Me Warrior.

(a sample of some of the fun costumes)

(getting ready to start)

After months of planning on participating in the Warrior Dash 2010, I couldn't let a little mono keep me away. haha. I decided to do it last minute and take it easy. I definitely was slow and had to walk quite a bit on the part where we ran for a couple miles up a ski slope. It doesn't look as steep in the pictures as it was. Oh and this picture includes about 1/1000th of the uphill part. I might be exaggerating--just a little bit.

The race begins with clambering over junker cars and trucks then on to tackle the giant bales of hay, a rope up a rocky incline and rows and rows of tires. Then the tough switchbacks up the mountain for miles and miles (it felt like it). Finally we started heading downhill. I was feeling good until my knee started pulling. COME ON! So again I had to walk on and off. At the bottom of the hill=RELIEF. Water and the mud pit. I was ready to jump in just to cool off.

I unfortunately got booed at because I didn't dive in but I did manage to splash mud in my face and up my nose which later formed a nice hard ball that I couldn't wipe off because I had mud everywhere. And running with heavy mud was insane.

After the mud pit came the cargo nets, planks across a ravine, and the wonderfully cold river to run across. Looking back I should have sat down and washed up in the river. At least I got a bit of the mud off my shoes.

The final stretch onto jumping the two sets of flames which were quite a bit higher and hotter than seemed safe. But I made it without catching on fire. The worst part was having to wash off the mud in the FREEEEEZING pond. I was purple for about an hour and I didn't even get all the mud off.

A video montage put together by me talented hubby:

It was an amazing experience and I am looking forward to next year so I can really give it all my effort. Who is in with me??

Warrior G

I heart New York (RACE DAY!)

Sunday morning was the big day that Jared has been training for the past 9 months. He was amazing and I loved getting to watch him in each event.

We were staying just a couple blocks from the start, so we walked down together and got Jared all suited up for the swim. I love the excitement of races. Everyone is all pumped up and ready to go.

The race started with a 1500m swim in the Hudson. *side note: just before starting we watched a tire floating down the river* The current was so strong that they had participants jump in the water and hang on to a rope until the buzzer. Some people were just floating and backstroking down the river. I could hardly keep up walking, but somehow looked over about a half-mile up and found Jared!!! I walked alongside him until he got out of the water. At the end of the swim there is a ramp and a bunch of guys are pulling them out of the river.

Next up was the 40k bike on the West Side highway. Jared did amazing and flew past tons of people. I caught him while he was just heading onto the highway.

I saw Jared twice on the 10k run ending in Central Park. I was so excited to see him and almost missed him since he did the bike so quickly. I caught up with him again just before the finish line. Notice in the picture the guy propped up against the railing. I watched the poor guy go down while I was waiting. It was awful! His body just fell apart. It was just so hot and right at the end of the race.

The best part were the free pedicabs that took us from Central Park to the transition area. I have always wanted to do that and even better after running all over town watching the race.

We went back to the hotel and napped (oh how I love no-kid time) and then a boat ride around the island. Stay tuned...

I heart New York (day one & two)

Jared & I went without the kids to New York this past weekend. Partly a fun trip for us and partly for Jared to compete in the NYC triathlon.

The first night we got there it was a little late, so we wandered Central Park (holding hands & NOT pushing a stroller) and then onto 5th Ave for Jared to see the Apple flagship store.

On the second day we walked over Brooklyn Bridge. Amazing views and yummy pizza & ice cream on the other side as a reward!

The "tourist" shot on the bridge looking towards Brooklyn

Looking back at Manhattan while we ate ice cream in Brooklyn

I didn't get any pictures, but we went to the play The Screwtape Letters that evening. I love how much New York has to do. So much fun!

The next day was mostly shopping and getting prepped for the triathlon. We did meet up with our good friends Craig & Amanda for a yummy dinner at BLT Steak and gelato at Grom. Yum, yum, yum.

Training

Counting down---one month to go until Jared does his triathlon in NYC! He did a sprint tri for training at Cherry Creek last weekend. I always love taking the kids to watch. It is a blast and Grey really loves it.

Watching for daddy--

at the lake--

at the finish line--

Oh and I must brag--he finished 31st in the whole race. I am so proud of him. I can't wait to cheer my lover on in NYC (at 6am)!

Thanksgiving

Has it really been a month since I last updated. Apparently life is too busy for me to keep up! I honestly cannot remember what went on in November except for Thanksgiving... Oh yeah--I did have to speak in church. So that took pretty much all of my brain cells that are left.

On to Thanksgiving...

We kept up our annual tradition of the Turkey Trot at Washington Park. It is so great to just walk over. I think this was our 6th year; Grey's 3rd and Elise's 1st. She is the little pink hat in the stroller. Jared was so kind to push the HEAVY stroller and I got to run freely with some lovely ladies! It was a perfect start to the big, delicious-food-filled day.

We have been decorating away and getting ready for a fabulous Christmas season. Happy December!

3 months and a relay

This past Sunday was a great day! Elise turned three months and I ran in the Denver Marathon for the third year in a row. Although this year I was only up for the relay. I ran with some of my favorite ladies (we missed you Pam!) and did the 7-mile leg. Being sick with the flu the week before did not help my time. I was extra tired. But it was still really fun and a perfect fall day. Jared cheered me on twice in the last mile. I was so excited to see him and it gave me a little boost for the finish.

Anyone in for the half next year?

My hero

Jared competed in an olympic-distance (1.5 K swim, 40 K bike, 10 K run) triathlon Sunday. He was incredible! Months and months of tough training all leading up to yesterday.

We got there early so we could wish him luck before the start. Hot air balloons were taking off and Grey LOVED them!

I felt so huge being 9 months pregnant next to so many ripped people

(including my sexy hubby--look at him!)

Coming out from the swim

Almost finished... It was so hot & muggy

I am SO proud of you, lover!

Gratitude Continued...

Bragging Rights?

Today was the big day! I left the house just after 6am to get downtown for the half marathon. It was still dark with the city lights on at start time. The weather was absolutely perfect as opposed to last year's. The beautiful weather helped me shave 17 minutes off my time from last year. My goal was under two hours and I was shy by 50 measly seconds. If only I could have lifted my legs off the ground that last mile...

I got to see Jared and Grey THREE times in City Park. It was fabulous and gave me that extra boost I needed. I ran with Carie and she really kept me going. Thanks Carie!

Next year anyone?

My race gear set out the night before. I was ultra prepared!

Grey watching all the runners

After the race

Grey was having too much fun to get a picture with me

A Proud Wife

Jared did his first triathlon this past weekend. I am so proud of him! He is probably the best person I know at coming up with a training regimen and sticking to it. He did amazing throughout the race and beat his goal time by 7 minutes. Now he is thinking of doing the New York triathlon next summer. Hmmmm.... Does that mean I get to go shopping? :)

Can you find Jared? Getting ready for the start

The MADNESS! It was hilarious to watch the start of the swim

Grey watching for Daddy during the bike

Back from the biking--only running left. I was tired just watching

Grandma & Grey waiting for Jared during the run

I am going to embarrass Jared and put this up--I made him a poster. hehehe

Committed!

I am officially committed to running the Denver Half again. Don't ask me what got into me. I swore I would never run again after last year's half marathon! Lets just hope the weather cooperates this time. August 31st is the last day for the standard sign up price if anyone is interested.

Because I will be running a LOT in the next 6 weeks, I need your help! I am getting so sick of my workout music. I'm still listening to some songs that I ran to 7 years ago... What are your favorite songs to run to?

The Half

We did it! Our friends Joe & Leslie and Dave & Carrie ran the Denver half marathon with Jared & I. We woke up Sunday morning to find the temperature at 40 degrees and raining. The temperature didn't go up more than a degree or two throughout the morning and the rain continued on and on.
Throughout the race I dodged huge puddles even though my socks were soaked and squishing with each step. For the last 8 miles I could not feel my arms, hands or face. At the end of the race I couldn't move my mouth to talk and my lips were blue for another couple hours until I finally warmed up. I finished in 2 hours 17 minutes which is really bad, but I'm just proud that I made it to the finish line without taking any shortcuts (I saw some people cheating & I really wanted to follow!)
In spite of the tough weather, it was so much fun. I have never done anything that difficult before and it felt so good to finish it. I found myself getting a burst of energy at each mile marker for about a quarter mile. Then I would drag again for the last 3/4 mile. There were lots of people cheering us on and loud music which helped a lot.
I spent the afternoon trying to lay down between chasing Greyden around the house. As soon as I put him down for his nap I passed out! Joe & Leslie had us over for HUGE steaks and potatoes for dinner. Thanks guys!!!

Training Day

I did it! (with a little bit of walking...) Jared & I did our 10 mile training run today. We ran up to City Park by the zoo and back down along Cheeseman Park and home. It was a really fun run. When we got to City Park they had a high school cross country meet going. I was thinking back to my high school track days when I thought 1 mile of running was forever long.

Sometimes when I'm running I have a really hard time staying motivated not to just walk the rest of the way. Anyone out there have any special secrets? A couple of songs today that kept me going were:

Mr. Brightsides by The Killers
My Humps by Black Eyed Peas (I know...)
Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
She Comes and Goes by Rob Drabkin (local artist--AMAZING!!!)

Rocky Mountain Race

We ran in the Rocky Mountain race this past Sunday morning. We did the 5.5K pretty much because we're lazy... The course starts in Riverfront Park (which by the way is my dream place to live) and heads past Coors Field and through the streets of downtown, winds along the Platte back to where we started. The half marathoners run the same course but head up past Invesco and around Sloan's Lake. It was a blast running downtown! Luckily I had my sister in town to run it with me. We ran together the whole time which was really fun. Thanks P! I can't wait to do it again next year. I think Jared & I are going to try the 1/2 marathon next. AAAAH! I have a year to prepare, right???