Spring Break 2010

Who would have thought that we'd have two whole weeks of Spring Break this year?! Well, luckily it came with wonderful weather and fun times. For the first part of break, I went back to Vancouver (WA!!) for a few days. It was nice seeing my family and also my brother Kevin and his family; they just came back from living in North Dakota. It was their youngest son's first birthday, so we captured many faces smothered in cake and cupcakes full of laughs.

I also hung out with Tammy, Cassidy and Chris a lot too. We went to see Alice in Wonderland 3D, which was quite the eye-full and exciting. On one of the days, Tammy and I went to the Woodburn outlets as well as a garden spot to purchase what looked like a huge "sled" that we mounted on her little Subaru; (it was really an arbor for her kiwi tree...it's okay that people were laughing at us on the highway). We also made an enormous pot of turkey chili for her family, neighbors, and me to take to college! I was impressed at how much we really made!

On the first Saturday of break, we had a race at the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR. It was an impressive day full of sunshine and 72 degree weather; perfect for a track meet. I raced the 2K steeplechase (usually it's a 3K), and was very satisfied with my race time: I was shooting for an 8:30 and I ended with an 8:07. It was exciting racing there, the intense atmosphere was full of adrenaline making it hard not to run too fast a first lap. Above are the name bib's for my great friend Natalie and I. At the Stanford meet, my teammates raced super well... I was excited for Lisa Anderberg doing her best time in the 800m, and also Jessica Pixler for racing an unbelievable 5K (which was a time that is currently 5th in the WORLD!!!!); talk about an inspiration. I am excited to see how the rest of the season unfolds for us all.

After I left Vancouver, I went to Boise, ID to see non other than my wonderful love Roger! It was great to see him again, and we had a fun relaxing time together. Riding his new road bike was great too! I didn't realize how much faster and smooth they are compared to regular bikes. This past Friday his roommate Dave road with us back to Seattle for the weekend. It was a long drive, but fun as well. Our weekend in Seattle was probably the best time in Seattle I've had in a long time. Being "tour guide" wiped me out! On Saturday, we walked roughly 13 miles throughout Seattle!! (I tried to measure it through Google maps). We were so exhausted by the end of the day! Saturday we walked around Queen Anne to the Seattle Center and then to Pike's Place Market, Public Library, and down to Pioneer Square and back! It was a lot of fun! On Sunday we rode bikes to Fremont district and walked around the market there, went to Theo's chocolate to taste samples. Then we went to visit the Troll and walk on Aurora Bridge! We also went to the top of the Space Needle (which was extremely windy!) and ate dinner at Peso's Mexican restaurant, which has the best steak tacos I've ever had. We ended the fun trip with a jump into the Puget Sound at Golden Gardens; talk about cold water!

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring Quarter 2010!!!! I'm taking 18 credits full of classes in the exercise science/P.E. department! Overall I have a good class time schedule that suits track practice well. I'll be taking: Methods of Teaching Health, Motor Learning and Development, Exercise Physiology, and Sport Injury Management. Wish me luck!!

In hope and opportunity,

~Kayla

EKG----CUPCAKES

As the end of the quarter is here, with only three days left, we have an anatomy review tomorrow in class. Included in this little "party", we all are bringing treats to celebrate! A great friend, Natalie from track, and I made delicious red velvet cupcakes. But they are not your average cupcakes...they are cupcakes of LIFE!! Well, they are cupcakes with EKG's on them! It is quite funny, for some of them have fibrillation's and upside down smiley faces!! Above is the photo I took. We accidentally bought JUMBO cupcake holders, so there aren't many, and some of them are teeny.

To all my nerdy Anatomy friends,
Good night and it's almost Friday,

Kayla Wilkins

"Dead Week" Finals

As we are approaching the end of Winter quarter 2010, the sun is mocking us; I just want to go out and play in the sun. As this week is coming to an end, it truly means that we only have one more week of classes, famously known as "dead week" among college students. So don't feel bad if it seems like we've dropped off the face of the earth. I find this phrase funny, but it really explains our situation very well. We are "dead" and dying with high stress and coffee levels, all which amount to lack of sleep (although I suggest to get some sleep!) It all comes down to the studying we do during this week to cram in the last bit of information for finals. What is truly maddening is when professors give you new material the week before finals!! The definition at Urbandictionary.com is : "The late night working and hardcore studying for finals gives the students a zombie like atmosphere, and causes an eerie silence and many blank, unseeing expressions." Haha, yes that is quite funny.


I am especially excited for this quarter to end because that means I will have finished two grueling quarters of Anatomy and Physiology!! It was a class that surely "bogged you down". I am also super ecstatic because the end of this quarter means 1: SPRING BREAK!! and 2: the beginning of OUTDOOR TRACK SEASON!
Well....I hope I make it out!

In the dawn of dead week,
Kayla Wilkins

Talk About Intense

As a long time runner and mainly 300m hurdler, I would say I'm always looking for a new challenge. This past fall I joined the Cross Country team, with no experience in running that included mile counting. However, I was up for the challenge and worked hard. I ended up doing quite well, and ending with a time of 25:29 for my 5k (from a 28min at the beginning).

My freshman year in college I ran the 400m hurdles. Not doing so hot, I put in the miles for cross country to gain a better endurance base. But now as I am approaching outdoor season, my coaches and I have decided on something new and exciting; I am switching my event....

Steeplechase! Talk about intense right?? It's 7laps (3k), full of barriers! 28 barriers and 7 water jumps in one race; bring it on, I'm pumped. In just two weeks I'll be competing for the first time at the University of Puget sound. I will base my goal time on the time I run next weekend.

In excitement,
~Kayla

TP!

That's right, Toilet Paper!! And why in the heck would I bring up the materials we use to wipe our bottoms? Well, today it randomly came up in a conversation I had with my athletic trainer here at school.

As I was sitting in a 48degree ice bath, we were discussing different types of ice bags. I have to say, we use cheap bags and leak quite easily. I told him about how UW, D1 of course, has thick bags which are seemingly impossible to put a leak in it. But we came to the decision that our bags "get the job done".

And then...we get onto the subject of what kind of toilet paper we use/like! At first, I didn't think it was too odd a conversation; I mean, there are plenty of TP commercials! We compared the differences between the cheaper sinlge-sheeted TP and the more expensive double-sheeted/softer TP. No matter the cost, it all comes down to comfort. Well, actually first should be whether or not it "gets the job done". After our short convo, he began to walk away so I thought our TP topic was over. Yet, stopped and decided his next sentence would be pertinent.

Wet wipes? Really? Okay, now that's understandable, but really? I just had to chuckle, mainly because he admitted that he liked those.

Anyways, what kind of TP do you use/like? As a suggestion....in order to save and save, get more bang for your buck and the environment by folding over and over and over the TP to reuse it. :) Also...imagine the TP of Chuck Norris!

Bottoms up,

Kayla

Competition

Competition, in anything, is "A test of skill or ability; a contest" according to Dictionary.com. I like this definition, for it does not include anything about being a winner or a loser. Yes it may imply it, but it gaining a prize or award is not the focus of the competition.

After running many races in many different places, I've realized one thing: the way the entire situation unfolds depends on ME, and my thoughts alone. I cannot control whether or not they have blocks. I cannot control whether or not the meet is running ahead or behind schedule. I cannot control whether or not it will be raining, thundering, or a day full of sunshine. But what I can control are my thoughts, my anxiety, and my readiness.

As the outdoor season is approaching, I am mentally and physically preparing for the 400m hurdles. In roughly three weeks our team will be competing OUTDOORS! Finally! It is important to always keep in mind my goals and what it takes to accomplish those goals.

While this may seem like an entirely different life in comparison to my school life, I need to stay focused and on-task in my schedule as winter quarter is wrapping up. It is already the 7th week of 10 weeks! Time is flying by, and truly I have more than one competition at hand.

Happy Presidents Day

~Kayla

Spring is Coming

As I walk around, I notice little colors of life sprouting throughout the gardens. I find it odd and a bit early, but either way lovely. In our own front yard we have flowers popping up in dirt we thought bare. I am so excited to see the flowers bloom, especially once the roses come up too!

Here is a picture of the first flower (daffodils!) of our yard! Super awesome, especially because we didn't plant anything; they all will be a surprise to us in these coming months.

In light of spring,
Kayla