My First Backpacking Trip

Heading out for our big weekend

Good Morning
Tim and I have been talking about going backpacking for a long time, we finally did it. Although I have been sworn to secrecy as to our location (it was so beautiful we don't want anyone else to go there), I can tell you that it is in the Mt St. Helens area and you can see Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Hood - AMAZING!

This trip was long overdue, we got to use our brand new tent, which we just love, and Tim got to finally use his new bag (which didn't work so well). The hike was 6-miles to the lake and it took us about 4-hours with a lunch break, many breaks to admire the views and rest for Tim's back. Coming back it only took us about 2-hours 45-min.

For my first overnight in the wilderness I was a little nervous about bears and other wildlife I do not encounter everyday. Thankfully our only little friends were a chipmunk and some birds. Tim was happy to swim in the buff and at night there was a peace that I never hear in the city.

Check out the pictures, they tell it all.

A Weekend of Celebrations

On August 12th 2006 there was a lot going on. My mummy and daddy would've been celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary. My friend Lauren was married. We celebrated Bills life and laid him to rest in Toledo, WA and on August 13th we wished Elli and Dianne an early happy birthday.

Two Weeks Of Fun

Mummy and Courtney (my 11yr old neice) visited Tim and I in Seattle. It was non-stop fun. Here's what we did:

July 26th - Arrive in Seattle - Yeah, I can't wait to show them around.
July 27th - Shopping (a part of every Jamaicans trip)
July 28th - Traveled to San Juan Island, Stayed at Juniper Lane (highly recommended), Dinner at Madrona Bar and Grill in Roche Harbor
July 29th - Whale Watching with Captain Carli's Charter, visited the Lavender Farms
July 30th - Returned to Seattle, drove on the famous Chuckanut Drive
July 31st - Woodland Park Zoo with Friends and more shopping
Aug 1st - Courtney went on the climbing wall at the YMCA. Visited the beautiful Japanese Garden and discovered Pike Place Market. Dinner at the Penny's home - thank you!
Aug 2nd - Mount Rainier (Paradise). Courtney and Tim climbed to about 6400-ft and she got to hike through snow.
Aug 3rd - Mummy went shopping. Courtney and I went to Wild Waves/Enchanted Village. Dinner with our friends the Deys - always a good time.
Aug 4th - Tim, Mummy, Courtney and Simon went to Fall City to visit Mary Jo. They had lunch and rode the horse. I was at a training ALL day. We all enjoyed the Mariners Game in the evening.
Aug 5th - We headed to Olympia and spent the weekend with Donna. Marie, Paul, Courtney and Tim swam and drove the boat while Mummy and I did a little more shopping (what can I tell you).
Aug 6th - Enjoyed Eld Inlet. Walked to the cove, swam, drove the boat, taught Courntey how to go clamming, Tim swam across the inlet (about 2-miles) and had lunch with the rest of the Dugaw family. It was a fun weekend.
Aug 7th - Mount St. Helens: Mummy really enjoyed this visit. We had dinner with Paul, Marie and Claire.
Aug 8th - Goodbye Mummy and Courtney, thank you for visiting us. We had a whole lot of fun and we look forward to your next visit. We love you!

Check out the 382 pictures: Album 1, Album 2, Album 3

It Was A Hot One

Thank God for the water and thank God for friends like Tim and Marianne. This was one weekend you didn't want to be anywhere, but near the water. With temperatures in the high 90's Tim and I enjoyed two wonderful days in Allyn.

Take a look at the pictures, it says it all.

I Love and Miss My Friends

The Jamaican Crew

Tim and I had a fantastic time in Dayton, Ohio this weekend and if it wasn't for Sion's wedding, I probably wouldn't have seen this place my dear friend calls home.

It was a joining of two familes that are from two different worlds. It was a reunion of friends that have know each other for over two decades. It was a meeting of new friends. It was an invasion on Ohio by probably the most diverse group of people - Jamaicans, Australians, Brits, the south, east coasters, the NW - we were from all over the globe. With the Appleton Rum and Red Stripe Beer flowing, this session lasted the entire weekend.

Pictures Galore... Album 1, Album 2

Weekend With The Dey Boys

What a fun weekend we had. Tim, Simon, Colin and myself enjoyed the Mariners game on Friday night. On Saturday we went to the park in the morning and tried flying Simon's birthday kite however, it just wouldn't get off the ground. We ended our day at a party on the Lake, running around in circles and playing a little volleyball and paddleball.

It was fun boys, come back again soon.

Our weekend in photos - Check it out!

It Doesn't End Here

I took a week off from training after the race on June 25th, now Tim and I are back at it. The Team in Training group is so driven and encouraged to do a few more races this year. Many of them are stepping it up to do a 1/2 Iron Man. Tim and are working on our Sprint and Olympic distances. There's nothing wrong with perfection. Most groups fizzle out and don't think about doing another race until the next session. It's been a fun group, we meet two to three times a week. We've taken what Wade (our coach) has taught us and kept it going.
Go Team!

The Finish Line

On Sunday, June 25th I competed in the Pacific Crest Olympic Distance Triathlon. It didn't go as well as I had hoped but, I did finish and that's what was important.

I woke up on Sunday morning at about 2:45am with a not so pleasant stomach ache. I think it was partially nerves and partially something I ate the night before. I completed the race on an empty stomach, making it a very difficult race to swim, bike and run. I was also dealing with 98-degree temperatures and an elevation of 4200-ft.

The .9-mile swim went fairly well finishing in about 0:29:33. The 28-mile bike ride was beautiful, however it felt more like a leisure ride than a race (I just didn't have it in me to power through those hills). I finished the bike in 1:52:51. And the run, well with my quads cramping and my body lacking nourishment let's just say it was probably the second worst 6-miles I have ever run - the first being the last 6-miles of the Chicago Marathon. I must admit that with 3-miles to go I wouldn't have been able to continue if it wasn't for my wonderful husband. Tim rode a bike and walked beside me to the finish line and it was his encouragement that kept me going. I completed the run in 1:16:53. This gave me an overall time, including my transitions, of 3:46:19.

This race may be over, but I am encouraged to do many more. I think doing triathlons are my new sport of choice. I'll let you know when the next one is.

Thanks again for all of your support. The Leukemia, Lymphoma Society raised over $103,000 with our team - Thank you! I encourage all of you to support Elizabeth.

Let the Races Begin

This is it folks, the moment of truth. Think of me on Sunday morning at 9:00am (pacific daylight time), give me about 4-hours to complete the entire course, I'm shooting for 3.5-hours however finishing will be a bonus. It's a 1.5K Swim, 28mi Bike and 10K Run.

Thanks again for all of your support. Your next update will be on Tuesday.

Soltice Parade

I've lived in Seattle for 3-1/2 years and this was my first time going to the parade. Not so bad since my dear husband has lived here all of his life, except when he moved to Philadelphia, and this was his first time at the parade.

What a fun event and a must see for anyone visiting at this time of the year. It's the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year so why not celebrate with a parade and the annual Dey Soltice party.

Renee's Visit

It's been a fun, filled week with Renee in town. On Monday when she arrived she had the honor to spend her first day watching me put about 25 kids up a climbing wall. Tuesday we headed over to Port Townsend, Wednesday I took her downtown to enjoy Pike Place Market, Thursday Tim and I took her to Mt. St. Helens, our second trip in a month - third trip in a year. On Friday we went back downtown, enjoyed a movie and then went to the Mariners game for some good American fun. On Saturday we spent the entire day in Fremont enjoying the Soltice Parade...lots of naked people to be seen.

She has to go home today and I will miss her. It has been nice having her around.

12 Days to My Big Race

That's right people I have less than two weeks before I swim, bike and run the Olympic distance triathlon in Sunriver, OR. Am I ready, not really but I will be in 12-days...right.

Make final donations at my Team in Training page. Thank you for all of the support you have all given me. I love you and if I don't see you at the finish line, I promise you will hear from me when I get back.

Race Information

Fantastic Website

I have found the best website for runners, bikers and even walkers. It allows runners to map and measure their favorite running routes and then save them to the largest searchable database of running routes in the country. It is done through USA Track and Field.

Anyone that considers themselves a runner will love it. Check it out today.

Sprint Down...Olympic To Go

Tim and I completed the Issaquah Sprint Triathlon on Saturday with our spirits high. We felt we had worked hard and done really well. It was good for me to do this race as a practice run for the big event coming up in Bend, OR. I must admit it seemed to be the perfect distance. To think I will be doing twice the amount in less than 4 weeks.

Tim was thinking about doing the Pacific Crest Tri and he had told me that he would make the decision at the end of the sprint triathlon. His first words to me as he crossed the finish line were, "honey you are on your own". He enjoys racing and competing and I believe he will do another sprint race with me at the end of the summer. It's the 6.2-mile run at the end of an olympic event that doesn't thrill him too much. He loves to swim and bike, running is just not his thing.

Laud it Cold

So I did it, on Wednesday night I went to Luther Burbank on Mercer Island and plunged into Lake Washington. It was my first open water swim wearing my wet suit. It went really well for me. The initial entry took my breath away, literally, then it got much easier. I was alot warmer than I thought I would be and I wasn't as freaked out with not seeing the bottom, as I thought I would be. Hey I'm Jamaican what do you expect.

Our sprint race is tomorrow...wish us luck.

The Unofficial Start Of Summer

People seem to forget the real meaning behind Memorial Day and that includes me. I must admit my weekend did not have anything to do with remembering those that have died in the line of duty. Should I feel guilty about this? I don't know, I'm not sure that I do. Most people seem to have a BBQ or they go to festivals to ring in the unofficial start of summer.

My weekend didn't include any BBQ's or festivals. What it did include was a 3-mile run around Green Lake, a 2100-yard swim, a 40-mile bike ride and a relaxing weekend with my husband. We didn't do very much and we were both very happy to be doing just that. With 4 prior weekends that were booked solid and the next 4 weekends being booked out of our whoha this was a refreshing time for us both.

Welcome to summer folks...I plan on making it the best one yet.

Another Update

Tim and I will be competing in a sprint triathlon on June 3rd in Issaquah. After that race I will have 22 days until the Pacific Crest Triathlon.

How is my training? Here is the latest: On Saturday we had a multi-brick workout which included a 10-mile bike ride, 2.5-mile run, 10-mile bike ride, 2.5-mile run ending with a 8-mile bike ride, whew, it's just as hard typing it as it was doing it. It was a long training but it felt really good. Monday I had my 2-mile time trial and I was 30-secs off of my best time...YEAH! I'm feeling more and more ready for this race.

I'm only $410 short of my $3,000 goal. If you have not made a contribution to Team in Training do so today. If you have THANK YOU!

Family in Town

It's been quite the weekend and now quite the week. Tim's niece was married on Saturday and so a part of the Canadian crew came out to visit. Tom and Jen are staying with us this week. We enjoyed the wedding on Saturday, spent sunday at Gramee, Mom, Donna (it depends on who she is to you) for Mother's Day and last night we went to watch the Black Eyed Peas. They were good, really good. Today we are heading down to Mt. Saint Helens and the rest of the week is packed with ferry rides, tours under the city of Seattle and horseback riding.

During all of this I must keep up with my training. So Sunday I went for a run, with Tim, and the rest of the week will see me in the pool, on my bike and running. I tell you, there is no rest for the weary.

Training Update

Last week started out with a bang. I went for my usual Monday run at Green Lake, we were doing mainly hills. I was feeling good until my right knee buckled under me. I wasn't in any pain so I kept on running. The following morning I went for a run around my neighbourhood, feeling no pain but having an odd feeling in my knee, it was a pretty good run also. On Tuesday night after a late night meeting my knee was killing me, I was in pain. I had difficulty walking down stairs and it was slightly swollen.

On Wednesday I gave it a rest as well as Thursday. Friday I was heading out of town to Orcas Island and although my knee was feeling good, I was beginning to feel a little stick with flu like symptoms. Saturday I worked all day, walking at least 3-miles around Camp Orkila and on Sunday I had all the faith in the world that I could do a work out but my heal was now giving me trouble....oy vey.

Not a great week of training, I'm hoping this will be my only set back until the big day on June 25th.

Orcas Island

If you come to the great NW it is important that you make your way to the San Juan Islands. Lucky me, once a year I have the opportunity to go to Orcas Island, a place I would like to explore with a little more time. However, every year as a part of my job at the YMCA I get to go to Camp Orkila with our Adventure Guides group. It was a fun experience, as usual, but this year they have added a new chanllenge. It's the giant swing and it is fun, fun fun. Check out the pictures of me on the swing with Lydia, one of the kids in the program. The next time I'm going it alone.

Suiting up for the big ride and Lydia and I hanging out