When planning to repeat the RNR Portland Half it was all about the Rock N Roll. The previous year had been a short trip full of fun times with old friends and new; and Denise and I were looking forward to a repeat. We made plans with friends months in advance and planned to go out early so we could spend extra time going out to the coast, riding ATVs in the dunes, going out on the boat, visiting with friends, and just having a Rock N Roll weekend. Of course we both lead extremely hectic lives and never seem to have enough time. When we met at the airport in Portland we were amused to find we were both so extremely busy that we'd actually each (for the first time ever) considered simply apologizing and not coming on the trip. We then decided while we really wanted a Rock N Roll weekend, we actually NEEDED a Rest and Relaxation weekend!
The day before our arrival we found out Frank's plans had changed and he would have to work, so after collecting our rental car we headed to a nearby mall to amuse ourselves with a little shopping while waiting for them to get off. A little retail therapy is always a good thing and with nothing we "had" to purchase we thoroughly enjoyed window shopping, trying on a variety of items, and scoping out the See's candy store. By the time we were ready to meet up with Frank we'd scored everything from sexy heels and shirts to Crossfit shoes and See's candies, but more importantly we'd had some great 'girl' time and relaxed while catching up. Frank led the way to his house and we met his lovely wife, Jodi, deposited our belongings in our rooms, and we all headed out for dinner. As the East Coast rep in the group, the time change began to wear on me as I quietly consumed by amazing seafood dinner and soaked in the conversation. By the time we head back to the house I was more than ready to fold my tent. Frank and Jodi both had to work the next day and Denise and I decided to sleep a little late and make plans in the morning.
Still on East Coast time, I was awake by 7AM. I laid in bed on my phone, texting, and checking Facebook; until my daughter called around 9. As Denise's room was right nextdoor I went upstairs so as to not wake her and chatted with Carissa. I was just winding up my call around 10AM when Denise came up. As we discussed the possibilities for activites for the day (all adventure and active, of course!) we saw Jodi had left us a stack of pamphletts for ideas. We started to browse them when I looked at Denise and mentioned that I knew she had a lot of work to do for her upcoming charity event and that neither of us ever took a "down" day, then suggested we do just that. It was a novel idea to both of us, but we decided it sounded REALLY good. She spent the next several hours on her computer, making arrangements, and answering emails with regards to the charity event; I showered and then spent the day reading, texting, and just relaxing. I'd realized an old friend from high school, Jim, lived in the area and made plans to have dinner with him and his wife, Sherry. So that evening we met them at a nearby restaurant and enjoyed hours of conversation and more great food, then went to get ice cream before heading back to Frank & Jodi's where we spent a little time catching up with them before going to bed. It's amazing how much a single day of relaxing can to for two such active people!
After another great night's sleep, we got up and got ready then headed to the Rock N Roll Portland expo to pick up our packets.
After getting our race materials and saying hi to a few friends, we headed over to the New Pacific to see if Frank wanted to grab lunch. (He was working on the boat for the weekend.) He did, and we hopped in the frog and headed to the Puffin Cafe.
Though it was ATVs and sand dunes, it was really nice to have the time to catch up with Frank over lunch and a couple of drinks.
Given that I only had a single drink, I was nominated to drive the boat back.
Having grown up on the water, I was perfectly comfortable doing so. However, Frank learned a VERY important lesson about me - the hard way....don't EVER tell me to do something, unless you mean it! As we approached a flock of birds swimming he told me to hit 'em. Knowing they would be quick and there was no way I'd actually hit or hurt them, but rather startle them and send them flying, I did as I was told and gunned it towards the birds. Frank apparently didn't think I would and the surge of speed sent him flying - nearly out of the back of the boat! Oops. :) But that was our only near mishap and soon enough we were back at the New Pacific.
On the way back to the house we decided to stop and do a little more shopping, this time more practical shopping. We stopped at Fred Meyer and grabbed a few grocery items as well as a thank you gift for Frank and Jodi and a little something for Jim and Sherry. We dropped Jim & Sherry's gift off at their house, though they were at a ball game; and then headed back to Frank & Jodi's. After a bit of chatting, we soon found ourselves folding our tents for the night.
The next morning, as we discussed potential adventures, I suggested the Saturday Market as we had both really enjoyed it the day before. Frank was working on the boat and Jodi was working, so we had our breakfast, showered, and packed our belongings, then headed to Portland and the Saturday Market. We browsed the vendors' boothes, enjoyed some kettle corn, and of course had some fruit.
We then headed to the boat to see say bye to Frank as we wouldn't be meeting back up with him again before leaving. Afterwards we headed to the Island Cafe - where we'd had an amazing time and great food the previous year, and had lunch. After lunch we checked into the hotel just down from the start line and relaxed a bit. Later that evening we ventured down to meet other 50 States club members for dinner.
It was becoming evident that our planned action packed Rock N Roll trip had easily taken on a shopping, eating, Rest & Relaxation feel. But we were also keenly aware that we both really NEEDED that more than anything else. Though we did joke that we were going to have a hard time jumping back into our busy lives!
Keeping with the Rest & Relaxation theme of our trip, we headed on a quest to find Ben & Jerry Creme Brulle ice cream after dinner. Though we failed, I settled for some strawberry; then we headed to pick Sherry up from the airport. Afterwards we headed back to the hotel and called it an early night after prepping for race morning.
It's rare that I wake up rested and ready to go on race morning. It seems that I'm either always too overtired from my regular life and the hectic in and out race trips or that I've taken too much down time on the trip and am lazy by race morning. This was a case of the latter, but I made my way through and we grabbed some breakfast, then headed to the start.
Sherry was feeling better than I was (perhaps as the waffles I ate weighing me down!); and she's faster anyway, so she took off on her own. Denise and I had decided to run together as we are typically very evenly matched and other than the previous few days of this trip hadn't seen each other for quite some time. For the next 13.1 miles we alternated between being lost in our thoughts and intermittent conversation. Around mile 11 we got goofy and started jumping and posing for photographers along the course, sending our heart rates soaring. (Of course once the race photos were posted we found that not a single one of the photographers had actually captured our silliness as a pair!) After one last jump at the finish line, we headed to the VIP area and refueled while catching up with our running friends.
We didn't have long before we had to be out of the hotel, so we soon headed back, showered, and packed. With all of us having evening flights and it still being fairly early in the afternoon, I suggest a final trip to the Island Cafe as I had a craving for their halibut, Sherry had never been, and their Island Punch was weighing on my brain as well!
After lunch we headed back to the airport, checked into our respective flights, and hung out visiting for our final hour or so before our departures. As Denise and I told Sherry about our week, we found ourselves laughing that we had indeed had our RNR weekend....lots of Rest 'n' Relaxation - something we would have never planned, but desperately needed! - then we all began discussing our next races & our upcoming Rock 'n' Roll adventures - some things will never change! ;)
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