Catalina Weekend

So yes I have lived in California my whole life and never been to Catalina Island.  Brennan beat me out to the island by about 6 months.  He visited Catalina when working the Eco-marathon for Spectrum Sports Management.  Since he worked most of the weekend he was not the biggest fan of the little island.  But when the opportunity presented itself for Brennan to race in Catalina we decided why not take a little trip.  So after 23 years I finally made the trip over to Catalina Island.

Catalina Island is located about 23 miles off the California Coast

Of course the night before we are set to leave the terribly devastating earthquake hit Japan, causing Tsunami warnings here in California.  So needless to say my family who was all in Las Vegas at the Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships with Brooke who was receiving the Conference Community Service award on behalf of San Diego State were freaking out!!! 

 Brooke with the Community Service Award- so proud of her!!

They did not want me to head out to some random little island.  After having Brennan call me from work laughing and then saying "do you think I would ever put you in danger."  I know that he wouldn't ever let anything happen to me, just to make sure I called the ferry company.  They had cancelled the first ferry of the day but were back on schedule with no problems.  So we would forge ahead on our adventure. We were on the 7pm ferry out of Long Beach and would start the hour long ride to the island.  Well the captain said it would be a smooth ride with about 2-3ft swells. I think most of the passengers would disagree with him.  I thought the woman behind us was going to die.  I managed to get all the way to Avalon Harbor without throwing up, but Brennan was sweet enough about half way there to get me a bag just in case. With Brennan's steel stomach he could have read and eaten the whole way, while I spent the hour long trip trying to convince myself that its mind over matter. I was successful!!! 

 

Avalon harbour during the day

After getting off the boat- thankfully with dinner still in my stomach we were on the move to find our hotel check in and then head to race registration.  After a bit of wondering we found the hotel and dropped our stuff off.  They nicely gave us a ride to race registration, where Brennan changed from the marathon to the 10K.  He planned to use the race as a training run. After registration and saying hi to a few of our classmates working the event we headed back to the hotel.

Saturday morning started out early.  We headed down to the race.  Since Brennan was only using this for training, he was not as crazy about all his pre-race schedule and things.  I was actually joking with him that he was so calm.  He had a great 10K.  Turns out the course was extremely hilly. I wouldn't know I just walked a few blocks and took some pictures. One of our classmates was leading the race and gave me some insight in that he was on his way back toward the finish.  That he was also toward the front.  I laughed and said about exactly where he was in the course, the kid was wondering how I knew that. I said this is not our first race together, and it sure wont be our last.  I knew about what pacing he wanted to hold, so I keep track of the mileage.  Needless to say our classmate was impressed with how good Brennan did (remember this was a training run) and with my ability to know about where he was on the course. Brennan finished the race with a time of 47:48 about a 7:43 pace with a minor detour on the final  stretch to give me a high-five.  

 Go Brennan!!!

After the race we showered up and headed out to explore Catalina Island.  Turns out the Island has some very weird history in that Mr. Wrigley (yes, the chewing gum company, former owners of the Cubs) used to own the Island.  He is the reason that it is not extremely developed. The middle of the island is protected as well as some beach areas under the Catalina Island Conservancy.  Well when Mr. Wrigley owned the island the Cubs used to have spring training on the island.  That end in the early 50's.  So the people of the Island have since built a monument to Mr. Wrigley.  Brennan's race went by it but we decided to hike back up to it.  

We have reached the monument. Only took us about an hour and 3 miles later. It was farther then we thought.

The front of the monument

 The view from the monument. Past the mountains is the ocean. It was absolutely beautiful.

After our great hike we headed back into town where we found a random restaurant/ bar and were able to catch the SDSU basketball game against BYU for the Conference Title and automatic seed into the NCAA Tournament. The Aztec's won and then we headed back for a nap. After our lovely nap we headed out to dinner.  We found this little Chinese restaurant and it was so good.  We had so much food and spent hardly anything for it.  We would seriously eat at this place every weekend if it wasn't on an island. After dinner we walked the board walk, looked into some stores and then headed out to the old casino.  It was a beautiful walk along the water.  Then we stopped at the local ice cream shop for me, they made amazing waffle cones!!!

The boardwalk during the day

The round thing is the old casino.

Sunday morning we slept in and packed up all our stuff. We had booked to leave on the 12:30 ferry back to Long Beach. Since we had liked our dinner so much we decided to have lunch there before we left.  After a great lunch we did a bit more shopping where I picked up some Dramamine (Brennan's suggestion) just in case the ride back to Long Beach was a bit rough.  However this time we were able to sit outside, we got a great seat on the top of the ferry. 

<3 Him

On the way out of the harbour we saw Sea Lions and a pod of Dolphins. It was a great end to a wonderful weekend spent together. 

 Sea Lions

Pod of Dolphins

Brennan thank you for a great weekend!! And I can official say that I have been to Catalina Island. We may not rush back, but it was a great trip.

Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships

This is how my week ended!!! Can't get much better

So if you did not know I am in my second season as a volunteer assistant coach for San Diego State University Swimming and Diving Team. I also swam at state in my under grad and Brooke is a senior on the team.   This year the team went 19-0 and won our first in-season Mountain West title as well as the Mountain West Conference Championship Title. 

This is a feat that not many can imagine, my junior year when I joined the team because of the hiring of a new coaching staff, we got 2nd to last in the conference. We had one girl swim in a final over the course of the four day meet. It was hard to stomach we were so terrible.  My senior year we moved up a few places but were still not very good.  Over the course of those two years the coaches and team had worked hard in recruiting and training.  Once I graduated I decided that I wanted to coach and had the ability to stay with the team.  I knew based on all the hard work that the coaches and swimmers were putting in that we were headed in the right direction.  That direction was to the top of the conference that had so long looked at San Diego State as the bottom of the barrel. 

Its hard to explain to people what I have been doing with my life and how I can work so many hours a week for free, while then finding more time in my life to work for money.  I mean you have to pay the bills somehow. But over the course of this last season it was all worth it. I cant explain what it feels like to always be working for over two years, to have no spending money which makes you pass up many events with friends.  All in the hopes that working for free will get me a job down the road when I have finished my master's degree. But I will tell anyone who asks it was totally worth it.  I got to make an impact in these girls lives, while they made an impact on my life that will be everlasting.  I got to watch all my hard work and there's come to fruition when they raced.  I watched them all become CHAMPIONS last month.. And I did it with my best friend who just happens to be my sister Brooke.  Brooke had an amazing championship, she made it to the finals in all three of her individual events. You can find those videos at my YouTube page Allwater12 or at San Diego State Swimming- Brooke's Races. 

At the end of the meet it was a combination of many feelings. It may be my last time coaching as an Aztec. But more then that how many people get to experience something of this magnitude with a sibling and so early in there coaching career.

Check out some of my pictures and video's from the Mountain West Conference Championships

 Our biggest fan's. Thanks for all the support

 My "Middle Distance" group. So proud of these ladies

With 2 of my swimmers!!

 Melanie on the left got 4th in the 400 IM, 2nd in the 500 Free, 2nd in the Mile.

Kelly on the right won the 200 free, 500 Free, and the Mile- She was then awarded the Mountain West Conference Swimmer of the Year!!

With my swimmer Kelly the Mountain West Conference Swimmer of the Year- competing at NCAA's this week!!

My sisters!!!

Celebrating in the pool as CHAMPIONS!!!

Our celebration!!

Mountain West Conference CHAMPIONS

Shortest Month-Most Stuff

February is the shortest months and yet I some how managed to pack in the most stuff this last month. I literally worked every day of the month. I worked my first running event for Spectrum Sports, coached the SDSU Water Polo club team at the UCLA tournament, attended the San Diego Hall of Champions Dinner, possibly my only none working two day's were at the Northern Trust Open (yet even then I was stressed) and then a week in Oklahoma at the Mountain West Conference Championships as a coach and a correspondent with collegeswimming.com

I worked my first running event the Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10k. I had heard from Brennan who has also worked for Spectrum that running events have so much that go into the race that the normal person does not realize.  I have also been told that if I was tired after working this 2-day event then I should never work a triathlon.  So I finished coaching in San Diego at 6 pm Friday night and I got in the car and drove straight to Redondo.  Surprisingly traffic was my friend.  Spectrum put me up in a hotel right across from the venue, so that was really nice.  I started work early early Saturday morning.  I was in charge of all the volunteers.  The volunteers were working the check-in area, the tee-shirt disbursement and then other different areas.  I was also in charge of building all the trash cans for the area (that did not go so well).  I spent the entire day on my feet working any way I could.  We finally ended the day around 7 and then headed to dinner.  I was able to meet some great people that work for Spectrum and had a ton of fun at dinner.  Sunday would start at 2:30 am. I was outside ready to work at 2:45 am.  My day would again consist of being in charge of all the volunteers and the number would double because of volunteers working the water stations, the end of the race snacks, tee- shirts and check in. I was able to sneak away and watch Brennan start and end his 10K, so people cant say I don't multi-task well.  The day would end with clean up and every time I thought we were near done I would come across something else that had to get done.  I did have a great time with the Spectrum Crew, two of the main employee's are alumni of the USF Sport Management Program.  I enjoyed Meaghan the most even if she is a terrible drive of the Gator and crashed into a wall.  But it was fun to hangout with another alumni and I think she enjoyed having another girl on the event crew.

 Brennan finishing the race!!! With a new PR!!

My water polo coaching has been going well, it is a little different to be in complete charge of the team.  Drawing up practices has probably been my biggest challenge.  I know what I want to teach but sometimes with such different level of players and only me, my plan does not work as well as I hope.  But so far I can see that the girls are learning and getting better.  And for some who have never played the game, I can see them falling in love with the sport.  I have missed the game of water polo so getting involved through coaching has been great for me.  

We had our first tournament of this semester at UCLA.  The tournament ended up going great, the girls played so well.  We won all 4 of our games and the closest game we won was by 5 goals.  So as a coach I think I did a good job changing our strategy on the fly, subbing was difficult but I got better at that.  And I did not get in trouble at all with the Ref's.  So it was a great weekend. And the girls got to play which is the best part.  Since UCLA the girls have played in one other tournament and went 2-2. So the team is on the right track and we are learning and getting better everyday.

During the UCLA tournament Brennan was super busy with work being only 3 days out from the star of the Northern Trust Open PGA Golf Tournament. Even being super busy Brennan managed to meet us for dinner on Saturday with a beautiful set of flowers for Valentine's day (a few day's early, but way better in person). I did not tell the girls that he was coming to meet us, so when I walked up to In-N-Out he was standing outside, and of course I made a b-line for him. Where he gave me my beautiful flower (a surprise).  Inside the girls all still seemed confused, when we finally got to the van they all lost it and was like how weird was that guy just following you with flowers.  I could not stop laughing, and was like sorry guys that was my boyfriend Brennan.  They were all like oh it makes sense. Probably the funniest thing, I guess water polo, sun and a lot of sun block really messes with there minds.  I would also receive another set of flowers Monday. So thank-you Brennan for being amazing!! 

My BEAUTIFUL Valentine's day flowers

I had the honor of attending one of my first big banquet's with an athlete. My freshman swimmer Kelly Marquiene and Stephanie Koch was invited to the San Diego Hall of Champions 65th Annual Salute to the Champions Dinner. The event was held at the San Diego Town and Country Hotel in Mission Valley.  There were so many famous athletes it was amazing.  The big honor is to be inducted into the Breitbard Hall of Fame.  Mr. Breitbard passed away this past year and has been a huge factor in having such great athletes and teams in San Diego.  Past inductee's are people like Marshal Faulk, Bill Walton who were both present.  The inductee's this year were La'Roi Glover, Lincoln Kennedy, Paul Lowe, and John Lynch.  The event was great and I look forward to being able to attend it in the future and I cant wait to schedule a time to go walk through the museum in Balboa Park. 

My girls in the corner (with Bill Walton behind them)

The girls up on the stage

Our two swimmers and me

So I would spent my 2nd weekend in a row in LA, this time for Brennan's golf tournament.  The Northern Trust Open played at the Rivieria Country Club in Pacific Palisades. The weather was much better this year, even though it still rained.  I rush from Saturday morning practice so not to miss his military appreciation event.  No worries I made it with ten minutes to spare.  The military event that Brennan organized was great!! Brennan's dad would also be at the event, he flew out from Wisconsin and had been a volunteer all week for the event. My parents would also come out to the golf course Saturday to support Brennan.  So if you didn't guess I would get to introduce my parents to Mr. Cassidy.  The four of us had a great day watching golf and avoiding the rain.  We would later all go out to dinner and wait for Brennan to finish work and he would join us.  I had an amazing day with my parents, as a oldest of four children, days alone with your parents are few and far between. So I loved being with them and having that special time doing something that we had never done.  Plus they were able to share in what Brennan does for a living. 

 The 1st hole

 Looking over some of the course

View from the Club House

 I would come back to the event Sunday for the final day of the tournament after running some errands for Brennan (Dry Cleaning anyone.. haha).  Brennan's dad and I would walk some of the course and actually run into my cousin Donnie who had come out to the event with his fiance and some of his friends. I would walk a few holes with them before heading up to meet with Brennan for a bit. I would then grab a seat on the 18th hole and wait for the final pairings.  As the last group was coming up the way, I could see the trophy and low and behold the person holding that trophy was Brennan.  It was so cool, well until he ended up holding the trophy for over an hour. He said later his arms were so tired by the time he finally got to set it down.  Once the winner was crowned he walked out to the 18th hole and would set up all the award stuff. 

At the 18th hole

Brennan walking out with the trophy

Brennan holding the trophy

A the end of the tournament I know that Brennan was so glad it was over and he deserved a much needed break from work. The tournament overall went great, they had a 50% increase in attendance, he helped drive military and his Tickets Fore Charity Program did great!! So good job Brennan, so proud of you!! I would leave LA and head straight back to SD to leave Monday morning for Oklahoma City for the Mountain West Conference Championships.  But that event deserves its own blog!! So stay tuned!!

Better Late then Never.... Carlsbad Half

So I realize I ran this event about a month ago and have yet to write about it and really run since the event.  I will eventually start to train again, just need to find an event. I think once other things in my life start to slow down I can pick another event.

I want to thank everyone who donated to my cause in running my 1st half-marathon. InsulinDependence is an amazing organization that has truly changed the way my boyfriend Brennan treats his diabetes.  Total Brennan and I raised $885 for the organization and we plan on hitting the $1,000 mark next year.

I think I had a great 1st half-marathon.  I had wanted to get about 2 hours.  Well I ended up finishing in 1:50.  I was extremely happy with my pacing, having very consistent miles.  Not struggling much on the last 4 miles which were my biggest fear of the whole race.  My longest training run prior was only 10 miles and lets just say from mile 8, I may have walked faster.  So every step closer to mile 8 had me really worried.  But I did not hit a wall. I have Brennan to thank for that.  I am not the type that is the best about hydration and gels.  However Brennan has all that mastered and he taught me all I know. And because of him I had a great race.  I also see why he trains with all that stuff, and he was completely right in that I need to use that stuff when I train as well as race.

My bib for the event

The important stuff the hardware we received at the finish!!!

The event was great it was a beautiful morning in Carlsbad.  About 10 miles of the race is run right along the ocean.  I could hear the waves crashing and see miles out into the pacific.  After the race my next fear was just being able to walk (which I struggled to do for about 4 days).

Brennan had a great race as well, he went 1:45. I do not think he was extremely pleased with it, but lets be honest we have a lot of racing in our futures!! And I think he did AMAZING!!!

Pictured above is Brennan on the far left.  As well as other InsulinDependence Teammates including Bill Carlson (far right, the first diabetic to complete an Ironman, a truly inspirational figure in the diabetic community) and Chris Jarvis (center, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist in rowing). 

Carlsbad Half- Marathon

So I have been training for weeks. I cant say that I was the most dedicated in keeping to my training plan. I did skip days here and there. I struggled to get out the door much like my swimmers struggle to jump in the pool every day.. But no matter the past is the past and the race will go off Sunday morning!!! I know that in the end I did put in multiple miles on the ground. I got better every week and I am super excited to cross the finish line. I have some goals that I am keeping semi secret. But I am not just running this half marathon for myself.

Team Name: "Yes Brennan I have your ……."

I am running for my boyfriend Brennan and the group InsulinDependence.  InsulinDependence mission is: "Insulindependence inspires people with diabetes to set personal fitness goals, educates them on adaptive management strategies through hands-on experience, and equips them to explore their individual capacities."

You are probably all wondering why I have teamed up with this group.  I started work on my master’s degree in 2009 and shortly after starting I met an individual within my cohort named Brennan Cassidy.  We have been seriously dating for over a year and half, he is my best friend and the love of my life.  Brennan is a Type 1 diabetic; he was diagnosed at the age of 12.  While Brennan deals with it daily the shock and fear of him being a diabetic scared me early on in the relationship.  I was more in fear because I had no real knowledge or understanding. I have since done my research, but it is a complicated disease.  It’s complicated because no diabetic is the same. Much of the learning and control that Brennan has is due to trial and error.  Brennan also realized that he has the best control when he has very consistent physical activity. He has been training for triathlons with the eventual goal being to compete in Ironman’s. His desires to be active and compete lead him to finding the group Insulindependence.

 I have attended multiple events with the group and it has been an amazing learning experience for me personally. After every event we attend I know that for Brennan these few hours mean so much more.  It is a place where everyone else has the same worries with food, insulin, and the use of a pump and so many other things.  At these different events he has walked away learning more and gaining even more control over his diabetes.  So in two days I will help run along side Brennan. Or he will be in front and I will be trying to catch up.  Just wait till we do a triathlon at the same time, luckily I can swim, so Brennan will be trying to catch me.  But we will be running because he can and because we want to help the group grow and help other individuals who are diabetic reach their goals.

As for my team name it comes with a funny story.  When we first started dating I always offered to keep snacks in my purse in the case Brennan would ever need them. Brennan was always telling me I didn’t need to, but I always had a snack (just in case).  Soon it became “Jamie do you have any snacks in your purse my blood sugar is low.”  Next it was the meter, no Jamie I can keep it in my pocket.  That also changed to me always carrying it.  So the question I get all day long is “Babe can I have my meter.”  Then Brennan got on this medicine to help his body use insulin better after eating called symlin.  This medication has to stay cold and be carried around in a kinda big case.  Well if you haven’t figured it out yet that also now can always be found in my purse.  So I am a little diabetic pack mule for Brennan and I am always asked for either “a snack, meter or his symlin.” So the answer is “Yes Brennan I have your …….”

So please DONATE to my cause in helping grow InsulinDependence cause a cure would be great, but till it is found these individuals have found an amazing group to learn from and a support group to reach their own personal goals whether that is to walk everyday or compete in an Ironman. 

I will be posting pictures, video and other information about a great event with InsulinDependence and my half marathon next week :)
 

Band Wagon Aztecs

Its a part of life with anything really.  Everyone jumps on the band wagon for the newest purse, shoes, cars, and of course sports! I have never been much of a band wagon person especially in sports. Dont get me wrong I cheer for the under dog, but I am not a fan of just jumping on any passing band wagon.  This whole band wagon has come storming in on San Diego State Athletics. Its exciting and I thank all these new fans for the support, but I think man I hope you stay a fan and dont come and go.

 As I have been associated with the program for the last six years I was a fan long before the band wagon came rolling in!  What an experience it has been once people started realizing that the program is rising and quickly.

Over my six years I have watched multiple sports rise.


Football: I have seen the transition of 4 head coaches. Multiple losing seasons and very very empty stands. Within the last 2 days came the 4th coaching change.  But before it I saw the team go 9-4!! Get into a bowl and win after 69 years!! The Poinsettia Bowl drew extremely high attendance and changed the way people feel about Aztec Football

Women's Basketball: My Freshman year the team had just re-hired Beth Burns and they were looking to rebuild the program. That first year they didnt win a game..  In 2009, I watched the team be Co-Champions of the MWC & go undefeated at home, knocking off Texas (who was ranked 4th at the time).  In 2009 SDSU hosted the 1st and 2nd round of the Women's NCAA Basketball Regional. In the 1st round of the NCAA tournament the team pulled an upset. They then lost to Stanford in the 2nd round. The next year in 2010 they once again had a great season they won the Conference tournament to become Conference Champions.  They went on to play in the Sweet 16!!!

Men's Basketball: The team was always good. I have watched them win numerous MWC Championships.  A few NCAA births, and a darn good run in the NIT! This year however is a totally different game they are ranked 6th in the country. Undefeated at 17-0 only 4 other teams in the country have that kind of record. The games are selling out and it has been crazy here on the Mesa.

Waterpolo: The team has always been ranked in the Top 10.  That was part of the reason I chose to play at San Diego State.  My Sophomore year we had a good season.  Lost some close games but when the selection show came on the television it was our team that got the final slot in the tournament.  We went on to finish in the Final 4.  Sophomore year we had another good season, however in the NCAA tournament we lost in the first round.  Still back to back appearances coming out of our conference was a  great accomplishment

Swimming: This program got on the up and up my Junior year with the department bringing in a new coach.  I spent five minutes with him and joined the team. Since then it has been nothing but climbing the conference ranking from the absolute bottom as we smash school and conference records. We had our 2009-2010 recruiting class ranked 4th nationally.  This season we are undefeated and bearing down on our first MWC Conference Championship and we have a national ranking of 23rd.

Softball: I have watched them take some MWC Championships and some games in the NCAA Tournament.

Baseball: I witnessed the team make it into the NCAA tournament. I saw the year of Stephen Strasburg and Addison Reed. Was at the game he threw a no hitter.


I personally think in my last six years there are a lot of reasons people should have joined the Aztec band wagon.  I mean I probably did not mention a ton of other amazing achievements. Like the Women's Soccer team winning a MWC Championship taking down BYU!! So the band wagon has stopped on campus and I hope it spreads from the big sports down to the rest of the department.  Cause San Diego State is on the rise!!! We are not just hot today, we are planning to stay hot!! So our new band wagon fans thank-you for joining and keep coming out to campus wearing your red and black!!

GO Aztecs!!

Thanksgiving Break

What a great Thanksgiving break... Finally some downtime!!

Started Wednesday when I had a great ride to LA with some girls on the swim team.  I spend a lot of times with these girls and do work hard to be a coach that they are comfortable talking with and someone who is there to help when they need it. So it was great to get to know a few of the girls better and more about there life away from the pool.

Once in LA I spent the afternoon with Brennan, who left work early (dont tell the boss).  We had an early Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday night with a bunch of Brennan's college friends. It was a really fun time, showed us all that even while we struggle to be apart of the working world we have so many things to be thankful for.  That friends who understand and support us are an amazing gift!

Thursday we drove to Redlands.. I had a great day hanging out with my family.  Had a great big Thanksgiving dinner with the Richey Family, Grandpa Vessey, Mel and Brennan all joined in the festivities.  We also were able to help an old neighbor make their Thanksgiving special, our old neighbor is now in a wheel chair so the boys all helped to carry her up stairs into her sisters house so that she could be with her family. After dessert which was amazing, all us kids packed into mom's car and rented a movie. We watched the movie "Grown Up's." It was really funny and showed us yet again how blessed we are to have our health and each other.

Friday was an interesting day. Mom had scheduled us for a kid's photo shoot.  It actually turned out to be really funny and we all enjoyed ourselves.  And I think Mom was really appreciative to have all her children together and finally get the photo's she has always wanted!

Check us out...

2 Blue 2 Red for our high school days

Nothing more special then time with my siblings

After our photo shoot and some time at the house we headed out to tag our christmas tree.  With the Vessey family we are either so on top of getting a tree like this year or going a few days before christmas and having to buy whatever tree the farm has.. This year we planned to beat the rush.. We headed to a fun tree farm where we found a sweet tree, which am sure will probably be to big for the living room like ever year.  We jarred some fresh honey, and went through the petting zoo. It was a good time just getting to all be together for a few hours. And the lama's did not eat dad!!! 

I headed back to San Diego with Brennan.  We spent the evening making dinner and getting all packed for our race the next morning. For those of you who know me, I have never been one for not competing in something.  Since swimming has ended I have kinda tried to find something or at least be consistent in working out.  Well thanks to Brennan who convinced me to sign up for a half marathon (Carlsbad in January) I have been training. So I figured about time to see if what I was doing was working.  Brennan like always did the research and found a race near San Diego and I was signed up to run in a 10K. 

Go Brennan!!!

What a feeling to get back out and compete again. It was even more fun to be in the race with Brennan. On the ride I had talked with Brennan about some goals. I was extremely happy with myself especially because the course was very hilly in comparison to what we had thought.  In the end I had a goal of 9 minute miles, I had an average of 8.15 minute miles. So crushed my personal goal.  I finished the race 51st, 13th female overall.  I went an overall time of 51.17. It was great!!! Brennan was also happy with his results, he got 27th overall and went faster then his goal pace!! It was a great starter race, I may have another 10k in the future to prepare for my half marathon. Thanks for finding the race Brennan and signing us up!! I had a great time!!

Later that day we met my parents at Qualcomm Stadium to tale gate before the last home Aztec game of the season.  It was another good game watching the Aztec's get a W.. Who are now going to be playing in the Poinsetta Bowl!! So the Vessey family will also be bowling at Qualcomm Stadium on December 23rd cheering for the Aztecs!!!

All in all it was a great Thanksgiving Break.. A much needed break from my crazy life of school and work.  It was also a time in which I was once again reminded how blessed I am in life.  That I have the best family in the world, we are all healthy. That I have a boyfriend who treats me like a princess and supports everything I do. So remember everyday is a gift, and I am sooo thankful!!!