Blame it on Jill.....

.....that I am back to my blog writing this post.

Life is amazing sometimes the way things happen, and people and circumstances intertwine, often in ways that cannot be explained.  Many people call it "coincidence;" I have never been comfortable believing in or using that term.

Yes, it's been quite a while since I last posted on my blog.  Life has changed dramatically, including a major move to CO that hubby and I are still in the middle of. Despite having/developing arthritis and other physical issues that have forced me to cut back running, particularly flat and downhill running, I have managed to continue hiking and running that emphasizes the uphill.  So, this year, I signed up for two major events that were not only challenging, but which emphasized the uphill by ending at the top of a mountain, providing a shuttle to take us back down :) -- the Mt. Evans Ascent and the Pikes Peak Ascent.  So, what does this have to do with "coincidence" and "Jill" from Run with Jill?  Read on....

My last full post of an event was preparing to start the Pikes Peak Ascent 2 years ago. My last post, period, mentioned that I finished the Ascent successfully...

 ...so did Jill...And, now, here I am sitting writing this post the day before doing this event for the second time.  Coincidence? Read on...

In 2011, we were not able to meet up with Jill ahead of the event, but we communicated by text messages. We had planned on meeting up after the event, but Hubby forgot something at the top, so we took a very long time to get down with "musical vans".  I thought we missed her.  But, amazingly, while we were sitting in the tent recovering, Jill recognized me from my blog and came over and chatted for awhile.  Then we got pictures, exchanged well-wishes, and departed. We found each other without texting or calling. Coincidence?  Read on...

Jill, me, Hubby wearing our medals after finishing 2011 Pikes Peak Ascent

So Hubby and I do what training we can to prepare for Mt. Evans in June. I had a tough time working in training and went into that event feeling the most ill-prepared for a major event EVER.   Since Hubby is a naturally gifted climber, both running and cycling, I encourage him to try to go for the coveted "Mt. Evans Trophy Rock," which is given to men who finish in under 2 hrs 40 min and women who finish in less than 3 hrs. We had the advantage this year of being acclimated to 7,000 ft having moved to CO. I remember Jill from Pikes Peak in 2011 and look to see if she is signed up.  I quickly look at the list by Women's Age Groups and focus on the 40-49 groups because that is what I thought I would see her...No Jill seen, so I move on...so much still to do (sigh).  No coincidence here?....read on...

Hubby and I get to the start, but then there is a question about where to park...we get two different answers; to make a long story short, I get totally frazzled and frantic as the start time approaches, because we have to make a last minute car move, and I HAVE TO GO, and the lines to the porta-potties are REALLY long. Barely make it to the start line before the gun goes off, doing frantic shoe tying, get someone else to take our picture.

Hubby & I at start of Mt. Evans Ascent

I then take 2 other photos to get SOMETHING at the start.  I just hold my camera up in the air above my head and take forward and backwards pictures.  I have no idea who or what is in the picture.  I just look at them quickly to make sure that there are people in them, turn the camera off, and then the gun goes off.  No

coincidence here?....read on...

Tough race, 14.5 miles of mostly uphill on the "highest paved road in America."  I do better than I thought I would (I just wanted to make the finishing cutoff of 4.5 hrs, but I came in well under 4 hrs).  Hubby did his best, coming in under 3 hrs, but not making the "trophy rock" time.  He actually worked things out with the shuttle driver to be able to hand me a bottle of water on the way down when I was in the last mile or so from the top--so nice!

So we both get our medals, eat our lunch that they provided, get samples from the vendors, etc. Just before leaving, I hand Hubby my camera and tell him to go over to the standings board and take a picture with his results on it, and that's what he does. Random shot taken, and I don't even look at it for a while.  No coincidence here?...read on...

Fast forward...I am mentally preparing for Pikes Peak, which I am even less prepared for than Mt. Evans, because of a recent hip bursitis and other joint issues and moving to Colorado (no explanation needed for that!).  I still have the Mt. Evans pictures on my camera (I am notorious for leaving pictures on my card for long periods of time).  I see Hubby's results picture and look at it.  Normally, I would look at his name and time one last time and then delete the picture.  For some reason, I scroll though the other names on the list. And, there, at the very bottom of the picture, is Jill's name!!!!

Other than blacking out last names for privacy, this picture was NOT cropped or edited in any way.  I still have it on my camera.  Hubby took the picture to have his results; his name is toward the top.  Jill's name is at the very bottom,; amazing, as she could have easily been cut off and I would have never known that she ran!!

Again, the VERY BOTTOM of the picture. Hubby just pointed the camera at the page and took the photo. Jill's name could have easily been excluded with just a very small camera angle change.......Coincidence? Read on...

So, why didn't I see her name on the entrant list?  Because she turned 50 this year!!!  I had no idea (take it as a compliment, Jill).  WOW, "coincidence?" you say....well, it gets better...read on...

So then I think, hmmmm, I wonder if she is in any of my pictures....
Remember the two "hold the camera above my head and shoot" pictures at the start? Well, here is the second one (again of ONLY TWO) of the runners standing at the start behind me.

I am certain that Jill is the woman standing in the front right with blue top and running vest on (obviously preoccupied listening to the start instructions)

Guess who is standing in the front, in full view, as if I planned to have her there---JILL---at least I think it is her---she has her bib number hidden---but my instant reaction to the picture was OMG, that's Jill!!!"
What are the chances out of 400 plus runners that I would get Jill in the front of one when I only shoot two BLINDLY?????
"Coincidence?"  I think not. Read on...

So, finally, I look at the Pikes Peak entrants for this year, and, this time, I see that Jill is signed up for the marathon on Sunday.  I'm hopeful that she will be successful at this quest, as, I remember in 2011, she was struggling with injury.  I have to state that I have chosen NOT to read her blog for either Mt. Evans or Pikes Peak this year, as I want to see what becomes of this "coincidence."  Like I said, I do not believe in "coincidence."  I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason.  The chances of all of the above happening are similar to winning the lottery.  I am hopeful that Jill and I can reconnect this weekend and look forward to see where this life path will take us.  Life is NOT a "coincidence"...

Wish us luck this weekend...
...and I hope that I don't look like THIS again tomorrow....

Yes, that is what I looked like at the top in 2011!!

And, remember to Celebrate Life Each Day!

PS--Jill, if you read this post, did you really miss a "Mt. Evans Trophy Rock" by just a few seconds???? If so, let's plan on you and Hubby to try again next year...
Oh--have to add that your time of just over 3 hrs is still REALLY awesome!
Also adding that we'll try and find you at the PP Marathon start Sunday....somehow...and not by coincidence!!!