Trail Mix

Yesterday was the 25K Trail Mix - it was a beautiful day, even though the two-loop course had us twice running up the back side and down the front side of the ski jump... you really only want to ever do that once, if you know what I mean. Have you ever seen the event in the Olympics called ski jumping? Well, we have one right here in the Minneapolis suburbs. It's steep. It's where the Trail Mix is held.

This is me with Mark, Maggie, and Becca - all fellow triathletes. You can see downtown in the far horizon. Tac Boy started out with Trimama, then made a cameo appearance (maybe 30 seconds) to run with me, then scooted ahead toward Marz_Racer - not sure if he ever caught him. You sure must have had a lot of social obligations Tac - everybody said you ran with them for a while, before running ahead!

I averaged a little over 10 minute miles, which was good considering it was so hilly. But this was 15 miles, and Wildflower is only 13, so it was good training for that race, which is only a couple weeks away.

The best part - I almost forgot! I got "recognized" by a fellow blogger! Julie was working the volunteer desk at packet pickup... So nice meeting you, Julie! She's the one who runs ultras... ;-)

Way to go John!!!!!

My friend and ski coach (whom I have blogged about many times) completed his first Ironman as a professional today. Proudly representing the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, John Shelp finished in 9:48:12, good for 32nd position overall.

swim: 56:26
T1: 4:29
Bike: 5:08:34 (21.78 mph)
T2: 2:47
Run: 3:35:54 (8:14 minute miles)


http://ironman.com//events/ironman/arizona?show=tracker&y=2007&race=/events/ironman/arizona&bib=13

I don't even know what to say, I am so proud of him. John's faith has not waivered one moment during his year-long battle with cancer. I am speechless, and just want to cry, so I will quote our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. (REV 2:3)

God bless you, John. Your friends back home were also with you all day today. We love you, Micki and the girls, and are so proud and happy for you!!!

Springtime in Minnesota

Easter weekend. It was freezing. Something about Ally's parka detracts from her Easter dress. But we found all the eggs the Easter Bunny hid and then joined our friends for a beautiful Easter service at Plymouth Covenant; followed by a fabulous brunch at Greg's house.

So we were still biking inside because it was too cold. Trimama, Tac-Boy, Tim, Irongirl Nyhus... we are all being really good sports about training when the weather has jsut sucked. Maybe in a few days it will warm up.

Well, here we are a few days later. It isn't better, it's worse!!!

At least the kids like it. And it's supposed to get to the mid 50's this weekend. Yeah. Right. Heard that one before...

Tile Project Complete

The basement kitchen tiling project is essentially finished... just a bit of accessory tweeking/ shopping needed... and maybe some fabric for the window by the sliding glass door.



Before/After view from partway up the stairs.

Before/After by the bar.

Before/ After view into the kitchen. I think the cholocate colored paint is much warmer than the pale sea green I had in there before.

These two paintings were made for me by my friend Kris King. He's an amazing artist, and the colors/ textures are perfect down here. The one on the left is a man playing guitar, and the one on the right is a dove with an olive branch in his beak. The table was made by my girlfriend Stephany. It's the island of Florianopolis, Brazil, where I did an Ironman last year. It's so beautiful. She even used real pieces of sea-glass in the waves of the ocean. The bike and run courses are dotted out in gemstones.

The reason there is hardly any artwork in my new house is because I want to actually know the people who've created what's on my walls. Most of the stuff from my last house is in the storage room, although there are a couple of pieces that I can't part with which were painted by strangers... so please feel free to contribute! I promise I will put whatever you make me in a great location, where it can (and will certainly) be appreciated!

Deadwood; Still winter?; long run

Deadwood, South Dakota

I am all signed up for the Deadwood Marathon, in the hills around historic Deadwood, pictured above. It's a trail run, and we run up 13.1 and back down 13.1. I hear it's really beautiful. Holly, Chae, Brooke and I are pumped up and ready. I got my plane ticket and reserved a room in the famous Bullock Hotel. It's supposedly haunted - it has even been featured on Unsolved Mysteries! I booked room 313 - one of the spooky ones. But no one will commit to staying in it with me. (Chickens!) So we also have a room in a quaint old hotel about a half block away, which is as close as my girlfriends say they'll get to the Bullock. So here's my question for the day:

Would you stay in a haunted hotel room?

Still Winter? Arghhhhhhh....

OK, so I did get to go on a couple of outdoor rides. They were a little chilly, but that's better than (yet another) indoor spin. But this weekend it was only 38 degrees and raining, and even I have standards... ;-) So Laura, Bob and I rode what was HOPEFULLY our last indoor ride on Saturday. Snow is in the forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday, but hopefully that will be the end of it. Nice helmet, Bob... tee-hee.

Long Run

Sunday it stopped raining long enough for Laura, Mike K and I to get in our long run. I logged 20 miles and felt like a million bucks throughout as well as afterward. Don't you just love when that happens?! Every one of us needs to have that long run or bike where you just feel great and strong. It really charges up your batteries and rekindles your confidence. Mike is a guy on my running club who is the same speed as I, so we have been running together for 3 or 4 years. He doesn't believe in God, (and I do) so we always have these conversations that really make the time go by fast. It was the first time Laura has met Mike... I hope we didn't drive you crazy! (did we??)