Coconut Time

It was so nice to have a running partner today. She only graced me with four miles, but that was great! I forget how much faster the time goes when you have someone to talk to when you are running. I do enjoy my music, but it can get a bit boring. And now I have her hooked on the coconut water as well.

Now I don't think I will ever be able to run again in the States. Where am I going to get my coconut water?

Running Partners

It is amazing how much faster a long run goes when you have someone to run it with you! I had forgotten this fact until my daughter joined me today for our long run. She is training for a 10k in a couple of weeks and I am still training for our Retarded Robbins Reunion half marathon. I feel great running 10 miles but am thinking that 11,000 to 13,000 feet is going to make a big difference in this great feeling!

I have been trying to get lots of hill training in and some sprints. Just trying to get used to not being able to breathe basically. I never realized what a difference it makes to train at altitude until we moved here to Costa Rica from Flagstaff Arizona.

Flagstaff is at 7,000 ft. elevation, so I always struggled to run. Riding was a little easier and since I never go fast swimming it was always the same. I have been surprised that I am getting faster in the water. I am almost as fast as I was when I quit racing eight years ago. It will be interesting to see if I can actually get faster.

I guess that it is a good sign that I have not slowed down. Now if everyone else just gets worn out and tired of racing I will win by attrition!

MOTHER OF THE YEAR WINNER !

Did you know my daughter was "mother of the year"? I didn't think you knew that, because you don't read the Costa Rica newspapers, but sure enough she is. Then again maybe it did not make it to the newspaper, but we all know the truth and that is what matters ha?
As you can see she loves to cook and is very good at it. My favorite things she makes are the enchiladads from Hondurus. They are amazing and very good. I also love her cookies and her chicken and potato dishes. All in all I love her cooking. She is trying to quit eating, but it is hard when you cook so good.
Besides being the "mother of the year" she is the "running partner of the year". She will do our long run with me on Saturday at any time. She has been good enough to wait until six in the evening before and will even go at six in the morning. We are training for the Tamarindo Marathon in August and she is great about keeping me on task.
She is also an awesome sister. She is good about keeping her sisters to task and making sure I know what is going on. She remembers things I don't about being young and can remind me when I forget what it was like to be young. She is also awesome to take in her brothers and help them get on their feet here in Costa Rica.
I think the frosting on the cake is the fact that she is just an all around awesome daughter. She is my best friend and I am constantly amazed at how smart and on the ball she is. She is also my business partner and is great about teaching Mom how to run a business.
After the things she has been through, with hubby being deported, major health issues as a baby, as well as job hassles, she has handled with grace and courage. She is an inspiration to me and I hope you are lucky enough to meet her some day and be inspired by her as well.