Thursday, March 24, 2011

Boston - Less Than Four Weeks!

It's hard to believe that in less than four weeks I'll be able to check the Boston Marathon off my list! Training has been tough due to weather, running in the dark so much of the time and getting sick for a couple weeks mid training.

I've decided I am going to go and have fun and not worry about my time. The goal was to qualify! I'll be happy with anything under 4 hours.

I received my bib number the other day and my staring time. They start the run in three waves. I'm in wave two and will start running on 4/18 at 10:20 am EST. You can go online and track my time if you like as I run. My bib number is 10197.

Thought I'd share a few pictures from my run yesterday. Although I started out in the dark - I ran 11 miles so by the time I was done the sun had come up and it was a beautiful morning for a run along the Seattle waterfront.









Love the Olympic Mountains all covered with snow and there is nothing more beautiful than seeing Mt. Rainier after fresh snow on a crisp clear morning.

Have a good one!

Jim

Sunday, March 20, 2011

From the Seattle Times




Huskies fall short against North Carolina

Washington's season ended Sunday in Charlotte, N.C., where the Huskies fell to North Carolina, 86-83.

By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It came down to the end.

The Huskies had plenty of chances to upset No. 2 seed North Carolina after Scott Suggs drained a three-pointer to cut their deficit to a point with 15.2 seconds left.

But that's when everything fell apart and the Tar Heels escaped with an 86-83 victory in the third round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

The Huskies left Time Warner Cable Arena staring at the clock and begging for a goaltending call that never came from the officials.

But that's not why they lost. In fact, the final shot, by Isaiah Thomas, was a two-pointer, anyway.

Washington will lament a turnover in the waning seconds.

Trailing 84-83, Justin Holiday had his inbounds pass partially deflected by 6-foot-10 North Carolina forward John Henson with 7.4 seconds left.

The ball landed in Leslie Strickland's hands and he drained two free throws to put the Tar Heels ahead by three.

Washington still had a chance.

Only 5.4 seconds remained on the clock when Venoy Overton raced up the sideline and hurried a shot just inside the midcourt line that sailed out of bounds.

But the ball was touched by a North Carolina player and the Huskies retained possession, with just 0.5 seconds remaining.

Thomas got up a shot from the corner, but he had stepped inside the three-point line. The ball never made it to the rim because Henson swatted it away.

Washington, the Pac-10 tournament champion, ends its season with a 24-11 record.

Terrence Ross led the Huskies with 19 points, Thomas had 12 and C.J. Wilcox 11.

The game turned late in the second half.

The Huskies led 76-73 when they went cold from the field.

Holiday and Thomas lost the ball on consecutive possessions before Matthew Bryan-Amaning missed a short jumper. Darnell Gant collected the rebound, but Henson spiked his putback.

On the ensuing possession, Thomas short-armed a midrange jumper.

Meanwhile, North Carolina surged ahead.

Junior forward Tyler Zeller gave the Tar Heels an 80-76 lead with a pair of free throws at 3:25.

Washington coach Lorenzo Romar inserted 7-foot sophomore center Aziz N'Diaye and 6-6 junior guard Scott Suggs into the starting lineup — the 11th time this season he's switched starters — to combat North Carolina's big front line.

The change produced early positive results.

N'Diaye was one of the stars early for Washington. He collected eight rebounds in the first half and played solid defense.

The Huskies also received a tremendous lift from the bench when Ross scored 12 points in the first half.

Washington led 45-44 at the break.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com

Dawgs lose a close one to the Tar Hills

It was a great game but the Dawgs just had too many turnovers in the last few minutes of the game and go down to the Tar Heels 83-86.


Great game Huskies!

Duke and Michigan just started!




After going for an 18 mile run and cheering for over two hours I am exhausted!

Headed home tomorrow. After the Duke Michigan game we are heading out for dinner to celebrate Kent's 47th B-day which is today. Happy birthday to my wonderful husband!





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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Day in Columbia NC

Following our morning run in Charlotte we had lunch at Big Daddies Burger Bar and then headed south Columbia the state Capitol of South Carolina.














We made the most of our time in town including a visit to the campus of the University of South Carolina - home of the Gamecocks!


Yes - I picked up a couple of new shirts!



My friend Jennifer's brother and sister-in-law live in Columbia so it was fun texting back and forth during our visit! The campus of USC was beautiful - dogwood trees and azaleas in full bloom all over he place.
























We found out their was a baseball game and that the USC baseball team was the 2010 National Champions so we decided to take in the game. It was a beautiful day for baseball.













In case you were wondering - this is a gamecock!

Finished the day with dinner at the Motor Supply Company Bistro.


I had the seared duck which was delicious!



Tomorrow I have a long 18 mile run so I'm going to a park in downtown Charlotte and them the big game at 12:15!

Later - Jim

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Morning Run in Charlotte

Went for an 8.5 mile run this morning on a beautiful greenway. It was active and the weather could not have been more perfect!









Headed to Columbia SC today to visit the capitol.

It's beautiful here!

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Huskies win over Georgia!

UNC up next on Sunday!












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Dawgs Up Next!




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Pics from Charlotte NC
































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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Made it to Charlotte, NC!

Spring is in the air! Notice the cherry trees in full bloom!




Waiting for the rental car shuttle.




New airport for me and a new city - never been to Charlotte. The UW AD Scott Woodard was on the plane as was KJR's Softy Mahler! Go Huskies!

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Charlotte, NC

Well it was not on our top list of places to go but.....

Tournament tickets - check
Airline Tickets - check
Hotel and car reserved - check

We are ready to go! We will play on Friday night against the Georgia Bulldogs and if we win we will play either University of North Carolina or Long Island University on Sunday.

We been to NC before but never to Charlotte so we are looking forward to checking the place out. Weather if nothing else looks really nice - especially when compared to Seattle.

Go Dawgs!

Monday, March 14, 2011

And Now.....

The real madness begins! What a tournament! I've got to start this post with a clip of the final seconds of the final game. I've watched it a dozen times and it never gets old! Check it out!



So against several odds the Huskies win the PAC - 10 tournament and will be in the NCAA Tournament. We will find out today at 3 pm, where they will be going and of course we are ready to adjust our schedules, kennel the pups and hop a flight to one of any number of places the Dawgs could end up playing. We are hoping for Tucson, Denver or Chicago.

The whole March Madness scramble is a lot of fun. Especially if you have the time, flexibility and the resources to follow the team as far as they make in in the NCAA Tournament. Fortunately for us we have all of the above!

Several highlights from this years trip. We traveled with our friends Bill and Mike which is always a lot o fun. There is never a lack of things to do in LA. This year we went to Griffith Park which I've never been to before,






went on a tour at Warner Brothers,

 
and made our way to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.



The section we sat in was especially fun and full of energetic Husky Fans. We met a nice lady from Seattle who sat next to us named Teresa - who made her first trip to the tournament. She works at the UW and was a lot of fun! Hoping to connect with her in Seattle sometime!


On our final night we went to Gyms Sports Bar in West Hollywood which is a gay sports bar Kent and I found when we were down for the Holiday Bowl in December. It was a lot of fun hanging out with the guys and celebrating the Husky win.



Dinner was at a steakhouse in West Hollywood called BLT Steak. The food, although expensive was excellent! We could not get reservations until 8:30 so it was a late dinner.



The Assistant General Manager turned out to be from Seattle and a big Husky fan who also managed to get at least one of the games himself. He treated us to a selection of four different deserts at the end if the meal - classy thing to do!



Turns out BLT has restaurants all over - check them out sometime. I would definitely recommend it!

Look for a post soon with information on the next game!

Later - Jim


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