Miners day - Growing Tree!

So way back at the beginning of the month we celebrated Miner's day (aka Labor day).

I would just let it go, but we took growing tree pictures so we've got to get them here an posted with the rest of them.

May this growing tree have an easier winter than the last one :o)

Happy 5778

Well it snuck up on me again. We blinked and another year had gone by. It boggles my head but there was something so comferting about heading back to services last week for my THIRD year at the PC temple. Even more fun, I got to say happy new year to the women I sat next to that very first year when I knew no one, and got to sit next to religous school families I did know. It's good to be part of a community.

After services the girls and I did the remainder of my high holy day traditions.

Hike:

And Bake:

Wishing everyone a sweet 5778!

Fun with the Fish

So the original plan for C's birthday was to spend the afternoon playing at the base of one of the mountains (think Zip lines, Alpine slides, etc). Then it snowed.

It was relatively dry that morning so soccer was still on:

 But it was pretty clear that our time outside was limited...

...so we adjusted and had a lovely afternoon at the aquarium instead! M stayed back with Alex and I took C and her friend to strategize...

...and then see everything

And also eat the world cutest doughnut to celebrate.

C is 6!

On Wednesday C turned 6.

To say it's been a big month is an understatement. So far she's:

• Settled into being a kindergartner
• Started to take the bus to school
• Transitioned to a 20" bike
• Continued to climb like a monkey
• Figured out how to run hard and love soccer

She's playing soccer on Saturday and Wednesdays now, so got to play on her birthday:

Then come home to a festive dinner with family wrapping with cake and presents. It's good to be 6.

Figuring it out

It was a big week here. Lots of birthday celebrations and other festivities, topped off with waking up to December type snow this morning. Getting the blogging started with a video from bedtime tonight - it's so cool to see her trying so hard :o)

Head up. Wings out.

Using the big event from the weekend to get back into blogging. The plan is to return to your regularly scheduled kid updates this week :o)


So it's been crazy here. As in kids starting school, Alex working like crazy on a hurricane relief task for, and me both starting a new role and pulling off the biggest education offering we've ever done simultaneously crazy. And during all this crazy, that half marathon that I've been talking about all summer, it crept up.

Now the previous race (the 15K) was awful. After a really strong first 8 miles I crashed and burned hard, and ended up walking the last mile and a half (in quite a bit of pain). Needless to say, I knew I needed a plan going into this one. Lucky, I know a runner :o) And she was kind enough to take a peek at the course map and put together a game plan...

• First two miles: this is your warm-up. Take it painfully slow. Like jog-walk slow. Ease into the run. once you get to two miles, you're at the top of your first big climb and can start picking up the pace.
• Miles 2 through 6: This is a rolling but mostly downhill portion of the course with overall elevation loss: this is your time to shine but not too brightly! Keep a nice steady pace, faster on the downhills, slower on the ups. Get to mile 6 with lots in the tank.
• Miles 6 to 10: minus a short break from 8 to 8.75, this is a mostly uphill stretch. This is where the race will make or break people, but since you ran painfully slow the first two miles, and had fun cruising the last 4, this is where you'll be made. Run slower than you did miles 2 through 6; walk the hills. Stop at every aid station. 
• Miles 10 to 12: you've basically made it, and mile 10 is all downhill. Mile 11 flattens out. Just focus on staying relaxed and walking when you need to.
• Mile 12 to finish: Think about negative splitting your last 1.5ish miles. First half mile, easy and steady, second half mile, pick up the pace, and by mile 13, with your last 1/2 mile to go, give it all you have. You can hurt, be absolutely miserable for 800 meters. Your daughters will be waiting for you at the finish. Make them proud!

..and share a mantra:

I'm not sure why "Head Up. Wings Out!" resonates so well with me (especially given my acute dislike of birds) but for some reason it was exactly what I needed. Anytime I felt myself getting sloppy on the course I used it to straighten up and run tall and light. And when I got past the last incline within sight of the finish line, I used it as a reminder to fly home.

Just before the shoot I saw Alex and the girls which put a huge smile on my face and sent me soaring even higher. Little did I know that Alex actually released C to run the shoot with me.

and she did her best to catch up, but clueless momma didn't get the memo so we had to settle for an post-finish line hug.

This was the first time the girls have been at the finish line for a race, and it really is the most amazing feeling to share that post run high.

Over all, it was a great race. Super challenging course with lots of elevation change. Snow on the ground and a bite in the air. A hot air balloon festival going on at the same time so lots of fun things to watch in the sky in addition to beautiful trails,

and the awesome feeling of knowing that I conquered all four of the the PC Trail Series races.

Thanks for the great year PC trails - can't wait to see what we do next summer :o)