Hi from Portland!

We have just gotten back to the hotel after eating a huge and delicious pasta dinner with Sassy and her manfriend!

But let’s backtrack to this morning.

Lisa and I were up and at em’ pretty early as we had a detour on the way to Portland. Snoqualmie Falls!

This added about an hour onto our trip from Seattle to Portland but was SO WORTH IT!

After a quick photo session we got on the I-5 and were Portland-bound.

We did make one more quick stop, though:

You guys win. Target ROCKS. Walmart SUCKS. I got a pair of champion shorts, a champion running top and a nice champion rain jacket there and was definitely impressed by the store!

OK, we eventually DID make it to Portland and headed to the Expo!

It was fun and got me even more excited for the marathon! There were some cute tech tees too. This is a message out to anyone else who may be running the Portland Marathon tomorrow:

And to anyone who ever told me “Are you sure running is good for you?!”

After we had got our race numbers we walked around with Sassy and manfriend before going out to dinner. It was so great to meet Sassy and she is JUST like she seems on her blog. I remember when I started reading her blog about 2 years ago and thinking “Wow, this girl is such an awesome runner!” and it was super inspiring to me.

Now, here I am, running the same marathon as her! Even though I’ll probably finish an hour behind. Ha!

The three marathoners:

And then we had an AMAZING pasta dinner with great company! I am sufficiently stuffed.

I just can’t believe its here. So many months of hard work, early mornings, stretching, foam rolling, tears. Right now, I’d say I’m ready. I’m excited to do this.

26.2 miles or bust!!!!!

PS: If you’re interested in tracking my progress you can do so HERE – my bib # is 1532!

Hi from Seattle!

The border crossing went so smoothly! We accidentally went down the “Nexus” lane – which is only for people who have special cards and have been screened by both the USA and Canadian governments. I just followed the blue car in front of me, I swear! We were driving along this lane thinking that maybe it was the wrong one since the other lanes were backed up almost 1/2 a mile and were getting really worried.

Anyways, we pull up to the border crossing, hand over our passports and plead innocence and the border guard lets us through! Yes!

So basically what should have taken us 45 minutes to an hour took five minutes!

Guess where we went as soon as we got to Seattle?

Nom nom nom! It was super fast service, I was very impressed by the menu – prices and calories – and my vegetarian burrito was delish.

Chipotle: You get two thumbs up!

We went to the Chipotle by University of Washington so it was fun to explore that part of the city which had a totally different vibe than the other parts we were in. Very young and hip plus the campus was beautiful!

After settling in at our hotel and relaxing a bit we headed out exploring.

On the agenda in Seattle was the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the original Starbucks.

Our hotel is right beside the Space Needle:

Very cool to see but we didn’t go up it!

Then we headed over to Pike Place Market, which was very fun and cool to walk around. Lots to see!

We wandered around the market for a few minutes before heading over the the Original Starbucks – this was what I was most excited to visit in Seattle!

We got two delicious Pumpkin Spice Lattes and I swear they were better than anywhere else I’ve had them! I also got a bag of coffee, which I may never open

We then wandered around town a little bit, did some shopping at Old Navy and visited a Borders and a Barnes and Nobles. After two nights of nice dinners in Vancouver we ate dinner at the food court in the mall and headed back to the hotel early. We are both a little tired from all the traveling.

Sadly, our trip to Seattle is not nearly long enough and we don’t get to see much of this great city. First thing tomorrow morning we are off to Portland.

Two freaking sleeps, you guys! We are both starting to get nervous!

See you from Portland

Morning!

Our time in Vancouver has flown by much too fast. Let’s recap yesterday shall we?

Lisa and I started our day off with a GORGEOUS run along the seawall in Stanley Park.

It was amazing and so beautiful, by far one of the nicest places I have ever ran. The path twisted and turned along the ocean and around Stanley Park. You were right on the ocean the entire time with a view of the mountains and the city in the background! I wish I had more photos for you.

Then we started playing tourist and headed out sightseeing.

Canada Place:

The Olympic Torch:

This was by the torch and oh-so-cool!

Gastown:

The Olympic countdown clock:

By the late afternoon we were starting to feel kind of exhausted and a little sick. I think we maybe were dehydrated? So we booted it back to the hotel to rest our legs and feet for a couple of hours and chug some gatorade!

Then it was time for our big Blogger Meet-up!!

I am always seeing big blogger dinners on other blogs so I was super excited to have one of our own!

We all met at this great little pizza place called Marcello’s. The amazing Liane organized the whole thing (thanks again, Liane!!!!)

We got to meet Sarah, Leah, Liane, Marianne, Keri, Lysa and Hillary!

We had pizza, salad and lots of WATER (hello, runners over here )

We are off to Seattle this morning, wish us luck with crossing the border!! Lisa is taking me to Chipotle for lunch and I am BEYOND excited!

Have you ever done a big blogger meet-up of some kind?

See you from Seattle!