Turkeython (11/22/18)

Race recaps have fallen by the wayside in the past 18 months. I've done fewer races than before Dad's death, but I've still run some. I need to get these recaps on the blog before I forget!

A Thanksgiving-morning family race has been a tradition for years now. But the holidays were strange in general last year - the first without Dad. We decided to still do a race, but we stuck with the Turkeython just down the road at Cook Park.

I usually avoid Cook Park races because it feels silly to pay to run in the park I run in all the time for free. But this time, it seemed like a good idea.

Before:

Ready! Though I was definitely missing Dad:

Eryn hits the 3-mile mark:

A little more...

DONE!

And here comes Mom:

Three happy runners:

Looking back at the official results, 

I finished the 5K in 27:19, an 8:47 average - 45/163 overall, 16/83 in women, 4/21 in age group, and 1/11 in my age and gender group! Brad took 2nd place in his age/gender group. Small races are fun :)

What race should we do this year??

Summer rewind: King's Mountain

About 18 months ago, my life turned upside down. My dad's death rocked my world and changed much about daily life, including my lack of time, energy, and motivation for blogging.

But I still did some fun things, and I still have stories to tell. I hope to get back to it - not because I have millions of followers hanging on my every word, but because I like to have the record of my life. I love to look back at adventures and see where I've been and what I've been through. It's really a diary of sorts.

I tried to fill my summer with adventure - squeezing in trips when I could.

In June, Brad and Brittany joined me for the short, butt-busting trip up King's Mountain in the Coast Range.

It's one of my favorites, especially for hiking up and running down. But it was Brittany's first time, so we hung out at the top, took in the views, and ate snacks. Costco's salmon jerky is soooo good!

Had to sign the summit register!

High clouds but still a view of the mountains :)

It was midweek, so we were fortunate to have the popular trail mostly to ourselves - aside from the guy who ran it twice while we hiked it once!

:)

Nos. 47 - 55

No. 47 - First Degree Mudder by Kate Dyer-Seeley:

No. 48 - In Cave Danger by Kate Dyer-Seeley:

This is set in Bend, and I read it at Sunriver. And vowed to never go in the lava tubes!! :)

No. 49 - Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly:

No. 50 - Behind the Curtain by Peter Abrahams, read while camping at Mount Rainier:

No. 51 - Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams - also read while camping at Rainier:

 

No. 51 - Dear Martin by Nic Stone - so good!

No. 52 - Worthy by Melanie Springer Mock:

This is SO GOOD and should be read by every woman and man I know! Read it today!

No. 53 - What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera:

No. 54 - Son by Lois Lowry:

I read The Giver last year, and this second book was good but not as powerful as the first. 

No. 55 - Natural Thorn Killer by Kate Dyer-Seeley:

Oh, my! I'm a reading machine :) Hope I can keep it up after school resumes next week. My calendar is looking pretty full again!

Happy September!

:)