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December 20, 2004

Christmas celebration #1

We arrived home from Phoenix last night at 1am, after a delayed, warm, stinky flight home. When we walked in the front door I noticed through our brown curtains a blue glow coming from the backyard. It seemed weird at the time but I was so tired I just didn't even want to deal with whatever it was. Turns out our friends Mark, AZ, and Kate had snuck into our backyard and set up an enormous illuminated blow-up Christmas penguin. Andy discovered it and I think it weirded him out since he couldn't figure out why someone would do that to us. Then I reminded him how last week while we were checking out the 37th St lights I'd complained to AZ about the ubiquity (yes, ubiquity) of those particular yard decorations, commenting that I found them somewhat obnoxious; completely forgetting that she had one in her yard. (It provides company for their dozen or so costumed pink flamingos.) So now we're babysitting an enormous blow-up penguin.

Hanging out with my family is always a good way to pass the time. My mom fed us like royalty and we slept as late as we wanted and napped when we wanted. In between naps and meals we checked out the Arizona Biltmore and the Desert Botanical Gardens luminaria festival thingie, played a few rounds of poker, watched a few movies, and exchanged Christmas presents.

The 30K on Saturday morning went well, despite the dirt trail, despite the total lack of mile markers, despite our slower-than-desired overall pace (7:06), and despite the fact that most of the course was not just an out-and-back, but an out-and-back-then-back-the-way-you-came-again-and-then-back-again-one-more-time. We had no less than four opportunities to cheer on our fellow runners as we ran opposite one another. Which was good, actually, since we were pretty much the only ones out there! The surface was hit-or-miss throughout the race. When we first got on the trail I was pretty frustrated with how loose and uneven the surface was, but there were other parts of the trail that had really good footing. So not only was it a mental and physical roller coaster, as all races are, but it was a topographical one, too. One major positive was that I felt remarkably good for the last two miles - like I could have continued for quite a bit longer.

My dad and brother Richard came out to cheer us on, which was DEFINITELY appreciated. My dad ran the 5K, doing better than he'd anticipated he would, and Rich was the designated photographer. He did much better than I did two years ago for the Thanksgiving race, when my mom sent me off with the task of taking lots of pictures and I completely forgot. We reenacted certain scenes in the street in front of their house when we got home.

So now instead of unpacking I'm sitting here farting around on the computer ... Maybe I need to get my priorities straight?

Posted by jenandmats at December 20, 2004 8:18 PM

Comments

Ha...I think those big blow-up Christmas characters are pretty obnoxious too. I better keep my mouth shut though or else one might end up on our porch! :) You gotta admit...that was a good trick... :) Glad you had a nice time in AZ! :)

Posted by: Beth at December 21, 2004 7:21 PM

My friend has a blow-up Frosty the Snowman, and we've been playing relocation games with it ever since he set it up. That thing is really getting around. Obnoxious or not, I think their stupidly hilarious. That's cool that you have a lighted penguin in your backyard.

Glad to hear that your race went well. Helluva workout, 30K at 7:09 pace, on a trail. He*ll yeah.

And glad to hear that family Christmas celebrations in Arizona were fun...

Take care,
Meghan

Posted by: Meghan at December 22, 2004 7:10 PM

Oops, I mean 7:06. Important distinction...

Posted by: Meghan at December 22, 2004 7:11 PM

7:06 on dirt is still pretty nice. And congratulations to your Dad as well. I hope that 2005 brings you the racing success that you want, and more.

Posted by: Richard at December 24, 2004 10:49 AM

I'm catching up on blogs and thought that the blow up penguin story was hilarious. Sounds like you had a very nice, relaxing Christmas. Keep up the awesome training!

If you guys aren't too busy on race weekend, I'd like to meet you and Meghan. We can chat as it gets closer.

Posted by: Leilani at December 27, 2004 11:35 AM