Livestrong 2010 - The 5K Run

Okay, waking up Saturday AM in Austin was interesting - to say the least!  I've been having "trouble" with the time changing - my body seemingly has made the leap, like 2 weeks ago - so at home, I'd been waking up 1 hour later than I normally do, making it interesting getting to work on time! :-) So, I'd set my phone alarm, the hotel room's alarm AND almost called down for a wake-up call, but decided that might be overkill - but I definitely didn't want to oversleep on this important morning!

So, as it was I woke up at 4:30 AM, not 5:30 AM - as planned, I don't think I was excited or anything 'eh?  My niece picked me up and off we went towards downtown Austin and the 1st Street Bridge (starting line).  Okay, here I will insert that the route had been changed from Challenges past where the route had been downhill "mostly" the first 1-1/2 miles and then uphill the next 1-1/2 miles ... which had concerned me greatly, as far as running the course!  BUT miraculously this year's course was running south from the bridge and then turning back north to the bridge and I thought ... well it is flatter down that way (my first mistake in thinking) and maybe they'd changed it for all the Survivors that walk and run and the kids etc.

The Bridges at Sunrise - looking towards Congress Street Bridge

Okay, sidetracking here ... I was wrong, they'd changed the course because of the UT game - stadium is "downtown" so there would be greatly conflicting traffic.  Now back to the rendition of the story :-)

So we get parked, only about 1/4 mile from the start line - fabulous - and we walk across the bridge north and around and then back south on the bridge to get to the start line ... we got right up at the front because almost everyone was elsewhere!  This was great because as it was the "boys" were running (well Jani didn't run) and we were right there when they showed up .... it was a theme of the weekend, right place - right time!  Never-ever in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen ..... Popo!

He is ever so sweet as he appears AND funny ... that one is just a bit later.  So, the boys came out, had photo op with some "high money raisers" and then they were each given stacks of RadioShack caps and Livestrong caps and they went out to the Pedicabs and visited with those folks and handed the caps out.

Then came and got back to line up to run - with caps still in their hands, so they were all sort of looking like "now what do we do?"  So since I was standing there, I held out my hand and said (smilingly) "please"?  Never hurts to ask -- I'm "modeling" the one Popo gave me ... after the run -- I'm so "loverly" yes?!  Then Popo took all the remaining caps and starting tossing them in the air and backwards (the "boy" must be good with a frisbee!)  It was funny because one would come down and the person that caught it was like:  Where the heck did this come from?!

So, speaking of dear sweet Popo -- the pedicabs began and then they started the countdown for the runners and Popo took off the start line - BAM on like count 8, looking back and grinning the entire way down the hill :-) then turned around and came up in time for 1 "bang" ... we ran with the "boys" for about 100 feet and then they left us in the dust ... who knew cyclists could run so fast!

So, down the hill we went and around the first corner and I heard "Aunt Char" and I realized I'd let my adrenaline get me ... and slowed down -- almost popped myself in the first 500 yards .. no not excited at all!  It was a good thing, I slowed because very shortly we turned right on Congress street AND I saw nothing but UPHILL - noooooooooo !!!!!!! 

Alp D'Congress (help me, help me)

Soooo up we went and I did a combo of running, jogging and speed walking - my dear sweet niece, ran the entire way "UP" ... FINALLY we turned right, which meant we'd reached the halfway point and there was the water station .. YUM, was really dry by this point .. then we turned right again and yes, what goes up, must come down ... and the next day, I realized it was the down that got me more than the up (when I went down some steps!)

I was going pretty good and the excitement started building again ... because we could start hearing the announcer and the excitement at the finish line ... we started seeing more and more volunteers along the side (and other runners that had finished) cheering us to keep on going ... just a bit further -- too funny, we were passed at the same time by a Mom/Son combo .. one on left and one on right and then both "sets" stopped and walked and both Moms were having the "okay, we are going to start running again and when we do, we are not going to stop because it is the finish line" talk ... they started back up a minute or so later and we never saw them again ... so I suppose the sons made it all the way to the finish running! :-)

I realized then those 100 yards down, were 100 yards UP to finish, my niece asked me "How's my hair look." :-) ... punk :-) for our photos at the finish ... she, of course, looked beautiful ... me on the other hand -- well, I looked like I always do :-) ... with about 100 feet to go, I really didn't think I was going to make it to the finish running but she grabbed my hand and we held them up in the air as we ran together those last few feet ... I tear up thinking about it right now ... the emotion of the entire Challenge (and day) is always waiting at the finish line, when you see the Survivor's lane AND on this day at the time we crossed the line in our lane ... I could see Doug U. cheering on everyone and handing out yellow roses to the Survivors!

My run was all about support and memory of family and friends AND my simply "surviving" the uphill portions and I fought on because of all the people ... that, yes, were passing me WITH yellow "Survivor" tags on ... the children, the young adults, the not so young adults ... cancer knows no boundaries, it is a hateful disease and for them to be running (rather well) after surviving their fight with cancer ... was most inspiring, as were the ones in pedicabs that were unable to run -- LIVESTRONG ALL!

LIVESTRONG MY BUDDIES!

Talk About Recycling - Livestrong

If you visit Austin, Texas in the future - you have got to make time to stop at the Livestrong HQ, if not for cancer information and support - go for the architecture!  They offer regular public tours and a tour can be arranged by emailing livestrong@livestrong.org or calling 877-236-8820. 

My neice and I waiting on the tour, another kind person waiting in line took the photo with her camera, she posted it and I, of course, lifted it from her!

Now let's talk about one heck of a recycling job -- the Livestrong HQ located one mile east of I-35, at 2201 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas - the fourth home for the organization and the first home that they have owned - and it is obvious they are here to stay.  (The building was funded by donations specifically earmarked for this project.) 

The building was originally built as a warehouse for paper products and now owes its new (and very purposeful) life to Lance Armstrong, who found it one day on a bike ride.  Now this 30,000 square foot "warehouse" is a permanent home for Livestrong - which is an announcement that they are here to stay and are fully committed in the fight against cancer and support of the cancer patient.

95% of the building's original materials were used in its redesign and the building has earned the highest award for a renovated facility - the gold-rated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification which makes our Livestrong HQ one of the “greenest” offices in Austin - also earning four stars from the Austin Energy Green Building Program.

An open floor plan with cubicles for everyone encourages employees to use collaborative and creative interaction while they work.  The gigantic walls surrounding the openess showcases world class art from Armstrong’s private collection ... and a certain collection of 7 yellow jersies!

In his Architectural Digest interview, Armstrong said, “Most importantly, this building – like the phrase LIVESTRONG’ and the color yellow – is now…a place where you can talk to someone and say, ‘Finally, I feel that thing called…hope.’” 

My Favorite Artwork - the "boy" has great taste in art!

This artist made several of "these" this one is Lance's writing of Live Strong

This is not just a place of employment, all the employees here are dedicated to providing patient support and also providing services to the community.  Outside of everything that I found interesting on this tour .... including Lance's kids and a director playing tag and running here and there :-) ... was the emphasis Chris Brewer put on social networking.  As we are all aware social media never sleeps and the LIVESTRONG blog serves as the hub of all social media outreach with information on any and all things cancer.

Twitter "Social Media" Wall at HQ

Sorry, got sidetracked ... back to the building :-) they also encompass the "whole" of the employee, as they do in helping the "whole" of the cancer fighter.  The building includes a gym and HUGE beanbag chairs that can be "plopped" anywhere that might suit a creative moment.  The garden "out front" is complete with native vegetation, the ceiling was built for special heating and cooling qualities and the a/c - heating system is ... to quote Chris Brewer: "Well it's special." :-)

A Cooling Garden Shade Rain Collector Thingie :-)

Specially sloped with collecting tubes and the such - Yups, Chris Brewer needs to explain this one to ya!

Native Plants Thrive

Ceiling Inside

We can be very proud of our Livestrong HQ and staff - for not only being cancer advocates, but also environmental advocates ... quoted from Livestrong.org:

"We moved into our new home in February 2009 for several reasons.

• To create a permanent home for LIVESTRONG in Austin, Texas
• To contribute to the revitalization of one of Austin's most diverse neighborhoods and continue our efforts to be a strong community partner
• To create space that will be available to host meetings for other nonprofit organizations in Austin
• To show our concern for the environment by focusing on ways to be environmentally friendly, including being designated as one of Austin's first gold-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) facilities
• To provide LIVESTRONG more stability and long-term fiscal health by owning rather than renting office space"

There is plenty more to continue on with this blog, but I'll refrain from going there ... just know that if you do make it to Austin ... at any time in the next 100 years ... visit the Livestrong HQ - it is a truly beautiful building, filled with awe-inspiring people and HOPE!

P.S.  I will put this disclaimer, I looked up a few facts that I didn't have 100% remembrance on (probably from running that 5K UP Alp d'Congress Street

 :-) !!! and I truly hope I haven't mis-remembered the rest!

LIVESTRONG BUDDIES

"Hey Cancer" Can You Hear Us Now?

How do you wrap your head around the Austin Livestrong Challenge raising $3.1 million this past weekend?  (Austin: 5400 participants, 800 volunteers $3.1 million; Bay Area: 1500 participants, 500 volunteers at $1 million; Philly: 5700 participants, 800 volunteers at $3.1 million)

"Hey Cancer" did you hear us - the Livestrong Army?  Do you feel our hatred now?  Do you understand we are not going to tolerate you -- you are not welcome here anymore -- go away!

As I am still wrapping my head around exactly what I want to "blog" about from this past weekend (it will more in likely be a two-parter!) For today, I'm leaving you with this video posted in the blog section of Livestrong.com Why I'm Here: Austin Livestrong Challenge 5K Run.

Why was I there at the run?  My first encounter with cancer was when I was 14 and my mother was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease for two more years and since then cancer - that underhanded and foul foe - has affected many more of my family and friends.

My mother may have lost her battle with cancer .... but .... I AM CONTINUING THE WAR!

Buddies -- "Go Ahead and Pick a Fight!" ... and LIVESTRONG in the process!

Focus Totally Gone Today!

Hey my Buddies, I tell ya my focus factor is null and void today -- so what do you think that is doing to my already Random Brain?  Yeppers, you would be correct if you were thinking -- scrambled!  I'm off in the morning for Austin to participate in the Livestrong Challenge 5K run.

That in itself would cause complete and utter chaos in my brain today anyway ... BUT ... I am also going to see my niece that lives in the area and my sweet little grand niece and nephews (well they are no longer little - growing into quite the beautiful/handsome young people)!  I'm also going to get to meet my niece's "beau" (and he'd better get ready for a big hug from me because he makes her soooooo happy AND I'm a hugger!) and his children ... AND if that wasn't already enough to blow my brain completely "up" might I mention my "next to" Sister that lives in the area also!

A few other items of interest:  Team Shack riders at Mellow Johnny's ... hanging with my sweetnesses... just being at Mellow Johnny's and having a cup-o-Joe at Juan Pelota ... hanging with my sweetnesses ... Livestrong HQ .... hanging with my sweetnesses ... Wimberley in everyway (my family's ancestral town - and just a darn neat place) ... hanging with my sweetnesses ... soccer games (at which my sweetnesses ROCK) and much, much, much more - shopping, eating, staying up late playing games - at which I'm usually no good at, but "hey" someone has to lose!

I'm all packed and ready to go NOW ... but I will need to focus for a few hours tonight at rehearsals -- then sleep THEN BAM "off I go into the wild blue yonder ... well, won't probably be blue, but gray overcast (hopefully not thunder-nasting ... which I normally love, but not while I'm at 30,000 feet!)

Anywhooooooooooooo .... that's it, that's all -- great blog 'eh?  This is my Random Brain in "explosion mode" it needed to land in a confined space ... like my blog page BECAUSE it would be real ugly on my wall at work!

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY BUDDIES!

A Great Email

As emails that float around goes, there are ones that make you chuckle, make you think, maybe even make you cry ... but this email that I just received is so true to what I always tell myself ... as "bad" as I may think "I" have it, there is always someone else less fortunate.

*********
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.  He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help."  There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.  He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.  He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up.  A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."

Both signs told people that the boy was blind.  But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear. The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling … And even more beautiful, is knowing that you are the reason behind it!!!

If you appreciate this message, please share. You may touch someone's heart today and forever.

*******
Have a blessed day my Buddies!

10 Weird Things!

Okay, since a blogger should try to blog regularly (and it has been a week since my poor brain has had a random thought) I scounted around on the internet for some strange stuff.  Here's a bit of what I found:

1.  While sitting at your desk make clockwise circles with your right foot. (Go ahead no one will see you.) While doing this, draw the number “6″ in the air with your right hand.  Your foot will change direction!  Even if you tell your brain "NO" ... it still does it (OR) it messes up the way you drawn the number "6"!

2.   It is said that just thinking about your muscles could make you stronger -- my kind of exercise!

3.  The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!  (Anyone gonna volunteer to test this one?)

4.  After eating too much, your hearing is less sharp.  (I personally think this is because after eating too much - one is usually asleep!)

5.  Tiger shark embryos fight each other in their mother's womb.  The survivor is born.  (Not sure whether to believe this one or not, but it totally MIGHT make sense!)

6.  There are as many chickens on the earth, as there are humans.  (I'm just still laughing about this one, true or not ... I guess we can be glad that chickens aren't of higher intelligence .. and power hungry!)

7.  A "geep" is the offspring of a sheep and a goat.  (Okay really?!  I suppose, Googled it and they say it is true!)

8.  Giraffes can't swim.  (Questionable: Gerald .. they had to be drinking, right?!)

9.  The average person's left hand does more than 50% of the typing.  (Well, heck yeah ... that's where the a, e, d, r, t, c, s ... et al. the important letters are!)

10.  Astronauts are banned from eating beans because passing wind in a spacesuit can damage it.  (Allllrighteeeee then ... I'll leave it on that remark!)

Well that's all for now Buddies, have a wonderful week!

B-17 Texas Raiders - My First Time

As I start to type this I hear the "big iron" coming - nothing like hearing those big 'ole radials in the morning *there she goes* :-) ... but Fifi is not the subject to todays blog.  Since I'm in a reflecting mode, I thought I'd tell ya about another time I was "at the right place - at the right time" and got to go riding on the B-17 Texas Raiders.

One of the first things I thought I would be interested in doing at the CAF was marshalling the airplanes (parking them on the ramp) ... talk about "up close and personal" and I went through the training and then happily set of to my first airshow in Dallas at Love Field *insert big iron sounds a'cause here "she" comes again* .... okay, I had to go look at her shiny underbelly one more time - I promise I'll focus now! :-)  (Insider Tip: they are selling rides, but it is also an "infamous" marketing device -- "whip" up the folks in town ... as it may be ... and maybe they may come out to the show!)

Okay back to Gulf Coast Squadron's Texas Raiders B-17- so I was a newbie marshaller at this airshow and mid-afternoon'ish one of the guys in charge of marshalling (who was extremely nice) said to me: Come with me, they are giving marshallers rides on the last flight of the B-17 today.  I was stunned and not sure, but followed him in a hurry anyway, saying: But I have ramp to cover.  He said: Don't worry about it, no more planes are coming in at the moment and the others will cover anyway.

Next thing I know I'm being "tossed" onto the B-17 (after having a waiver put in front of my nose - of which I signed ... um, you people do know that the "waiver of release" really isn't worth the paper it is printed on, right?) .... and then I was hustled back into a seat and buckled up.  Once we were in the air they came and got me (and one other they'd tossed on the plane) and walked us past the bomb doors and to the waist gunner position -- I was standing looking out the right one AND ... ummmm ... "Is that window supposed to be popped out?"  (It was perfectly safe there was a guy belted in there and actually no way I was going close enough to an open window, not strapped in!)

At that point they told us that they were filming (and taking stills for advertisement) with two of their "Little Friends" (P-51 Mustangs) -- who joined up and flew what seemed to me then .... very close, right outside the waist gunner window!  Talk about World War II history hitting you in the face, yes - I did shed tears!  It was an incredible first ride in an "old girl" and to this day I thank Mike (my guy in charge) for saying that the two "new" marshallers were going to have the chance to ride in the B-17.

This website has some great photos of several of the "girls" from Airsho 2008 here and the 7th photo down shows a B-17 with her "Little Friends" .. although the B-17 is Sentimental Journey, based in Arizona and not the Texas Raiders B-17 that I rode in *there "she" goes again for like the 5th pass since I last mentioned her - enjoy your ride people!*

An almost 10 minute video of the Texas Raiders B-17 which shows the waist gunner positions ... with the windows out :-) ... once again not flying over Midland .. take time to look and listen and think of our "boys" that gave the ultimate price for an ultimate freedom -- and still are.  We could be living in a rather different world today ... but for them!   ... and yes, here "she" comes again!

(Oh, my days with marshalling were numbered, at the next airshow I went to found me meeting up with some real ... well I won't say that here ... let's just say *bossy donkeys* and I knew that even though I loved marshalling itself, that I would not be long for liking alot of the people (they were not all Mike) :-) so I told them not to expect me to continue on with marshalling, opened my hand and let it go (although not without much dismay ... and purchasing of t-shirts - did I say I buy stuff when I'm upset?!)

Happy Day Buddies!

My Time With Fifi - The World's Only Flying B-29

I had a stint where I belonged to the - now called - Commemorative Air Force (when I belonged it was known as the Confederate Air Force) and I will not comment on the forced change of name for political correctness - at least the "directives" of the organization remain the same.

Also, during this time, I was the leader of Aviation Explorer Post 1941, which was sponsored by the CAF.  One of the major projects that we helped with was in the cleaning of the aircraft - and thus, we were allowed to be around the aircraft (also, we were on the ramp during Airsho weekend.)  It was because of the Explorer Post that I spent time around some of the larger aircraft of the CAF: B-29, B-24, C-46.  (The "wing" I personally belonged to allowed me time around alot of the smaller trainer aircraft of WWII).

Anyway, back to the B-29 :-) I got tired after a long morning of working on her (Fifi) one Saturday and when the boys went to lunch, I crawled into the tunnel where it was quiet, cool and dark.  I thought I'd wake up on their return ... but ... I didn't, it was like 4:00 'ish when a friend found me soundly napping in the tunnel (I suppose I could have gotten out of the hangar, if they'd locked it!)

This is a photo of the comfy tunnel taken by photographer Mark Wahlster.



So, one Saturday Fifi's pilots were all in town for "checkout rides" they each were going to do two touch-n-go landings, then proceed off airport property to the south and then loop back in for a landing and a change in pilots ... so they would have their "go" at it.  As was often the case, they decided to fill the plane with available "Colonels" (what members of the CAF are called) and were going to change riders, when they changed pilots - yes, I was super excited when I was asked (there weren't that many out that Saturday), signed the waiver and loaded up and away we went!

Here I sat with a bunch of folks I knew (many of them working the B-29 on tours), but there was another woman that worked alot around the CAF like I did AND WE WERE ON FIFI -- flying around .... 1st touch-n-go; 2nd touch-n-go; .... ummmmm, "wait" are we still in the pattern? ..... 3rd touch-n-go, 4th touch-n-go ........ 50th touch-n-go --- it seems they changed their minds on how they were doing things!  After the first hour "in the pattern" my friend and I kept saying "We are in the only flying B-29 in the world - for free."  That kept us "going" through the next 1/2 hour ... after that, I must admit the next 1-1/2 hours (a total of 3 hours of touch-in-goes) turned us into raving crazies just wanting off the plane .... and we did finally get off - obviously!

To this day I still cherish "being in the right place at the right time" ... and getting to be so fortunate in this ride - yet, on the other hand "I shudder!"   "Oh" there are no window seats ... well for the "riders" - watch the video and enjoy and notice at 2:36 you'll see seats behind the left "gunner" position - that's where we sat.  (These rows were added to Fifi to carry the crew that is needed to take her to an airshow and show her off!)

Take a Flight with Fifi and Diamond L'il ... they, as is obvious, are not flying over West Texas :-) and I never got the pleasure of flying in Diamond L'il - although, I knew her before they made her put on clothes!

I think it fitting Fifi's been flying over my house all day and will do the same tomorrow - and I am now fondly remembering my ride with her - especially since I know there are people now paying huge amounts of money to take a ride with her!

"Hi there girl, I do miss you!"

Thursday Smile

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

This so brightened my day (and makes me want a "kitteh")!  Of course, not my kitteh, I love the icanhascheezburger website - so cute!

Have a Great Day Buddies!

Livestrong 2010 and Adventure Running 2011

22 days from today I will be in Austin, Texas visiting with family and getting ready to participate in Livestrong Austin's 2010 Event on October 23.  I have walked with my niece in the past and we made a pact to participate in the run this year - she is going to pull me along with a tow rope!  "Ah come on" it will be a good workout for her :-)

Soooooo, not wanting to get in any hurry, I figured I should started running -- well, okay wogging (walk/jogging combined) this morning and at least I didn't stop breathing and fall off the treadmill.  My brillant idea is to hire a flatbed truck, put my treadmill on it and run on the treadmill, as the truck is driven over the course :-) this flatlander could very well be in trouble in the hills of downtown Austin!  BUT I do figure that the trade off will be the fact that I live at a much higher altitude (like 2300 feet higher) than Austin and have been "training" in thinner air (ROFL) - so my performance level will be much better and the hills won't matter!

I believe I'd read somewhere, maybe in an email *note to self, find this information* that the run starts "backwards" from years past which will put the hills FIRST ... at least it will be downhill from there :-) and I could actually fall down and roll ... well until I rolled into the curb (or another runner) *note to self, check this option out*!

LIVESTRONG AUSTIN 2010 IS STRONG AND IS GOING TO KICK CANCER'S ASS -- that is all there is too it, we have no option folks except to do whatever we can to beat the absolutely horrible disease!  28 Million People Living With Cancer

Adventure Running -- now here seems to be the really fun stuff I'm going to do next year ... it is not representative of raising money for any cause, but I came across Warrior Dash one day while surfing the net and just now on Facebook, MudRun DFW just popped up. 

I mean running, obstacles, mud, beer, costumes and "serious competition" - well, okay probably not serious competition, but definitely a seriously good time!!  I mean seriously how can I not "give it a go"?!

Great Day to Ya Buddies!