Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Wunderwoman Triathlon 2011

This past weekend my sister Stephanie and I competed in the Wunderwoman Triathlon. We swam, we biked, we ran our pants off. We had a great time! NO, scratch that. I should say, I had a great time competing until I started that blasted 5K run. That was anything but fun...

However, it was fun racing. I love a little healthy competition!
Oh, and did I mention that we raced against Alli from The Biggest Loser. Stephanie and I chatted with her a bit on the run. She was nice.


The race officials mark your age on the back of your leg.
In my opinion, this marking is an overt athlete humbling tactic.
You might be racing along thinking, "Hey look at me! I'm young, I'm fit, I'm a tri-ath-lete...". When all of a sudden, a perky, yet incredibly wrinkled, 107 year old will whip passed you on her ten speed huffy.
Humbling indeed!!!

We are ready for the swim.

My triathlon partner and sister, Stephanie, me and my cousin Angie.



My parents, my older sister Lachrisa, Stephanie's husband and kids, aunts, uncles and cousins were all up there cheering for us. Hearing my parents yelling for me as I emerged from the water after the swim, really brought me back to my high school athletic days.
They've always been my biggest fan!!!

There we are, green and pink.


And we are off!!!
I really loved competing in the swim.



Stephanie, in pink, finishing the swim.

Stephanie completing the run.
She doesn't even look like she broke a sweat!!!
I was there, finishing alongside her. Yet, after a painful run, one in which I accidentally poured sticky juice over my head, I wasn't looking my best...

Swimming, Biking, Running = FUN, FUN and FUN!!!






Salmon River Rafting Trip 2011

It must be said...
Idaho has a whole lot more to offer than simply some tasty spuds. For those of us who enjoy riding inflatable tubes through whirling twirling white water, Idaho is a great place to be!

More than a few years ago, Stephanie, my sunshine-seeking sister, married Dave, a river lover. Stephanie favors the mercury rising and dreams of a tropical holiday. Dave's been known to kayak in the snow and even proposed to my sister while rolling his little blue play boat - a note reading, "Stephanie will you marry me?" was taped to the bottom of his kayak.

Stephanie said yes, she married Dave, they brought three blond haired cuties into the world, bought a mini-van, our grandparents' farm and a yellow river raft. Our family loves Stephanie, our family loves Dave, our family loves the three little blondies and now... our family loves river rafting.

Thanks to Stephanie and Dave, an annual Salmon River rafting trip has become something of a family tradition. I've missed the past few trips, what with it being something of a commute from Sudan and all. In this case, absence has in so many ways made the heart grow fonder - fond I certainly was of our four solid days of summer sunshine, the family camping, our cool river swimming and the two-run-a-day rafting trips!!!


Dad, Aunt Vicki, Aunt Shirley, Dave and I having a good ol' time!


Lily, Ella, Oliver, the sand alligator and I















Family Rafters
Unfortunately, my Mom broke a few ribs just a few days before the rafting trip. She couldn't join us on the river. We were pretty bummed for her, she loves to raft.

The kids are still too little to raft the river, but they had a great time "rafting" from one take-out to the other - a distance of about 200 meters.









Aunt Shirley

Dad, me and Stephanie

Cousins



Our capable guides - Stephanie and Dave
Thanks for the great trip!