Hi everyone, it's the day after Christmas. We have a chrystal clear day here in the Pacific Northwest. Fiona and Jackson are playing on the iced over lake on the Yakima Greenway.

Jesse Haines sleds at Camp Ghormley.

Splendid fun afternoon up in the mountains during 2009 winter break.

"Polar Puppy", and "Who has a big cherry nose"

Snow puppy Jackson Lee Nettleship

Jackson plays the snow puppy for his Christmas

show at Robert Lince Elementary. Too Cute!!!!!

Happy Thankgiving fron Austin Texas

We had a great time family in Texas! Lots of Turkey, Stuffing, and Sweet Potatoes!!!!
I need to run a gazillion miles now!

Jackson plays "Cow Boy"

Jackson Nettleship rides "Buddy" Western and then plays "Cow" for training the red gelding "Willy."

Leavenworth Washington Oct 26 2009

I took my dog "Suzy" for a road trip 1 1/2 hours away. I had a very relaxing trip and great time away from the weekly grind of work and school kiddos. I PR'd in the 7 Kilometer Cross Country course up at Ski Hill Leavenworth. I placed 2nd women over all but a good 4 1/2 min behind All Star Female Marlene Farrell.

Flip Turns in progress.

• Fiona swims the 50 meter Freestyle today and takes 4th in her heat, at the
  November Harvest Swim Meet 2009. We had a great morning!!!

More pictures of the field trip and Kaelan's teacher Danielle Heitman with Conservatory Teacher.

Kaelan's 6th grade Soar trip

Kaelan had a fun day at his 6th grade Soar field trip, he ent with his class mates in a bus to Wenas Creek Natural Habitat. Here, one can find Basalt rock with Lichen (moss growth), shrubs, sage, wetland, grass, but more importantly this Creek offers lots of life! Beavers are busy making dams, Blue Herring, Cranes, and Deer. We even found a Beaver slide, fun, fun fun in the sun.

Backyard Habitat Day SIS Soar Program

Clean up day at Kaelan's School. His Soar class helped clean up Natural Habitat. We planted native trees and shrubs. Fun, fun, fun in the sun!

Central WA Swim Meet

Jackson Lee Nettleship swam the 25 meter Backstroke.

Central WA Swim Meet

Fiona Rose Nettleship swam her first 50 Meter Freestyle Stroke, and took 7th in her heat of 10 9-11 age girls. We are so proud! You rock Fiona!

Portland Marathon Oct 4, 2009

The Portland Marathon 2009 Recap.

In Summary, if you care not to read on, here’s my conclusion in short. I’m pleased that I broke 4 hours; my last PR in 2009 was 4:10 Yakima Canyon Marathon. I’m disappointed judging from my splits and 6 months of training I’d be closer to a 3:45. I seemed to fall apart when the Freight Train stopped the tail end of the 3:45 pace group at about 14?,15? Mile mark, from crossing through. According to my watch we lost 2 min. 23 sec. in waiting. Then of course this is a mind warp and puts you out of your game. We had a lot of angry runners during that moment. Starting up again was so, so. In retrospect I feel I still need more fine-tuning after the 16-mile mark. For instance, running my marathon pace (8:39) up to 16 mile and then at that point asking a quicker 3 mile tempo run after the 16 like 8:10 pace.

O.K. Here we go! The Portland Marathon 2009 Recap.

Starting with the Oct 3rd race bib pickup, and Sports Expo, Portland Hilton.

Drove with my family and to Parents in-law to drop off our children for the night, and I and my husband were off to Portland Oregon. We drove through Goldendale and saw lots of Indian reservation and the wild mustang horses, beautiful fall colors just starting. Then over Sates pass to the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, Dales Oregon.

We arrived in Portland 6 pm and went straight to the Hilton Portland where we picked up my race bib, and race chip barcode tag (new state of technology for me). We had about ½ hour to venture the sports expo before closing.

The biomechanic feedback station caught my eye, so I strolled over, put on a pair of their Nike racing flats on hopped on the a treadmill for a video analysis. The Physical Therapist studied my gait after playing it back in slow motion, she said I had a neutral foot plant with no signs of over pronation or ankles angling inward. She said, “Wow you have really strong feet”. “Thank you.” I replied, and chuckled under my breath, little does she know I train in racing flats and run barefoot in the sand and grass. So five stars for forefoot running, Chi running, and Vibram soles.

Well, lets get to the Nitty Gritty of the race. Race morning Oct 4th came with a bang. We stayed at a La Quinta Hotel and they forgot to give us our 5 am wake up call. Thankfully I woke up at 5:35 screeching “Yikes, oh shit…. we gotta go” they never gave us a wake up call!” So 20 min. later, my husband and I drove to downtown Portland, a damp Dewey 40 degree morning perfect for racing. We found a parking garage for $5.00 a day. I put on sweats, earmuffs, and gloves, and then trotted in the parking lot while my husband Reidar put his Mt. Bike together.

We both started in the direction of 1st and Salmon Ave where the start was. We were amazed to see along the way, how many runners were camping out inside Starbucks for their last minute caffeine fix.

Race started at 7 am and it was now 6:30. After finding where the runners with bibs could legally enter, I hung out with my husband until the final departure. We befriended a Father/daughter couple that was both very friendly. The daughter was 28 years old and was planning on qualifying for Boston by running a 3:40. Her father was there on his Mt. Bike as well in order to support her at various spots in the race. Hence, my husband Reidar had had a buddy to hang out with.

I kissed my husband and departed into the chute. I found my way in the cluster of wall-to-wall runners (believe me this was tough, since I’m so claustrophobic) to the 3:40 pace group. At 6:55 the National Anthem was sung by a retired Opera Singer, now running the marathon. The gun goes off at 7:00 am and the wheel chair marathoners are off, a minute goes by and we’re off. Lots of intense cheering, three miles into the race people are tossing this and that of various clothing to the sidelines. Gloves, hats, sweats, just a heaven for the homeless that roam the street afterwards. I was happy for them. I was happy for them.


The 9-mile mark was a turn around with bands playing. Felt amazingly well inside a pack of runners it was like being pulled along effortlessly. It reminded me along time ago back in the 80’s on the track running the 1500 meters and being boxed in. I never used my ipod, the entire marathon. I just soaked in the atmosphere.

At 14, 15 miles? I was at the tail end of 3:45 pace group when a whistle blows! A freight train was coming. We had to be stopped as angry runners cry” This is insane! No way, not fair!” I was upset at first since it takes you off guard and off rhythm. So, we were told to stop our watches and account for the loss at the finish. I had a 2 min 23 sec. delay.

At mile 16 I was feeling my right hamstring start nagging, right calf start twinging, then decided to wait it out. Sure enough it went away. Mile 17 was the famous ½ mile hill, up and over St Johns Bridge. I was starting to stiffen up a bit. By the 20 mile I knew the race was over for me. When I wanted to start to race and kick it in, it clearly was not going to happen. I was down to a 9 min pace, shuffling, and hanging on. I told myself if the pain is only this great and won’t get worse, then just maintain. I started to think of my teammates “TeamPointTwo.” I said now listen “D”, Susan, LJ, Chris, Jamie, Nicole, Tony and your coach John J. Ellis are pulling for you right now. So, come on girl, hang in there.

I took my first race GU from the aid table at mile 23, it was called liquid gold. It was an amazing!!!! Tasted like Amber Honey. It gave me an energy boost.
The last mile was definitely the longest and never seem to end, in fact my mantra at that point was, E.T. Phone home….. E.T. Phone home…. E.T. Phone home….

My finish was a blur muffled with cheering. My pained body hit the Finish Plate Sensor. The finished runners were guided through (what seemed to be eternity #2), wobbling another ¾ of a mile in order to get out. I asked myself, “So D would you do this again?” I answered…. Yep!

Finishing time without freight Train Adjustment: 3:59
With re-adjusted time: 3:56.23

Quad Shredder

5th Annual TAMPICO Grey Rock 50K Trail Run Washington's Toughest 50K! Also 25K and 12K runs available. Saturday, July 11th, 2009 7:00 am Out-and-Back trail 30 miles west of Yakima, WA. The trail boasts a 6,000 ft. elevation gain/loss, with spectacular views of Mt. Rainer and Mt. Adams.It truely is a spectacular place! I didn't have the guts to run a 25K so I weasled down to the 12K. That in itself was plenty. I ran my heart out, knowing that it was a climb, I decided to go for it. I knew eventually, that what goes up must come down! I was running really strong, right up there with the top men. We peaked the ridge, went over a broken tree tunk (for which I zoned out, and forgot about) then down about 1k and there was the 12k turn around. Well all the lead men kept going (typical), and there I was with no one around me, all alone. I ran back up the switchback but forgot to go over the broken tree again and ended up running the switchback trail to the other side and down. After about 5 min. I realized this is not right, and there are no footprints, so I discustedly turned around and backtracked to where I messed up. Well, no longer was I in the lead. Elizabeth Tusche was on the streak. So, next time I'll pay better attention, and try not to let the altidude take my brain away. It was still a great run, I caught up with the 2nd place female, gasping "Great Job" continued flying down hill, until nature called and i snuck out for a pit stop. I finished for 2nd after Elizabeth. We hugged each other, and she said, "Yea I asked the race director, where's Donna she was ahead of me and disappeared?" So, chuck it up for more experience and closer to a 15K for me.

Aqua Man 2009 Run/Swim/Run

First in age group

45-49. Tough hot summer night for racing.

Ohanapocas

Aug. 2009
Fun times hiking with my children at Ohanapocas, Washington.