Amazing thigs will be taking place this weekend as the 12th MAN prepares to support the Seahawks in their second playoff game – most of which will involve, praying for a Seahawks win against Da Bears, maybe a little pre-funking, probably a little more praying… you get the idea. BUT on Friday you can head out to various south Seattle overpasses across I-5 to send the Hawks off in style with a multi-location rally on Friday afternoon!

Seahawks fans are invited to help send off the team to Chicago from five points along the bus route to SeaTac Airport on Friday afternoon. Key locations will be overpasses in Renton, Tukwila and Sea-Tac. Fans will be given various Seahawks items (12th MAN Flags, rally cards, rally towels, etc.) to wave to the team buses and various passersby to show their 12th MAN spirit. The Sea Gals, Blitz and Blue Thunder will joing the fans at the five locations.

The team will depart Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton at 1:30 p.m., so organizers are asking fans to be at the following locations starting at 1 p.m. and before 1:30 to prepare for the caravan of buses. The five locations are:

• Pan Abode (near N. 44th St., Renton, WA, 98056)
• NE 30th St. (Overpass, NE 30th St., Renton, WA, 98056)
• Renton Ave. S. (Overpass, Renton Ave. S., Renton, WA, 98057)
• Lind Ave SW (Overpass, Lind Ave. SW., Renton, WA, 98057)
• Valley Ridge Park (4644 S. 188th St., SeaTac, WA, 98188)

The challenge: see if you can make it to ALL five locations! Good Luck!

You may recall my recent claim to running craziness as I prepared, mentally and physically, for a 187-mile relay from Blaine to Langley, Washington on Whidbey Island. If you don’t recall, see my post from April here. This last weekend I was one member of a team of 12, The PACC-Rats, to run the hilly, curvy and sweltering pavement of Northwest Washington in the Northwest Passage Ragnar Relay.

We ate, we laughed, we slept an hour or so, we cheered, we sang, we danced and we ran and we ran and we ran. Most importantly, we survived. I can confidently say that this was one of the most unique ways to experience the breathtaking views of our region, not to mention, rewarding.

The relay started in Blane literally overlooking the Peace Arch and Canadian boarder crossing. The ability to sidestep into a neighboring country was a teasing attraction. But there was no time for that, as soon as our start signal sounded and our first runner took off, 11 of us (and one super-supportive driver and cheerleader) ran back to our vans and took off for transition number two. A system we memorized and that became second nature – get in the car, drive a little, climb out of the car, cheer, holler, dance and shout our runner on, get back in the car drive a little further and repeat. We did this over and over and over.

Our relay ran us through the quaint beach town of Birch Bay along the edges of Ferndale and into   Bellingham. We took the night tour, with our path lit by the light of a nearly full and stunning moon, through Mount Vernon and the vast fields of La Conner. Our team was challenged with pitch black trail runs through Skagit County and blessed with the glow of sunrise runs across Deception Pass. We found uncontrollable amounts of delirious energy as we raced (on very little sleep) out of Deception Pass State Park into Oak Harbor and through the an eerie thick fog along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The team concluded our 24 hours of constant running into a heat-packed Coupeville and literally down hill (thank goodness) into the village by the sea that is Langley.

Our team was primarily composed of employees of PACCAR a company in Bellevue that manufactures premium commercial vehicles sold around the world under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. And while myself, and a few others where of non-truck-loving-blood, the teamwork and camaraderie  that radiated through each one of us was palpable. I am so proud to have been part of such a strong and supportive team. We’re already plotting our next adventure and I wouldn’t rather do it with any other team. The PACC-Rats came in 126th out of 209 teams over all and fifth in our category.

I’ve included a small gallery of pictures from our weekend as we prepared, executed and celebrated our accomplishment that took us in to realms of discomfort, exhaustion, fear and, above all else, determination that has attracted us to want to go through this, or something like it, again. I’ll add a few more later when I get them.

Are you looking for a way to recapture your youth?

No, I’m not talking about any kind of surgical or medical alteration, I’m talking about the spirit of sports from the good ol’ days. How many people do you know played on a football, volleyball or softball team growing up? I know, although I wasn’t one of them (being a busy gymnast), almost all of my friends participated in a league (or two) between elementary and middle-school.

Here in Seattle, the aforementioned sports (save gymnastics) are all fairly well represented by varoius intramural and co-recreational leagues. But, what about the “recess” sports? Underdog Sports Leagues has a couple of answers to that question.

Played kickball after the age of 12? I hadn’t either, until a couple of years ago when my company registered a gang of misfits to represent. Sadly, we weren’t the greatest, but it was more about fun and nostalgia than actual talent. A few teams were pretty hardcore, but we won as much as we lost. The experience brought so many childhood memories to the fore – like the one time my less-than-sports-savvy friend managed to kick a grand slam, giving our class a much-needed win against the other 5th-graders. Or, the few times it rained and we moved into the gym for a rousing session of dodgeball.

Underdog has you covered there, too. The next dodgeball season starts on June 30th, and takes place every Wednesday at the Boys & Girls Club in Wallingford. Hurry to register – there is only one more team spot open. The great news about Underdog dodgeball is that unlike the instruments of severe torture I hurled at children as I grew up, the league uses only no-sting foam-coated dodgeballs.

Looking for something a little more mature? Underdog also offers “Drinks on the Links,” rousing rounds of mini-golf that include (of course) alcohol. Every player has to be over the age of 21 to participate (duh), but there is plenty of room for sign-ups and a variety of locations and times to choose from. Different days follow different themes (70s Night, Plaid Night, etc.), and certain holes offer hole-in-one prizes as well.

Whether you’re assembling a rag-tag group of close friends, signing up to play alone, or your office puts a team together, Underdog has something for everyone.

On a side note – HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I don’t know where I’d be without my own Ma, so let’s give it up for the ladies.

I promised a lot of recommendations from the world of running and other heart racing adventures and I do my best not to disappoint. Prepare yourself for a doozy.

In July, I will test my athletic endurance for 24 hours and join a team of 11 other runners to run the 187-mile, curvy and hilly passage from Blaine to Langley, Wash. Call me crazy now, but I’ll reveal the secret to my superhuman strength and never-ending athleticism all in good time.

Ok, I give. It’s a relay. And you too, should gather 11 other pavement pounding fools to drive, sleep, eat, laugh, cry in pain, oh yeah… and run your way through some of Northwest Washington’s most stunning scenery and take part in the Northwest Passage Ragnar Relay.

Photo courtesy of VisitWhidbey.com

Beginning in the seaside town of Blaine, Wash. and running through Whatcom and Skagit Counties,  around Fidalgo Bay, across Deception Pass and ending on Whidbey Island you will run only three out of 36 legs of the relay ranging in difficulty through the evening of Friday, July 23, into the wee morning hours of Saturday July 24 and capping out in the late afternoon/early evening the same day. Uh FUN!

Registration is open now for teams of 12, so get on it and get out there. Recommended training schedules for varying strengths are available to ensure you’re getting in your two-a-days (haven’t done those since high school) and midnight runs. This race is doable for beginners through the most seasoned of athletes.

If you’re interested but can’t round up a full team, there are no excuses. Take advantage of the TeamFinder tool which will allow you to put yourself out there to be picked up as a member of another partially full team.

Have I inspired any of you to try something new and adventurous? Let us the Belles know if you’re planning to participate so we can cheer your team on!

Spring is here.  You can tell by the date, the flowers on the trees, the warm palette of color that has replaced the Seattle winter grays and browns with green and yellow  and white and pink.  And the sun!  The sun is out, and bright and sometimes it’s even warm outside!

So why, I wonder, have I been stuck in my apartment for the last four days, running through tissues like they’re about to go out of style, coughing hard enough to act as the bass for my own stereo, snorting and sneezing like a train that’s had its belly filled with napalm?

This unforeseen, unexpected, and unprovoked germ circus caused its first tragedy on Thursday, when it caused me to miss the first Major League Soccer game of the

Courtesy of the Seattle Times

season.  GO SOUNDERS!  That’s what I was thinking in my plague-induced sleep.  First game of the season, here on Qwest field, versus Philadelphia Union.  Were we awesome?  Oh, absolutely!  Of course!  Exactly what you’d expect from Seattle.  Sigh. So I hear, at any rate.  Hey, we won!  That’s what really matters.  We won hard, we totally shut those turkeys out, we beat them but good!  And the game got featured on ESPN, don’t tell me that soccer in America is just a fad.

Yeah, I missed it.  But their next game is against the New York Red Bulls on April 3rd and you can bet I’ll be all over it.  And for the rest of their schedule, please do see here.  As you peruse the schedule, please note with pride that, out of all of the teams in the League, our name is the coolest and makes the most sense without any silly commercial pandering or unnecessary repetition.  C’mon.  It’s true.

At any rate, back to the bacteria festival.  I managed to venture out of my apartment once, on Saturday, and even then my dear friend Sarah and I agreed that it was a mistake.  She had to send me home.  But not, at least, before I was able to try the ginger-spiced apple cider at Vivace on Capitol Hill.  It was delicious and a balm to my throat.  I recommend it for any time you’re in the mood for something extremely tasty; or even if your throat just happens to feel like someone’s been sharpening serrated German knives on your esophagus.  The cafe itself had a great atmosphere, and I am 85% positive that if my olfactory system had been in working order, I’d've been able to smell the delicious pastries they’d set out on display, or the rich, dark coffee that they served.  Oh, and the service!  Despite the long-ish line, the baristas behind the counter kept it moving, and I even got more of the delicious ginger-apple drink than I’d ordered – they made a little extra and gladly poured it into a second cup for me.  The space itself was open, not too crowded, and a lovely place to sit and sip out a lazy Saturday.  Or a whatever Saturday.  Or a nauseous and wretched Saturday – you know, whichever one comes your way.

In short, being sick sucks.  Twice.  But I can at least take heart in the fact that the Sounders and Vivace will still be around when I’m no longer feeling like Typhoid Mary – and you, of course, can enjoy them whenever you’d like.

UPDATE: Registration for the Danskin Triathlon Series in Seattle has been changed to Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 9:00AM.

On Tuesday, March 9 at 9:00 AM registration will open for Seattle athletes to participate in one of the largest women-only sprint triathlons in the nation. Two years ago, I accepted the challenge to train and push through my first triathlon as one individual in a mass of more than 5,000 women. Last year I brought a few others along for the ride and now they’re hooked. If you want to be one of those 5,000 women swimming, biking and running your way through Genesee Park and surrounding Lake Washington neighborhoods, put your patience pants on and register for the Danskin Triathlon Series – Seattle next Tuesday.

Note: Your patience pants are necessary as registration often involves many attempts at getting through the online registration process. Have faith in your refresh button.

In my experience registration for the one-half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3.1-mile run has filled up quickly. And by quickly I mean the first five hours. So if you’re serious about participating, be even more serious about devoting some time to registration on Tuesday morning.

The Danskin Triathlon, Seattle will be held on Sunday, August 15, 2010 with the expo and bike racking day on Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Can’t swim well? Worried about a flat tire in the center of the I-90 express lane? Don’t you worry, trained and experience swim angels are there to get you through the course with noodles and surf boards and our friends from REI are everywhere to help to fix any bike issues before, after or along the way. You really couldn’t pick a safer race.

What I love most about the Danskin Triathlon series should be that it is short and sweet and that I can weave my training into my regular workouts throughout the summer, but when I sit back and think about it I love that it’s all women. The Danskin is about women-power if you want it to be, but for me it’s about watching others meet a similar goal. It’s awesome to look around and see women of every shape, size and age all determined to finish and conquer the same path in front of you no matter what strength level or speed. Athletes who participate in the Danskin range from the most intense and record-holding of triathletes to those that just started going for daily walks six months ago. I don’t want to get all mushy about this, but I can see why people return year-after-year for this one.

Let us know if you’re planning to participate, and let me know if you want to know more about what it’s like. August will be here before you know it, start your training now if you need to. And look for my follow-up post before/after race weekend.

Here’s a couple pictures of last year’s finishers: Me and first-timers Christine and Megan (you’ll notice we’re all still standing and smiling).

O Hai! My name is Jeanine and I’m the resident news addict/social media enthusiast of this little ‘ol website. ‘Tis true, I’m completely and utterly attached to my daily Internet routine: Sift through Google RSS reader, check Facebook, open Tweetdeck and read the many Twitter lists I’ve compiled, open my four email addresses, check WordPress for comments (that’s where you all come in), read the Seattle P-I (yes, I remain loyal), and repeat throughout the day… obsessively. I’m one of those people that doesn’t leave work with unread emails laying around!

One thing I haven’t gotten into, yet, is Foursquare. I’m opening  this up to you all. Should I join or should I avoid?

Phew. Despite all the time I dedicate to Internet reading, I really am an interesting person. I ride the bus everyday and read tons and tons of books to avoid talking to the weirdos that also ride (currently, I’m burning through Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series). You’ll never find me at the grocery store without my reusable bags, or advocating for this simple way to reduce your carbon footprint. I love, love, love red wine. Once I purchased a bottle in Italy for $20 only to return to find out it was worth nearly $500 in the U.S. And no, I did not sell it. I happily drank it with two of my closest friends. Not bad for a beginning wine connoisseur, right? I guess it was similar to how gamblers become addicted, I was instantly hooked! Latest favorite is Shingleback’s Black Bubbles Sparkling Shiraz ($18). Give it a try! I also love happy hours… if you know of any good ones, please share!

Because of my social media addiction, I’m painfully aware of all the amazing, fun events happening in Seattle. Many of which, to my dismay, I simply do not have the time to attend. I’ll show up at as many tweet-ups, fundraisers, etc. as humanly possible. My goal is to impart the knowledge of these events upon you, so I may live vicariously. Check back on Wednesdays for my weekly list, or watch Twitter for my real-time findings.

I’m also a mega sports enthusiast. My boyfriend and I have season tickets to the Mariners and I am no fairweather fan. I’m proud to say that I reupped my tickets BEFORE Jack Z. spent the off-season making some killer trades for players such as Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins, resigning Felix to a multi-year deal, and on and on. Don’t make me sports geek out on you! Ok, I can’t promise to avoid the sports subject on here, and in the interest of full disclosure, you should know I’m a rabid Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball fan! If you are a hater, Wednesday probably isn’t your day to read this blog.

Finally, you should know I’m a huge animal lover. I am the proud mama of two ornery cats, Jack & China. They keep me busy beyond my wildest dreams. However, I love that they don’t mind (or pee in the house) if I don’t get home late due to my spontaneous happy hour shenanigans, or when I run off on an overnight adventure. Take that dog lovers! How long can you leave your dog without a mess? Booyah!

So let’s see… social media, wine, sports, books, tweet-ups, happy hours, animals… yep, that’s about it! Strap in and enjoy the ride.