From One Mom to Another: Tips on Disney, Races and Kids

 In 2018 I had a race nearly every month, some months I did two.  I did 2 half marathons, 4 trail races and added in a couple cross training activities. Running keeps me sane and from weighing 250lbs and racing makes me focus so I do it a lot.  My race calendar starts on January 1 with the 5k Resolution Run.  It is a fun local race that has been cold and snowy for the last couple years.  This year was my second full year of twice weekly Body Pump and the weight training is helping my running and body shape.  The first set of photos takes us through June.  I coached soccer for the last time this spring and Sydnee joined me in a couple races, where she ran the kids races after I finished the longer race. The highlight of the first half of the year was an amazing two and a half week vacation.  I attended the Skirt Sport Ambassador Retreat and made tons of new friends.  I ran the Skirt Sports 13er and it was beautiful, fun and amazin...

 (Not us): Photo: Montana River Guides Montana has some of the best white water in the nation.  My son loves rafting and outdoors.  He decided to skip the last couple Disney trips so I have found other opportunities to spend time with him.  One of our favorite getaways is spending an afternoon on the river.  We have been rafting together for several years now and love the fact we can get some nice waves within an hour of home.  Hunter could guide us because last year he took the Swiftwater Rescue and Raft Guide Class and guides for a local summer camp, but we don't have a boat.  I haven't purchased one because we aren't sure what Hunter plans to do when he graduates next year so we just book a tour with our favorite local guides. Montana River Guides (MRG) is a local company owned by Mike Johnson, one of the nicest men you will ever meet.  He hires great guides and has a wonderful staff.  They will ensure you are safe and have a gr...

(The 2017 race was held July 9)   The Missoula 1/2 Marathon is my big race for this year and most years.  This year marked my 7th half marathon.  I love running in my home town, course is flat and beautiful and Run Wild Missoula does a great job with the entire weekend.    Race prep starts early, like October when I sign up for the race because it is only $75 if you sign up early.  The website is easy to find and use: http://www.missoulamarathon.org/   Then I am locked in and it forces me to start training and increasing mileage, even in the winter when running on the treadmill or in cleats is a must.    Fast forward to July.  Marathon weekend starts on Friday with activities, speakers and the beer run.  I skipped these because I had to work.  Saturday is the 5k, the kids' marathon and the race expo.  I normally volunteer at the expo but this year was unable to because of personal commitments so my weekend...

Adapt and Overcome This is a slogan the US Marine Corps likes to use, I heard it A LOT when I attended air refueling school in my early years in the Navy.  Back then it meant things like, deal with the fact you are the only girl in this school and the closest women's bathroom is 3 buildings away.  Yes, I will walk in when you are at the urinal and no, I don't care.   But that is a different story for a different time. This week's story is about our Father's Day trip to Glacier National Park.  This is a view from Rocky Point a quick .25 mile hike from our camp spot.     Every picture in today's blog is going to look beautiful and like we are having a great time.  Well, the park is beautiful and we did have a great time, but I also don't take pictures of the issues that happen along the way (usually).  We almost always go camping Father's Day weekend, it is either right after or before my husband's birthday and it is usu...

11 Miles to Paradise: http://www.runnersedgemt.com/events/eleven-miles-to-paradise-trail-race/ The second/third weekend in May brings my favorite trail race of the year, 11 Miles to Paradise.  This race is hosted by Runner's Edge Missoula and fills up fast.  In fact, this year it filled up in less than 15 minutes and I was so glad I got in.  Jacob and I ran this year which means we had to leave the small one with nana.  The race kicks off outside of St Regis but you get bussed there from Quinn Hot Springs.  Quinn is a little over an hour drive from Missoula so we leave the house pretty early on Sunday morning.  This year the weather was beautiful and we were excited.  You can tell by the photos below that the weather can go either way.  The best part is that after running a wonderful trail with tons of hills for 10.6 miles you board a bus for a quick ride back to Quinn's and jump into the pools.  There are several pools that are f...

I turned 40 just after Christmas last year and you would assume by this point in my life I would have stopped caring about what other people think long ago. Well, as with most things in my life, I do and I don’t.  Last Sunday, I decided to get in my car and drive to the foot of Mount Sentinel and run up the trail for three miles.  It is about a five minute drive from my house and I have lived near this mountain for a sum total of 30 plus years of my life.  I love to hike and I love to trail run.  Why was this such an event for me?  Well you see, I don’t like doing most things alone.  I still feel very self-conscious about doing certain things by myself.  I run alone on a regular basis but it is running to and from my house and to and from my office.  The idea of driving somewhere that is very popular and busy to run alone was just foreign to me.  In many ways I am the definition of codependent.  Here is a non-inclusive quick list of thin...

There are very few days that I go to bed feeling like I was the best person I could have been, today was one of those days.  What made today perfect?   A couple things:  1.  I got to spend quality time with each of my kids.  2. Each kid made an impact on our family. 3. I did something for myself. 4. The day ended with everyone smiling.   My morning started with a little bit of sleeping in while my husband played video games.  Of course my preschooler doesn't believe in sleeping in and she wanted to play barbies.  So I got up and had coffee and barbies.   I go grocery shopping on the weekends, every weekend.  This is one of those chores that can go either way.  Today was nice because my eldest daughter joined me.  It was just the two of us.  She is fun and was in a good mood.   When we got back it was time to clean up the yard.  Cleaning up after three dogs may not seem like an activity that makes for a perfect da...