Breck Crest Half-Marathon: I did it….

…but it wasn’t easy! I have to say this: every girl should have a coach/pacer/photographer/videographer/husband who hangs back with her and documents the whole thing (and hands over all the glory). Thanks, honey!

And huge thanks to Molly, who made our run together possible by coming up to spend the night and watch the kids. She took them on a wagon ride to a horse stable very near our house, and they all had a lovely time. Perfect, no?

We had a beautifully clear sunny morning and, except for some seriously gusty winds on the ridge at the top of the course, the weather couldn’t have been improved upon.

I can sum up our run like this: we ran up the mountain for a long, long time, we hiked up the parts too steep to run, we were blown about by crazy winds at the top, and we ran down again, all the while surrounded by the majesty of the Rocky Mountains.

Oh, and also, once I tripped over a rock and bit it pretty hard. Lloyd said it looked just like I was sliding head-first into home plate. Fortunately, nothing was bleeding or injured. Also fortunate: I landed on a sand/dirt patch and not on one of the many jagged rocks. A bit unfortunate: I got my wind knocked out of me by landing oof! right on my belly. That was weird and not fun—it hasn’t happened to me since I was a kid. It took a few minutes of slow walking to get my breath back to normal. But then we took off again and cruised it from there.

I had heard this race described as a suffer-fest, and at times I would have agreed. But, before it was even over I was already thinking that if we’re around I’ll do it again next year, and hopefully go for the longer 23 mile run. Incidentally, we finished in 3:08, which I feel great about given the terrain. And I’m able to walk normally! Which is especially helpful, because it’s back to work tomorrow bright and early…

Breck Crest Half 2010

rainbow park

I’ve clearly exhausted my word quota, so I’ll keep my ramblings to a minimum. Twenty five minutes from our house is the amazing Rainbow Park, which just opened in July. I wish it was closer but it’s well worth the drive. Here are some photos from three recent trips (I spend most of my time helicopter-parenting over Jolee the daredevil, so she’s typically my photo subject)…

that’s what I call a park…

today’s picnic. Jolee likes to enjoy her milk no-handed…

the sports field next door. There’s also a skate park; maybe we’ll try that next week…