SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

NIKE HALF MARATHON - Finisher! Yahoo!

original post is from 2005, but when I searched and found in draft form, and re-published, it has published as if it was written today.  -frustrating

****   NIKE WOMENS HALF MARATHON 2005 ***


With special thanks to Coach Louis, Carla, Sharon and Nike event coordinators & volunteers - Today I ran 13.1 miles and cross the finish line in my first half marathon. And what a first marathon it was: 15,000 women running together along the streets, sidewalks, neighborhoods and beaches of San Francisco and over 14 million earned to help find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma.

And God sent me an angel running partner 5 minutes before the start. A beautiful woman named Lee from Arkansas. Fifty-seven years old, single mother of 4 children, who put herself through school to become a nurse and support her family. Now she has one child in the military, one is a policeman, and one daughter a teacher. I can't remember what the 4th child is doing, but what a wonderful family! So many noble, service-oriented occupations. Obviously her wonderful example lead the way. And as we talked and ran side by side for the race, I realized she was going slower than her usual pace for my benefit. What a kind person. As a matter of fact I regard her now as Saint Lee. Twice during our half marathon she stopped racing all together to help others. In one neighborhood there was an elderly couple trying to cross the street. Him with a cane, her leaning on his arm for support. They were dressed so elegantly but they were very old and their chances for safely crossing the street with hundreds of women flying by was not looking good. Then I turned my head for just a moment and noticed Lee was gone. She had stopped to help them across the street and then ran up without skipping a beat to catch back up with me. Then towards the end of the race, we saw a runner on the ground. Both of her legs had buckled at the same time and she fell quick and hard. There were a couple people around her, but Lee stopped again and went over to offer her nursing skills and helped the woman back on her feet. I waited off to the side - so impressed to be in her company. So glad to witness her kindness for others. When we started running again together, she said to me, "when you get to be 57, your priorities change a little - the time of the race isn't as important." I understood and admired her wisdom. And she helped me through a terrible stomach cramp that came out of nowhere and stopped me in my tracks. She help coach me through the pain, told me how to move and place my arms above my head, breathe in and out slow, keep walking.. and before I knew it, the pain was gone and we were on our way again.

I learned she had broken one of her legs in 17 places some time back, dismounting from her horse. And just last year, had surgery for a brain tumor. It was benign, thank God, but that doesn't eliminate the rollercoaster emotional ride such traumatic news and surgery brings with it. "So, I'm really glad to be here, to be running," she tells me. I rubbed her back and smiled, "I'm so glad you're here too!" She was beautiful, and kind, and in such great shape and so quick to help wherever she saw an opportunity.

When we passed the 12 mile mark - the Ghirardelli station - I could see she wanted to run in fast and pour it on for the last mile finish. "Go! Please. Run your race" I said with a smile and she said, "okay," and waved and off she went. She was so fast! I just watched with amazement, as this 57 year old saint, took off and disappeared into the crowds ahead of me. I never did see her again after I cross the finish line myself some several minutes later but her stories and example will stay with me forever.

I got quite a boost from seeing my son and daughter and husband near the end of the race, searching for me in the crowds to wave hello and call out some cheers, but I didn't have enough gas left to pour it on through the finish line like I hoped. Still, I finished solid and strong and feel pleased with my accomplishment. 13.1 miles. It was dream-like to be greeted on the other side by handsome men in tuxedo's holding silver trays passing out Tiffany necklaces in those beautiful blue boxes with pretty white ribbons. And what a high to bounce around in the exhausted and excited crowds of women, men and children in hunt for a banana, some water and our Nike finisher T-shirts. "Run like a girl!" they say. I love that.

So I'm proudly wearing my beautiful Tiffany necklace; a silver silhouette of a woman on the run with the Nike logo and '05 engraved. I was so happy when Coach Louis called to check in with me, as he does all his runners, after the race, giving us a chance to share our experiences and set new goals. I've spent some time on the phone with Carla reliving the experiences of the day and feel so lucky to know and have a friend like her. I can't wait to see everyone from the run club Tuesday night and hear about their experience in the Nike Half Marathon or Livermore Grape Stomp.

and before I take my ibuprofen and call it a night - thanks again to Sharon for driving - to Mindy, Mandie, Lorrin, Robin, Carla and Kasey for encouragement and energy - Hope everyone had a great time and feels one step closer to their next challenge and victory.

as for my stats,

Bib#15746. 2:42, age 35-39, 627 out of 1170, overall, 3888

it was crazy really, all that training, waking up at 3:30am to get ready and carpool to the city, to freeze in the morning, wait in long lines for porta-potties with no toilet paper, to run through large crowds, up steep unbearable hills, through the fog, along the coast for 13.1 miles

and i can't wait to do it again!

Labels: Carla, coach louis, marathon, nike, saint, san Francisco

posted by SHE @ 7:22 AM 0 comments

50/50 by (me!) sandra, tvgp

see how I never shut up.  -blame the blogosphere.

***

we are in trial phase, experimenting with a new social media tool online.  we = general manager; not sure how old, but.. the reason age matters at all, I will explain very shortly

she is a grandmother, and has 23 years experience at Alden Lane.  I am, just shy of turning 51.  and Vanessa is a 20-something.   the reason age and experience are very relevant here is because..

I will switch here to only speaking for myself..   I know..   I know I have a certain resistance to the latest/greatest technologies..  bells/whistles..   while i am simultaneously the very grateful beneficiary of all kinds of awesome technologies/applications/programs..

so, for me personally, I count on my young adult children, or these 20-somethings, or in this very specific case, Vanessa, to..   weigh in on whether something is truly valuable, or just expensive, with more bells than i'll ever actually, in a practical way need to ring, and whistles that look pretty, but when you go to blow..  no sound comes out; but a bill still shows up...

and teens, and 20-somethings have almost no resistance to the latest/greatest, and will stand in very long lines, or wait for hours to click on a button which gives them access to..

but,

I say 50/50..   because, while I am aware my age   -50-   is a liability when it comes to accurately analyzing new technology tools

my age   -50-  is also quite an asset, in the way that..   even though technology has evolved, there are some certain business practices, sales techniques/strategies, glossy brochure, fast talking, skip this, bullshit that, practices that are very old and quite predictable..

the younger ones are learning as they go..    oh, they said it would do this.. but it doesn't;  they said it would cost this much..  but its costing me way more...  they said it would be this fast, but it gets stuck all time..    they promised this/but gave me that..

that's where experience/wisdom come in quite handy and valuable..

so, I will personally default to her, while I offer..   a closer look at and into the promises being made about performance and cost vs. the actual and very practical way it will be used, and the real price.

but my antennas are upwrite.

because   "oh.. well, they do play with the words a little bit there.."  he tells us, via online audio conference/class, "... they say, ...up to..      but you will have to pay more per each user"

and  -up to-  cerebral hyperlinks for me personally to a very ugly exchange, and an on the spot quitting of a job...  for very good reason.  I wont repeat the story here, but the term is synonymous with

bullshit.  I hate it.

I do not play the  -up to-  game.    and it helps me remember just how much bullshit you must constantly wade through to get to truth and facts..

so, I had to work hard at not shutting down, and turning off in the very moment I heard him say those words..

and then,

that was followed shortly thereafter by..

with,   -well, a few "exceptions.."

like, yes.. it can do this..     but just not that     -where the THAT is why you were even interested in the first place..

know what I mean.        -and the thing it does do best..   is that productive for us? or distracting and counterproductive, ultimately...

50/50.    but i'm almost, may I point out here:   51.

so, for me personally, the 50 goes toward yes; the 51 to no thank you.   but I yield final answer/decision...


In Jesus   -aren't you glad there are no advertisements in the Bible-  name,   

and they are FREE..    no money/motivated sales pitches to wade through...

 ***

MY THOUGHTS on keeping an eye on the competition..

here is my analogy:    who is your actual competition?  competitor?   -for real.

if you are looking at NIKE, for example

             -because you too are selling running shoes..       

posted by SHE @ 6:31 AM 0 comments

BERNIE, MOZART & (me!) by sandra, ttgp

original post: 12/18/2006 thanks jim! i've finally added a photo.

thanks frank! -for the photo to add and moral support

and thank you bernie! my wonderful music teacher, for creating a memory i'm thrilled to share.


***


and now just look at me will ya.. i hardly recognize me myself!
i've been secretly taking flute lessons for only a few weeks (right bernie)

(i asked him to say only a couple weeks, so my twink

le, twink

-kle

lit, li,

ttle star would sound more impressive, but turns out he is as honest as he is patient and kind. darn it! anyway)

every single aspect of this experience is new to me. prior to signing up for lessons i had
a) never seen a flute close up
b) never held one
c) never put one together or took one apart
d) never cleaned a flute and put it inside it's case
e) never read music
f) never played a note
g) never played a musical instrument of any kind, anytime.. save only "chopsticks" as taught to me by my big brother on my grandma's organ about 35 years ago.

but i've been experimenting with proactively adding new brain pathways; dilutting old and yucky pathways and guess what?

it works! learning something new, i'm convinced, has an even greater impact than an antidepressant, lasts longer AND -offers like, five times the ongoing reward.

and how did i pick the flute? i can only say i responded to the results of my automatic listening/writing sessions and then went out and purchased a used flute. pre-owned; whatever. (and a tambourine).

anyway

how did i find bernie? i can only say here, and i believe quite fully, he was god selected and heaven sent.

having experienced his opposite in other areas of life, i know that without bernie's (specifically bernie's) incredible patience, joy, encouragement, kind and thoughtfulness, plus enthusiasm

i would have quit or never started. but in fact, under his care and guidance, i kept on even when i fell behind in practice and had to miss a few lessons and

ultimately succeeded in participating in my first recital with him and his many other lucky students, playing none other than who? mozart! and successfully surprised the heck out of my daughter, son and nephew (and myself for that matter).

and what a trick.. to learn this entirely new language. to read music for the first time. to create fingering charts and learn which fingers go where and then breathe

breathe, breathe, breathe, (tu, tu, tu) to make sounds. -so challenging, frustrating

and exciting!

and now, i've been thinkin' about how i succeeded a couple years ago at finishing my first half marathon. -very, very slow. but i finished

and then after the big nike race, the men in tuxedo's with the tiffany necklaces, and the bright blue finishers t-shirt w/the golden gate bridge and nike logo

i pretty much put my tennis shoes away. i've not been motivated since

but i think the flute experience might be very different from the running experience.

i just want to learn more, practice more, learn a new song

when i look outside at this cold winter weather, i have no desire to go out for a walk or jog

but look lovingly upon my new instrument.

we keep each other warm and hopeful.

and my master plan is working too because after school today i made music with my children.

and what better way to celebrate the season?

so i was the first one up, and the only 40 year old as you will see now that i can post pictures with such ease

and didn't every single one of these elementary through highschool kids do an outstanding job performing their music. such a variety of instruments, skill levels and songs

but everyone of us infected with bernie's contagious hope and joy of music.

and to my great pleasure and big surprise, bernie and all his students invited me to join them again when they play in 2007 at pier 39

their generosity is my motivation.

practice. practice. practice.

and can't close w/out a thank you to the two beautiful middle school flautist girls who helped me out in the very unfamiliar, noisy & crowded tune up room. -you were terrific!

posted by SHE @ 2:13 PM 1 comments

Did you know BART can take you to Europe.. learns (me!) sandra, tvgp

some kind of strange thing goes on in my brain about San Francisco..    like, even though it is, by geography,

/let me go fact-check here..  be write back:

***

43.2 miles; 52 minutes; and if driving a very fuel efficient hybrid, a mere estimated $3.50 in fuel..

even though it is less than 50 miles away by earth measurement; real world stuff;

it is like going to Europe in my mind; to my imagination.   Now, I've never been to Europe, and I have been to San Francisco

which makes the whole thing stranger still.   I already know its easy-access via BART.   see!   I traveled there with my beautiful children not too long ago for a Michael Jackson Thriller Halloween Party

I was there with my sister  /"Hi Keeshie!"    and IN one of the most awesome/perfect day/spectacular view parades of all time:  The Columbus, slash, Italian Heritage Day Parade..

I've taken BART and walked to,  -and celebrated on The Hornblower Yacht for family birthdays and bringing in the New Year..

it is not like I don't know!   and..  my trip with my kids to visit/tour Alcatraz..

and my goodness..   The Nike Women's Half Marathon!   and when I played the flute with the Good Time Band at Pier 39 "thank you!" to Bernie Berke..

/and will skip memories of the Golden Gates 50th anniversary...       and will skip

***

the point is, even though I have been and returned home on a variety of very blessed occasions, - for reasons I cannot explain

and only can share:   each time, the very mention of it, the mere suggestion of going to San Francisco weighs on my mind like a suitcase full of rocks and bricks, and starts to tangle knots in the cerebral pathways..

My daughter and her friends visit San Francisco as easily as visiting the local mall, and my son and a group of friends all just went for the day  

and when they share their pictures/stories,   and I see pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge, or beautiful views from the top of skyscrapers...    its as if i'm looking at the Eifel Tower, and feel so proud and happy they made it       a l l      t h e     w a y             t h e r e      and back home safely.

and when people say to me, "oh, I go there all the time..."   i'm like, "really.. why? how? its so far away.. did you get a week off from work?."

the upshot being  -despite a number of very positive and practical real life experiences to the contrary

" its ten times more complicated and involved and time consuming and energy consuming in my mind than it actually just was!" 

all of that prelude was just to share, that, "thank you!" here to Gerry Schoon, and her son, Kenny

my one  ~true day off, after surviving the Christmas Season in retail, working 7 days a week between Alden Lane and Ricks Picks, squeezing art in between..  and Christmas Shopping, and wrapping, and delivering, and then two days of inventory...  etc., etc.

on my one ~true day off, I went to the California Academy of Sciences in Europe via BART and BUS 5

the three of us!   and Gerry, is like (me!) and my sister, that way..    She isn't one of those people who just spontaneously decides to hop over to The City like its in her own backyard.  It was a big deal for her too..    and her son,  -it was on the rare adventure list for him too

so we were, the blind leading the blind leading the blind..

but Ju-Ju helped with her experiences visiting there all the time, and aided us by googling' directions/information, and Gerry did some research online..

and I re-read the website for the academy several times..   got lost in the beautiful graphics, excited to visit, but.. on the directions page, it never directly mentions WHAT? WHICH BART STATION do we get off on?   SPECIFICALLY?  NAME PLEASE?!

when your cerebral GPS is damaged or missing..   well, ive mentioned it before, and will mention it again..  how I wish the whole world was labeled a little more specifically and ubiquitously and color coded, so I can find my way...

its very taxing.   -and unnecessary.   i.e.,   at the PLEASANTON BART STATION

we had to go all the way back to where we had parked to figure out if we were in permit only vs. day pay spot..   and relocate the car, and then go back..  because the lady in the booth, couldn't tell us, by parking space #, where we landed.

this could be avoided if there was A SIGN!  which identified 

ROWS 1900-2200  permit only    "but once again!"  I tell Gerry, "they forgot to ask me first!"

I could be so helpful..    the potential for avoiding unnecessary issues/problems, disputes and world wars even..        if they would just ask me first..

anyway..  I'm way off the BART track..

Let me be very helpful here by sharing with you that you want to get off at

THE EMBARCADERO STATION            



it is on the CALIF ACADEMY website, and in Ju-Ju's direct experience, that once you exit at THE EMBARCADERO STATION, you take the N-Juda

and per website, once you arrive at    one of several transfer stations, you catch the Muni's N-Line

but "thank you!" here to a kind, total stranger, inside the booth at the Embarcadero Station,

we walked, along the write side, up the escalator, and hopped on BUS 5.. which took us almost directly to the front doors of the Academy; save a couple blocks, for $2.25

and let me say here, how blessed I feel to have a new friend!  but doubly-blessed I was feeling as we walked past the incredible landscape that serves as entry to the academy, because my new friend is also a horticulturist!

that means, she could actually name the trees, flowers, plants as we passed by them!

and it turns out, her son is quite the knowledgeable one also.   it was such a joy, and education, to take in the sights, sounds, textures, exhibits,

all of which are shared so professionally/brilliantly on the website itself, it would be silly for me to be redundant

the highlights for me, were..    everywhere!    but, of course, I get a bit of the gag reflex where they share the Darwin/evolution theory as if..

so I pointed to the famous/iconic ape to human standing erect on two feet picture

"that IS NOT an evolved human being!!    -those who manifest the fruits of the spirit!   THOSE are  evolved human beings!"

   -its much harder to capture that evolution in a graphic.   but there oughta be an exhibit where they show the spiritual narrative..     born flesh/spirit..    baptisms..   spirit conquers flesh...   fruits of the spirit manifest..    ego conquered/selfishness conquered/fears conquered..    forgiveness achieved..
from self-centered flesh motivated to loving humanitarian..    

and, I remain curious about just how long it will be before the apes/monkeys that are currently apes/monkeys in the world and zoos write now..    how long before they too   -evolve, via natural selection..     why only a percentage?  or has it all worked out, that,  -perhaps, the apes/monkeys go extinct, eventually, because the number of evolved, upwrite-standing humans are pro-creating and no longer need...       ?    and I am just personally convinced, that

well, who among us gets to check back in a million years; write.  I'm just of the belief  -born a monkey; stays a monkey.  born a human; stays a human. stick as many years in between as you'd like.  there is a master, and there is a plan..

***

I must interrupt my own story here to share..

it was a conversation which took place with a customer,  -we got on the subject of raccoons..  and I said, what is practically script for me now, because the same cerebral hyperlink gets clicked on when..

(me!):  "... and I didn't know they were aggressive toward humans until my neighbor..."

him:  "well, they have to be!   just think about it for a minute,"  he tells me, all proud and knowledgeable and certain, "look at their size compared to us humans..   they have to be able to protect themselves"

and it raced through my mind..    too many animals and creatures to itemize or count, but that are smaller than humans but not aggressive

and I decided it would take too long, would require too much effort to correct him, or explain, and the transaction at the cash register was over anyway, with another person waiting in line..

so..     he left just as confident as he had arrived.

and I spent the rest of the day wondering..   how many people have not taken the time or energy to correct me in areas of my own ignorant certainty?

    -none of us can actually know..     there is something very funny, entertaining and sad about that all at once.

***

we had a great time, all of us, on our trip to the California academy of sciences in Europe.  and brought our own picnic..    and sat outside, on a gorgeous day, to eat and visit, and take in the very beautiful environment..



plus, look at all these wonderful additions to the heart seen collection:



 and we all felt   -that, wonderful sense of personal accomplishment, having ventured out into new territory, and finding our way on public transportation..    and hanging out in such a stimulating place and

we had a very slight detour-accidentally getting on

    -not the wrong, exactly, but a different bus on the return..     and, still arrived back to BART, and back home, fulfilled and safely.

***

and, Gerry and Kenny dropped me off and headed home..

but my one and only true day off did not end there.   "thank you very, very, much!" to my mom

I got to conclude my adventure with a one hour,

very sublime

     -perhaps, what was the best massage of my entire almost 51 year old life.       /so, out of 12 or so, over five decades.                 

but, yes, the best of my life!  so, go see Melissa at massage envy, pleasanton

***


when I sent her a thank you, I said, "this positions me well to deal with the upcoming stress of having to find a new room to rent by the end of January."


yes..   it is time to move   ~again.    the family i'm renting from now, are "BIG CONGRATULATIONS!"   expecting their first grandchild..

a boy.

and the space I'm in will be for...      /insert name here sometime in February.

***

   "you know you always have a room here"  says my mom with a smile..

***


In God's got me on the move again's name..


   hallelujah! and amen!             /picures to post when phone/upload issues are resolved..

Labels: alden lane, bart, Bernie, California academy, evolution, Gerry, good time band, gps, Kenny, massage, mom, moving, neuroscience, new friend, public thank you, rent, san Francisco, science, true day off, walnut

posted by SHE @ 7:31 AM 2 comments

million trillion "Thank You Jesus!" prayers...

 we are being blessed with back to back to back to back family fun activities and experiences..  

it would be boring for me to just post a pix with a caption [repeat, repeat]; rather i really look forward to a window of time opening for me to take select pictures and create with them; something unique, creative & fun that captures this very special  -due season experience

so, upcoming...

and i will just close with something i didn't get a picture of; i only saw in passing somewhere...

but it did make me laugh

it was a t-shirt that read,  i used to be a people person until people ruined it.

****

and also, 

we've been experiencing these back to back blessings while the world continues to go crazy all around us, and! despite a government shut down...

it's also been a great break from 'the news'

but even before our great break, i woke up one morning with this song in my head, a familiar melody with new lyrics; and it was directly inspired by watching/listening to 'the news'

the melody is from "skip to my lou" 

the new lyrics, if you'd like to join in and sing along go like this:

"script, script, script and a loop

script, script, script and a loop

script, script, script and a loop

script and a loop my darlings."

*****

answer:  NO THANK YOU.  to the new icon embedded in my blog here, a little pencil with a star

which when you hover over says, automatically insert google search links into your post.

    -so, these automatic links would help my imaginary readers learn more... or 'dive deeper'

but, i'll make those choices..

and, really, i'd only be interested if the links were within my blog itself; no outside sources..

because, 

for example, 

or i.e., like the scholars like to say..

tomorrow, october 23rd, 2025,  is the 20 year anniversary of the nike women's (half) marathon i participated in, 

and it would be great to post that and have it 'automatically link' to the post i wrote and shared from that experience..

but i will do that myself; tomorrow..    i re-read it myself, and wow! to the earth angel i was blessed to meet..

adding germane memory:  the first time i saw one of my texts  -a personal text to a friend-  and on the receiving end of said text a couple of my words had links inserted for person to click on.  I NEVER CREATED THOSE LINKS  -never needed, asked for, or wanted any of my words in a casual text to a friend to link to something else; period.  my first reaction was 'word rape'   -very strong word/description, i realize..  but when your words suddenly have links you never placed in; asked for/wanted/or intended..

it's a pretty yucky, intrusive feeling.   especially add on, you cannot figure out who/what/when/why.. and how to un-do or prevent it.   -that has to happen at a higher/behind the seens, programming/coding level.  

so, at least, this new icon that popped up.. [which i cannot seem to make go away, even though i have already determined i do not want 'auto google links' ]    -at least they are asking first...

also, 

as everyone already knows..   too many links prevents the context/content of a paragraph from being comprehended  -rabbit hole syndrome

perhaps, they should not be within the paragraphs..   but, only after/bottom of the page

* want to learn more about... 

****

hallelujah! & amen!    -THIS is the day the Lord has made..

re-joyce!ing and very glad in it..

posted by SANDRA MICKANEN @ 9:16 AM 0 comments

Against such things there is no law. revisited by (me!) sandra, tvgp

posted by SHE @ 11:55 AM 0 comments