lot of nothing much :)

The beach from the balcony of our condo, and one b-e-a-utiful day :)

Our beach camp from the balcony on our condo - my mom and sisters are on the lawn chairs on the left side, and my dad and brother are the ones in the shallow water (skim boarding).


My mom, 2 sisters and me, laying out.

My dad, getting his surf on :)

My dad showing off his groovy board

Narasimha and my brother playing soccer on the beach.

Narasimha on the skim board - I don't even think he fell once (he must not have been trying hard enough :)

Me, getting ready...

Me - pretty sure I "biffed it" on that one.

My sister, being the graceful lady she is :) My dad says you get extra points if your knees go down, and even more if there's blood for your effort :) I don't think she got either of those on this one.

Narasimha and me, our last 5 minutes on the beach in '08

Sea World

We decided to go to Sea World on Tuesday, and we had a lot of fun. We "did" Disney a few years ago when we were here, and of course that was a good time, but we felt that Sea World had more for the adult audience. Basically I felt like the drawing force of Sea World was the shows, and then there were 2 roller coasters (and a few others that were kid-friendly) and some animal observation things to do. We ended up going to 5 of the shows - 2 in the whale (Shamu) pool, one in the dolphin pool, one on a stage with human acrobats, and then one in the open air where 3 guys played pots and pans like a drumline. They were all pretty cool - I would watch any of them again happily. We also didn't get to see a few others that sounded cool on the program we had because we ran out of time. I felt like the whole park was also do-able in one day - quite unlike Disney with all the lines and everything. So, I would definitely go back - especially if we didn't have kids, or had very small kids that couldn't really do rides very well. There was lots to do besides the rides. All things considered it was a nice and relaxing vacation day.

The dolphin show - look carefully to see the dolphin in the air. I was surprised to see how high they could jump!

One of the trainers doing "Superman" with the dolphin - look under the water through the glass in the middle of the picture.


I don't know how big I thought dolphins were (next to humans) but this one looked pretty big to me.

Shamu doing his opening lap with jumps during the "Believe" show.

I bet the trainers get pretty close to these animals - that would be amazing to be up close and personal like that.

Wow...

Showing off :)

Surfing on the whale - quite a ride I'm sure.

The trainer goes under the water with the whale, and you can't really see them, and then all of the sudden they shoot out of the water together like it's no big deal.

The same idea as the picture above, but the whale goes faster and the trainer is actually thrown up farther than the whale, and in this picture you can see the black circle above the whale's nose is the trainer beginning his dive back into the water, after being thrown up - very cool.

The first part of the acrobat show - these girls stayed in that shell and did several acrobatic tricks together.

More Pictures - Hyderabad

Some fun from our time in Hyderabad.

The first day we were there. We brought the kids markers as gifts, so my sister and I colored with them.

Me learning how to ride the motor bike, with my brother-in-law and nephew and niece trying to keep up and make sure I don't crash (which I almost did :)

All of us on a boat, in a lake in Hyderabad called Hussein Sagar. We were going by boat out to the middle of the lake to see a giant Buddha statue.

All of us, in front of the giant Buddha statue. This is the largest monolithic (single-stone) Buddha in the whole world.

Shopping for pottery at an open-air market.

3 girls, at Golconda Fort.

Some of Hyderabad from the top of Golconda Fort.

Narasimha and his brother at Golconda Fort.

One of Hyderabad's most famous structures. It's called Charminar, and is in the Muslim part of town. It looks nice lit up at night.