My goal last year was to run BolderBoulder in less than 1 hr. My time: 59 min 51 seconds.
My goal this year was to run BolderBoulder in less than 1 hr. My time: 59 min 54 seconds.
(Cutting it just a wee bit close.)
Both of my 1/2 marathons were run in 2 hrs 19 minutes. Seriously, if I actually tried to time these things the same it would never work out! Anyone care to wager bets for the Omaha 1/2?
I am nothing if not consistent!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
BolderBoulder
This race is so fun! The chilly weather this year made the slip n' slide not as popular, but the entertainment still did not disappoint. We were up and out of the house by 5 a.m. - Travis is such a trooper for driving us!
Ready to go at 6:30 a.m.! I wish you could see how crooked Sarah's race number was - quite humorous. Sarah's goal? Win the race.
Sarah and I celebrating with Chick Fill-A and beer at 8:30 a.m. Thanks for getting up to drive us, Travis! (And please, no one let me go out again with absolutely no make-up on. Yikes.)
I'm amazed at how people just. keep. coming. Last year there were 53,000+; I assume it had to be about the same this year. We didn't stay for the super-fast country team competition - it was getting cold, windy, and there were VERY dark clouds on the horizon. And we didn't want to see people complete the race in a quarter of the time it took us...
Thank you to all who serve our country! These men got a standing ovation as the ran around the track, stopped, did 20+ push-ups in unison, then crossed the finish line. I feel kinda bad for the woman who got caught up in their formation. Well really, not bad at all! Watch where you're running, lady! If you do not have on combat boots you should probably not try to cut through. I mean really.
Another great BolderBoulder! I wish it would have been a tad nicer - the wind was chilly and the off/on sprinkles forced us to call it quits early. Upon return to Denver it was 76 and sunny. Go figure.
Happy Memorial Day, and much love from the Rockies!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
too fast
I had to steal this picture from Lori - Alex's last day of kindergarten! He's growing up so fast sometimes I can't believe it. He looks like a summer kid though, just look at that blonde hair!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Bring it on!
I just signed up with my Katie to run the Omaha 1/2 Marathon this September! http://omahamarathon.com/ Bring in on, O-town! It probably won't be quite as nice and humid-free as Phoenix was - but I'm excited! Kate, let's get our training shhhhedule, shall we? And whose hot tub are we going to use after?
On a totally UN-related note, on Friday Travis and I went to eat at Budapest Bistro - yum! I spent the evening telling him all of the adventures of "Nine American Girls in Budapest" - so FUN! Anyway, he asked me what the capitol of Hungary was - yes, yes, I should have known, but I wasn't 100% sure so we looked it up on Wikipedia. Someone had edited the entry so it said that the capital of Hungary was Forpancakes. Hungary? For Pancakes? Get it? Oh man, I still laugh just thinking about it. Some people are just so clever. I wanted to put the link on my blog, but it has already been switched back. The capital of Hungary, in case you didn't know, is Budapest. See - told you I should have known that. Sheesh.
Sunday it FINALLY stopped raining so Travis and I played disc golf while trying to avoid the swampy areas of the course. Travis lost a frisbee in the water. I didn't! (But it may have something to do with the fact that I don't play the holes with large water obstacles.) I did get sunburned though. Ouch. Bad llama - I know better than that.
On a totally UN-related note, on Friday Travis and I went to eat at Budapest Bistro - yum! I spent the evening telling him all of the adventures of "Nine American Girls in Budapest" - so FUN! Anyway, he asked me what the capitol of Hungary was - yes, yes, I should have known, but I wasn't 100% sure so we looked it up on Wikipedia. Someone had edited the entry so it said that the capital of Hungary was Forpancakes. Hungary? For Pancakes? Get it? Oh man, I still laugh just thinking about it. Some people are just so clever. I wanted to put the link on my blog, but it has already been switched back. The capital of Hungary, in case you didn't know, is Budapest. See - told you I should have known that. Sheesh.
Sunday it FINALLY stopped raining so Travis and I played disc golf while trying to avoid the swampy areas of the course. Travis lost a frisbee in the water. I didn't! (But it may have something to do with the fact that I don't play the holes with large water obstacles.) I did get sunburned though. Ouch. Bad llama - I know better than that.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDUM AND LIS!
In honor of the birthdays of two of my favorite people I decided to assemble a photo-tribute. I am so blessed so have such great friends and I had WAY TOO MUCH FUN going through all of these photos and re-living our adventures!
Steph and I loving Katie's wedding!
Lis, remember when we went to Stonehenge and it rained all day?
Steph and Katie with a much-smaller Abigail. ("Hey, that baby looks like it could belong in your family, Lori.")
We love the rodeo!
Birthday girls together! So much fun in Spain!
Overheard: "The benches in Barcelona are so much more comfortable to sleep on." "That's because they were designed by Gaudi."
Edum and I survived The Running of the Bulls!
It's the Hamptons, Dahling...
Amsterdam!
Never too old for Guitars :)
Happy Brithday, ladies!!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Weekend Update with(out) Seth Meyer
Travis planned a great Friday for us! He got tickets to Billy Elliot - which was great!
We did NOT see Missy Elliot, as he told some people we did. Big difference between the two.
We went to one of our favorite Peruvian restaurants before for dinner, but due to the, shall we say, rushed nature of our evening schedule we barely had time to taste it. Travis made some sort of deal with the waitress and we were in and out of there in record time! I didn't ask details.
In other news - I need to start taking pictures of my own so I can stop pulling Internet images for my blog.
Much love from the Rockies!
Friday, May 13, 2011
fail.
So I wrote you all a blog update yesterday to A) avoid being a lazy blogger, and B) fill you in on details on my new job, my new apartment, and how things have been. I poured my heart into it, I really did! (Well, as much heart-pouring that you can do during your lunch hour, anyway.) But apparently I forgot to actually post it, which you may not realize, but in blogging world that is kinda an important step. Fail.
And of course I can't recreate it - it would never be the same! (But you wouldn't know that because you never actually read it, did you?) Ah well. So here's the Reader's Digest Version:
Job - Really, really liking it! It is great to be able to work with people who are excited about the same things I get excited about. And it is really fun when students get excited about it, too! There are times when I am more enthusiastic about a student's trip than the actual student is. Whoops.
Apartment - Liking our apartment, too! I do wish we were in more of a neighborhood-y area, but I think we'd be hard-pressed to find an apartment in a neighborhood, and we couldn't afford a house. But the place is nice, it is close to Target (dangerous!), and my commute to work isn't as bad as I thought it would be. The commute home - now that is a different story.
This weekend should be a pretty quiet one! Travis has made plans for us to do something tonight but he is being very cryptic. All I know is that dinner is at 6 or 6:30. I just hope it is okay that I am wearing jeans - it is causal Friday, after all!
Finally, I leave you all with a picture from Italy. For no other reason than because I am working on creating our pre-departure webinar for our Milan students, and that I like this photo. Enjoy :)
And of course I can't recreate it - it would never be the same! (But you wouldn't know that because you never actually read it, did you?) Ah well. So here's the Reader's Digest Version:
Job - Really, really liking it! It is great to be able to work with people who are excited about the same things I get excited about. And it is really fun when students get excited about it, too! There are times when I am more enthusiastic about a student's trip than the actual student is. Whoops.
Apartment - Liking our apartment, too! I do wish we were in more of a neighborhood-y area, but I think we'd be hard-pressed to find an apartment in a neighborhood, and we couldn't afford a house. But the place is nice, it is close to Target (dangerous!), and my commute to work isn't as bad as I thought it would be. The commute home - now that is a different story.
This weekend should be a pretty quiet one! Travis has made plans for us to do something tonight but he is being very cryptic. All I know is that dinner is at 6 or 6:30. I just hope it is okay that I am wearing jeans - it is causal Friday, after all!
Finally, I leave you all with a picture from Italy. For no other reason than because I am working on creating our pre-departure webinar for our Milan students, and that I like this photo. Enjoy :)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Update
Nothing TOO exciting... just a few random thoughts for a Thursday...
I like my job. I really like it. Which is great! I know there will be times when it drives me up a wall but what job doesn't right?
I got to listen in on the pre-departure webinar for our Berlin students. I'm running the webinars from here on out - yikes! I wish I got to go to Berlin!
I do NOT like my commute home. I can usually miss the rush on the way to work, but I'm with the whole stinkin' Denver metro on the way back. My 20 miles takes me about 40-45 minutes... no bueno. Apparently it gets exponentially worse during Broncos games. Hmm.
It's Thursday and I should be Snugging with Sarah this evening... BUT it is about 45 and raining, and Jill is not a fan of soggy Snug. So that is yet tbd.
I booked my tickets home over Labor Day weekend for the 2011 Australia Reunion at the lake house! SUPER excited that all of us Aussie ladies can get together again - and even more excited to have them all at the lake house. If I hadn't studied abroad I would have never met these ladies NOR would I have the job I'm in right now - it all comes full-circle.
Yes, yes, I know during the soul-sucking job search you told me "everything happens for a reason" or "the right thing will come along" or "what's meant to be will be". And you were right. There, I said it. Not that I didn't believe it at the time - I'm just happier to believe it now. :)
I like my job. I really like it. Which is great! I know there will be times when it drives me up a wall but what job doesn't right?
I got to listen in on the pre-departure webinar for our Berlin students. I'm running the webinars from here on out - yikes! I wish I got to go to Berlin!
I do NOT like my commute home. I can usually miss the rush on the way to work, but I'm with the whole stinkin' Denver metro on the way back. My 20 miles takes me about 40-45 minutes... no bueno. Apparently it gets exponentially worse during Broncos games. Hmm.
It's Thursday and I should be Snugging with Sarah this evening... BUT it is about 45 and raining, and Jill is not a fan of soggy Snug. So that is yet tbd.
I booked my tickets home over Labor Day weekend for the 2011 Australia Reunion at the lake house! SUPER excited that all of us Aussie ladies can get together again - and even more excited to have them all at the lake house. If I hadn't studied abroad I would have never met these ladies NOR would I have the job I'm in right now - it all comes full-circle.
Yes, yes, I know during the soul-sucking job search you told me "everything happens for a reason" or "the right thing will come along" or "what's meant to be will be". And you were right. There, I said it. Not that I didn't believe it at the time - I'm just happier to believe it now. :)
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Love it
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
The Train Guy
Oh my, I forgot about the colorful people you meet when you take public transportation. In London it was a daily occurrence - you just pretended to read your book or the The Metro and ignored the crazies. But last night I had no ignoring ammo... not even my iPod! Last night I was heading downtown for a friend's bachelorette party (pics from that to come!) so I decided to avoid the driving/parking hassle and take the light rail downtown. And so it begins - let me set the scene...
It is about 6:45 and I jump on the D line to head to Union Station. The car is pretty empty aside from a couple fairly normal looking people and one guy looking a bit scraggly and stumbly. I sit down. Crazy stumbles over and stands by me.
Guy: Hey, are you getting off at Union Station?
Me: Yup
Guy: SWEET! I'm getting off when you get off, duuude! *points at me and sways* I don't know my way around here so I'm following you
Me: Well, it is the last stop for this train, so you can't miss it.
Guy: I'm getting off with YOOOOOU.
Me: *no reply*
The train stops at the next stop and Guy tries to open the door connecting the cars to move to the next one. (These doors don't open.) Guy runs into the locked door a few times. Train starts. Guy stumbles. Train stops. Guy tries door again. Same result. Repeat about three more times. Finally Guy gives up and sits in the seat across the isle from me. Proceeds to play drums with his hands on the seat next to him. *Bam ba ba bam bam bam* Adds a high-hat by hitting the metal pole. *Bam ba bam bam bam DING ba bam bam DING* Begins stomping his foot. *Bam bam ba bam DING ba bam STOMP STOMP ST-ST-STOMP bam DING* Begins humming along, and finally, stands up in the isle and ends it with a couple of high kicks. Train stops. Guy tries door again. Same result. Train pauses for a few extra seconds at this stop for some reason. Guy comes over to me.
Guy: This is where we get off, right?
Me: Nope, not yet.
Guy: Are you sure?
Me: Yup.
Guy: *sits down across from me* You're joking with me, aren't you?
Me: No. I told you I'm getting off at Union Station, too, remember? And I'm not getting off here.
Guy: *looks up at me and there are tears in his eyes* Okay... *sniff sniff*
Me: You can get off here if you want, but it's not Union Station.
Guy: I've seen horror movies that start like this, DUUUUUUUDE. But I'll trust you. If you promise.
Me: *no reply*
Guy: So, what do you do for work?
(Wait, I'm sorry.... are we switching to a real conversation now?!?)
Me: I coordinate study abroad trips for students
Guy: What? Where? Like the military? Are you in the military?
Me: No... trips for students.Overseas.
Guy: Oh? Why??? To Russia? I'm from Russia.
By this point we are approaching Union Station - I point out the window.
Me: Look - Union Station. See? I told you.
Guy: You were RIGHT!!! WOW!! I'm going to 6th and Blake - are you going there too?!? Let's go!!!
Me: This is where we part ways - the bus you want is right there. Have a good night.
Guy and I part ways and my last glimpse is of him beating on the doors of the bus trying to get the driver to open them... completely unaware that there is a second bus in front of the first currently sitting with its doors open and waiting. Sheesh.
And that was all before 7 p.m.! I was a bit worried about the ride home with all of the drunk people but aside from a guy next to me yelling f-bombs at his girlfriend while she pretended to be asleep against the window ("You need to show me some RESPECT!") and the older man who told me I was "pretty cute for an American chick" it was mellow.
Booooring :)
It is about 6:45 and I jump on the D line to head to Union Station. The car is pretty empty aside from a couple fairly normal looking people and one guy looking a bit scraggly and stumbly. I sit down. Crazy stumbles over and stands by me.
Guy: Hey, are you getting off at Union Station?
Me: Yup
Guy: SWEET! I'm getting off when you get off, duuude! *points at me and sways* I don't know my way around here so I'm following you
Me: Well, it is the last stop for this train, so you can't miss it.
Guy: I'm getting off with YOOOOOU.
Me: *no reply*
The train stops at the next stop and Guy tries to open the door connecting the cars to move to the next one. (These doors don't open.) Guy runs into the locked door a few times. Train starts. Guy stumbles. Train stops. Guy tries door again. Same result. Repeat about three more times. Finally Guy gives up and sits in the seat across the isle from me. Proceeds to play drums with his hands on the seat next to him. *Bam ba ba bam bam bam* Adds a high-hat by hitting the metal pole. *Bam ba bam bam bam DING ba bam bam DING* Begins stomping his foot. *Bam bam ba bam DING ba bam STOMP STOMP ST-ST-STOMP bam DING* Begins humming along, and finally, stands up in the isle and ends it with a couple of high kicks. Train stops. Guy tries door again. Same result. Train pauses for a few extra seconds at this stop for some reason. Guy comes over to me.
Guy: This is where we get off, right?
Me: Nope, not yet.
Guy: Are you sure?
Me: Yup.
Guy: *sits down across from me* You're joking with me, aren't you?
Me: No. I told you I'm getting off at Union Station, too, remember? And I'm not getting off here.
Guy: *looks up at me and there are tears in his eyes* Okay... *sniff sniff*
Me: You can get off here if you want, but it's not Union Station.
Guy: I've seen horror movies that start like this, DUUUUUUUDE. But I'll trust you. If you promise.
Me: *no reply*
Guy: So, what do you do for work?
(Wait, I'm sorry.... are we switching to a real conversation now?!?)
Me: I coordinate study abroad trips for students
Guy: What? Where? Like the military? Are you in the military?
Me: No... trips for students.Overseas.
Guy: Oh? Why??? To Russia? I'm from Russia.
By this point we are approaching Union Station - I point out the window.
Me: Look - Union Station. See? I told you.
Guy: You were RIGHT!!! WOW!! I'm going to 6th and Blake - are you going there too?!? Let's go!!!
Me: This is where we part ways - the bus you want is right there. Have a good night.
Guy and I part ways and my last glimpse is of him beating on the doors of the bus trying to get the driver to open them... completely unaware that there is a second bus in front of the first currently sitting with its doors open and waiting. Sheesh.
And that was all before 7 p.m.! I was a bit worried about the ride home with all of the drunk people but aside from a guy next to me yelling f-bombs at his girlfriend while she pretended to be asleep against the window ("You need to show me some RESPECT!") and the older man who told me I was "pretty cute for an American chick" it was mellow.
Booooring :)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
**warning** shameless plug for: Climb For Sudan!!
Hello, blogger friends!
I try not to make a habit of asking for money from my friends. (Well, through my blog anyway... I'm happy to take donations in ice cream and margaritas!) But anyway, in all seriousness, you may or may not be familiar with this organization that I am involved with - Project Education Sudan - working to build schools in the world's newest country - Southern Sudan! (http://www.projecteducationsudan.org/)
This is truly an amazing organization that formed out of a meeting between a Colorado resident and one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Now, 10 years later, not only does the organization continue to strive to reunite Lost Boys with their families, they also support the local economy and development of local entrepreneurship by helping fund school construction and by donating commercial grain grinders, sewing machines, cinderblock making equipment to each village. (Yes, I took that from their website...)
This summer there are 3 crazy guys climbing all of Colorado's 14ers (yes, all 58 of them!) in hopes of raising $100,000 for Project Education Sudan. With my new job I haven't had nearly as much time to volunteer with the event as I would like (not that I'm complaining about having a job!), but I'd still love to do what I can to help out.
SO I've challenged myself to raise $250 for Climb For Sudan through Crowdrise. (The Crowdrise tagline is "If you don't give back, no one will like you." Ha!) And since my challenge to myself is centered around my friends and family, I am shamelessly asking you browse the website for Project Education Sudan as well as http://www.climbforsudan.org/about.html and then, if you feel so inclined, please visit my Crowdrise page to make a small (or large!) donation to help the people of Southern Sudan!
http://www.crowdrise.com/climbforsudanteamjil
Every little bit helps! Let's see if I can hit $250! Our biggest Crowdrise fundraiser thus far is at about $1500 bucks so far... Maybe she has more "established" friends than I :)
Thanks for reading! And I promise I won't ask you for donations again! (Until next week.)
I try not to make a habit of asking for money from my friends. (Well, through my blog anyway... I'm happy to take donations in ice cream and margaritas!) But anyway, in all seriousness, you may or may not be familiar with this organization that I am involved with - Project Education Sudan - working to build schools in the world's newest country - Southern Sudan! (http://www.projecteducationsudan.org/)
This is truly an amazing organization that formed out of a meeting between a Colorado resident and one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Now, 10 years later, not only does the organization continue to strive to reunite Lost Boys with their families, they also support the local economy and development of local entrepreneurship by helping fund school construction and by donating commercial grain grinders, sewing machines, cinderblock making equipment to each village. (Yes, I took that from their website...)
This summer there are 3 crazy guys climbing all of Colorado's 14ers (yes, all 58 of them!) in hopes of raising $100,000 for Project Education Sudan. With my new job I haven't had nearly as much time to volunteer with the event as I would like (not that I'm complaining about having a job!), but I'd still love to do what I can to help out.
SO I've challenged myself to raise $250 for Climb For Sudan through Crowdrise. (The Crowdrise tagline is "If you don't give back, no one will like you." Ha!) And since my challenge to myself is centered around my friends and family, I am shamelessly asking you browse the website for Project Education Sudan as well as http://www.climbforsudan.org/about.html and then, if you feel so inclined, please visit my Crowdrise page to make a small (or large!) donation to help the people of Southern Sudan!
http://www.crowdrise.com/climbforsudanteamjil
Every little bit helps! Let's see if I can hit $250! Our biggest Crowdrise fundraiser thus far is at about $1500 bucks so far... Maybe she has more "established" friends than I :)
Thanks for reading! And I promise I won't ask you for donations again! (Until next week.)
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