More Yosemite Half Marathon Pictures

Blogger wouldn't let me upload any more picture on the last page. So here's more.

I took a picture of another runner, and she took one of me. Almost ready to start.

Getting closer

Waves were determined by estimated finish time. I was in slowest wave.

The only picture I took during the race. My battery drained too quickly.

The race announcer.

Yosemite Half Marathon

Finally pictures from the Yosemite Half Marathon

Picking up my registration packet

My bib!

Each runner's name was on this print. Mine was split between two lines.

Linda and I made bags from old National Park race t-shirts.

Hubby was waiting at the finish line--I'm still not in this picture.

More to come.....

...

Catching up

You may have noticed my last post was just before I ran my first half marathon at Yosemite. I did attempt to upload pictures that day, but it didn't work. Since then, I've had a series of delays and setbacks. I'm going to make a few posts, but here is a summary....

• May 12th -- Successfully ran my first half marathon. My oldest brother Shawn--my inspiration to get healthy and lose weight--was at my finish line.
• May 19th --returned to work
• May 29th -- headed back to California--this time with my 3 kids
• June 2nd -- celebrated my Mama's 80th birthday with all 7 siblings
• June 5th -- returned to work
• June 9th -- my oldest brother had a massive stroke
• June 12th -- my brother Shawn was moved to hospice care
• June 20th --my brother died
• June 27th -- my brother's funeral (watched via Facebook)
• August -- family made decision to move Mama to Roswell, New Mexico (where I live) where she will live in a one bedroom senior living facility.
• September 18 -- Mama arrived in New Mexico (after a crazy day visiting 5 airports in 4 states after the sky cap took Mama to baggage claim instead of her connecting flight). She moved into my house for the next couple of weeks or so.
• September 25 -- interviewed for my dream job
• October 6 -- My sister Linda arrived to help get Mama settled in her new apartment. Unfortunately, Mama's truck had not yet arrived.
• October 11 --Mama's first night in her new apartment.
• October 12 -- took Linda to Albuquerque to visit our brother Brian before flying home.
• October 17 -- Mama's truck arrived. Had it unloaded into a storage unit. Began taking a few boxes a day to Mama's apartment.
• October 29th -- received official offer and accepted my new job.

And somewhere along the way my blog got hacked.  It was redirecting to another site. I couldn't figure out how to fix it.

As you can tell, life has been hectic. Along the way--especially after my brother's stroke--I fell completely off the wagon. 

Well...that's not even accurate.  

For about two months, I have been trying to climb back on the wagon. But it keeps rolling away. Tomorrow is my new start date. More on that later.

It's almost time!

In about 12 hours, I will begin my first half marathon!

My husband John is here.
My big sister Linda is here.
My big brother Shawn is here.
My Mama is here.

Tomorrow morning my friends Stephanie and Stacey and Stephanie will join us.

I have my race bib #1306.
I have my t-shirt.
I have my hydration pouch.

I'm as ready as I am going to be.

Prepare to be overwhelmed with pictures.

Off to Yosemite

My husband and I are packing. Midday tomorrow we head to California. I'm running the Yosemite Half Marathon in four days!!

It's funny how you wait and wait and wait for something that seems like it will never happen.  And then all of sudden it's here.

I am so grateful to the friends, family, and co-workers who have encouraged me along the way.  Every like, comment, and share has encouraged me to keep going.

I am humbled and amazed at the people who half reached into their wallets to help make this dream a reality.  Among my sponsors;

• People I went to church with may years ago and people I go to church with now.
• People I sing in the choir with and people I've served in other ministries with.
• People I met on-line first and people I have never met in real life.
• A cousin by birth and a cousin by marriage.
• A former missionary a family headed to the mission field.
• My boss and my entire work unit.
• Even my dentist! (He's also from my church and my choir!)

One friend got this whole journey started by offering me a week in her condo and paying my registration.

People have offered me training advice.

Someone loaned me a jog stroller so I could keep training with Sweet Pea.

My co-workers encouraged me to go to gym when I didn't feel like it.

My doctor has been monitoring my progress and cheering me on.

I have at least four people driving in to cheer me across the finish line.

I am truly blessed.  And I am excited to represent all of you as I cross the finish line on Saturday.

Brave

The theme for the Ladies Tea at church this year is Brave.  I had not really thought about the theme while decorating my table, but as I was leaving, I realized I had nailed it. My table represents my brave. I decorated it with a theme of Yosemite National Park--the location of  my Half Marathon.

Five years ago, when I first began the Couch to 5K program, I struggled to run for 60 seconds, and now I am preparing to run for 13.1 miles! I once weighed 306 pounds, and now I am under 170--smaller  than when I was in high school more than 30 years ago. At 48 years old, I am stronger and faster that I have ever been.

This journey to become Half a Julie has required one brave step after another. I am anxious to take those steps in beautiful land I visited often while growing up.

For my table, I tried to capture the large granite formations and the beautiful waterfalls of Yosemite.

I started with chicken wire and added paper mache. I covered it with gesso, and then painted it gray. I added some contrasting metallic gray accents.

For the water, I painted a piece of wax paper various colors of blue and white. I added some moss here and there.

For my tablescape. I added some "boulders" to the top and bottom of the waterfall. I added printed pictures of various scenes from Yosemite (including the one at the top of the post.)

Each of my guests will receive a limited edition, hand painted rock with either waterfall or Half Dome.

Want to join the Half a Julie Road Crew and help me get to Yosemite? You can join my Facebook Fundraiser or send through Paypal to halfajulie@outlook.com.

What is YOUR brave? 

 

Yosemite Bound

In case you are wondering, I did not fall off the face of the earth. About a month and a half ago, my husband finally got his total knee replacement. Recovery was going well, but then he sprained his new knee. We've been busy with doctors appointments.  Plus work has been busy. And my computer has been having problems.

I have been busy working, and I've been training for my half marathon. As you can see from the ticker above, I'm just over 2 months from my Yosemite Half marathon! 

If you are interested in helping me get to California, you can join my Facebook fundraiser at Road to Yosemite or through PayPal (e-mail address: HalfaJulie@outlook.com).



Here are some progress pictures.

Came cross this picture from last Valentine's Day (about 6 weeks into keto).
The second picture is last Saturday's 10k.

Far left senior year of high school 175#
Middle: starting weight 306#
Far right: Today 166#

5 years difference

5 years difference