We are thinking of doing doughnuts next year.  It is morning after all.  We really want to get Tshirts and hopefully we can make that happen next year.  Also possibly making the route an even 10k since people are used to that, and we will have a garbage at the far end. 

If anyone has ideas on ways we could improve things let us know.  Thank you for all of your support!

Visit us here often for updates and forward this blog to anyone you know who might be interested.  Thanks and see you all soon!

We now have an email address!  tailsofsummer@gmail.com

Contact us with questions or whatever.

the sauvie island run went really well.  we finished in a respectable time (not the under-two-hours goal keith set for us, but very nearly!) and i learned more than i expected.   things i did right: took the night before off from work to relax and go to bed early; ate properly and drank all the gatorade stuff even though it makes me sick to my stomach (it was pretty hot out); wore a usual running outfit (my ‘lucky shorts’ and a wifebeater. i am hating tech material.  maybe when i run the marathon…); charged up my ipod and had an extra long playlist (3.5 hours) in case i hated parts of it.  things i didn’t do quite right:  consider that there is  only one road onto the island (we were really late despite leaving really early.  this had its advantages, like being able to pass a lot of slower people once we got going and not having the weird nervy feeling i get when surrounded by a swarm of people in race bibs.  the disadvantage was we didn’t have time to stretch or warm up); and plan on my whole body being in the experience — my SHOULDERS cramped up, which has never happened and was super-frustrating.  they are barely even involved in running! how dare they!  

all in all, a great experience.  it’s funny how when people tell you about running longer distances, they will tell you it’s either really hard or exhilirating, although neither description does justice to the experience.  the truth is, it changes for you constantly.  it’s hard one minute and exhilirating the next, and the battle that counts is with your own mind and not so much with your body.  nobody tells you that.

here, too, is a selection from my playlist on this run, in case anyone wants to try them out:

starter songs (low key and sunny feeling) :   cat power — could we.  noisettes — wild young hearts.  phoenix — 1901.  m.i.a. — paper planes.  lily allen — nan you’re a window shopper.

band appearing most often: les savy fav.  (i am considering asking them to send me a t-shirt to wear during the portland marathon.)

song that shouldn’t have made the playlist:  the bran flakes — i am a promise. (thought it would lighten the mood, but it broke my stride instead.)

song that saved the day around mile 11: the mae shi — lamb and the lion.

song i was listening to as we crossed the finish line:  david bowie — queen bitch.

thanks for reading and thanks to those of you who have signed up for the run/walk so far!

xoxo

in other news…we are having a bbq on sunday the 5th of july which will accomplish two things, we hope:  get people together to eat red velvet cupcakes and play croquet; and encourage friends and family to either register for the run itself, or, for the lazy set, donate a bit of cake toward the cost of the tote bags! 

 there will be live music played by erin’s talented brother*, steve otis, plenty of food, games, and (hopefully) lots of summer sun.  it’s at kenilworth park on se holgate and 32nd around three p.m. til we run out of ice.  come as you are.  or, if you don’t like yourself as of sunday, come as abba.

and two last items: keith and i are going to be running our first half-marathon on saturday the 4th of july on sauvie island! we are nervous as heck, like twittering little birdies.   and i am going to start blogging about the music i am listening to on my runs lately. i would love to compare/share playlists with anyone!

thanks for reading!

smj.

p.s. * = erin only has one brother. as opposed to having two of them, one of whom is talented and one of whom is untalented.  just for the record…

Vanity Junkie- www.vanityjunkie.com- where its good to be vain.  They are awesome girls who can totally remake your look. 

Kush Carpets- www.kushcarpets.com- hand-knotted carpets.  These two have a beautiful store filled with incredible carpets. 

Iorio Restaurant- www.ioriorestaurant.com – southern italian dining.  Voted most romantic restaurant in Portland, as well as best calamari, it is one to not be missed! 

These kind people have made Tails of Summer possible and we are endlessly appreciative of their generosity.  Check out their sites and businesses.  Well worth it!  We promise.

the big deals right now seem to be funding the initial costs of the run  — insurance, etc. — and finding someone to donate shirts for the runners plus the silk screening of the shirts.  if there is no way to get them for free, are we going to have to pay ourselves? or hold a fund-raiser for our fund-raiser?  shirts are sort of expected at runs, but i am wondering if we should have thought a little outside of the box and given out homemade pins and donuts instead, as everyone likes a nice glazed.  proof positive: less donuts wind up donated to the goodwill than do race t-shirts.

Mom

My parents and I started running in 1984.  I was in the 2nd grade in The Dalles, Or.  My best friend Heather’s dad was a recovering body builder who decided running was the best sport ever and everyone should do it.  As a result, our families spent many weekends over the next few years driving to Portland or Bend for races.  Every time we hung out, Heather’s mom would poke our calves and say, “Too soft.  You girls need to train more,” and then take us to the high school track to run wind sprints.    We idolized Greta Weitz even though she had diarrhea during the marathon.  She was just so tough- ran right through it. 

There have been periods when I haven’t run at all but it has always been, at least, something I need to do when I am frustrated, confused, or angry.  There is something about running which makes problems seem clear and feasible. 

The person who has inspired me most to run is my mom.  She has done the Portland Marathon, Hood to Coast, and zillion other runs around here.  She has found friendship, self-fulfillment, and health through running and now I hope to set the same example for my own daughter. 

Tails of Summer is a non-competitive run/walk starting at Oaks Park 8-9am. 

It will go north on Springwater Corridor, turn around near OMSI and return to Oaks Park.  This total distance is 6 miles.   

The $20 donation to DoveLewis can be made through their link below- which gets you a T-shirt with the super cute Tails of Summer logo!

http://dovelewis.org/events/Find_Us.aspx

And, yes!  We want people to wear costumes.  It may be warm, so just ears and a tail added onto your regular work-out wear is fine although more elaborate get-ups will receive whistles and applause. 

Dove Lewis Animal Hospital is on board with us now and registration for the event will be through their site.  (A link will be posted here as soon as they have the payment option up and running!)

We hope that this event will be the first of many so if you know anyone who likes animals, walking, running, or wearing costumes, send them our way!