Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Join me for a Look at my Breathtaking Road Trip
I am so very glad to be back in sunny Las Vegas. And just in time for the Ultimate Coffee Date! Why not grab a hot beverage and let me tell you all about my road trip. 🚗
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Ultimate Coffee Date - March 2017
I missed our coffee date last month, and that made me sad, so I decided I wouldn't miss out again this month!
If we were having coffee today, I'd tell you that I've decided to forego my goal of running a 55k at the beginning of April. I probably wouldn't want to go into too many details about it. It's kinda fresh. But let's just say that other goals are taking a priority and with my knee acting up, I don't want to push it too hard and risk more serious injury.
I'd tell you that I spent some time this morning writing out a workout plan for March. My plan is to really focus on Core and other strength and/or endurance workouts, so that I can get stronger for that possible Grand Canyon hike. I'll only be running 2-3 days a week, with some hiking or biking thrown in. I'm also going to start a 30 Days of Yoga for Beginners playlist on YouTube. I was very specific with exact videos/workouts I want to do, so I won't need to waste any time figuring out what to do each day. It's a pretty solid plan with working out or running in the mornings and yoga in the evenings. I'm hoping that Jeff will do the yoga with me (or at least some stretching while I do the yoga) in the evenings. I don't normally do 2 workouts in one day, but I'm tired of being so lazy in the evenings.
If we were having coffee today, I'd remind you that I'm so excited to be an aunt again. The last time I became an aunt was in 2002! My two youngest brothers each welcomed a baby boy at the end of February. I would definitely show you pictures that my brothers and their fiancées have shared on Facebook.
If we were having coffee today, I'd tell you that I got to have lunch with a former co-worker yesterday! It was so much fun, plus I got to hold her little 6-month old. She's adorable! I'd also tell you that we got to talking and totally spaced snapping any pictures. I hadn't seen her in probably 9 months, so hopefully it won't be quite as long before I see her again.
If we were having coffee today, I'd tell you that I've decided I really like butternut squash. We got some in a recent Bountiful Basket. I peeled it, cubed it, and then roasted it. So delish! I ate it as a side, in a smoothie, and in a salad. I'm blown away by how much I like it. I really don't remember liking it this much. LOL.
Time to get going...
Oh, one last thing! I'd tell you that Jeff and I are heading out for a bike ride this afternoon. We haven't gotten in the saddle for MONTHS! I'm excited to get out there. Plus, it's gorgeous outside right now, and I don't want to stay cooped up inside all day long!!
Have you ever set out with a BHAG - only to re-evaluate and change your goal in the middle?
If we were having coffee, what would you want to tell me?
Be sure to head over to Got 2 Run 4 Me or Confessions of a Mother Runner and catch up with everyone else!
Until next month...
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If we were having coffee today, I'd tell you that I've decided to forego my goal of running a 55k at the beginning of April. I probably wouldn't want to go into too many details about it. It's kinda fresh. But let's just say that other goals are taking a priority and with my knee acting up, I don't want to push it too hard and risk more serious injury.
I'd tell you that I spent some time this morning writing out a workout plan for March. My plan is to really focus on Core and other strength and/or endurance workouts, so that I can get stronger for that possible Grand Canyon hike. I'll only be running 2-3 days a week, with some hiking or biking thrown in. I'm also going to start a 30 Days of Yoga for Beginners playlist on YouTube. I was very specific with exact videos/workouts I want to do, so I won't need to waste any time figuring out what to do each day. It's a pretty solid plan with working out or running in the mornings and yoga in the evenings. I'm hoping that Jeff will do the yoga with me (or at least some stretching while I do the yoga) in the evenings. I don't normally do 2 workouts in one day, but I'm tired of being so lazy in the evenings.
If we were having coffee today, I'd remind you that I'm so excited to be an aunt again. The last time I became an aunt was in 2002! My two youngest brothers each welcomed a baby boy at the end of February. I would definitely show you pictures that my brothers and their fiancées have shared on Facebook.
If we were having coffee today, I'd tell you that I got to have lunch with a former co-worker yesterday! It was so much fun, plus I got to hold her little 6-month old. She's adorable! I'd also tell you that we got to talking and totally spaced snapping any pictures. I hadn't seen her in probably 9 months, so hopefully it won't be quite as long before I see her again.
If we were having coffee today, I'd tell you that I've decided I really like butternut squash. We got some in a recent Bountiful Basket. I peeled it, cubed it, and then roasted it. So delish! I ate it as a side, in a smoothie, and in a salad. I'm blown away by how much I like it. I really don't remember liking it this much. LOL.
Time to get going...
Oh, one last thing! I'd tell you that Jeff and I are heading out for a bike ride this afternoon. We haven't gotten in the saddle for MONTHS! I'm excited to get out there. Plus, it's gorgeous outside right now, and I don't want to stay cooped up inside all day long!!
Have you ever set out with a BHAG - only to re-evaluate and change your goal in the middle?
If we were having coffee, what would you want to tell me?
Be sure to head over to Got 2 Run 4 Me or Confessions of a Mother Runner and catch up with everyone else!
Until next month...
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Thursday, August 14, 2014
3 Things Thursday + WINNERS
Happy Thursday!! We're in the home stretch of putting this week behind us. Yay!! It's been long, and a bit crazy at work, so I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend. :)
Here's are a few things on my mind this morning.
Here are the winners:
Drink Cocogo - Elisabeth
Proud Runner gift pack - Irina
Detour Smart Bars - Jenny
Bondi Band - Karen
Multi-Grip Stretch Strap - Rachel
Here are my options:
I'm super excited about tonight, but I also feel like I'm coming down with something. I was so tired yesterday that I went to bed at 7:30pm, and I woke up with a sore throat. I'm going to down some Emergen-C and hope that helps stave off whatever is coming my way.
I really tried to push it during the run back home, but I was tired, so it was a little slower on the way back.
Oh yeah! I also got hit on by a couple of hot foreign tourists. One, in very broken English, asked if he could go footing with me for a little bit. I let him - mostly because I was running with pepper spray, if he tried anything untoward. After a minute or two, he kissed my hand, and I took off to continue my tempo run.
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Here's are a few things on my mind this morning.
1. Winners!
Thank you to everyone who joined me for my birthday streak! I had a great time celebrating with all of you!!Here are the winners:
Drink Cocogo - Elisabeth
Proud Runner gift pack - Irina
Detour Smart Bars - Jenny
Bondi Band - Karen
Multi-Grip Stretch Strap - Rachel
2. Art Show
Tonight, Jeff and I are getting all dolled up to go to a friend's art show. Cocktail Dress Attire. I ordered a few new dresses on Amazon. Gotta love Prime! They are set to arrive this afternoon, so I'll get home from work, try them on, and choose which one to wear. Nothing like the last minute.Here are my options:
I'm super excited about tonight, but I also feel like I'm coming down with something. I was so tired yesterday that I went to bed at 7:30pm, and I woke up with a sore throat. I'm going to down some Emergen-C and hope that helps stave off whatever is coming my way.
3. Yesterday's Run
I attempted a little speedwork yesterday in the form of a tempo run. It's been a long time, since I went that crazy. My first mile was 8:55. YAY!! And then I took a little walk break when I got to the Strip. It's perfect because there is a pedestrian bridge about halfway through the route. I walked up the stairs, across the bridge, and down the stairs before starting on the run again.I really tried to push it during the run back home, but I was tired, so it was a little slower on the way back.
Oh yeah! I also got hit on by a couple of hot foreign tourists. One, in very broken English, asked if he could go footing with me for a little bit. I let him - mostly because I was running with pepper spray, if he tried anything untoward. After a minute or two, he kissed my hand, and I took off to continue my tempo run.
Bonus: My nephew and his girlfriend
Will be visiting Vegas this weekend! She just turned 21 last week, and they are coming to Vegas (with a few other people) to celebrate! We don't have any specific plans to see them, but I'm looking forward to meeting up and doing something fun! Plus, Jeff and I did get a pool cabana for Sunday, so either way, it's going to be a fun weekend!Tweet
Friday, June 27, 2014
Birthday Greetings to Selena!
Happy Friday! And a very happy birthday to my gorgeous niece, Selena.
Today my sister's baby girl is 18. Wow!
Seems like just the other day that I was piling her brothers and mine into my tiny Dodge Daytona to go see her in the hospital.
This is the same niece that I flew to MN to see last weekend for her graduation party. I'm so proud of her! She'll be going to the University of Wisconsin - Superior next year, and I wish her the best of luck!!
She was kind of recruited to be on the track team, and she'll be playing either soccer or hockey, too. Hockey's her first choice, of course.
She's been playing hockey since she could barely walk.
She started soccer much later (middle school, I think), and she's excelled at that sport, too.
I love this girl so much and know she's going to do great in college and playing the sports that she loves.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SELENA-BEAN!!!
I hope you have a fantastic birthday weekend - filled with lots of love, friendship, and fun memories!!! You deserve it all. :)
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Today my sister's baby girl is 18. Wow!
Seems like just the other day that I was piling her brothers and mine into my tiny Dodge Daytona to go see her in the hospital.
This is the same niece that I flew to MN to see last weekend for her graduation party. I'm so proud of her! She'll be going to the University of Wisconsin - Superior next year, and I wish her the best of luck!!
She was kind of recruited to be on the track team, and she'll be playing either soccer or hockey, too. Hockey's her first choice, of course.
She's been playing hockey since she could barely walk.
 |
| I couldn't find a great picture of her out on the ice. |
She started soccer much later (middle school, I think), and she's excelled at that sport, too.
I love this girl so much and know she's going to do great in college and playing the sports that she loves.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SELENA-BEAN!!!
I hope you have a fantastic birthday weekend - filled with lots of love, friendship, and fun memories!!! You deserve it all. :)
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Monday, May 19, 2014
Catalina Island: The Wedding
You may recall I had a fantastic visit to Catalina Island earlier this month! SCUBA diving and running were just bonus activities; the real reason for the mini vacation was for my cousin's destination wedding.
The wedding was a Great Gatsby theme, and we had a lot of fun getting all dressed up in 1920s fashion.
The wedding was a Great Gatsby theme, and we had a lot of fun getting all dressed up in 1920s fashion.
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| Posing outside the casino |
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
We went to Hoover Dam!
When I asked my dad what he wanted to do in Vegas, he gave me three suggestions.
1) Visit Hoover Dam
2) Jack in the Box
3) In 'n Out Burgers
LOL. Obviously, Jack in the Box and In 'n Out Burgers are not available in MN. We did squeeze in each of those, and they were delicious!
But this post is all about visiting Hoover Dam.
It was after biking to Hoover Dam in June 2012 that Jeff and I decided to stay in Vegas for awhile. At first we were just planning on staying for 6 months or so, but we're here for the foreseeable future now.
Back to the dam.
We didn't bike this time. Though that would have been lots of fun, we don't have two extra bikes. And with the government shutdown, I don't think that the trail would have been open.
Lucky for us, the Hoover Dam website had this note up when we were checking for hours, etc.
We missed the turn for the bypass around Boulder City, and I'm so glad that we did! We stumbled upon this view of Lake Mead and had to pull over for some photo ops.
From there we were just a few minutes from Hoover Dam.
We spent some time walking across the dam from Nevada to Arizona and back again. :)
It was pretty amazing to look down the dam and out across Lake Mead.
Jeff and Marna didn't feel like going on the tour, so it was just my dad and me.
It was really fascinating! I really like going on tours like that because I learn so much more than I would just walking around on my own. Plus, of course, you get to go to areas you wouldn't normally get to go - like through the tunnels used to construct the dam.
Before going on the tour, I thought the white rock was from the normal water level of Lake Mead. Actually it's from back in 1983 when the Colorado River flooded, giving Mother Nature the opportunity to test the spillways. :) The river flowed that high for 60+ days, resulting in the white rock.
Of course, the water level is still very low, compared to the hey day of Vegas. It used to sit about halfway further up the white wall.
A few years ago, the Hoover Dam Bypass was completed. Now motorists don't have to drive over the dam, and visitors to the dam, get this view.
There is a pedestrian walkway up on the bypass, but we didn't make it up there. I bet those views are even more fabulous!
Construction projects like the Hoover Dam are amazing to me! Especially considering the difference in technology from then compared to today.
After the dam tour, we met back up with Jeff and Marna and headed back into Boulder City for a late lunch.
We went to the Boulder Dam Brewery. It was very tasty, and many of their menu items had dam-related names, like the Turbine Turkey.
To see more pictures of our trip to Hoover Dam, click here to see my album on Facebook.
Have you ever visited Hoover Dam?
Do you like to go on guided tours or just explore on your own?
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1) Visit Hoover Dam
2) Jack in the Box
3) In 'n Out Burgers
LOL. Obviously, Jack in the Box and In 'n Out Burgers are not available in MN. We did squeeze in each of those, and they were delicious!
But this post is all about visiting Hoover Dam.
It was after biking to Hoover Dam in June 2012 that Jeff and I decided to stay in Vegas for awhile. At first we were just planning on staying for 6 months or so, but we're here for the foreseeable future now.
Back to the dam.
We didn't bike this time. Though that would have been lots of fun, we don't have two extra bikes. And with the government shutdown, I don't think that the trail would have been open.
Lucky for us, the Hoover Dam website had this note up when we were checking for hours, etc.
NOTE: Hoover Dam Visitors services remain open to the public during the current government shutdown because the facility is not operated by appropriated dollars.Yay!!
We missed the turn for the bypass around Boulder City, and I'm so glad that we did! We stumbled upon this view of Lake Mead and had to pull over for some photo ops.
 |
| This was about as close as we could get to Lake Mead, since it is a National Recreational area, and therefore was closed during the shutdown. |
From there we were just a few minutes from Hoover Dam.
We spent some time walking across the dam from Nevada to Arizona and back again. :)
It was pretty amazing to look down the dam and out across Lake Mead.
Jeff and Marna didn't feel like going on the tour, so it was just my dad and me.
 |
| Our docent explaining how the dam was built |
It was really fascinating! I really like going on tours like that because I learn so much more than I would just walking around on my own. Plus, of course, you get to go to areas you wouldn't normally get to go - like through the tunnels used to construct the dam.
Before going on the tour, I thought the white rock was from the normal water level of Lake Mead. Actually it's from back in 1983 when the Colorado River flooded, giving Mother Nature the opportunity to test the spillways. :) The river flowed that high for 60+ days, resulting in the white rock.
Of course, the water level is still very low, compared to the hey day of Vegas. It used to sit about halfway further up the white wall.
A few years ago, the Hoover Dam Bypass was completed. Now motorists don't have to drive over the dam, and visitors to the dam, get this view.
 |
| Such a beautiful bridge! |
Construction projects like the Hoover Dam are amazing to me! Especially considering the difference in technology from then compared to today.
After the dam tour, we met back up with Jeff and Marna and headed back into Boulder City for a late lunch.
We went to the Boulder Dam Brewery. It was very tasty, and many of their menu items had dam-related names, like the Turbine Turkey.
To see more pictures of our trip to Hoover Dam, click here to see my album on Facebook.
Have you ever visited Hoover Dam?
Do you like to go on guided tours or just explore on your own?
Tweet
Other ways to follow Enjoying the Course:
Twitter → @EnjoytheCourse
Instagram → enjoyingthecourse
Facebook → EnjoyingtheCourse
Google+ → Enjoying the Course
Pinterest → clarindad
Sunday, October 20, 2013
An Incredible Start to a Fabulous week
Having my parents come out for a visit was fabulous! It was great to see them and visit. It had been such a long time. It was also super fun to be tourists for a few days. :)
We did pretty much everything I mentioned in this post. Well, except we checked out Valley of Fire State Park instead of Red Rock National Park. Thank you, government shutdown.
Valley of Fire was absolutely amazing, so I'm really happy we decided to check it out. More to come on that in another post.
Their flight was delayed in leaving MSP, but I was still super excited all day.
You see, we were starting their visit off with a Bon Jovi concert.
I could hardly wait! I felt like a giddy teenager all afternoon.
The concert was loud. It was crazy.
It was AMAZING!
We missed the first half of the show because of their delayed flight, but the ending is always better anyway, right?
They were playing some of their newer ballads when we got there. They were good.
But I loved hearing the older songs better.
To be honest, we're not real big concert goers, but we really enjoyed this show. The lights were amazing. The crowds were fun (when they weren't being annoying, of course).
Considering Jon (cuz I'm on a first name basis like that) is in his 50s, I thought he could still move like no other. I'm not going to lie. He was really fun to watch.
The first finish of the night was Bad Medicine.
I would have been totally satisfied with this ending. It was such a fun song performed with so much energy.
Of course, it was only 10:30, so I knew there'd be an encore. After a couple minutes break, he was back on for 3 more songs. And closed out the show with Living on a Prayer.
His performance + the crowd participation = Incredible!
I may or may not have sung along. :)
Have I mentioned what an amazing experience this was? I seriously had the greatest time!!
After the show, we stopped at Firefly for some late night tapas. It was delicious and a perfect start to our Vegas dining experiences. :) Unfortunately, I failed as a blogger at this first dinner and didn't take a single snapshot. Boooo.
The small tapas plates are perfect for ordering a variety of things to share, and the ambiance is really great. Oh, and we had a celebrity spotting! Carrot Top was just a couple tables away with a huge group of people. LOL.
All in all, Bon Jovi and Firefly were the perfect start to a great week!
Sunday was a pretty lazy day. Partly to recover from the late night. Also, we'd planned on going to see Hoover Dam, but there aren't any tours on Sundays, so we decided to take it easy, hit up Walmart, soak in the hot tub, and visit Hoover Dam on Monday.
I'll blog about that and our other adventures in future posts, so stay tuned.
Are you a concert-goer? What's been your favorite band/singer to see in concert?
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Other ways to follow Enjoying the Course:
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Facebook → EnjoyingtheCourse
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We did pretty much everything I mentioned in this post. Well, except we checked out Valley of Fire State Park instead of Red Rock National Park. Thank you, government shutdown.
Valley of Fire was absolutely amazing, so I'm really happy we decided to check it out. More to come on that in another post.
Their flight was delayed in leaving MSP, but I was still super excited all day.
You see, we were starting their visit off with a Bon Jovi concert.
Only a few more hours until my parents get here. Then straight to Bon Jovi!
— Clarinda (@EnjoytheCourse) October 12, 2013
I could hardly wait! I felt like a giddy teenager all afternoon.
The concert was loud. It was crazy.
It was AMAZING!
They were playing some of their newer ballads when we got there. They were good.
But I loved hearing the older songs better.
To be honest, we're not real big concert goers, but we really enjoyed this show. The lights were amazing. The crowds were fun (when they weren't being annoying, of course).
Considering Jon (cuz I'm on a first name basis like that) is in his 50s, I thought he could still move like no other. I'm not going to lie. He was really fun to watch.
The first finish of the night was Bad Medicine.
Of course, it was only 10:30, so I knew there'd be an encore. After a couple minutes break, he was back on for 3 more songs. And closed out the show with Living on a Prayer.
His performance + the crowd participation = Incredible!
I may or may not have sung along. :)
Have I mentioned what an amazing experience this was? I seriously had the greatest time!!
Post by Clarinda Dodson.
After the show, we stopped at Firefly for some late night tapas. It was delicious and a perfect start to our Vegas dining experiences. :) Unfortunately, I failed as a blogger at this first dinner and didn't take a single snapshot. Boooo.
The small tapas plates are perfect for ordering a variety of things to share, and the ambiance is really great. Oh, and we had a celebrity spotting! Carrot Top was just a couple tables away with a huge group of people. LOL.
All in all, Bon Jovi and Firefly were the perfect start to a great week!
Sunday was a pretty lazy day. Partly to recover from the late night. Also, we'd planned on going to see Hoover Dam, but there aren't any tours on Sundays, so we decided to take it easy, hit up Walmart, soak in the hot tub, and visit Hoover Dam on Monday.
I'll blog about that and our other adventures in future posts, so stay tuned.
Are you a concert-goer? What's been your favorite band/singer to see in concert?
Tweet
Other ways to follow Enjoying the Course:
Twitter → @EnjoytheCourse
Facebook → EnjoyingtheCourse
Instagram → enjoyingthecourse
Pinterest → clarindad
Thursday, June 27, 2013
3 Things Thursday - 6/27/13
1. Today is my niece's 17th birthday. Can it really be that long ago that I held her for the very first time?
I live very far away now, so I had to steal some current pics from Facebook and Instagram. Hope she doesn't mind. LOL.
2. Remember how I mentioned that I had to go into work this past Sunday? Well, my supervisor offered me a comp day in exchange for working. Now, I'm going to have July 5th off!! I'm super excited. I'll probably miss out on a little bit of pay since I would have gotten overtime for working Sunday, but I think it's totally worth it to have a super long holiday weekend. Whoo hoo!!!
3. I'm down the the home stretch for the #RWRunStreak. I can hardly believe that I've been so diligent with this. Most days it's just been the 1-mile minimum, but I haven't missed a single day! Only 8 runs left to go... Wow!!!
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THEN
NOW
Isn't she beautiful?!
I live very far away now, so I had to steal some current pics from Facebook and Instagram. Hope she doesn't mind. LOL.
2. Remember how I mentioned that I had to go into work this past Sunday? Well, my supervisor offered me a comp day in exchange for working. Now, I'm going to have July 5th off!! I'm super excited. I'll probably miss out on a little bit of pay since I would have gotten overtime for working Sunday, but I think it's totally worth it to have a super long holiday weekend. Whoo hoo!!!
3. I'm down the the home stretch for the #RWRunStreak. I can hardly believe that I've been so diligent with this. Most days it's just been the 1-mile minimum, but I haven't missed a single day! Only 8 runs left to go... Wow!!!
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Other ways to follow Enjoying the Course:
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Wednesday, March 13, 2013
And now for NASCAR
I know, I know. I promised you this post on Tuesday. Well, I didn't feel well Tuesday morning, so I opted to sleep in a bit and then I decided to go for a run after work. The sun was shining; it was in the 70s, and I still had about an hour or so before sunset. I simply couldn't resist getting out there for a run.
NASCAR was super fun, but getting there was not.
As we were leaving the CeeLo show, I remember checking the time on my phone. 1:51am. By the time we finished unlocking our biking and getting all set to go, it was after 3:00am. No, we're not that slow, Daylight Savings Time started, and our phones automatically sprang ahead. :)
By the time we biked home and got everything situated, I ended up going to sleep around 4:00am. Unfortunately, Jeff didn't get to sleep until after 7:00am. It was definitely going to be a LONG day.
Earlier in the week, my brother randomly messaged me on Facebook saying he was in town for some training and wanted to know if I wanted to get together. So, I naturally invited him to come to NASCAR with us. Had I looked up the time of the race, I probably wouldn't have. Nor would I have gone through the trouble of snagging an extra ticket for him. I'd gotten free tickets from work. I love my job!
If we didn't have plans to meet my brother, we probably would have skipped going.
We ended up leaving about 20 minutes later than we'd wanted. It probably would've been fine except traffic was BAD!
At the first sign of delay, I texted my brother to say we were about to get stuck in traffic. I kept sending him little updates, but the data gods weren't with us and our messages to each other weren't being sent/received. So frustrating!!
We finally met up shortly after noon (when the race was supposed to start), so we missed the driver introductions. Since none of us are true NASCAR fans, the driver intros really would've been nice to hear.
After finding our seats, we started picking out our favorite cars by the colors. :) They were still doing warm-up laps, so we didn't really miss anything.
It was super loud and super exciting! Even though we didn't really know who any of the drivers were (except Danica Patrick, of course). It was fun to watch the cars make their laps, but it was also fun to watch the board with the rankings. :D
After about 50 laps, we left the stands in search of something to drink. I was super thirsty! As we were walking around everything smelled so good! The more we walked, the hungrier I got.
My brother and I settled on roasted corn on the cob.
I was really surprised at how much it filled me up. Well, I may or may not have eaten more than half of Jeff's fries as well. He'd ordered a basket of chicken fingers and fries.
Our quest for food took about 75 or so laps before we got back to our seats. We finished our food, analyzed the rankings of the cars, and then made the decision to leave early to try and beat the traffic on the way home. A caution flag came out around lap 190, and we decided that would be a good time to head out.
We were so lucky we left when we did! There was an accident just before the race ended, which affected the race traffic by hours. So happy we weren't stuck in that!
Have you ever been to a NASCAR race?
How do you feel about leaving an event early in order to avoid traffic?
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NASCAR was super fun, but getting there was not.
As we were leaving the CeeLo show, I remember checking the time on my phone. 1:51am. By the time we finished unlocking our biking and getting all set to go, it was after 3:00am. No, we're not that slow, Daylight Savings Time started, and our phones automatically sprang ahead. :)
By the time we biked home and got everything situated, I ended up going to sleep around 4:00am. Unfortunately, Jeff didn't get to sleep until after 7:00am. It was definitely going to be a LONG day.
Earlier in the week, my brother randomly messaged me on Facebook saying he was in town for some training and wanted to know if I wanted to get together. So, I naturally invited him to come to NASCAR with us. Had I looked up the time of the race, I probably wouldn't have. Nor would I have gone through the trouble of snagging an extra ticket for him. I'd gotten free tickets from work. I love my job!
If we didn't have plans to meet my brother, we probably would have skipped going.
We ended up leaving about 20 minutes later than we'd wanted. It probably would've been fine except traffic was BAD!
At the first sign of delay, I texted my brother to say we were about to get stuck in traffic. I kept sending him little updates, but the data gods weren't with us and our messages to each other weren't being sent/received. So frustrating!!
We finally met up shortly after noon (when the race was supposed to start), so we missed the driver introductions. Since none of us are true NASCAR fans, the driver intros really would've been nice to hear.
After finding our seats, we started picking out our favorite cars by the colors. :) They were still doing warm-up laps, so we didn't really miss anything.
It was super loud and super exciting! Even though we didn't really know who any of the drivers were (except Danica Patrick, of course). It was fun to watch the cars make their laps, but it was also fun to watch the board with the rankings. :D
After about 50 laps, we left the stands in search of something to drink. I was super thirsty! As we were walking around everything smelled so good! The more we walked, the hungrier I got.
My brother and I settled on roasted corn on the cob.
I was really surprised at how much it filled me up. Well, I may or may not have eaten more than half of Jeff's fries as well. He'd ordered a basket of chicken fingers and fries.
Our quest for food took about 75 or so laps before we got back to our seats. We finished our food, analyzed the rankings of the cars, and then made the decision to leave early to try and beat the traffic on the way home. A caution flag came out around lap 190, and we decided that would be a good time to head out.
We were so lucky we left when we did! There was an accident just before the race ended, which affected the race traffic by hours. So happy we weren't stuck in that!
Have you ever been to a NASCAR race?
How do you feel about leaving an event early in order to avoid traffic?
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
What a hike!
Today the SITS Girls challenged to share our favorite fall memory.
For some reason, hiking always reminds me of fall. Hiking in the fall in MN is something really special. The crunch of the leaves underfoot. The beautiful colors. The crisp air.
The memory that first came to mind with this prompt was a family hike. It was a long time ago. I'm not sure if was even during the fall, but since hiking seems to equate to fall, it seemed appropriate. :-)
Nestled in central Minnesota is one of the highest points in the state - Inspiration Peak. It was probably about an hour away from where we lived. It was beautiful and not a very strenuous hike. Good for the whole family!
We took family hikes there on several occasions, but one was more memorable than the rest. We'd all piled out of the family sedan. Us kids were playing around, anxious to be out of the car and heading up the
We hiked up to the top. We hung out taking in the beauty around us.
From the top, you can see 9 different lakes and parts of 3 different counties! My memories of this day does not include the lush greenery of this picture, so I really think this may have happened in the fall.
After spending some time at the top, we began our descent back to the car. Once back, my step-dad realized that Oops! He'd locked the keys in the car.
Well, the locking of the keys was intentional, but he had thought he'd removed the key for the doors. Instead, he'd removed the key for the ignition. Do they even make cars with separate keys for doors and ignition anymore?
This was in the days before cell phones, so calling for help wasn't exactly easy. No, it involved a long walk to a nearish cafe to use a pay phone. After trying needlessly to break into our own car, my step-dad and a brother(?) surely, my parents wouldn't have left us kids alone, right? headed to the cafe to call another brother. Meanwhile, us kids continued to play.
Hopscotch.
Tag.
You know,
Eventually, help was on the way! We were all very relieved when the spare keys arrived, and we could start the drive home.
Good thing we'd finished our hike early enough that there was still a bit of daylight when we were finally able to get back on the road.
Phew! What a long day.
What's your favorite fall memory?
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Thursday, September 13, 2012
My mom
Today's topic for NaBloPoMo is: Who is someone you wish you could see again?
Immediately, my mom came to mind. I hesitated to talk about her because 1) I feel like I've mentioned her a lot and 2) earlier this week I did kind of a tribute post about my older sister for her birthday. I thought reminiscing about my mom might be redundant.
But then I figured, it's the most honest answer. Plus, I've gotten some new readers recently.
The last time I saw my mom was December 13, 1994. I gave her a hug and a kiss good-bye before heading out to school. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see her. Late that afternoon, she was killed in a car accident.
It was devastating. I was a senior in high school, and my whole life suddenly changed.
She was the best mom. Okay, okay. She pretty much spoiled me. There I said it. :-P
The pain of losing her has lessened over the years, but she will always be in my heart.
Of course I miss her the most when I am experiencing the best of times of my life. It fills me with sadness that she has missed...
Seeing me walk in three graduation ceremonies...
Watching me cross the finish line...
And attending my wedding.
I wish I could see her again.
I wish I could give her a hug and hear her laugh.
I wish I could sing silly songs with her. Off-key, of course.
I wish I could tell her how much I love her.
Who is someone you wish you could see again?
What is your proudest health/fitness accomplishment?
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Immediately, my mom came to mind. I hesitated to talk about her because 1) I feel like I've mentioned her a lot and 2) earlier this week I did kind of a tribute post about my older sister for her birthday. I thought reminiscing about my mom might be redundant.
But then I figured, it's the most honest answer. Plus, I've gotten some new readers recently.
The last time I saw my mom was December 13, 1994. I gave her a hug and a kiss good-bye before heading out to school. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see her. Late that afternoon, she was killed in a car accident.
It was devastating. I was a senior in high school, and my whole life suddenly changed.
She was the best mom. Okay, okay. She pretty much spoiled me. There I said it. :-P
She was kind and caring and so full of love. Now, nearly 18 years later, I still miss her and think of her often.
The pain of losing her has lessened over the years, but she will always be in my heart.
Of course I miss her the most when I am experiencing the best of times of my life. It fills me with sadness that she has missed...
Seeing me walk in three graduation ceremonies...
Watching me cross the finish line...
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| This is me finishing my 2nd marathon (2003). In many ways, it was much more difficult than my first (same marathon the previous year). These two marathons are definitely among my proudest health/fitness accomplishments. |
And attending my wedding.
I wish I could see her again.
I wish I could give her a hug and hear her laugh.
I wish I could sing silly songs with her. Off-key, of course.
I wish I could tell her how much I love her.
Who is someone you wish you could see again?
What is your proudest health/fitness accomplishment?
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Sunday, September 9, 2012
She's My Big Sister!
I've loved her since I was a wee little girl.
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| Christmas. 1978. |
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| Beauty pageant. 1991. |
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| Sending me off to college. 1995. |
To say, "Congratulations!"
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| Cottey Graduation. 1997 |
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| MAT Graduation. 2012 |
Like with running though she'll insist that I'm the one who inspires her. We've trained together for 5Ks, Half Marathons, and even two marathons.
And today, she turned the big 4-0!
Now I live more than a thousand miles away, but she is always near in my heart. I love and miss her everyday!!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday!!
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Saturday, August 13, 2011
Urban Wildland Half Marathon
What's that they say about good intentions? :)
Finally, I'm getting around to blogging about last weekend's half marathon. I'll use the excuse that it was my birthday this past week.
I had such fun running this race!
It was great to meet a couple friends from DailyMile before the start.
I even somehow convinced my sister to join in the fun.
A lot of runners had some difficulty with the weather, but I thought it was a perfect morning for a run. Guess I'm a bit more of a hot weather runner than most. I did notice a distinctive drop in humidity as the race progressed because I didn't seem to be quite as sweaty.
I was planning on just running and then walking through the water stops, but after looking more closely at the map, I decided to stick to doing 10/1 interval splits. I figured it would help give my legs a brief rest and keep me going strong through the entire race.
I also figured I'd be ok just getting water at the water stops, so I left my handheld in the car.
This turned out to be a bad idea. I was pretty thirsty by the time I got to the first water station and didn't quite get satiated during my 30-sec water walk. I think between WS1 and WS2 there were some kids handing out hard candy. I grabbed a piece just because I wanted to generate some saliva flow in my mouth (TMI??)
Other than being thirsty, I was feeling really pretty good when I met Jeff at the halfway point.
Of course, I grabbed my handheld to take with me for the rest of the race! I also ate some Clif Shot Bloks. Yum!
Overall, I think this course was really pretty. It was mostly roads, but there was also some trail running mixed in through some parks in Richfield. I liked the change of scenery. :)
I had tasked Jeff with meeting a few times on the course, so he could get some pictures of me running. I hate how most of them look like I'm walking, when I totally wasn't. Alas.
The second time I met Jeff was between mile 9 and 10. During the picture taking, my new DM friend, Ray, caught up with me. She started the race further back in the crowd than Treva and me. After the race, when I was looking through the photos Jeff took, I absolutely busted out laughing at how this series turned out. I had to put it into a slideshow.
I wish I knew how to make a slideshow not automatically start playing, because it's funnier if you watch it from slide 1. In the pictures, it looked like we were running together, but in reality, I had no clue she was so close to me.
I think it was around this time when I really felt like my pace had super slowed down. Technically I was still in motion like a runner, but I'd bet there were a few walkers that could have passed me.
I definitely needed a few minutes after I'd finished to catch my breath! I couldn't even consider going through the food line right away; I was way too queasy. I walked around the park - sipping water and powerade until I started to feel hungry.
Eventually, Jeff and I headed back to the spot where he was when I finished, so we could wait for my sister to cross the finish line. Tony joined us just a few minutes later.
I started to get a little antsy after about 20 or so minutes, so I said I was going to walk back along the course to go cheer her on. I met up with her just before mile 13. She was walking, so I said we were going to start running once we got to the mile 13 marker. She agreed.
Oh, and I almost forgot how great is was that several people had turned on their sprinklers for runners to run though. I definitely took advantage of every.single.one.
Finally, I'm getting around to blogging about last weekend's half marathon. I'll use the excuse that it was my birthday this past week.
I had such fun running this race!
It was great to meet a couple friends from DailyMile before the start.
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| Ray, Treva, Me, Courtenay |
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| Me, Treva |
I was planning on just running and then walking through the water stops, but after looking more closely at the map, I decided to stick to doing 10/1 interval splits. I figured it would help give my legs a brief rest and keep me going strong through the entire race.
I also figured I'd be ok just getting water at the water stops, so I left my handheld in the car.
This turned out to be a bad idea. I was pretty thirsty by the time I got to the first water station and didn't quite get satiated during my 30-sec water walk. I think between WS1 and WS2 there were some kids handing out hard candy. I grabbed a piece just because I wanted to generate some saliva flow in my mouth (TMI??)
Other than being thirsty, I was feeling really pretty good when I met Jeff at the halfway point.
Of course, I grabbed my handheld to take with me for the rest of the race! I also ate some Clif Shot Bloks. Yum!
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| Hydrating! |
I had tasked Jeff with meeting a few times on the course, so he could get some pictures of me running. I hate how most of them look like I'm walking, when I totally wasn't. Alas.
The second time I met Jeff was between mile 9 and 10. During the picture taking, my new DM friend, Ray, caught up with me. She started the race further back in the crowd than Treva and me. After the race, when I was looking through the photos Jeff took, I absolutely busted out laughing at how this series turned out. I had to put it into a slideshow.
I wish I knew how to make a slideshow not automatically start playing, because it's funnier if you watch it from slide 1. In the pictures, it looked like we were running together, but in reality, I had no clue she was so close to me.
I think it was around this time when I really felt like my pace had super slowed down. Technically I was still in motion like a runner, but I'd bet there were a few walkers that could have passed me.
Ray only ran with me for perhaps a minute or two before we separated.
Around mile 11, I had to stop to use a portapotty. I figured I could have probably made it the last two miles, but then I thought why put up with that discomfort, so I stopped.
It was SO worth it.
Probably around mile 12, the tummy queasiness set up, but I still managed to keep my pace fairly steady - from what I could tell without any kind of pacing device (gps, garmin, etc).
When I came to that mile 13 sign, I decided, hell yeah, I'm going to push it to the end. I increased my pace. A LOT. I ran and I ran hard. So hard that I didn't even see Jeff taking my pictures just steps before crossing the finish line.
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| To the Finish! |
I definitely needed a few minutes after I'd finished to catch my breath! I couldn't even consider going through the food line right away; I was way too queasy. I walked around the park - sipping water and powerade until I started to feel hungry.
Eventually, Jeff and I headed back to the spot where he was when I finished, so we could wait for my sister to cross the finish line. Tony joined us just a few minutes later.
I started to get a little antsy after about 20 or so minutes, so I said I was going to walk back along the course to go cheer her on. I met up with her just before mile 13. She was walking, so I said we were going to start running once we got to the mile 13 marker. She agreed.
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| Racing with my sis |
It was fun to help encourage her to finish nice and strong!
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| So close! |
I'm so proud of the two of us! We both met our goals and, look, we're both smiling at the end.
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| 2011 Urban Wildland Half Marathon Finishers! Whoo hoo! |
I would absolutely do this race again and recommend it to anyone looking for a good half marathon. Everyone was very helpful. During one of my 1 min intervals, a medical aid person even asked if I was ok. It made me feel good that he was doing his job and paying good attention to the runners on the course.
I managed to pull off about an 11 min/mile pace, which I'm very pleased with.
My time - 2:24:35
Treva's time - 2:57:29
Oh, and I almost forgot how great is was that several people had turned on their sprinklers for runners to run though. I definitely took advantage of every.single.one.
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