The Running Mind of a Teacher

An Ending and New Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:16:00 +0000

If the quietness on this blog has been any indication, I haven't had a whole lot to say on here lately. My most recent test (fMRI of my pelvis and leg, focusing on the sciatic nerve) showed nothing, and the 8th medical person to try to help me with my pain is about to give up. I'm not quite sure what the next steps will be, but probably some deep tissue massage and hopefully a referral to a pain clinic.

With this newest setback, I've been reflecting a lot on my blog, it's purpose, and how it's been used. It was always meant to be a place to write about my running adventures, but it's been over 3 years since I've been able to do that with much regularity. I keep feeling guilty, almost, that I just can't hold up my end of the bargin - as much as I want to write about running, I'm writing about other things instead - weekend trips and food. Or, I'm complaining about the pain that my leg keeps causing - also not what I want to be doing on here.

So, I've made a somewhat hard, but definitely right, decision. For now, I'm going to give this blog a rest. Since I really enjoy writing a blog, I'm starting up a new one, which will be for the kinds of posts I've been writing lately - trips with Ed, cooking, and sometimes hiking (at http://adanded.blogspot.com/). I have no plans to delete this blog, though, because I would hate to lose all of these memories. I also have a hope that someday I'll be able to post on here again, with the original purpose of the blog in sight once again.

I hope that some of you might want to join me on my new blog, though no promises of long runs through the wilderness for now. Just everyday life.

Otherwise, I guess this is goodbye. I'll still be reading your blogs, so that I can live vicariously through all of you wonderful runners.

Hopefully I'll see you on the trails someday soon.

- Addy

Injury Update

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:21:00 +0000

So, I had my follow up appointment with my physiatrist today, and had to report that there really wasn't any improvement. The one thing that does seem a bit better is the spot of nerve pain on the top of my foot seems to have improve, which is exciting. Of course, that is the one spot of pain that doesn't generally bother me - only when I touch it - but I'm still pleased to have something.

On the downside, this doctor is now out of of ideas for what he can do to me. So, I'm being sent off to a new doctor, this time a neurologist. I was honestly almost in tears when he told me that his only idea left would be to try to limit the pain with medication and exercise. Since that's what I've been doing the last 3 years with no success, this really isn't a good option. It's frustrating to have yet another medical professional tell me his is at a loss.

However, he did mention one thing that might have hope for me. Apparently there are Chronic Pain Centers, where they should hopefully be better trained to deal with my kind of pain. They can do something called a "Peripheral Nerve Block." The fact that my pain is a tingling/burning means it has to be a nerve thing, and since the nerves from the spine don't seem to be involved, it would make sense that the peripheral nerves are involved. They aren't trained at my center to do this kind of work, but maybe there's a slight hope. Downside is I'm concerned that my insurance won't cover it. That worries me, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. At the end of the day, it's worth a fairly substantial amount of money to me to not be in pain any more, so I'm open to it.

In much more lovely news, we had an amazing trip to Point Reyes! Pictures coming soon :)

On a Lighter Note...

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 05:20:00 +0000

Since I don't like having up a negative post for too long, here are some photos from recent activities that have been lots of fun.

First up, a delicious dinner from last week. Ed tried a new sweet and spicy rub on our salmon, which featured brown sugar and cumin, and was probably the best salmon we've ever had at home. We also experimented wiht roasting slices of zucchini in the oven, which transformed it into amazingly sweet and tender bites. The mashed potatoes, unfortunately, were better in theory than in practice, as we tried a new kind of potato (white rose), that ended up being a bit gummy. Still, a beautiful looking and great tasting meal.

Second, Ed and I went for a short but beautiful hike on Veteran's Day, since I had it off. We went up to Skyline Ridge, where we had one of those rare days where you could see right to the ocean, with nothing in your way. It was windy and cold, but great. I also got to try out a new purchase - a hiking skirt! It's made of the same material as hiking shorts, is waterproof and SPF up to 50, and it really comfy. I liked it's longer length, and wicking waist :).

Last, today is Ed's 30th birthday, and we celebrated with some homemade deliciousness. For dinner, we had roasted red pepper lasagne, a newer recipe I've been trying that is both healthy and tasty. I even roast my own bell peppers for it.

And, of course, what birthday would be complete without cake! This was a healthyish recipe that still tasted plenty decedant and delicious.

We're now off to Stinson Beach tomorrow morning for Ed's birthday race - a 15ish mile race at Stinson Beach with PCTR. I'll be, unfortunately, bringing my laptop and working on lesson planning instead of enjoying the trails, but am looking forward to cheering him at the finish. Afterwards, we're up to Point Reyes, which should be lots of fun - neither of us have ever gone!

So, I moan and groan, but there are plenty of great things going on :)

Nada

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:55:00 +0000

*in all fairness of a warning, this post is generally a not so happy post, and probably not all that entertaining to read*

Unsurprisingly, the shot didn't work. It was, perhaps, a bit unrealistic to think that, after the other steroids I've tried, that this would be different. If anything, my leg has been a bit more sore lately. It might just be that I'm more conscious of the pain, since I had a small hope that it would get better, but it's been hard to get to sleep, lately, and it's just making me feel defeated.

So, onto another appointment. I'm not sure what we'll try next, I just hope the doctor doesn't give up. At this point, I think I need to stop thinking of this as an injury - it's just chronic pain. Maybe it started with a calf injury, but it seems impossible that over 3 years later, that injury is still in effect. I have another chronic pain issue that isn't connect to running, and I have wondered if somehow they're connected to each other. In any event, chronic pain sucks, and I'm worried that it will never go away.

However, with all of that, I am gearing up to start being active again. If this is just pain, not an injury, and it isn't going away, I need to suck it up and be active again, so that I can be healthy. I've already gotten back to eating healthier, and Ed and I are going for a hike tomorrow.

I think I need to figure out how to not let myself get (stay) down with this pain. These last few months, since I started back up with school, I think I've sort of let it overwhelm me and have felt a bit sorry for myself. Which, I know, has made for very entertaining postings. But, this is where I am.

And, if anyone knows of any exciting ways to deal with chronic pain, I'm all ears :)

Trying something a bit more aggressive

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 23:19:00 +0000

Thought I would take a moment to mention the current excitment with my leg - after an unsuccessful bout with both an anti-inflammatory and a nerve pain medication, plus a very healthy looking MRI, my new doctor suggested we try an epidural. Before this, I was really only aware of epidurals being used for giving birth, but apparently, this is a common diagnostic/treatment for leg and back pain. The idea was that if the epidural works (targeting the nerves that go down my left leg), then it will be doubly good - we'll have pinpointed where the pain is emanating from and I'll also hopefully have relief from the pain.

So, this morning, I took the day off work, and Ed drove me up to the surgicenter for my 6:30 am appointment. They were very insistent about not putting anything in your mouth after midnight, the night before the procedure - no food or drink, but also no brushing your teeth, gum, mints, etc. I was worried I would forget in my tired morning state, and found it very hard to leave the house with unpleasant morning breath and no hope of a remedy. At least all the other patients there were in the same boat :P.

Just after 6:30 I headed back to my prep room, where I got changed into the oh so attractive booties, gown and cap, and got an IV put in to keep me hydrated. Apparently I was thirsty, as my body was quickly downing my IV bag. Ed got to hang out with me until it was time for the main event, while I lounged in my "hospital bed" (though, apparently, this is a misnomer here, since this wasn't a hospital. In any event, it looked like the ones on tv :)).

Around 7:30, a new nurse wheeled me back to the procedure room, where I was laid on a metal table and hooked up to some new machines. They gave me a mild sedative "cocktail" which, honestly, didn't seem to do a whole lot. I still felt pretty coherent during the whole process. What was pretty cool about the procedure was that they were doing a live x-ray during it, to make sure the needle went into the right places in my spine, so I could see it as it was happening. It hurt a bit, but I was expecting much worse - it was over before I knew it!

Afterwards, I got wheeled to recovery, where I had to sit for 30 minutes. And, that was that. Now my back and leg are hurting a decent amount, which is to be expected. I'm told it will be 2-7 days until I feel the positive effects, if it worked. Since the extra pain today is in the normal area, I'm feeling hopeful.

In an ironic coincidence, my mom was also donning a surgical gown today for a hip replacement, including also getting an epidural. I got to chat with her before she went in for her procedure and tell her about mine. Hopefully hers will be just as easy going!

Dick Collins Firetrails (My Husband's Race Report!)

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:20:00 +0000

This past weekend, my husband completed his first 50 mile race!!! I'm so proud of him for accomplishing this goal and doing such a great job. Happily, Ed offered to write up his own race report. So, here is the race from a new 50 mile runner's (and, fair warning, a weak stomached person's) perspective :).

It was just over three years ago, when my (now) wife invited me to crew for her as she ran her first 50 mile race at Dick Collins Firetrails. We watched “A Race for the Soul” for motivation the night before; then I cheered as she ran off into the dark wilderness. I took a nice hour long nap in my car before spending the next 11 hours driving through the beautiful east bay mountains (which was my first time in this area), refilling her water bottles, and doing my best to lift her spirits. At then end, I yelled “go Addy!” as loud as I could, and she crossed the finish line with a smile on her beautiful face. I was so proud and had a crazy thought in my mind – “Could I ever do this?”

Three years and many races later (including four 50 km races, three marathons, five 30 km races, and three half marathons), I was back at Dick Collins Firetrails, only now I was entering into the dark wilderness (okay, a paved lake trail) as my wife cheered and headed back to the car for a quick nap.

I knew I was physically ready for 50 miles, but what I didn’t know was how everything else would hold up. It would be an emotional journey that is still churning in my mind.

The first few miles were filled with excitement. I started off in the middle of the pack, trying to slow myself down for the first half of the race, knowing I’d pay the price if I didn’t. I overhead a conversation right behind me – “Yeah, I reread Addy’s blog” as another remarked, “Her husband is running the race.” This definitely put a smile on my face.

I couldn’t believe it as I started going up the first hill, EVERYONE was walking - a marked difference from my shorter races where I tend to stay toward the front of the pack and push up hills most of the race. This really helped convince me that it’s okay to take it easy. I constantly looked behind to take in the gorgeous sunrise on this perfect day.

The next 12 miles were great – I settled into a good pace, although I was worried that I was going a bit too fast. I knew this part of the race the best and there were plenty of other people around to keep from getting bored.

Once I got up to Skyline Gate at mile 15, Adelyn was there waiting for me.

I promised to slow down the pace, she refilled my water and gatorade, and I was on my way. From Skyline Gate to Sibley Park, it was pretty much the same feeling. I started passing people, but tried to slow down and just enjoy the scenery. I entered the Sibley aid station and what a surprise! Adelyn was there to greet me once again. Just after me came a huge group of runners. I didn’t stay long and headed off.

Eventually, the Golden Hills Marathoners started coming from the other direction (including Leor Pantilat on route to his course setting day) as well as the Firetrails frontrunners (including Dave Mackey on route to his own amazing race). The views going along the ridge were amazing!

Last year, when I ran the Golden Hills Marathon, it was completely foggy in this area. Finally, I arrived at the Lone Oak aid station, knowing that I was over half way done.

At this point, this first signs of fatigue started. I was around a 9 hour pace and Adelyn reminded me that this section going up hill is not as bad as it seemed, but to keep it slow. I was able to run a good portion of this climb, but it definitely started to take its toll on me. It seemed to take forever and my pace got slower and slower.

However, reentering the shade again revived me and I cruised into Skyline Gate (mile 37) feeling great. Yes, I can do it! 13 miles – and there’s only a couple more hills. However, this is when everything started falling apart.

I took it nice and easy through Redwood Regional Park, but my stomach kept getting queasier and queasier. By the time I reached Big Bear Staging Area, Adelyn was yet again waiting for me. I had to sit down for a few minutes. I hydrated myself well all day, took in plenty of salt, and never felt deficient on calories. But yet there I was, 8.5 miles from the end and the nausea was overwhelming. I walked up the last big hill, but it didn’t take too long before I had to go to the side of the trail and vomit. At least it’s out of my system, and now I can finish the race, right? Wrong! The nausea just got worse.

I ran a little and made it to Bort Meadows where I sat down again being helped by the amazing volunteers. I forced myself to get up, but as soon as I did, I felt like vomiting again. I started walking back to my chair, but knew that it wasn’t a smart idea. The volunteer asked if this was my first 50 miler (is it that apparent?), and he said this is just part of the territory. That actually helped. The fact that I went 40 miles + without any real problems is pretty darn good. I got up and walked. Even though I vomited a couple more times, the nausea never subsided. My 9:30 goal vanished and I thought maybe I could get 10 hours if I was able to run the last few miles. But that didn’t happen - I tried jogging a bit with no avail.

Finally, I saw the finish and ran the last half mile, even doing a little sprint to the end.

I saw my time, 10 hours, 22 minutes, and laid down on the ground. Adelyn came over to congratulate me and brought the chair, but all I could think about was throwing up. I couldn’t reflect on my incredible journey, enjoy the amazing bbq, or converse with fellow runners. However, I did manage to make it to the restroom nearby and probably scare a few more people with my wretched sounds. Adelyn got the car and we drove home. I tried sleeping most of the ride home (what do you know – 50 miles actually makes you sleepy) and managed to eat some chicken broth at home.

The post race feeling the next day was very different from my other races. My legs actually weren’t sore at all – just a little pain in the bottom of the foot and my 2 big toe nails. I didn’t have a headache or feel dehydrated. On Monday is when I really started reflecting on the race. I felt sad the entire day. I was disappointed in my performance, but at the same time I really enjoyed the experience. Despite the not so successful finish, I was actually anticipating the chance to redeem my performance next year. If only I paced myself better, if only I had a better nutrition strategy… Adelyn really helped me appreciate what I had accomplished. I COMPLETED 50 miles, still qualified for Western States, did not injure myself, and still feel hungry for more.

There is something special about that course and I wish I could do it again in a week instead of next year. It’s been a long journey the last 3 years. I once pondered whether it was even conceivable that I run 50 miles and now it is a reality.

Extremes

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:14:00 +0000

Today, I went for a run. Just 2 miles, and I don't necessarily feel great abut it. I've long known that I seem to live in extremes - either I am one thing or I am the other. I'm not good with shades of gray. This is true with running, eating healthy, even writing in my blog, it seems. And, stemming off of this, once I'm in "off" mode, I seem to get paralized sometimes - and it's so hard to get back to the "good" side of things. I sometimes wonder if my difficulty to "switch" has to do with the fact that I really struggle with change. I find it much easier to let myself stay stuck - even when it's detrimental to me.

Slipping on my somewhat snug running clothes (because bad habits definitely produce results), I felt nervous about trying to switch back to healthy me. Ed was out doing a pre-run so that he could run my small distance with me, and, as I waited, I wondered if I was ready to try to go back to this. If it would work - and if I would be able to make myself run again tomorrow and this weekend. Can I really switch back to on?

I'm still not sure that I have an answer to that - the run was hard and I felt achy and tight. But, maybe it will get better.

I have emailed my doctor to set up an appointment about my leg, but I don't really have much in the way of hope yet. We'll see.

Thanks to those lovely few who are still reading, even though it seems like I'm continuing to write the same messages every few months. Hopefully change will eventually arrive.

Squaw Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:48:00 +0000

I've definitely been feeling unmotivated the last few weeks. Two weekends ago, I went on a hard, difficult 12 miler, and for the next week, limped a bit due to my bad leg. I've suddenly remembered that teaching really makes my leg act up (something about the 6-8 hours of standing a day), and now it suddently makes sense why running was going better over the summer (no teaching). Needless to say, those marathon dreams seem far away now. I'll admit, I've had a bit of a pity party for myself - almost 3 years since my leg first started hurting, and, even now, I'm still feeling it. Nothing to do, though - though I have thought about trying for a new doctor again, but I just don't have much hope left.

I did have a nice run tuesday, only 3 miles, and it left my leg pretty uncomfortable, but not too bad. I also had a lovely "run" with Ed in Berkeley on Saturday, which was lots of fun - I love revisiting trails from college :). I even ran into Dave!

So, it's not all bad. Just in an adjustment period. Hopefully I'll be able to start running a bit more soon.

For now, here are some beautiful pictures from our Tahoe trip, when my dad, Ed and I hiked up at Squaw Valley.

Fun in Tahoe

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:48:00 +0000

Summer has flown by, and now it's ending has arrived. With the start of work officially Tuesday, I know my time is going to be seriously limited, so I've decided that the "Wedding recaps" aren't really necessary. It already seems like a long time ago, and I don't know that anyone besides me really wants and/or needs to see the many many more photos. I'm ready to go back to posting about running in beautiful places :).

To kick off the return to writing about running, I wanted to recap our trip to Tahoe last week. Ed and I joined the rest of my family (save my brother in law, who had to work) to vacation near Tahoe City. While Ed had to work for much of it, we were still able to take some time to hit the trails together.

Our first full day, I needed to run 7 miles (Ed needed 15, I think), so we decided to do mine together on the Tahoe Rim Trail. We parked in a lot by the Truckee river and headed off. Almost immediately, we were heading uphill and I recalled that I actually suck at dealing with altitude. We (and by we, I mean I) were immediately slowed to a walk, while I gasped for breath.

Luckily, our efforts were soon rewarded with amazing views.

Luckily it got a bit flatter after about 1/2 a mile, and we were able to run just a little bit. We were having to be careful picking up our feet, as it was pretty rocky, but it was worth it. I'll admit I felt pretty guilty making Ed go so slowly, but I was having a quite difficult time breathing in the thinner air (I think I had a touch of something as well).

After about 2 miles, we turned around and headed back, since Ed wanted to check out the TRT in the other direction.

Back at the viewpoint, we took a moment to take in the scenery one more time.

Back at the river, we headed out the other direction another mile, and again, I was suffering as the flat turned to uphill. I couldn't bear to make Ed go so slow for that much longer, so I "released" him and ran an estimated extra mile to hit my total of 7.

I got to enjoy a quiet mile along the bike path, taking in the river view.

The Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:38:00 +0000

(Before I go on with the Wedding Report, I did want to do a bit of reporting on the running front. For some reason (perhaps worldwide travel), I've been pretty tired this past week. As such, I only had one weekday run (a paltry 3 miler) and one weekend run (a 10 miler).

Ed ran the 10 miler with me, which was lovely. It was on a paved pathway that goes by a reservoir south of San Francisco (Sawyer Trail). It was a beautiful day with perfect weather, but from about 3 1/2 onward, where my quad connects to my hip on the front was super tight. I felt a bit sick halfway through, after pushing up the big hill to the turn around point, so we rested for a little, and then headed back. I have to say that I was just hurting on this run. I haven't quite figured out why all my runs have been hard lately (ever since we left Mt. Tam, in fact), but I'm just trying to accept it, and have faith that it will eventually get easier.

We did have a little excitement on the run though. Ed was running on the dirt to the side of the trail, when I saw something living right by hit foot. "Careful!" I said. We went a few feet past, and then looked at what Ed came close to stepping on. It was a huge snake! At least 2 feet. I got a little closer (it wasn't coiled) to see what kind. I noticed the diamond shapes on its back, and, as it slithered down the hill, away from the trail, I could see it's rattle. Ed had almost come into contact with a rattlesnake! This is my first encounter with an adult one, and I'm glad that it was relatively friendly. Finally, we made it the 10, and I gratefully took a seat on a bench while Ed went out for 5 more. I'm glad that I was able to complete it, but it sure took a lot out of me.

So far this week, I've been tired, but happy with my runs. I ran 3 miles Tuesday, and 5.6 miles Today. I've also been doing a dvd that Sarah recommended, "Pain Free Workout", which I've been doing every day since Monday. It's very relaxing and I'm enjoying it, and hopefully it'll help my leg :). Okay, onto the wedding!)

Walking up the aisle with my father, we chatted a little, though about what, I don't remember. I do remember having to ask a few times to slow down, as my dress was getting caught under me a bit and I didn't want to fall. As we approached the guests, I just remember being overwhelmed by just how happy everyone looked. I saw such beautiful smiles on everyone's faces, and I felt so happy with everyone's happiness. I had heard from other brides that the walk down the aisle is usually such a blur, but I think, especially with our aisle being so long, I had time to really look at all the guests. I remember sweeping my gaze back and forth, trying to see everyone, while also looking forward to see Ed.

As we reached the front, my dad gave me a hug and kiss

And then Ed and I were together (as a side note, I absolutely love Ed's expression in this picture :))

Then, we both turned towards Jerome,

and he began the ceremony.

For this part of the report, I'm going to let our actual ceremony words do a lot of the talking. Ed and I wrote our ceremony based on an excellent book, and were very happy to have this part of the wedding so crafted to our relationship. We even got to weave in our love of running and trails in the ceremony!

We are gathered here in this beautiful place

To witness the joining of Adelyn and Ed in marriage.

They have invited you here today

Because the growth of their love

Is connected to this place.

And, they wanted to share with you

The beauty of this mountain.

During their almost three years together,

They have come here on many days like this one,

And have run down the trails,

Through the meadows and the redwoods.

Their time spent in nature,

Traveling through the beauty you see here,

Has been a time of connectedness,

Of shared reverence for the world,

And a deepening respect

And love for one another.

It is this sense of timelessness and peace

That they wanted to share with you

On this, their wedding day.

As you look out over this vista

Please take a moment for reflection

To open your hearts and minds

To the love and togetherness

We are here to share

Through this ceremony.

Adelyn and Ed.

Today we have come together

To celebrate the love you have found with each other.

By being here with you,

Each of us is declaring our support

For your decision to join together in marriage.

(to guests)

As family and friends,

You form the community of support

That surrounds Adelyn and Ed.

Each of you, by your presence here today,

Is being called upon

To uphold them, in honoring and loving one another.

Always stand beside them and

Offer them your love and support.

Encourage them with your kindness and with loving hearts,

And honor this marriage

Into which they have come to be joined today.

At this time, Adelyn's mother, Debby,

would like to share some special words with you.

At this point, my mother came up and shared a beautiful essay, entitled, "The Art of Marriage."

It was both beautiful and full of wonderful, loving advice. It was so special to have my mother involved in our ceremony is such a meaningful way.

After my mother's reading, we continued on the with ceremony

Adelyn and Ed,

You have come here today

To surrender into the creation

Of something wholly new and transcendent-

Your precious, sacred, and unique marriage journey as husband and wife.

Today, you step into

A much fuller experience and expression

Of the mysteries and miracles of love.

Your precious, blessed union

Is lovely in its innocence,

Mighty in its strength,

And abundant with possibilities.

It belongs to you both.

Over time you will give it an identity.

We wish for you the wisdom, strength of character, and creativity

To make this a happy marriage,

And a joyful journey to share.

Ed and Adelyn,

please join hands and share your Wedding Vows.

Something I didn't mention was that Ed and I memorized our vows. We both practiced hard, and felt confident in our ability to say our vows, and having them come from us was something we both felt strongly about. We did get a lot of positive remarks about how people were impressed with this, which was nice.

"Adelyn." Ed began. Unfortunately, those weren't the vows! After saying my name he stopped and smiled, and then we all laughed. He claims he didn't forget the vows, he was just making a dramatic pause. Thankfully, he soon began.

I, Ed, take you, Adelyn, to be my wife,

my partner in life and my one true love.

I will cherish our union and love you more each day

than I did the day before.

I will trust you and respect you,

laugh with you and cry with you

I will love you faithfully through good times and bad,

Regardless of any obstacles we may face together.

I give you my hand,
my heart,
and my love,
from this day forward
for as long as we both shall live.

Then, it was my turn. However, I thought that there would be some kind of transitional prompt before I was supposed to start (we had practiced, but somehow I remembered it differently). I stood there smiling and waiting. Jerome, thinking I had forgotten my vows, prompted me, "I, Adelyn..." Again we all laughed, and then I started my vows.

I, Adelyn, take you, Ed, to be my husband,

my partner in life and my one true love.

I will cherish our union and love you more each day

than I did the day before.

I will trust you and respect you,

laugh with you and cry with you.

I will love you faithfully through good times and bad,

Regardless of any obstacles we may face together.

I give you my hand,

my heart,

and my love,

from this day forward

for as long as we both shall live.

We were through the hard part (or so I thought!)

May I have the rings please?

Wedding rings are symbolic reminders
Of deep and lasting love.
Within the safety and comfort of true marriage,
Love given freely
Has no beginning and no end.

May these rings always remind you
Of the freedom and the power of your love.

Ed, place this ring on Adelyn's finger.

Adelyn, with this ring,

I give you my promise

To love you,

To honor you,

To be faithful to you,

And to share my life with you

In every way

Always.

(Jerome) Adelyn, place this ring on Ed's finger.

Now, here I should point out that during the rehearsal, we did not practice with rings. So, when it came to be my turn, as Jerome passed me the ring, I dropped it! Luckily, Jerome (and perhaps Bill?) quickly grabbed it, and with more laughs, we continued.

Ed, with this ring,

I give you my promise

To love you,

To honor you,

To be faithful to you,

And to share my life with you

In every way

Always.

And then, we were in the home stretch!

Adelyn and Ed

On behalf of your loved ones

Who are here with you today,

I would like to mention some of the things

We wish for you:

First, we wish for you a love

That is rich and deep.

Powerful enough to inspire others

And to support you both

In bringing forth the best that is within you.

May you fully love one another

And cherish being loved by one another

Today, tomorrow and always.

Second, we wish for you the kind of home

That will be a sanctuary for you both,

A place of peace, freedom, vitality,

Growth, and humor.

And in this home,

We hope that you are blessed.

Finally, we wish that at the end of your lives

You will be able to look back and smile

Upon the life that you have shared together,

Pleased, satisfied, and fulfilled

Beyond your wildest dreams.

And now,

By the power vested in me by the State of California,

It is my great pleasure

To pronounce you husband and wife.

Ed and Adelyn

You may now kiss as husband and wife

For the first time.

Congratulations!

Walking Down the Aisle

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:25:00 +0000

Once it was times to begin, we all walked in a long line to a spot further down the point, where the aisle would "officially" begin. We had decided at the rehearsal that, instead of walking from the big Oak tree at start of the point, we'd start a bit closer to the guests, so that it wouldn't take so long to get down the aisle.

My primary focus during this part was to remain vertical. There are some precarious sections, especially for individuals wearing pouffy dresses and pretty shoes with no tread. Thankfully, I had my dad's arm as support and we made it.

At some point, though, I finally really looked towards the end of the point and took in the scene.

As I looked at the figures standing at the end, it suddenly sunk in that Ed was one of those figures. I strained my eyes, trying to see better, but couldn't see more than his silhouette, framed by the Pacific ocean behind him.

Once the music officially began (it was so windy we couldn't hear it, but we guessed), the first two walked out - Ed's mom Sabine with his brother, Keven.

Following them, were my mother and our friend, and Ed's best man, Bill. It was really special having them walking down together, as my parents hadn't gotten to meet Bill before the wedding weekend, and through this weekend, she got to spend some nice time with him and get to know him.

Up next, my beautiful women of honor. My two sisters and best friend Christine were all amazing during the wedding weekend (and all the months prior!).

First, my older sister Ashley.

Then, my younger sister, Kortney.

And finally, my friend Christine.

My dad and I waited patiently as we watched our loved ones approaching the far side of the point. Even though we shortened the aisle, it was still a bit of a walk all the way down.

I told Ed before the wedding day that I was most looking forward to the moment where I would get to look into his eyes and finally take his hands in mine. Now, that moment was almost here.

Once we saw everyone in the bridal party take their places in the front, we looked to our music man, Curtis (Christine's husband), who would be switching to, Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring, my walking song. While we couldn't quite hear it, we were soon told it was time.

We were walking.

The Guests Arrive

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:07:00 +0000

(Becky and her daughter, Johanna, take a quick hike while waiting for the site to finish getting set up)

While I was getting ready at the Inn, our guests were driving over to the ceremony site. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a mix up, and somehow chairs weren't brought for the ceremony!! We were able to get a handful of them, but not enough for everyone, which added to a good deal of stress and confusion for poor Ed and our guests - I thankfully didn't have to deal with this in the moment.

However, because of this, when my parents drove up with me to the site, all the guests (who were supposed to be calmly sitting at their seats, enjoying the music we had picked out) were milling about the parking lot.

Not wanting to have my big reveal too soon, we quickly drove past the site and parked a quarter mile up the road, where we could see the site. From there, we could see the guests hanging out in the parking lot, and not much happening where the ceremony was.

My parents and I made guesses about the cause - music malfunction? yellow jacket swarm? We were confused, and I was worried - What if we couldn't get married at our spot?

We saw our photographer head up the trail, which told us it wasn't a safety issue, and then, finally, the guests started heading up as well.

Once the last guest crested the hill, we drove the car back down to the lot and got out, ready to get started. The rest of the wedding party was waiting for us in the lot and, together, we headed up to the oak tree, where we planned to wait until it was time to start.

From our spot, we got to see our train of guests heading to the seats.

While there was only enough seats for about half, we had very good sports who were happy to enjoy our ceremony standing.

Luckily, as soon as our guests found their spots, we began the long walk down the aisle.

The Men Get Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:06:00 +0000

While I was up in my room, Ed was down in his, with his brother, Kevin, and Bill, his best friend. By the time we sent the photographer to them, they were already pretty much ready, but still going through a few last details.

Unfortunately, that's all I have for getting ready shots, but they are nice to have.

Next up, some actual wedding pictures :).

Getting Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:49:00 +0000

(Standing with my wedding flowers)

I woke up on June 28th with a smile and butterflies in my stomach as it sunk in that today was really the day. I got up around 7, I think, and decided to take a leisurely bath, since I wasn't planning on eating until 8:30. I put on a CD of George Winston piano music, which I always find calming, and enjoyed some alone time. I still had a bit of time after that, so I took a few minutes to write a card to Ed (that I gave him on the plane ride to Tuscany) and to write in my journal that I began 3 days before the wedding, all the way through the honeymoon.

At just before 8:30, I headed upstairs, where a number of other people were loitering. For some reason, none of the staff members were upstairs for breakfast! Finally, someone (my mom I think?) went downstairs to the kitchen to get someone to serve us, and we got going. While we have never had an issue with service at our favorite inn, for some reason, this, of all weekends, was the one that they seemed understaffed and unorganized. It took until about 9:40 for us to get our food, which was a bit problematic, since my hair appointment was for 10!

I did enjoy sitting on the deck with family, though, and enjoying the beautiful morning.

As soon as my food arrived, I gulped it down quickly (tasty french toast, too bad there wasn't time to fully enjoy it!), and my mom and I rushed to get to the appointment.

We got a little lost on the windy mountain roads, but arrived just a few minutes late to Verde salon, a newer salon in Mill Valley specializing in Aveda Products (and unintended perk, as I didn't realize this specialization when I booked them).

The got me settled right away, and had me put on a beautiful silk kimono, as they found out what I was looking for. I had some pictures, and emphasized that I wanted to look pretty natural. They were a little surprised to hear it was for my wedding, and that I hadn't gotten a trail, but I tried to reassure them by saying its just hair - I don't honestly have to have it a certain way - I just want it to look nice.

The process getting to nice was a little "hairy" at times (couldn't resist!)

but quickly got under control.

And, in just under an hour, my hair was finished!

After hair, they shifted me to the front of the salon, to get my makeup done. I bonded with the makeup artist over a shared fear of mountain lions (she informed me that, according to a ranger she spoke with, there are 4 on Mt Tam!). I also communicated the "natural" request, and she did a great job.

My mom was a great partner through the whole process.

Walking to the car was a funny experience. Especially on a monday, people didn't quite know what to do with a girl dressed in normal clothes wearing a veil. I got lots of funny stairs and a few, "Are you a bride?" and some congratulations as well.

We took a moment to pause by some beautiful flowers, and then headed back to the inn.

Once there, lunch was soon too follow!

We got it from this great place - Cafe Del Soul - which was delicious. I got this salad with cranberries, feta, and other loveliness. I sat on my mom's deck to avoid my soon to be husband, who was eating upstairs.

It was hard to not see Ed all morning, harder than I thought. I was looking forward to seeing him and hearing about how his day had been, and wanted to share everything that had happened with me so far. Christine and Bill acted as middlemen to make sure that we were kept apart.

After lunch, I had a little bit of time to myself, and was able to write a little in my journal. My friend Jenny joined me after a little bit, which was lovely, and then it was time to get dressed!

(in all the pictures below, and the coming posts, unless otherwise noted, these photos are courtesy of our amazing photographers Hewitt Photography. I'll probably do a post about them in the future, but for now, I'll let the beautiful pictures speak for themselves)

At around 2pm, it was time to get ready for the big event. My room for the weekend was nice and spacious - perfect for getting pretty with my favorite people.

I started by putting on some waterproof mascara (which, surprising, I didn't need! No tears for me), and then we had some time to wait around, while we waited for the flowers to do some accessories photos before I got dressed.

We took time to take some pictures together.

And also to have a few special moments with my sister and my mom.

And, some special moments with my dress, too :)

We sent Vita away for a bit, to photograph the boys, and when she got back, it was time to really transform.

First up were my amazing, beautiful blue shoes. My mom convinced me, against my best judgement, to purchase these expensive Vera Wang ballet flats. Looking back, they are very special shoes that I will be able to wear for important events for many years to come, and they were a good investment.

Once in the dress, it was time to tie me in. I had my very own "Gone with the Wind" moment as I held onto the bed post while Christine pulled and my family looked on, amused.

It was fun, if slightly odd, to have people dote over me, but it was necessary to get me all ready.

It was really nice to just spend some relatively quiet time together before we went out into the bright, busy day.

It was really special when my Dad showed up, as well. He definitely got teary seeing me all ready (though he tried to deny it!)

Before we left, I took one last look out the windows, out to the redwoods and the bay beyond. It was the perfect day.

My sister helped me with one last touch up...

And I was ready to go!

Wedding Eve

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:26:00 +0000

The most sensible place to start with the recaps is on the Eve of the wedding, June 27th. After doing a last check of everything, Ed and I headed off for the familiar drive north to our favorite place. Butterflies were in full force in my stomach as we headed up - I was so excited that this day that I had been waiting for was finally almost here! Ed was, as always, the calm collected one - good thing he was driving :).

There was a bit of uncharacteristic traffic (for us) as we got nearer to our mountain, probably due to the fact that it was a perfect Sunday day for exploring Mt Tam.

We arrived first, and took a seat on the patio as we waited for our various family members to arrive. First up was Ed's mom and his cousin and boyfriend, followed closely by my family. It was wonderful to see everyone and give some their first look of our favorite place.

After lunch was had by many, we were off for the first "optional" event of the wedding weekend - a hike! Now, Ed and I knew we wanted to go on a hike, and hoped some would join us, but didn't expect a big crowd. Apparently, though, when you schedule an official event, people feel obligated to attend, so we had a huge group! Almost everyone who was there for the first night came.

Choosing the right trail gave us some pause, as we wanted to show people some beauty, but also keep it from being to challenging. We finally decided on the paved Alice Eastwood trail - it would be shady and cool(er) and give visitors a great look at the majestic redwoods.

After heading down some stairs...

we hit the pavement and enjoyed a leisurely hour walk down the trail to the campsite and back up again. Some of the family ended up turning around early, to enjoy an even more leisurely pace, but we all had a great time. Ed and I were so happy to have done this, because suddenly it felt like a normal day on the mountain. My nerves were feeling calmed as I drunk in the mountain air, and I felt like I was able to relax and really start to enjoy the day.

When we got back, we were (generally speaking) able to check into our rooms. We all went to get cleaned up for the next main event - the rehearsal!

This was such a special moment in our day, as it was when our closest family and friends got to see our wedding site. It was so much fun to see their amazement at the view (it was stunning that day) and to be here for such a special purpose.

Ed had worked hard on planning how the rehearsal would go, and it went great. One of my favorite parts was our icebreaker (as good teachers, we, of course, had to start with one of these). We asked each person to introduce themselves and choose one word that described us at a couple.

Though we felt a little silly being so self - focused, it was truly special to hear how we were seen through others eyes and set a great tone for the rehearsal.

It was a perfect (and perfectly hot!) rehearsal, which made us confident about the ceremony as a whole, but a little concerned about how the weather would be.

The other unknown was going to be the music - the CD with the wedding music accidently ended up in the car that was setting up the rehearsal dinner, which meant that instead of practicing with our chosen picks of music, we rehearsed to some very fun latin dance music! It actually made things pretty fun, but left a little concern that the music would all line up for the ceremony.

From here, we headed down to Old Mill Park, where Ed's mother, Sabine, along with my brother-in-law, James, and a few others were helping get it set up.

Right before we got to the dinner, my Aunt (and family) gave us the most amazing gift - an amazing quilt she made us for picnics! The back is red and white checked with ants crawling on it, and the front has beautiful patterns with fabric of different foods. It is a work of art, and we cannot wait to use it.

Sabine picked the perfect setting - the redwood grove was cool, shady and beautiful, with red and white checked tablecloths and bottles of chianti at the tables to set an italian mood. We enjoyed lovely wines and delicious food from Pasta Pomodoro as we enjoyed spending time with loved ones in a relaxing setting.

(Ed, Christine and Curtis enjoying the italian evening)

(My dad and his brother, my Uncle Kirk)

(Ed's Uncle Pat and Aunt Patricia - in front - and Jerome, our officient and Ed's mom, Sabine - in back)

One important part of the rehearsal dinner was Ed and my speech. We had procrastinated a bit on writing this, but were really happy with how it turned out. We were thankful to have the chance to recognize and thank all the people who were there to celebrate with us and who had given us so much love and support. It was a wonderful experience.

Sleepy and full, we all headed back up to the Inn after dinner, where we got to take in a stunning sunset.

The rest of the night was spent spending some quality time with everyone. We played games, talked and just generally soaked in the evening. One of the most amazing parts was, while Ed and I were sitting outside in the dark, the most beautiful, orange moon began rising in the distance. After getting the people inside, we all sat and watched as we could actually see it moving up in the sky. It was the perfect moment.

Around midnight, we decided that it was time for bed. Ed and I said our final goodbyes, since we wouldn't be seeing one another until the ceremony.

Going to sleep, I was blissfully happy, knowing that I would wake up on my wedding day.

Back and Ready to Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:13:00 +0000

Hi again everyone! Ed and I have returned from what was a truly wonderful honeymoon to Europe. We had wonderful food, drinks, and scenery each and every day. On the running front, it ends up we were a bit overly ambitious. Apparently, lots of full fat foods, combined with high heat and humidity, mean that I feel very heavy when I try to run :P. So, only 3 runs (13, 10, 4) but I'm okay with that. In Siena, we walked at least 6 miles every day, and in Germany, we rode bikes and went on a 9 mile, arduous hike to the top of a mountain in the Alps. Consequently, my marathon plans have changed, and I'm now shooting for a more reasonable (in terms of time from now and predicted heat during the event) Silicon Valley marathon October 31st, that is right by my house. This lets me slow down with my ramp up in mileage and get back on track :).

Now that I'm back, it's time to record the last few weeks, so that years from now I can look back and remember what made this time in my life so great. Bear in mind, while there is some running involved in the posts to come, it will be within a small supporting role. But, I have lots of beautiful pictures which should make up for the different content :).

I'm doing things choronologically, which means, I'll be starting with the wedding weekend and then moving onto Europe.

I hope you enjoy!

Married!

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:51:00 +0000

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments and well wishes! Ed and I had a beautiful wedding on top of Mt Tam. More pictures and stories to follow, but as we're leaving for our European honeymoon in less than 24 hours, those will have to wait :). We're planning some great runs in Tuscany and Germany, and I'll be sharing those stories as well when we get back.

For now, here are a few pictures :)

Just Married (Photo courtesy of Christine)

First Dance (Photo Courtesy of Christine)

First trail run as husband and wife!

Last Blog as a "Miss"

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:34:00 +0000

Ed and I, September 2007

Yes, this is a running blog, but this post is sort of about running. After all, had I not been running 20 miles on September 1st, 2007, I never would have met a man 5 years my senior, moving into his new apartment, while looking my most attractive (which, apparently, is clothes soaked in 8 hours worth of sweat and salt, a messy pony tail and dirty trail shoes). Had I not looked so desirable, due to running, this man would not have asked to go running with me, and we wouldn't have had an incredible 7 miles together through the redwoods, or so many incredible runs since then. We also would not be able to have our most incredible journey yet - a very important walk down Trojan Point.

Tomorrow morning, Ed and I head up to Mt. Tam for what can't help but be our most incredible, memorable, beautiful, wonderful trip to this mountain yet. We'll stand in front of a small group of friends amd family, and (hopefully) be able to look out over the pacific ocean, the rolling hills, and even San Francisco in the distance, and pledge our love to each other. And then we'll celebrate.

Marriage is such a funny thing. Ed and I have been existing in roles for the last two years that I always assumed were exclusive to marriage, so part of me wonders about the kind of change that will happen in our relationship after we say our vows. Some changes I know, like our last name (which is a very amazing, unconventional decision that I'm excited about), and sharing a checking account. However, I don't quite know how we'll change emotionally, how our feelings will differently develop once we are officially each other's family. I can only imagine great things, based on how well these past almost 3 years have gone. But, even if little changes besides what I've already mentioned, I will be thrilled, because our relationship now is so wonderfully perfect, that it's hard to imagine how it could be improved.

So, I don't know what will happen after Monday with us, but I do know that I am marrying the man of my dreams. I love him more than anything, and I can't wait to dedicate my life to him at my favorite place in the world.

Ed and I last weekend

Up to Nevada Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:25:00 +0000

After we couldn't rest any more, we headed forward, up to our next goal (See the falls in the picture above). We stopped to see Emerald Pool, which our friend rememberered swimming in before. Seeing the turbulent white water and swift current, and remembering the impressive falls not far away, it wasn't hard to see while swimming is no longer allowed.

Next, we saw the silver apron, which was a very impressive display of the power of water.

During this expereince, I came to discover that Ed isn't really big on bridges, but our other friends gave a pose for us.

We continued heading up the valley, and soon were greeted with a beautiful site of the falls. I'd never seen Nevada falls and was impressed.

Soon, the singletrack was replaced by more granite stairs, but with the harder hiking came more awesome views.

Ed took a moment to enjoy the view.

And we all took a break on the fun switchbacks.

Once we got to the top, though, the view down was well worth it.

Ed and I discovered another difference between us, when it comes to fears. The metal railings at the edge of the granite ledge we were on made me feel quite safe. I shook them hard and was satisfied that they weren't going anywhere, so I felt fine leaning on them as I got the perfect pictures. Ed doesn't like putting trust in man made things, apparently. He kept his distance, and wasn't thrilled when I was up close with the edge.

Conversely, while I feel safe with a railing, places where its just me and the edge make me very nervous. Ed, for some reason, feels just the opposite, and has no issues going towards the edge, when made me even more nervous!

Ed was standing near where the falls start, well, falling, and I wanted to take a picture. I took one,

but it was making me so I told him to come back. "Move back?" he said, as he took a step backwards.

Ahh!!! I completely freaked out. He was safe of course, but I yelled at him a bit to get him away from the ledge. I don't know that I've ever been more scared. He didn't quite get it, until he saw the spot from my view and understood my concern. The picture above might not be too scary, but imagine the thundering roar of the water and the 594 ft fall.

Once my heart rate slowed down, we got a photo taken a safe distance from the the edge.

I decided for one more look over the edge, and decided to take the opportunity to photography my ring, possibly for the last time without its matching band.

Deciding we had made the other person nervous enough, Ed and I headed up to the bridge over the water, and enjoyed one last look at the water's power, before we headed home.

Next up, we decided to head down the John Muir Trail, to try something new and save ourselves from stairs :).

Heading up the Mist Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:23:00 +0000

Ready to head up on the hike

After a leisurely morning, our group was ready to head off on our main event - heading up to Nevada Falls! I was bit nervous, because the last time I was in Yosemite, we tried to go up to Vernal falls, and I got too scared. Now, this was a while ago, but the memory stayed with me. I was curious, if with a little trepidation, to see how "scary" the trail actually was.

The man manning the front booth of our campsite was great. We asked which was the quickest way to get to the vernal falls trail and he answered, "Well, this is the most beautiful way to get there - it might be the quickest too - but it's the way you should go". He sent us on this great singletrack that followed the river upstream and was the perfect start to our day.

After about a mile, we found our sign that directed us onto the real trail.

Just a short way in, there was a booth set up warning us that 50% of park incidences with Search and Rescue happen on THIS trail - so be careful. I think most were connected with half dome, as this shares the same route, but still - good to keep in mind.

After a bit longer, we got to the "official" trail head, with our stated mileage.

The start was deceptively easy - a paved trail that lead you back through "little yosemite valley" towards the fall. After about a mile, you came to a footbridge and got to see this:

Pretty spectacular, even from a distance, but we were ready to get closer. As we started off the main part of the mist trail, it stayed fairly easy. But soon, we reached the granite steps, and the trail showed us how it got its name.

Before long, the mist became unbelievable - we were soaked in minutes. Streams were literally running down the stairs, with huge puddles to navigate. It still felt pretty safe going up, but I was starting to think about alternative routes heading down. It was fun though, and the views were well worth it!

As we kept climbing, I put my camera in Ed's pack to keep it safe from the water. The coolest part was the last bit, where the trail was built into the side of the cliff that the trail is falling from further down. We were high up, but there was a good iron railing which kept me feeling safe.

It a short time, we made it to the top, where everyone was relaxing, picnicing, and enjoying the awesome views.

Looking down from the falls

Resting sounded like a good idea to us, so we broke out our lunch, gobbled it down, and then took some well deserved R&R.

And, of course, time to appreciate the trail we had just traversed.

And, be thrilled to be here with the one I love, my husband (in only 3 days).

Of course, our journey doesn't end here, though with all our resting, it could have! After we were sufficiently relaxed and full, we headed onto our next falls, Nevada

Testing fears and soaking in beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:20:00 +0000

After we got camp set up, Ed and I headed out for what we hoped would be a good 13 mile loop. We had found a map that had a 13 mile loop around Yosemite valley that seemed perfect, but we had trouble finding the right trail. However, we did find what seemed correct, and had a fun running along the very powerful river. There were a few other people, but we could see most of them across the river on the paved path.

After going about a mile, we saw a person crouched down of the trail and immediately followed his gaze. What we saw was beautiful!

The deer was just grazing in the calm waters, with the huge granite walls behind it. We stopped to soak in the scene for a bit, and then headed on.

What we learned is that the real, non bike path trails in yosemite, the ones that don't go to waterfalls or famous sites, are not really meant for the people. Tourists, it seems, aren't as big on trails as one might home. What are big on trails in Yosemite are horses.

As we got to around a mile and a half in, we found ourselves facing about 18 people on horses. They decided to turn around as we reached them, so I hopped out of the way to let them pass. We weren't too worried since we were doing a loop - or so we thought.

Unfortunately, just up ahead, we came upon a fence across the trail, which announced that the trail up ahead was closed due to a huge rock slide.

Here is where the first test of fear came up. Ed, seeing normal trail for a bit ahead, wanted to check out the trails and keep going until the trail conditions forced us back. I, on the other hand, am a rule follower. The sign says turn around, I want to turn around. Eventually, I got Ed to see my view and back we went.

The second test of fear came up all to quickly. Soon, we found ourselves at the back of the horse train. Trying to make the best of a situation, we headed out into this grassy space by the river.

This was such a lovely stopover. We played around, and then really, quite suddenly, we looked up up and were amazed by what we saw.

Somehow, we had been running right under half dome without even realizing it! After staring in wonder, and taking some photos, I spotted something even more exciting (the picture above shows the moment where I am saying, "Honey! Look over there!")

This is what I was finding even more exciting than half dome:

Yup, a momma duck and her babies. How fun :)

After enjoying the ducks a bit, I had another moment of facing fear. We got a bit turned around getting back to our trail, and found ourselves separated from our trail by a few wide logs. You could tell by the wearing that this was a common path, and below the logs was just a few inches of dirty water - nothing dangerous. Ed easily sprinted across, without a care in the world. I, on the other hand, froze. I became completely frozen, feeling fear wave over me.

Ed was not getting it. I had a moment where I wanted to give up and just go around, but I decided to trust Ed. He came back over, and actually held my hand walking backwards over the log to get me across. It was really nice to trust him and to not let irrational fears get me down :).

After this, I proposed a deal to Ed. He would let me tell him no if something was really dangerous (i.e. going into a rock slide zone) if I would let him convince me to do something that felt dangerous but really was generally safe (crossing a log over a stream). A good compromise.

Unfortuantely, this test of fears came up again, as we came back to the horse train. The guide in the back told us we could try to pass the horses and so, with some trepidation, Ed and I slowly passed the horses. Now, I am pretty terrified of horses - they are big, powerful animals and I have a healthy respect for them. The passing was going okay, but then the trail started narrowing and it really started feeling unsafe. Ed was trying to guide me, but I was just starting to freak out. One of the riders in the middle of the train told us that we shouldn't be trying to pass, and that was sort of the final straw. I convinced Ed to wait at the side with me and let the horses pass us again.

It was a frustrating experience, to say the least. Ed was really frustrating that we couldn't run at all - the horses were moving really slowly. And I was frustrated because it just didn't feel safe, which Ed didn't quite get.

Luckily, the guide in the back had the horse train stop once it got to better trail, and we were able to safely pass them (though I was still worried - I said "hi" to every horse as I passed so they wouldn't kick me). Finally, when we passed them, we just took off running, burning off our frustration at losing so much time behind the horses.

On our way back to where we started (and only a few miles of running done) , we debriefed about the horse encounter. We were both feeling frustrated about the experience, but better understood what happened and why we each acted the way we did.

This short stretch seemed a perfect test for us in how we dealt with fear (and each other), fitting since our wedding was only a week and a half away (now just 4 days!). By the time we were off that trail, we were back to enjoying Yosemite running.

I did ask that we switch over to the bike trail that I had been looking down on a bit, because I really wanted to run, and didn't want to get held up on the trails. Also, we were going to be running out of daylight, and I wanted to go as far as possible before we had to go back.

So off on the bike trail we went, and we had a great time. We first headed to the Ahwahnee, where my family traditionally has a meal whenever we visit.

We took some photos, stopped quickly in the gift shop, and enjoyed walking around the grounds. I got very excited about a deer, until I remembered that I do actually see deer pretty often and maybe it isn't that exciting :).

Then, we headed towards the falls, enjoying the views, as the evening light framed the falling water.

We took a few obligatory touristy shot...

and then kept heading down the trail. We eventually headed across a meadow and to the swinging bridge, where we were treated with some great reflective views.

Once on the other side, we looked back once more towards the beautiful upper falls.

And then, heading back towards half dome, we returned to camp.

Next up, our awesomely wet 9 mile hike!

Our Campsite

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:02:00 +0000

Since I have so many photos, I decided to break them into categories. First, let me give you a tour of where I stayed this weekend :).

We stayed at North Pines, which is in the heart of Yosemite. Up until this point, I had only stayed at either Yosemite Lodge or Curry Village, never in a tent. I was a bit (okay, a lot) nervous, mostly because of the idea of bears. I did my research to learn how to be safe, but I was still finding my head filling with images of a bear ripping open our tent to find something that accidentally smelled good.

Apparently, I overreacted :). We had only one bear incidence, which was when we saw people staring at what we think was a bear off the side of the road.

We arrived around 2pm, had some lunch, and then got to work setting up our tent. Feast your eyes on this beautiful tent!

This was a gift from my parents, and makes camping an amazing experience. It is over 6 feet tall, so you can easily stand up - the claustrophobic feeling of camping is gone :). This, plus the air mattress my parents also gave us, made it amazing. It was the first time that I went camping and didn't miss my bed at home. Ed and I shared this tent with another couple and it worked great.

While it was a bit crowded, the location couldn't have been beat. Early on in our stay, we discovered that a mere few steps from our campsite, we could see this:

And this

And there were plenty of less well known, but still beautiful sites to behold.

We were close to the river, and could hear it thundering past constantly. The ranger shared with us that just a week before, the river had overflowed and poured out onto the campsite, flooding it completely. We were thankful that the river stayed in its bounds during our trip.

Next up, Ed and my exploratory run around the valley.

More to Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Ed and I had an amazing, quick trip to Yosemite this weekend with some friends to celebrate our last full weekend before wedding festivities begin! I took hundreds of wonderful photos (seriously - I came home with over 300!), but I'll leave you with this one to get you started :).

Flying By

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:44:00 +0000

Life has seemed to be moving at increasing speed these last few days (weeks, months?). I still need to do my 1/2 marathon post, and yet there seems to be so much more that I also have neglected to share.

One of the first big changes going on in my life is my employment. Some of you might remember my mention of job uncertainty months ago. Well, that uncertainty proved to be founded, in some respects. I did, indeed, lose my amazing job as a 4th grade teacher at my wonderful school. Luckily, I was also able to earn myself a place as a 6th grade language arts teacher at a middle school in my same district. While I can't deny my sense of loss in no longer being an elementary school teacher, I am excited about this new challenge. I don't know yet how I'll be at this new school, with this new age and new curriculum, but I have high hopes. So far, my staffmates seem to be wonderful, and I even got to start moving into my classroom. I have a feeling the first part of this coming school year will feel like a bit of a flashback to my first year, since it will be a very new experience.

Finishing my second year of teaching was a wonderful experience. It was an easier ending than last year, though I'll admit that I got a little teary after the last child left. This was a really special group of kids and I feel glad that I got to have such a great year with them. I'm not sure when, or if, I'll be back in an elementary classroom, so this year's memories will have to tide me over for a while.

The other big event going on (which I've mentioned quite a bit) is that our wedding is fast approaching. Less than 2 weeks, now, which means that I have a lot to get done. Now that I'm finished teaching, I can get some of the hands on projects going. I'll probably share pictures of some of the things after the wedding, but for now I'd like to keep things a surprise. It's lots of fun - but just takes up time! There are also just lots of things that need to happen in the weeks before a wedding - marriage liscence (got it!), picking up the dress and tuxes, gifts for lots of people, evening out my sports bra tan (should have been more careful with sunscreen on runs), packing for the honeymoon, and on and on! Whew, I'm tired just thinking about it. My stomach has been feeling a bit off, and I'm starting to fear that it might be just a small case of nerves kicking in - not because I'm nervous about getting married, just because I'm feeling like there is a lot to do!

Added to that, I need to be keeping up my running! I was a bad runner last week and only did one of my weekday runs. Ed kept me going on a great 12 miler (stories of that to come!). With the stress of wedding stuff mounting, running is even more important.

So, that's my life right now. Luckily, I'll get a nice 3 day break from life this weekend as Ed and I join a few other couples for a camping trip in Yosemite. I'm a bit nervous about that to, as I've never camped in bear country before (eeks!) but I am so excited to be in Yosemite. I haven't been there in many, many years, and cannot wait to go again! Pictures will definitely follow :).

A Beautiful Day on Mt. Tam

noreply@blogger.com (Adelyn) — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:26:00 +0000

I'm going to do my best to let my pictures do the talking here, as they are more than worthy of the responsibility. I ran an awesome 1/2 marathon today in the Santa Cruz mountains, running a respectable 2:52 (Ed ran an even more respectable 1:50!). That post is for another day, but the run did take a lot out of me, leaving me less than eloquent.

So, without further ado, here in pictures is our 8 mile jaunt on Mt Tam last weekend. We took Alpine Spring trail to West Point Inn, and from there took a fire trail up to the summit. It was a place we always wanted to visit, and we were excited to go there on foot.

(A lizard checking out the view)

Taking a break in a Mt Tam Gravity Car

We were very happy with the views, and accidently took a mile-ish trail around the summit, which sported amazing views of our whole surroundings.

Ed taking a break running on a side trail (I was too nervous about the bees that were hanging at the trail)

The summit lookout - I'd seen this in photos before

Then, we got a chance to go to the very top!

We made good time on the way down, but I was hurting by the end. I think it was just too much time outside (we spent a while on the summit) - mostly, dehydrated, sunburned and low in electrolytes.

The view from our car at the finish of our run

On the way down, we stopped to check out a place to take photos together after the wedding (we wanted redwoods), and were pleased.

Shortly thereafter, I started feeling incredibly sick - nauseous and pretty miserable. We also hadn't eaten in well over 5 hours, and my breakfast was french toast, not exactly lasting food. So, we stopped for sandwhiches - I tried to come in, but felt a bit like I was going to keel over, so I hurried back to the car. Ed saved the day with a big bag of salty chips and a good sandwich. It helped a lot, and soon I was feeling better and we were heading home.

Amazing to think that the next time we are on that mountain, it will be for our wedding :).