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!

:)

Happy August!

I have a hard time greeting August with a smile because it means I'm heading back to work. Hard to say good-bye to summer break........

:)

Nos. 35 - 46

Not surprising, July was a big reading month. When you don't have to work, you have lots of time for reading (and listening) :)

No. 35 - Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay:

No. 36 - Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires:

No. 37 - Scene of the Climb by Kate Dyer-Seeley:

My in-laws gave me this one for my birthday. It's a local author who writes mysteries at Oregon outdoor spots - perfect! This first one is a murder at Angel's Rest, one of my favorite hiking trails :)

No. 38 - Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams, read while relaxing in the North Cascades:

No. 39 - One More Thing by B.J. Novak:

I was disappointed by this one. It just wasn't that funny. Oh, well.

No. 40 - The Atlas of Reds and Blues by Devi S. Laskar:

No. 41 - Americanized: Rebel without a Green Card, by Sara Saedi:

This was a really great story of an undocumented immigrant who's just about my age. We need to hear these stories.

No. 42 - Slayed on the Slopes by Kate Dyer-Seeley:

This second book in the series is set at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. Very formula, but still a good little mystery.

No. 43 - Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luiselli:

No. 44 - Silenced by the Surf by Kate Dyer-Seeley:

I was glad to find more of this series at my library. They are quick, easy reads :)

No. 45 - The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka:

I searched for POC or LBGTQ+ mystery authors and found Lepionka. And I had time to squeeze in the second one before the end of the month!

No. 46 - What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka:

Summer break is just about over for me... hopefully I can keep the reading going strong :)

:)

Nos. 30 - 34

Lots of audio books this month while driving and doing yard work!

No. 30 - Boy Erased by Garrard Conley. A heartbreaking true story.

No. 31 - The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins:

No. 32 - Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling:

No. 33 - Savage News by Jessica Yellin:

No. 34 - Breach of Duty by J.A. Jance:

I would recommend all of these :)