So Far So Awesome

I can't believe it's been a week since we got to Portland! We are getting our internet and cable installed on Tuesday so I've only been able to use public computers, hence, the lack of posting. Anyway, we loooooove Portland! So fun! We love our apartment, the location right downtown, the tons of restaurants and coffee shops and bars and parks and art galleries and outdoor stores. There is a farmer's market next door on Thursday nights, there was a big neighborhood-wide art festival the other evening, the waterfront is packed with people enjoying the weather, and everyone all around just seems so damn happy. Also, everyone is SO nice! Seriously, the people on the street, in the elevator, at the coffee shop, everyone is just incredibly friendly.

We're making progress on the job front: we both had interviews last week and while mine was only allright, Zach's was good, and we're both hoping we hear back. Otherwise we'll forge ahead with the job search.

The running around Portland is amazing. We've mainly been hitting up the waterfront paths but also ventured up to Forest Park one day. I will put up some pictures when I get internet in my apartment. It is beautiful. It's been an adventure finding our way around. I'm feeling really good on these runs too. The 9:00 range is feeling easy and I was able to push through a fast run with Zach as well. We did our first longish run today and it felt great. Here's the First Week in Portland Run-Down:

Tuesday
5.5 miles/48:47/8:52 average pace
Waterfront run solo

Wednesday
6.0 miles/49:05/8:11 average pace
Forest Park with Zach

Thursday: hike
4.6 miles/2:00 ish
Angel's Rest

Friday
5.0 miles/44:06/8:49 average pace
Waterfront with Zach

Saturday
10.0 miles/1:31:04/9:06 average pace
Eastbank Esplanade/Springwater Corridor with Zach

TOTAL miles this week: 26.5

So, Wednesday is my BIRTHDAY!! I will be turning 28. We're planning on going for a long run, specifically the Third Annual Happy Birthday Half Marathon. Then we'll do some other fun stuff and go out for dinner. Our marathon training for California International Marathon (December 7) starts the following Monday.

Have a great weekend and week everyone, I'll post pictures galore next week. :)

My Legacy

Ok, that might be a little overstated. I am using my last post from California to share for the first time a new side-blog. I've been semi-working on it for a few months, but never got around to finishing it. It is really only relevant to my Bay Area blog readers, and is specifically an unsolicited favor to my friend Maritza. When we were training for our first marathon together back in 2005, I spent a lot of time researching and planning fun new running routes for each long run. Since then, I have found others and have amassed quite a collection of information. Alas, I am leaving the Bay Area behind, and I want to leave this information for Maritza, Aron, Jenn, Pamela, and any other local runners who are looking for good new routes to run. There are a couple incomplete posts but I'll finish it up soon. And I suppose I'll be adding a Portland section.

http://www.running-places.blogspot.com/

We are leaving in the morning. I am excited, nervous, and a little sad. See you on the flip side. :)