#21 Swim in the Pacific Ocean √

One of the best things about our recent trip to Washington and Oregon was getting to see the Pacific Ocean for the very first time. It was so beautiful there, and the Pacific Northwest was unlike any other ocean experiences I’d had before. My only complaint was that the weather was warm in the cities and cool on the coast, when I would’ve preferred it the other way around.

Nevertheless, I was determined to complete my goal of swimming in the Pacific at some point on the trip, because (sad panda) I find it pretty unlikely that we’ll be back on the west coast before I turn 30.

I’d been watching the water temperatures in the various towns we’d be visiting, trying to figure out where would be the LEAST cold place to take my swim. The winning seaside town was the town of… Seaside. Clocking in at a “balmy” 58 degrees, Seaside would be my best chance of going for a dip without freezing to death.

I almost chickened out at the last minute. I’d had my feet in the water already, so I knew just how cold it was. And Aaron refused to go in with me, citing the need for photographic documentation as his excuse.

We got down to the beach and found—I’m not even kidding here—a group of people in jackets having a campfire. <sigh> Be brave, Lauryn. I got a couple of strange looks as I stripped down to my suit and dashed out into the water. Unfortunately, the incline of the sand was very shallow and it took a LONG time for me to get far enough out to “swim.” And it was very cold.

Here I am, bracing against every frigid wave as I make my way out to deeper water.

Going for a very quick swim. “Holy crap, this is RIDICULOUSLY COLD!!”

“Ok, that’s it. I’m out of here!”

In the last picture, I’m totally laughing at myself thinking, “This is so dumb. Why did I think this was a good idea?” About that time the muscles in my legs started cramping up, and I was very happy to make it back to the beach. I might’ve tried to join that group at the campfire if they weren’t still giving me weird looks.

So, not the most enjoyable experience ever, but a memorable one if nothing else. I’m definitely looking forward to a warmer swim in the Pacific Ocean someday.

California, anyone?

Washington & Oregon

I’m so excited to have made a dent in goal number two this month. “Visit five states I’ve never been to” is easier said than done considering that I’ve already been to most of the close ones and don’t have much extra cash for air travel. But, as they say, where there’s a will there’s a way!

Aaron and I had been looking forward to a trip to the Pacific Northwest for a long time. He’d been there in the past, but I’d never come close. For Aaron, Washington and Oregon were a fond memory to revisit and share with someone special. For me they were a whole new territory to be explored. So for our fifth anniversary we budgeted and saved and made it happen.

You can read about our adventures and the top ten moments of the trip on our family blog. The thing that struck me most about Washington and Oregon was the variety in what we found there—mountains, rainforests, skyscrapers, oceans, art, fruit, waterfalls, wildflowers and mile after mile of beautiful scenery. We had an absolutely wonderful time, and I hope to go back someday.

For now, just mark this goal 40% completed.

Hoh Rainforest, Washington

Cape Kiwanda, Oregon

Cherries near Mt. Hood, Oregon

 

 

5 Things I learned from running a 5K

About a month ago I wrote about running my first 5K, something I never expected to do. It was quite an experience for me, and I wanted to share some of the things I learned.

1. Being healthy is awesome. This is actually something I’ve been learning over the last several months as I’ve been losing weight, but the eight weeks I spent training for the race I felt it more intensely. While eating healthy and exercising regularly are a serious commitment, the payoff is totally worth it. I look and feel better than I have in years, and I have a better outlook on the future when I’m not stuck in a hole of unhealthy living.

2. Set reasonable goals. If I had decided to set out on day one and run 3.1 miles, I most likely would have died given up part way through and never tried again. Similarly, if I’d spent every workout during my eight weeks just jogging around the block once, I’d never have been able to run the race when the day came. The Couch to 5K program was great for helping me to work up from a lighter workout to a full 5K run. Training was certainly no picnic, and I had to push really hard to make it through each run, but the goals were never out of reach.

3. Everyone needs a cheerleader. Running a 5K is something I never would’ve done on my own. Aaron and a group of our friends set the goal for themselves, and my only plan was to give the program a try in an effort to be more active. Having Aaron as a training partner was really key to my being able to keep going, not just with the program itself, but literally in every workout and sometimes every step. “Just 30 more seconds” or “Look how far you’ve come already.” Our group of friends checked in on each other throughout training and got the opportunity to cheer each other on on race day. It’s so amazing to have people you love rooting for you at the starting line and celebrating as you cross the finish. And I was surprised to find that there were people all along the course we didn’t know who cheer for everyone who passes by. Now that’s cool. I plan to be one of those people at some point.

4. I hate running. Wait, what? You’d probably expect that someone who trains for and runs a distance race would either like running to begin with or learn to like it somewhere along the way. Nope, not me. There were certain aspects about running that I did enjoy, like being physically active and spending time outside, but running itself will never be an ongoing hobby for me. Even on race day I told my comrades that I wouldn’t be continuing to run like they would. (They’re all talking about a 10K now.)  I do, however, plan to continue being physically active and spending time outside doing things I actually enjoy, like playing tennis. Oh, how excited I am to get back on the tennis court!

5. I can do anything (with help). The most important thing I learned is that I can accomplish things that seem impossible. I seriously would’ve laughed in your face at the thought of me running 3.1 miles, but here I am on the other side and laughing instead at the old version of me. I certainly didn’t do it alone, though. As I mentioned before, my husband and friends played a huge role in my success. More importantly, though, I believe that God gave me the strength to keep going. If you’ve never pushed yourself to the brink before… it’s a very spiritual experience. There were workouts where I wanted to cry or quit or both, and I was seriously like, God, the only way I’m going to get through this is with your help. In those moments I was reminded of truths like “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” and “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength… They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” And that is ultimately what carried this little blob of a non-runner through miles and miles of training and eventually across the finish line.

We did it! Hanging out at the finish line.

Free admission to the Walker!

Today I got a free ticket to the Walker Art Center by signing up for the Star Tribune’s deals website.  That should make it a little easier to accomplish goal #30, not having to go on a free first Thursday or something.

Click here to get yours!

(If you get a free ticket, leave a comment below so we can try to go together!)

Running the race

I want to take some time to tell you about an accomplishment that has nothing to do with my Thirty by 30 list.

Growing up, I have always hated running. Like, seriously hated. I never minded activities that involved running, like kickball, and I played tennis (well) throughout junior high and high school. But anytime we had to just simply run, and especially when we had to do a timed mile, I would’ve rather been anywhere else in the world. In elementary school, my (attitudinal) friends and I took pride in the fact that we set the record for the slowest mile time… 33 minutes.

Over the last few months, however, I have been training with Aaron on a running program called Couch to 5K. The C25K program works you up from a simple set of walk-jog intervals to a full 30-minute jog over the course of nine weeks. Aaron convinced me to do the first week of workouts with him, and I never stopped. It’s not that I enjoyed running—my favorite part of each workout was when it was finally over and I could collapse on the carpet—but I picked up a new-found interest in accomplishing something so huge that I would have to seriously work hard to make it happen.

This morning, Aaron and I ran in our first-ever 5K race. Together with a group of friends from church, some of whom have also been doing the C25K program, we participated in the Music in Plymouth 5K Run.

The race was tougher than I expected. For starters, I underestimated how much the change from running with just Aaron to running with over 300 people would affect me. It took probably a whole minute just to get across the starting line and separate a bit from the dense pack of people. Also, the consistency of my pace was thrown off by having to dodge slower runners and get out of the way of faster ones. The route itself was unfamiliar to me, too, which messed with me a bit mentally. Finally, there was a very steep hill toward the very end of the course that I just couldn’t handle. I was bummed to have to walk so close to the finish, but I didn’t trust my muscles to get me up the hill. I did, however, pick up the pace again for the final stretch and across the finish line.

I finished the 3.1-mile race as finisher #107 out of 199 women, with a time of 33:51. (For those of you paying attention, that’s just slightly longer than the one-mile “record” time from my younger days.)

It was so exciting to complete the race, and especially to do it with some of my best friends. I’m so proud of what we accomplished today and over the last couple of months. And while I don’t currently plan to make racing an ongoing activity, I’m thrilled to have pushed myself to accomplish something that I never thought I could.

WE DID IT!

#29 Meet my neighbors

You know, it’s amazing how one can live in the same house for three years—a town home even, with just a wall separating homes—and never get to know the people who live a stone’s throw away.

It’s kind of strange actually, the way our neighborhood functions. Everyone (ourselves included) spends most of their time indoors and can really only been seen coming and going. With our association taking care of the landscaping and snow removal, there are even fewer opportunities for people to be outside with no lawns to mow or gardens to tend to.

When we moved in, I kind of expected that people would notice and come by to say hello. No one ever did, though, so in turn we’ve not welcomed others into the neighborhood as they’ve moved in. (Because people here don’t do that, I guess… I didn’t say it was a good reason.)

At the time when I added this goal to my list, Aaron and I had been living here for just over two years and had only met one other family in the neighborhood. It’s been my goal since then, and still is, to get to know more of the people who live around us. It just feels strange, though, to try to catch a neighbor in the two minutes she’s out pulling in her trash bin, to meet her after three years of living in the same neighborhood and making no effort before.

Sigh.

Do you have any suggestions for getting to know the people around us? It’s a little late for a housewarming party, ha ha.

Summer checklist

What’s on YOUR summer checklist?

Mine includes…

• Open the windows as often as possible
• Eat something I grew myself
• Eat something my neighbors grew
• Go to a parade
• Take a real vacation (one that’s not to visit family–no offense, family)
• Grill lots of burgers
• Feel the ocean
• Make a fantastic summer cupcake
• Ride a bike
• Sleep outside
• Put our new patio set to use

(Thanks to Becky for sharing this.)

Not too busy for stickers

I have a lot that I wanted/needed to do today. But today I found a few minutes to go to the store and buy some stickers for Joceline.

All because of this article.

What are you doing today that will have a lasting impact?

Desktop inspiration

I can’t believe that June starts today. Didn’t we just celebrate Christmas?!

One of my favorite rituals at work is choosing a new desktop wallpaper for my computer on the first day of each month. I find great ones at Smashing Magazine’s wallpaper calendar site. They feature images by photographers and designers that each include a calendar of the month.

Today I’ll be picking out a new image for June and saying goodbye to this lovely artwork that’s been keeping me company through May. I thought I’d share it with you, since it’s a fun piece of inspiration. (click to enlarge)

(By the way, if you want this for your computer, you can download a calendarless version from their site.)

#27 See a movie in 3D

I know, right? Who hasn’t seen a movie in 3D?

Me.

Ever since 3D movies became a big deal a few years* ago, it seems like all kinds of films have been released that way, whether necessary or not. (I mean, does anybody really want to watch Miley in three dimensions?) I’ve been told that some films, like Avatar, can’t be fully experienced without the effect of feeling like you’re literally within that world. Others have said that the 3D effect can actually take away from the experience by being distracting or even dizzying. (Would they call that moviesick?)

I’ve watched several films on my TV at home that were created to be viewed in 3D. It was definitely a bit odd as these films, mostly animated, have sequences that you can tell were specifically designed so the 3D viewer would have a unique experience. The interesting thing is that these scenes, or at least their visual style,  have typically been unnecessary to the plot of the film. Kind of like, “Hey, for no reason, let’s make this thing bounce toward the camera and back a few times. ” Which makes me wonder whether 3D films are really worth all the hype, or if it’s just a gimmick, possibly temporary, that has yet to be used effectively.

What’s your experience with 3D been? Do you recommend it?

*See the full history of 3D movies.