Oh what Fun!!! Race Report: Budu Mtb Race

This past weekend we went on a family adventure. At our house, all adventures start in the same way ... first we explain to Emily what is going on ... she likes to 'help' pack and prepare, and loves adventures! For any of you who have kids you may recognize this song ... it gets repeated a lot at our house ... 'we're gonna go, go, go ... on an adventure! The thing-a-migigger is up,up, and away ...' Yes, that is from Dr Seuss ;-)

And an adventure it was! On Saturday we went to the Discovery Park Zoo (a great zoo!) onthe way down to the race. It was a great 'pit stop', and the highlight of the day for all of us. Emily love animals and did not want to leave :) She got to see monkeys (a favorite), elephansts, bears, birds, and there was even a petting zoo for the goats and sheep!

Sunday morning we got up early to get to the race venue in time. Jonathan was doing his first Mtb race and his group started early! Emily was pretty excited to have a 'picnic' breakfast and cheer for dada! She was clapping as hard as she could :) We spent some time on her little run bike playing around and then before we knew it, 'dada' (Jonathan) was finishing! She was so excited!!!  Lots of fun :) and Jonathan did great on his Norco Faze - first mtb race and no crashes :)

Next up was my race. Emily helped me pump up my tires and get ready ...  and then it was off to the start line.  The start was fun - Jonathan and Emily were there to cheer for me, and I asked her for a 'clap' .. she gave a big one. The announcer thought it was so cute he got everyone to cheer ... so the girls got the best send off of everyone :)

And then we were off! This year the start was a bit different - last year, for these short races, i would sprint off the line (my brain/body remembering the Canada Cup days) and then blow up about 30 sec later. This year, with the help of my coach, i could hold 3rd place for about 3 minutes ... and then i faded.  Into the single-track i was in about 8th place out of 12 women.  I held this spot thru the first lap, and then on the second and third laps started to catch women, making my way up to 4th place overall! It was not 'my' type of race course - sandy, twisty, and no real flow. There was no real recovery/break and lots of short bursty climbs. About 3000 ft of climbing in 15 miles, according to the garmin! All in all, I was pretty happy - even got 2nd in my age group!!! Definately a good result for a girl who doesn't 'go fast' :)

We thought it would be fun for Em to come with me to get my 2nd place medal, so I brought her up. The 2nd place medal is red, and blue is for first. Emily loves blue. So when we went up to get the 2nd place medal she said 'no blue, no blue, no blue!  So funny! We were all laughing that i'd let her down by not winning the race. The race organizers have a 2 year old grand daughter and gave Emily her very own blue medal. Check it out... this has to be my favorite photo ever!

Ready for adventure - 3 Norco bikes on the roof :)

 

I worked my butt off for 2nd, Em got 1st for cuteness :) 

Best photo ever!!!! Love the little fist in the air

 

Em on her bike 

 

Brushing the goats :)

Race Report: Running ... up a mountain

So in December I signed us up for a 1/2 Marathon called the 'Hillbilly Marathon'  ... described as the 'hardest marathon and 1/2 marathon course in Washington State'. Seemed like a good idea at the time ... here are the numbers:

Miles ran: 13.6 (yes, i got lost at one point)
Vertical feet climbed: 3999ft
Finish time: 2 hours
Finishing place: 5th (of women)
Number of Runners: > 300 (in the 1/2, more if you count the full!)
Number of women runners: > 60

The race was great fun .. we car-pooled down with Yvonne in the wee hours of the morning and got there in time to watch the marathon start ... up a hill. Yup, they didn't lie when they said there would be hills!

This was a running race on dirt - my favorite kind - and one that promised hills, rocks, roots, cinder blocks, and puddles And it delivered! Lots of technical single-track on this course which was super fun and made you feel like a little kid. The puddles were fun too ... some of them a bit deeper than anticipated which threw off the balance a bit :)  But basically, at the end i felt like I was ten years old again and had spent the morning playing in the woods!

Here i am at the finish ... Yvonne was already done - kicked butt at 3rd place ... and was there to greet me with a high five :) Jonathan had a great race too ... all in all an amazing day!!!