What's up Summer 2012?

It's been a little crazy around here. But we've decided that is how we play best and somehow our summer is nearly half way gone. And although this was the first weekend we didn't have something going on, we had some funthing(s) going on. Starting with mommy running for Team SWEET in the La Grande XTERRA!

Talk about mindovermatter that was my chant as I ran in the eighty plus degree weather. The run was a 10k, bike a 25k, and swim a 1k. It was a tough, hilly 10k. My final "official" time was 1:09.

Upon the arrival to a work barbecue after the XTERRA, I bragged that my time was 1:04ish. I seriously thought that it was. Apparently, I didn't look at my watch until 5 minutes into it. I can eat crow tomorrow when I confess that I really wasnotthatgreat.

At the Wilson Resort, the family had fun! We were the last to arrive (due to race) and last to leave by a longshot. We used their paddle boat on the pond, raced their golf carts around their nine hole course and snuck on their gator for a good ol' farm ride. The kids did NOT want to go. And cannot wait to go back! If we are lucky.



So Sunday I folded fifteen loads of laundry and washed and remade all four beds. While E mowed the lawn and cared for our garden. After household chores were done, we snuck out for a hike at Catherine Creek! Making it much further than we have in the past. MaKenna was a natural--wanted to be in first place and would rather run on the trail than walk. Sadly, we had to walk because Jet could not keep up any longer, nor could Morgann. We threw some rocks in the creek and headed home. 

After a crazy week of soccer coming up, we embark the second weekend of nothing to do. I'm sure we'll fill it with somethings. In fact, pending fire dispatch we just might luck out and go camping! Get out there!

Hello Summa, 2012

It's here, weather  whether, we like it or not. Don't get me wrong. We like the warm weather, trail runs, camping trips, mountain biking, evening walks, trips to the park, jaunts over to the Pendleton water park, we just like it more when Daddy's home to enjoy it with us. Here's to the first dispatch. The day prior I ran 8.7 miles on the XTerra bike course. It was one of the most exhilarating runs to date and I can't wait to go again. Only, him being gone seriously cramps my style.

Enough of my selfishness! The man of the house turns EIGHT next week! More on that next time.

Five. 4. Three. 2. One!

MaKenna is FIVE! Celebration JJ style this year. After a her choice dinner at McDonalds with the Miller family, we headed out at five a on her actual birthday. She felt special and celebrated. It's all that matters!

4. The number of OUTS Mason had in his last baseball game, go BUDDY!

The little three year old is a straight-up dog lover! A wanna- be dancer. Has her first year of pre-school under her belt. She only cried two out of three days per week, for the entire year. Heart-wrenching.

2. Michelle and I finished her first, my second, half marathon. Together, well I left her somewhere on mile one, but watched her finish! Minus her telling me to "kiss her ass" we enjoyed our sister time to the M.A.X! And we plan to Rock a City next year, too. 

ONE dog left today! JJ, Grandpa Dan and Grandpa Bob left this morning, after a quick visit here to watch one baseball game of Mason's and MaKenna's first dance recital. Where she shook her groove thang to Sugar Pie Honey Bunch and trumpeted her left elephant arm! Rightthissecond she is playing dance recital and bossing Morgann. Girls will be girls.

Monday is what Day?

That marathon would have been nice. To like, run more than three miles would be nice. I guess this just wasn't the year for my marathon. You know when you sell your home, move, STP, head East for a week, coach rec soccer, leave for a long wedding weekend, come home to a flooded mess and then lose your hubby to standby for two weeks--things like training for that marathon don't happen.
Well, HELLO 10k! I can and will accomplish you in October. And when you come, I will be ready.

We Like to Ride our Bikes. STP 2011

WHOOP!

Daddy's First Race!

Saturday was race day! The kids and E participated in the annual Solstice Triathlon/Duathlon at Morgan Lake. Earl rode his mountain bike (in my place) for a team. I think, underneath the mud, you would see a little bit of a smile. Minus the small bike issues, he kind of  really liked it.

 Mason LOVED the mountain biking, too. The run, not. so. much.

Pictured below the Duathlon's youngest competitor! And number 80, because that and her medal were all that mattered to this doll.



Here's to more races! More family! And more fun! Because that is what these days are all about!

Here Comes the TrekSter(s)!

I posted a status a few days ago on Facebook, something to the tune of riding bikes never gets boring. It really doesn't especially after my wreck. Maybe I should just get honest, it was a "fall over" not a wipe out of any sort. It was my First time EVER clipping in my mountain bike. The 82 miles rode the previous day might be part of the excuse, too. The location of the fall was almost to the top of where you would start your descent down what has been dubbed "suicide hill." I guess going up is just as suicidal!

But, as stated before, riding bikes for this PARTY OF 5 never, ever gets boring. And now that we have Morgann riding our evening route by herself completely on her trikester, there really isn't any complaining! It's summer, time to ride.

The truth is, with views like this and friends like these girls, Mountain Biking is for everyone!

Even after bruises, bumps, and separated somethings-- I can't wait to get back out there!

Check out this wound!

For sure going to the Doc tomorrow. Ouch!

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3 Rivers Race - 82 miles

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Marathon training this week,

Brought to you by 2 spin classes, 2 great runs (3.94 & 5.26 miles in length) and one awesome 11 miler bike ride with my Dad. 11 miles of Wind. I'm talking the kind of wind that the fastest you can push your road bike is 8 mph, downhill.

Not to forget the 5k stroll I mentioned in my previous post that I walked in with my mom. And all the other running around any mom does. I'm not going to discount any activity this week.

My real goal for this last week was to lift weights twice. But, that little thing called life somehow got in the way. Or to be completely honest, I hit snooze on my alarm one too many times to squeeze those weights in Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

I didn't pass on the below cupcakes though (which I made from scratch). Nope. Those and all the other yummy treats from the weekend is why I am going to get those weights and that third run in this week. Yes, I will.

Marathon Week #1

Holla! I actually stuck to my PLAN! 3 miles Monday, ok 2.5. Tuesday spin class. Wednesday 30 minutes on the treadmill. Thursday a super sweaty spin class. My Friday longer run, was less than the 6 needed, but longer-- and didn't take place until Sunday. On Friday E convinced me to do a weight work out with him. Saturday the SNOW BLAST with the family at Anthony Lakes, skiing counts for something!

Here's to another week of staying on track!

Ready to Run

Check out my new kicks.  And feel free to remind me, whenever you feel it's necessary, that I am almost one hundred percent committing to run a marathon in October. That's 26.2, baby. A LOT of training. Many miles. Lots of sweat. I can feel the trails calling my name, now.

It's tradition, when the hubs leaves I turn to Internet shopping. This go round I have pretty much amazed myself, but not only with my deal finding. I've made fires, cleaned out and started parking my ride in the garage, shoveling snow, having Mason's lunch made before 7:55 A, took out the trash (twice), grocery shopped with three kiddos at 5:00 P and have only been five minutes late to work! Go me!

But really, don't let me fool you. Our sleeping arrangements, as always, have changed. All three kids are snug in my bed. And I'll probably just sleep on the couch instead of doing any transferring. That seems easier. And you know, I wouldn't want to work, would I?

Just to be completely honest, I have a small confession about the fire making. I gotta give credit where it's due. Yes. Mason built the fire, crumpled the paper and layered the kindling. Just like his daddy. And these fires have been HOT!

I think the Momma's gone CRAZY!

After participating in the Luna or All Women's Triathlon over my birthday weekend this year, I thought I would push myself to do something a little bit more. An Olympic Distance Triathlon. My good friend Bene, said she'd do it with me. At the time with a smile. The night before we headed down to the bar and grill for a drink. In an attempt to calm nerves. There was never any calming, at least for me. I think we both knew we might be in over our heads.

I was in awe when we arrived. Everyone had super-fast-looking-bikes and bodies that were harder than rocks. The men and the women. However, we both knew that there was no backing out, now. Here we were, staring at the BIG Columbia River and getting ready to tri whether we liked it or not.

We travelled in a group of four. Bene and I Olympic distance competitors, Katie did the sprint and our friend Erin came along for moral support and a safe driver to get us home. Katie met up with a cousin, who is number four in my all-time favorite before race picture below.

The swim was in calm water considering the location. It took me 23 minutes to swim 1K in my modified for the conditions style. The end of the swim confirmed what I knew from the start, I'd be closer to the end, if not the last competitor to cross the finish line. I was not the last yellow cap out of the water, as I originally thought now that I look closer at the picture.

The 30 mile bike ride was more than challenging. The ride had substantially more up than down. Miles of up with a quarter mile down only here and there. I only saw four other bikers and spent almost the entire two hours talking myself out of the run. And somewhere during the past two years, the bike became my strong leg. I've never felt so weak.

I planned on using the excuse that my Hammer Gel flask leaked all over me and my legs were sticky. They were. In the above picture you can see the white sugar ALL OVER ME. It was uncomfortable but I couldn't let my friend down and not finish. Or myself for that matter. During the run Bene and I saw each other and she yelled out, "this is out of my league."  It was so far out of mine, too.

But she finished. Strong.

With the encouragement of our friend Erin, who ran the entire run with me, I too....

finished.

Talk about pushing yourself. I have more emotional recovering to do than physical. My body, suprisingly feels ok. My legs are slightly sore. I've been much worse. But getting 99 out of 104....I finished.

What did this weekend have in store for us?

This weekend is La Grande's annual Crossing the Blues festival. It provides entertainment and art galore. Friday night the kids and I stumbled upon the live music, found friends and decided to make a night out of it. The first performance was the Marchfourth marching band and the best description for what we saw came from a friends Facebook post, "marching band kids who grew up, did acid and decided to turn it into a career." As you'll notice from the video, he isn't too far off. MaKenna and Morgann just wanted to shake their booty's! We stayed through the Wasteland Kings and then headed home. Because Mommy needed some sleep.

The festitivities in La Grande Saturday, for us, started with the La Grande Triathlon (go mommy go) and a kids duathlon for our friends. Mason opted to not participate because there was no bike leg. Instead he went to the bike shop right after where he asked nicely to test ride a trick bike. He was able to and his smile was perma. He took two trips up and down the sidewalk. And graciously said thank you right before we left.

After naps we headed down to dinner with our cousins Irelyn and Bryson and their Mommy. Followed by live music while dancing in the streets, it just might not get any better for local fun for all. Well, I attempted to get a sitter last minute so the adults could head back down to the beer garden...It's probably better that our old faithful girl was having her own girls night!

Can you imagine what Mason's face looked like when his tire was flat mid-walk downtown tonight. What?We have to go back to the bike shop? I guess so!!! SMILE!

LUNA 2010....SAAWEEEETTT

Last Wednesday night I finally decided that I would participate in the Luna. The same triathlon I did last year. I am very happy with  my decision. Team S.W.E.E.T. did GREAT! The group of 20-25 ladies from La Grande that participated along with me, all rocked. And the encouragement from them was just what I needed.

I wasn't worried this year that I couldn't cross the finish line, because I knew I could do it. I was just a little concerned with doing it knowing that I hadn't trained in all three sports, minus a run here and there, at all. I didn't even do one single brick work out.  I even challenged myself a little bit more this year doing the full half mile swim, instead of the quarter mile. My time wasn't all that bad, one hour-forty two minutes overall.

Proud finishers! Wa-Hoo! We all really wanted to get done in a certain amount of time because there was another race that was going to happen. The kiddos participated this year, too!

Here are three of the kids, pre-race. Orange swim caps swam, bike and ran. The yellow caps did a splash, pedal and dash. Mason did so AWESOME. He got right into it. Splashing/running along the shoreline.

Going from that to his bike and transitioning all by himself. He changed out of his "swim" shirt and into his bike/run shirt, all by himself. He rode that bike as fast as he could. Funny, he didn't mention his speed and when I questioned him about it. He replied, "I don't know, I had too much fun to look."

Run Mason, Run. Myself, E, Grandpa Dan, JJ and the girls, along with other Team SWEET'ers all cheered them on. We were also pleasantly surprised to run into some old friends. Mason was so glad his rooting section came down from Toledo to watch him. That was apparently his favorite part of our weekend.

The after the finish line shot. Notice he forgot to take his helmet off! Silly boy!

This is my favorite picture of the weekend!

Here are some of the Sweet girls who participated. A few were in the bathroom when this shot was taken. I loved the Luna experience this year. I wouldn't take the weekend back for the piece of furniture that I have to hold off on now. That was AWESOME!

Next up, the La Grande Triathlon. And I haven't signed up yet, but some of the girls are talking about doing an Olympic distance triathlon in The Dalles on September 11. If I am to do that, I would have to ride, run or swim every single day from here on out. I think I am going to be busy training! Aluminum Man here I come (hopefully)!!!!