Hello World!
There is so much to say about Sedona, Phoenix and the great state of Arizona that I hardly know where to begin. It was an absolutely fantastic trip; great weather bookended with this CRAZY mid-Atlantic snow event. I just heard the news say that Washington, DC has now broken it's all-time snow fall record. Power stay ON, power STAY on, POWER stay on! Without further adieu:
The Good
Mannnn... It was almost All Good, so I'll go in chronological order:
- TV interview -- Phoenix's CBS affiliate, KPHO, with anchor Sean McLaughlin. Hello Sean! I'll post the interview on my website and blog, each of which were recently redesigned by Web-Goddess, Cheryl. Thanks Cheryl!
- The drive from Phoenix to Sedona. A two hour drive north along I-17, where you go from city, through desert, to mountain, and pass signs like: Bloody Basin, Big Bug Creek and Dead Horse State Park. Did you know that the Saguaro cactus -- the one that looks like a person with arms -- lives up to 500 years and doesn't get it's first 'arm' until its almost 100 years old? In Arizona, the penalty for intentionally harming one of these is a $5,000.00 fine and up to five years in prison. Really.
- Meeting great artists. Hello Chris! Check out her website cnormanart.com.
- The Pink Jeep Tours, literally in Hot Pink Jeeps! Hello tour leader extraordinaire John W... I took two tours through the Jeep: I. The Diamond Back Gulch Tour: a rockin' and rollin' vertical -- don't hit your head on the roll bar and Hang On! one, which was paired with the Ancient Ruin site tour (700 year old Sinaquan Indian cliff dwellings). The photo with the drawn figure, was at that site, where these -- once, two-story cliff dwellings -- hug the cliff face. They had been built from 'bricks' and smaller rocks, held together with mortar. The photo just below that one shows where the ruins are located. Too cool! II. Long Canyon Trail Hike. I know many of you out there are going, Brooke, Brooke now come on, 'why are you hiking the day before a marathon?' And I say, 'because it was there, and it was beautiful!' I hiked this visually stunning trail -- okay, ALL of Sedona is stunning -- two hours up and then back down, and learned all about the flora, the fauna, the history and the geology of the area. Worth EVERY lost marathon minute...
- Radio Interviews with Juli -- see picture -- and Brad of the Yavapai Broadcasting Corporation. Check out either my website or blog for these! Also, a big shout out to Mindy of Mendelsohn PR, and Jeff!
- Meeting Phil Wharton of the Wharton Health Experience www.whartonperformance.com. Phil, who is a world renowned Olympic trainer, gave MOI personal training and stretching tips. My monthly marathon quest CAN be done. It was great to meet you Phil and best of luck to you and your father. I'll make it to either your NY or Flagstaff clinics one day. Now, how about that introduction to Oprah and Dr. Oz?!
- Meeting Terry Hitchcock. Terry, who at the age of 57, ran the equivalent of A MARATHON A DAY for 75 consecutive days. He ran over 2,000 miles -- from St. Paul, MN to Atlanta, GA -- to bring awareness to the financial and emotional hardships faced by single-parent families. He had just lost his wife to cancer. You inspired me Terry with your emotional courage. I hope that I have your same mental stamina! Can't wait to read your book and really enjoyed the showing of your movie "My Run." Terry's website is www.terryhitchcock.com.
- Getting Snowed Out of Washington. The first round of this snowpocolypse delayed my return to reality by two days. The BEST part? Favorite Husband was snowed out of Washington too! He was in Europe en route to more meetings in CA, and with no other place to land on the East Coast for a two-day meeting hiatus, flew to Phoenix to join me. We had TWO, yes, two, WHOLE days together. I don't think that has happened since 1993. Really.
The Bad
- It could have been a little warmer in Sedona. And I would have liked to use the pool in Phoenix. And the hills could have flattened themselves out for me a little during the marathon. Oh, and maybe a little less dust, please, along the marathon course and hiking trails...
The Ugly
- With the elevation of Sedona at 4600', it felt as if my lungs were going to explode. I wasn't too affected during the hike or the normal walking around activities, but the running kicked my you-know-what. Still, 5th female finisher and 2nd master...
Sedona Wrap Up
- Notice the new Lululemon race shirt. It says: RunningBrooke, 7 continents, 50 states, 5 marathon majors.
- Special thanks to Michelle at MacNair Travel www.macnairtravel.com, who has gotten me to, and from, and everywhere in between. Now, only if I could convince her to move in...
- Special thanks to my Favorite Mother who stepped in and ran the house, stepped up and stayed until I could get home, and kept smiling through it all. No kids lost...
- Saw and cheered on fellow Marathon Maniacs at the race. Hello Maniacs and thanks to Marc, the Maniac Gatekeeper, and Tony for having my blog on their site! Check them out: www.marathonmaniacsdb.com/Maniacs/Scorecard.asp
- FYI. Guns are allowed in state Arizona. No permit needed except for if you'd like to conceal it. See picture above. No smoking allowed and No firearms allowed. Okay, I feel a little better...
- Clairvoyants, Metaphysics and Spiritualists. Card readers, Personal Enrichment Coaches and Vortexes. It is ALL there, in Sedona!
RunningBrooke Updates
- Donor Thank You Party is still ON for Friday. Park your snow shoes and sleds at the front door!
- Next up: Red Rock Canyon Marathon. March 6th outside of Las Vegas. Slot Machines anyone?
- Anyone tired -- yet -- of seeing me in this green plaid jacket?! Even as cute as it is in it's Lululemon www.lululemon.com awesomeness. Did I mention that I'm a Lulu Ambassador?
- New RunningBrooke Ten in '10 Sponsors are listed on the website and blog. Take a look, do business there, and thank them for what they are doing for our city!
Cheers and it is a beautiful day for a run, well actually, not. But, maybe tomorrow will be!
RunningBrooke
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