Slacker Half Marathon 2014 Race Recap ~ Our First Run-Cation!

There's nothing like running 13.1 miles to celebrate 13 years of being married to this incredible man God brought into my life many years ago!

Now that our kiddos have gotten a bit older, they're starting to enjoy summer trips to see Grandparents in the summer, while Mommy and Daddy enjoy some alone time.  As hard as it is to be away from them, it's always a great reminder that we are husband and wife first, and daddy and mommy second.  My mother-in-law came and picked up the kiddos on that Wednesday and then Thursday Josh and I headed to the mountains.  Last year we went to Dillon, CO to stay the night before I ran the Slacker Half Marathon and it was just beautiful, but we didn't really have the time to enjoy the area, so we were excited to have a little extra time this trip!

We took our time traveling to Dillon and once again we were just blown away by the view.  Friday morning we enjoyed not being wakened by an alarm or little people and then went for a 2 mile run just to get rid of some pre-race jitters and to adjust to the elevation (or try to anyway).  The run along the Dillon lake was absolutely gorgeous!  After we ran 2 miles we walked and chatted for 2 more miles.  I remember telling Joshua how had we not started this journey of becoming more active, we wouldn't have even taken the time to enjoy such a beautiful run/walk.

 Is this view not just breathtaking?  God is SO good!!!

This wonderful man has always supported my journey to getting healthier, 

but absolutely nothing compares to being on this journey together!

This little morning run was a perfect reminder of why I enjoy this sport so much!

Dinner at the Dam Brewery.  Oh, he always makes me laugh!

Great food, a lovely glass of wine and the best company :)

Saturday morning finally came and it was time to head to Georgetown to be bused to the Loveland Ski area.  The temperature at the starting line was about 38 degrees and I was SO cold.  I had such a hard time taking off my sweatshirt, but I knew it was going to warm up quickly and I wasn't about to make the same mistake I did last year by dressing too warm.  To be honest though, I even had tears it was so cold.  But leave it to my husband to help me relax and get excited to run!

When we said 'I do' 13 years ago, I never would have dreamed about this very moment!  This was one of the most incredible times in our marriage.  Love him so much!!!

I felt so much better about this race than I did a year ago.  It's fun when you know what to expect and know the course.  For some reason though, I REALLY struggled through miles 5-7.  I started to have stomach cramps really bad, which I'm sure was due to the elevation and not eating and drinking enough before we got started.  I really didn't want to walk or stop at ALL through the entire race, but the cramping got so bad that I had no choice but to walk for just a bit and catch my breath.  Once I did, the rest of the race was enjoyable!  I have to say that the encouragement from the other Team Beef members and runners was awesome at this race too!

This picture was around mile 10!  I can't believe I actually had a smile.

I'm so incredible proud of Joshua for completing his first half marathon race!  He wanted to finish in under two hours, but believe it or not... he finished in TWO HOURS AND ONE MINUTE!  He's still a bit bitter about the fact that the bottleneck of runners at the starting line and a potty break prevented him from meeting his goal.  I'm still so incredibly proud of him!!!

I struggled again right before the finish line, but there my hubby was to help me finish as he ran with me the last little bit (even after he had already finished his half marathon)!  I finished in 2:20 which was 7 minutes faster than what I ran it a year ago, so I was happy!  It was such an incredible reminder of this journey we're on together.

We celebrated finishing and then headed back to Dillon to relax and enjoy our last evening away.  I still struggle with getting headaches when I run 10 miles or more from getting dehydrated, so I was prepared for one to come and ready for a nap.  One of these days, I'll get it figured out :)

After a nap and dinner we went to the Dillon Ampitheatre and enjoyed some live bluegrass music, a beautiful sunset and a gorgeous view of the mountains and lake.  I've never felt so refreshed and connected to my dear husband than I did after this trip.

I hope that we can plan another Run-cation together (I would even love for this to be an annual event for us).  It was definitely one of the best trips we've had together!  Fellow married couples ~ I challenge you to think outside the box on your next getaway.  Although, we've really enjoyed other trips, planning and preparing for this one was incredibly special and certainly some memories I will cherish!  

After such a special getaway, we were certainly ready to get the kiddos home!  

We all made some pretty special memories and we're so grateful for the time our kiddos get to have with their grandparents!!!

Blessings,

Krystal

The Kids' First 5K ~ Race Recap

As I've mentioned before 5k's are not my favorite race distance these days, but doing it as a family and with friends makes it my absolute favorite distance!  We debated whether or not to do a local 5k race even up to a couple days before just simply due to the fact that our schedules have been so busy lately and it was a week before our half marathon race in the mountains. Once the kids got excited about it, we knew we needed to take the morning to encourage our kids and let it be their race :).  It was also the first race for a dear friend of ours, so we were excited to run with her and her dear sister as well.  We love this local race, it's a small and friendly run.  Last year this race was our very first family run.  Thanks Lifestyle Fitness, for another wonderful race!

The kids were so cute getting ready for their race first thing in the morning.  There's something so encouraging and fun about sharing our love for running and taking care of our bodies with our kids!  God has designed our bodies to move and it's so fun to share this message as a family!  We also enjoy sharing the message that lean beef is a great source of protein for active families!!!  I apologize for the picture overload of this race... it was just such a special morning!

We were so proud of these kiddos!

Our dear friend helped design these adorable tanks.  We just love how cute they are and the message of Hebrews 12:1-2 it shares!  Rachael and Sara are such sweet sisters and so incredibly encouraging, sweet, Godly women.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for sharing this special day with us!!!

Oh, how I love this girl!  She has prayed, encouraged and reminded me of God's purpose on this journey from the very beginning!

Last year I ran with Kylee and Daddy ran with Jayce, so we decided to switch it up this year.  Two years ago, I never would have dreamed that I would see an image like this.  An incredible Daddy sharing such a special moment with his little girl!

I had no idea how much I would learn about my little dude through this race!  I have spent time working with Kylee on how to keep her pace, how to do run/walk intervals, but I hadn't worked with Jayce at all.  I was fully prepared for him to run a couple of blocks and then we would walk the remaining 5k, but oh boy did he surprise me.  This silly 5 year old took off at a sprint and ran for well over a mile without walking.  I had absolutely no idea he had it in him.  I also discovered how incredibly competitive he is.  It was a great reminder that there are other lessons to be learned running a race besides encouraging physical fitness.  I had to discuss with Jayce that the race is a great opportunity to encourage others and that it's important to finish the race!  This little guy touched my heart as anytime he passed or was passed by someone he reached out to give them a high five :)

Sweet Sara was definitely Jayce's budy!  She was so incredibly kind and gentle with him.

 When I asked Kylee what her favorite part of the race was, she didn't even hesitate to say that it was crossing the finish line with these ladies!  I don't think it matters how many races or how old you are, there's something amazing about each finish line!  

After a strong start, some tears and a piggy back ride on mommy, little dude finished strong!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the morning!  I love how Josh hurried to get to the finish line, so that he could capture these three lovely ladies coming across the finish line together.  

Kylee encouraging her little brother as he finished!

This was little dude's favorite part of the race... getting a snack when he finished!

Another one of my favorite pictures of the day.  These two ladies have such a special relationship!  And what a special way to deepen their friendship, running their first 5k together!  

Thanks Miss Rach, we love you so much!!!

Run the Race, Persevere & Focus on Christ!

Blessings,

Krystal

A Helpful Workout!

As most of you know several weeks ago I put together my workout plan for now through the rest of 2013.  I'm really liking the miles I have set for every week and the goal to reach 1,000 miles for the year, but I'm really not happy with the cross training plan I have put together.  I'm averaging about 19-24 miles of running per week and then was doing Turbo Fire on my cross training days.  I really like Turbo Fire, but it's just been too much cardio for my non running days and I really don't want to get burned out.  Next to running I REALLY enjoy lifting weights, so I'm actually considering doing more of that and focusing on building my core strength as well.  I'm hoping this will help me become stronger, become a better runner and ultimately to prevent injuries.  Stay tuned as I tried to get that figured out.

Just yesterday I was talking with a friend about how good it feels to be able to be strong enough to help our husbands on projects at home.  Then last night I was talking with my dear husband how I've been frustrated with my cross training, and he had just the idea for me.  Those of you who know my husband, know he's an incredibly talented, hard working and amazing man (so I'm a little biased).  He's currently working on building a wrap around porch for our house and he's doing most of the work himself.

So, while I re-evaluate my cross training, Joshua is going to come up with some things that I can help with on this porch project.  This morning he had me move a pile of wood that he used to form the porch from the patio to the shop.

It wasn't a huge task, but it was definitely something different and it felt good to be able to help my husband!  This workout simply consisted of continuing until the job was done.  I didn't focus on the number of reps, a certain time, I just kept going until the task was complete!

Before I was really committed to evaluating my health and physical activity (about 14 months ago) I wouldn't have had the strength (or desire) to really help my husband in this way.  God has taught me so much about being the wife He has called me to be throughout this journey.  Submitting to this wonderful man and being his helper are tasks I take seriously and with joy!

I'm actually excited to see what he has in mind for my next cross training task for Friday!  I challenge you to think outside the box for your next workout and help someone you love :)

Blessings,

Krystal

And sometimes you just need a getaway!

Once a year my husband goes on a dirt bike trip with 'the guys.'  Just as he supports me when I need a trip with 'the girls', I try really hard to make it as easy as possible to love him and support him when he goes on his trips, whether he's going snowmobiling or dirt biking!  Although I encourage him to enjoy these trips it does make me a little anxious at the same time!  Today Joshua left to go ride in the mountains with several guys for the weekend.

What wife wouldn't be worried about the thought of them climbing a hill/mountain like this?

Due to Joshua's, accident a few months ago, I'm a little more anxious than normal.  I really can't even imagine the thought of him getting hurt again and really didn't want him to go because of it! I've spent a lot of time in prayer over the last week for his safety and to ease my own nerves!  God has been faithful and has given me just the reminders I've needed this week.  Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  God hears the desires of our heart and for that I am grateful!  Although I'm still a little anxious I've been reminded that only God can truly protect those I love. 

Instead of staying at home while Joshua is on his trip, the kids and I loaded up and headed to Kansas to visit my Mom and Dad!  The kids traveled great and I survived driving all the way. It's trips like these that make me appreciate my dear husband as he usually does all the driving. First thing this morning, Kylee and I went for a 2 mile walk with Nana. Ky and I did a little running too and I got a little extra workout giving Ky a piggy back ride too :). It was wonderful to have a workout where we just giggled, leaped, jumped and played!  And did I mention it's extremely humid?

And of course we couldn't forget about flex Friday!

Then we went and did a little shopping and then headed back to Nana's to hang out in the pool. Jayce fell asleep on the way back, so Ky enjoyed some time together. 

And yes this pool is such a blessing to get to enjoy.  It's so peaceful, so beautiful and the company is just amazing. 

We were so excited when Nana and Jayce joined us. 

And then Pappy came home!  They were just a little excited to see him. 

So yes, we made a slightly unnecessary trip just to avoid being at home without my dear husband, but we're relaxing, enjoying family and praying that Daddy has a fun and safe trip too!  And as difficult as it is I WILL relax by the pool (and in the pool) and enjoy the giggles from my kiddos!

And for tomorrow's entertainment my baby sister (who is 17) has agreed to go on a 10 mile run with me!  Can she keep up with her big sis?  Or will she make me feel old?  Stay tuned!

Blessings,

Krystal

Our Fourth of July!

As you all know my kids just spent a week with my mom and dad while Josh and I went to Las Vegas! One thing Josh really wanted to do was go to the Hoover Dam. It was going to be hot no matter when we went, so we decided to go on the morning of the 4th of July. Before we went though, we went and enjoyed breakfast at the cafe within the spa at The Venetian Hotel. I'm pretty sure Joshua got tired of me raving about how good their oatmeal was, which I had the day before (I really should have taken a picture of it)! Lol!  It was great to find a place to have a healthy breakfast and get away from the noise of the casino!

It was then time to head on our tour!  We finally arrived and WOW did I mention it's really hot in Vegas in July?!?  Despite the heat though, we were able to enjoy our tour!  

                                   

This tour was right up Joshua's alley and he was just taking it all in!

                                   

I on the other hand was getting a little overwhelmed with the sheer size of everything and the countless facts that were shared with us. All in all though, what a great way to enjoy Independence Day!

We then went back to the hotel and got out of the heat for a while. For supper I wanted to go eat at Bubba Gumps, which I REALLY enjoy and hadn't eaten at one since we were in Hawaii two years ago. I was kind of tired of all the fancy food we had been eating and just wanted some good sea food. So away we went :)

                       

The food and the service were great!  As we left we quickly realized everyone was waiting to watch the fireworks on the strip. We decided we would try to wait too. That is until I began to get overwhelmed with all the people and not being able to walk or breathe!

 

                         

 

My dear husband quickly realized that I was getting claustrophobic and beginning to panic, so we began shuffling through the crowds to get back to our hotel, which seemed to have taken forever!  He was so incredibly sweet as he would reach his hand behind and hold mine so that I could follow him as he made a way for me.  What a beautiful reminder that as my husband, he will always be there to lead the way and let me follow close behind him.  I can't even begin to guess how many people were on the sidewalks that night.  I did have to giggle though when my husband said "getting through the people is like trying to dodge trees when you're snowmobiling!"  As I was struggling, we happened to walk by a homeless lady reading her bible, which quickly gave me a sense of peace, but also made my heart ache for all these people who may not know Jesus that were in Vegas!  Vegas was fun and it made this small town girl appreciate the amazing husband God has blessed me with, our special kids, cool Colorado evenings, the small town we live and work in, our precious family, friends, and church family, and the agriculture community we enjoy!   I loved God's gentle lesson last week that it's not just about the destination but it's also about the journey getting there!

Thank you God, for where you have planted us and may we continue to grow with grace!

Blessings,

Krystal

Our First Rock Climbing Experience

Wow, has my idea of a vacation changed over the last year. Of course it's fun to relax, enjoy the delicious food, have a couple drinks and just enjoy the venue!  But I've now found myself looking for trails to run on, outdoor activities to enjoy, and various ways to enjoy the greater parts of wherever we're at, while staying active as well. Several months ago my dad decided he wanted to take a weeks vacation and have our kids come stay with them. They've enjoyed the week swimming, riding horses, going to the zoo, making homemade ice cream, and who knows what else!  Josh and I then started trying to figure out where we wanted to go to enjoy some time together. Neither one of us had ever been to Las Vegas, so we decided that's where we would go. We've had a great time just reconnecting as husband and wife, but the temperature has been over 110 degrees every day we've been here. This certainly put a damper in some of the activities I wanted to do. I really wanted to hike at the Red Rock Canyon and go kayaking, but it's just way too hot. 

We stayed at the Venetian hotel, which is just beautiful!  The spa has a 40 foot rock wall that you can climb, so we both decided it would be fun to do that since we couldn't do some of the other activities. I had originally planned on running 5 miles before we did the rock climbing, but my dear husband advised me not to. Have I mentioned what a wise man he is?  

We got our harness, shoes and helmet on (which I'm grateful for as I hit my head several times). I was beginning to get a little nervous, so Joshua went first. 

This all came very natural for him!

Josh made it through his first climb and then it was my turn!

We had a great instructor, who we discovered had a girl and boy the exact same ages as ours!

I finally made it to the top of my first climb!

It's quite a feeling to hit the bar at the top. I had no idea how tough and what a workout rock climbing is. Josh then did two more climbs (he's a monkey at heart).

He made it look really easy!

My next climb was really difficult for me. My hands were getting sweaty, my arms and legs were shaking and quite frankly I was just done. I had about 5 steps left to hit the top and told our instructor I couldn't do it and was ready to come down. She very quickly told me to take that word out of my vocabulary and that she wasn't going to let me down until after I hit the bar at the top. I finally regrouped and was able to finish the climb. I didn't realize I had an audience until I hit the bar and several people watching in the gym started clapping. I don't know why I let this challenge try to defeat me mentally, but wow what a great reminder that so many physical challenges aren't physical at all!

Josh did a couple more climbs and I did one more as well just to prove to myself that I was indeed strong enough both physically and mentally.  Then it was time for a healthy breakfast and some smoothies!

As crazy as it may sound, this was one of my favorite things we did together. I love working out with my man, and we'll definitely look into doing rock climbing again!  I strongly encourage you to look for activities to do outside of the 'typical' activities when on vacation. Definitely some unforgettable memories!

Blessings,

Krystal