Play before Vacay

Ashlee and Russ came to play before we all head to Montana for a Family Reunion that we've had planned for two years.  Here are some of our adventures in play before we head out to vacay...

 McKaylee getting a cut and color for her birthday

My monkey, Everly.  I love pictures like this where we can show how little she was and how strong she was.

We did lots of swimming.  It was fun to have another little girl for Everly to play with.  Can you tell which blondie is which?

We did a sewing class with Jamie, of course!

We now have beach swim bags for all of the Burrell grandkids, since we have plans to play at the beach in Montana.

Up next: ALL the "adventures" we endured had in Montana!

Catch Me

 Because of my shin splints, Shelby and I have been doing the bike at Orange Theory instead of the treadmill.  So when I realized I'd be riding the bike for Orange Theory's challenge workout, Catch Me If You Can, I figured I'd just try my hardest to beat their time.  I didn't understand all about it, but I knew I wanted to beat the times listed for each minute, so I was simply going to peddle my heart out.

Less than a minute in, I knew I was going to kill their times.  Instead of worrying the distance for each minute, I got it into my head that I was going to make it as fast as I could to the last distance they had on the paper: 7-miles.  I made it there at 12:48.  As soon as I hit that distance, I slowed considerably, basically stopped.  I chatted with a girl for a sec, wiped my face and hands, and just caught my breath.  Not sure what else to do, I thought, "I'm not sure what to do, so I'll remember 12:48 was my time for 7-miles, and just keep going."  So I stepped up my game again and started peddling my heart out.

If you don't hit the distance by the time listed, you got off the treadmill/bike/strider and went to tell them your distance.  Next time, you try and beat that distance in addition to the challenge of beating their distance.  I should have realized then that they didn't care about that 7-miles, they just wanted me to get that by the end.  It didn't matter to me, as I felt on top of the world for beating their distance until I was sent this picture from Danielle that night...

That's me, tied for FOURTH!!!  I was a mere .2 behind 3rd, who happens to be a friend.  It was then that I felt disappointed in my performance!  Had I realized ahead of time that I should have just gone as far as I could as fast as I could, I would have had a real shot at being 3rd!!!!  I stopped!!  I wiped my hands and face and basically didn't really try to move those peddles!!!  I'm coming for you, Eric!!

So, no matter how my legs feel next time they do this challenge workout, I plan to get on that bike and peddle as far and as fast as my little legs will carry me!  I will beat my own record and hope to place in the top 3!  Challenge accepted!

Growing

 Sometimes I catch sight of my kids and think, "Man they're growing up," or "Man, they're handsome."  Tonight I thought both when I looked at my Brennon!

I still see the three-year-old that always said "next" when telling stories, but I also see the teenager that is quickly becoming a strapping young man.  I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Float

I have always wanted to float the river.  I never did it growing up, even though I lived minutes from multiple rivers.  We never did it, despite always talking about doing it, when we lived near the Platte River in Casper for 7 years.  Today, I finally checked off a Bucket List: Float the River!

We also caught sight of three turtles, sunning themselves.  Cameron has lived here his whole life and never knew turtles were in this river.  It was fun to see them!

We had such a good time, we now want to take our kids with us.  I hope we get to it this year because I don't want them to wait until they're 40 to float the river-- it's fun!

Supination

 Since Ragnar, I've had some pretty gnarly shin splints.  While looking through the many, many pictures, I noticed something off about many of mine.

I land and walk on the outside of my feet!!!  As I researched, I found out that that is called Supination, and a major contributing factor to shin splints.  It is common for people with high arches to do this if they do not have the proper shoes to combat that.

When I first started Orange Theory, I got some pretty major shin splints.  They got so bad, it hurt to even walk.  I went to the running store, telling them I had shin splints and needed new shoes.  These are the new shoes.  They weren't really bothering me until I ran 9.5 miles in 2 days on the road.  I was treating the symptom, not the source.  I should have had them watch my gait, instead of just telling them I was getting shin splints.  I now know that Ashlee's brand of shoe is perfect for this, which makes sense because she has high arches too.  I hope that I can get this all sorted out and begin training for Ragnar next year.  I want to do even better!!!

Look

 On the drive to Ragnar, something went down that literally threatened to ruin our weekend. Randy's had some issues at work within the last year that have caused him stress, things of all different aspects that impact his day-to-day, as well as overall enjoyment of work.  So when he got an email and phone call from his boss with terrible news about things ahead, it was the last straw that broke the camel's back.  He knew things were not going to get better, knew he didn't have the mental stamina to continue, knew he'd start looking for a new job after being with this company for nearly 9 years.  It was brutal!

So after our physically exhausting day and then drive home and unpack, I didn't think much of him being out of my sight for a while.  We then had an in-depth talk about what needed to happen, and if we were ready to take the next steps.  I'm telling you, it was a deep talk, face-to-face.  So when Shelby said, "Oh, you shaved your beard," the second we walked into the kitchen, I literally got whiplash from wrenching my neck around to look at him...

We had been talking for more than an hour, and I NEVER NOTICED HE'D SHAVED HIS BEARD OFF!!!!!!!  I couldn't believe it!  I still cannot believe it!  I'd like to think it's because I have known him in our marriage with both looks, that I love his face with both looks, that I see Randy's soul more than what he's wearing, what facial hair he's sporting, or even how he looks.  But there are no excuses!!!  Funny!  I once thought I was observant...

Ragnar 2021- Leg 3 & Finish Line

 We made it to the Major Exchange with enough time to go to the bathroom and get mentally prepared.  Not only were we physically exhausted from running and lack of sleep, but we all also had some major hills for much of our individual runs.  

We had to wear masks indoors, but we were ALL grateful for the use of flushing toilets!

Ashlee told Randy she wanted to chest bump for their last pass off.  See, I told you they were fun!

Ashlee finished her LAST RUN!!  My Mister is off!

It was chilly waiting for my run.  Ashlee snuggled me while we waited.  Also, I find it ironic that she needs to keep the devil warm...

Gearing up for my last run.  2.5 miles, with some major hills.  I was most nervous about this one.

Our last exchange.  Seeing as I only have enough mental capacity to get my legs going, I never had a good send-off or come-in.  I hope to be better next time!

It should come as no surprise to anyone that as soon as I finished, I cried.  But the coolest thing ever happened, just like the night before.

When Caden got his Eagle award, we used Gentri's Dare as one of his songs.  That song has always held special meaning for me as I considered Caden and all he went through and accomplished.  So when it came on, I again whispered, "Caden, finish this race with me.  Let's go across this last finish-line together!"  But as I listened to the words, they meant something to me too.  I will now hear the song and share its meaning with my boy.

"I see the path staring me down.  I take a deep breath, feet firm on the ground.  My heart's racing fast, beating in time, counting down.  I scream at the voice inside of my head that whispers my dreams are gone and dead.  But the harder they push, the stronger I fight for what's ahead.

I've charted my course to answer the call.  I'll fight till I win, proud of the cost of my battle scars.  I'll never cave in, won't question or pause.  I'll climb to the ledge, jump off the edge, and rewrite the odds.  And dare to dream.

I push through the pain and claim what I earn.  Ready to take the lessons I learn and pass them along, taking my turn to make my mark.

I've charted my course to answer the call.  I'll fight till I win, proud of the cost of my battle scars.  I'll never cave in, won't question or pause.  I'll climb to the ledge, jump off the edge, and rewrite the odds.  And dare to dream."

I knew the paths I was going to run, knew it was going to be hard.  I had trained and worked and stressed and worried about this run for two years.  I have never been a runner, never wanted to be a runner, never thought I could do something like this.  I had to get over the fact that I am the slowest of the six in Van 1.  My mind was not kind to me for a very long time about that fact.  But I pushed through, I screamed at that voice that told me I shouldn't want, couldn't do it, wouldn't succeed.  I rewrote the negative odds I'd given myself, as well as the odds that I wouldn't pass anyone.  And at the end of each run, I literally made my mark on the side of that Van in pride.  I dared to dream, and I DID!!!

Our LAST Major Exchange.  Van 1 coming in for the last time, Van 2 starting for their last time.

11 of those kills are mine.  3 from the first run, 7 from the second run, and 1 from my last run.  But I think my last one is my most proud kill.  A girl had passed me coming downhill at a fast pace.  But when it came time for us to tackle my steepest hill, I not only caught up to her, but I passed her!  I was dang proud!

After lunch at Jersey Mike's, we drove to the finish line to wait for Van 2 to finish their runs.  Once again, they were running in the heat of the day.  Brutal heat, as we were still on the tail-end of the heatwave that slammed the Northwest.  Because of this, we waited for about 5 hours, or so.

Ben and Jenny know how to pack and relax.  Russ and Ashlee shared stuff with us, thank goodness.  We've learned what we need and do not need for next time.

We crossed the finish line as a team at 5:00pm when the guy in the middle back finished his run.

Van 1

Yes, we were physically, mentally, and (me) emotionally exhausted, but WE. DID. IT!!

I think we'll do it again next year.  I want to compete against myself, to beat my times this year.  And then I think we'll be done.  Because, oh my gosh, that's insane!  12 people of all running backgrounds and ability ran 200ish miles in 16-hours-- NUTS!!!  I can't wait to do it again!

Ragnar 2021- Leg 2

 

I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I kept seeing this as 90.  I knew we were team 60, but I kept visually seeing it as 90.  I thought I was so funny with the placement of my bib.  Works out but clearly 60.  Except I'm FORTY!  I never thought I'd ever do anything like this, and certainly not my first time at age 40!  Just fun.

Ashlee's off on her most mentally difficult run.  She has to run on the sidewalk (with the ups and downs of all those driveways) where it is a gradual uphill for almost the entire run, not to mention all of the stoplights she has to deal with, during the hottest part of the day...

Poised and ready to go!

These guys always planned fun pass-offs!

And, he's off.  This one was a long one for Randy (6.6-miles), all on flat road.

This was my longest run at 4.0 miles, all flat-road.  It was starting to get really chilly, so I stole Randy's long sleeves.  I may have rolled them up at the first mile, but it did help keep me from freezing.  I was so proud of myself for 7 getting kills, including two MEN!  

The last song that came on, the one that took me to yet another surprise finish-line (there were lights and cars ahead, so I was looking there for my end so I was caught off guard to come around the bend and see Russ waiting!), was Photograph by Ed Sheeran.  I had added songs that remind me of Caden to my playlist, so when it came on after a random shuffle, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and energy, whispering, "Come running with me Caden," and finished in a time much faster than I thought I would ever run at that distance.  It was pretty special to run across that finish line with my boy in my mind and heart.  

Waiting for Russ to finish...

Waiting for Ben to finish, Jenny is taking the picture.  Pictured also are some of Van 2 as they get ready for their second Leg. 

Ben finished at midnight.  We drove 30-minutes back to Ashlee's house for all of 3 hours before waking to make it to the Major Exchange on Whidby Island for our LAST LEG!!!