Date-sy Weekend

With being in Madison last weekend, and a full week behind us. Jordan and I hadn't had much time together to just "be." It's amazing the toll that it takes when you realize that you haven't had any quality time(at least for me, shout out to my numero uno love language!) On Friday after my run, we walked to Fiesta Ranchera and then to the gas station to get dessert #wefancy It was amazing, low key, and one of my favorite dates in a long time.

With summer being almost over, we decided to head to Bloomington on Saturday to hike and explore Lake Lemon. After realizing that the 10 mile trail wasn't all that scenic, we called it after 5 miles...but it was still fun and beautiful out. After the hike, Apple Maps took us on a less than amazing trek to Lake Lemon. Basically, a lot of gravel roads...and then to the residential side of the lake, meaning that we couldn't even get to it. On our way, Jordan asked me what my last memory of Lake Lemon was. "I was about 15, and mom made us get out and hike, but I was 15 and didn't appreciate nature...so I hated the whole experience. Jordan replied, "So now you're your mom, and I'm you." That made me laugh so hard...because, it's true. 

On our way home we listened to a podcast that mentioned fried chicken. After that, all we wanted was The Eagle for dinner. So we went, and it was amazing. When someone asks us what we're waiting for when having kids...this is it. Days like this are amazing. I know that children are going to be amazing, but days filled with hiking, naps, fried chicken, and drinks that make your face numb...these days are amazing too. 

IRONMAN WI '17

While this weekend was all about celebrating Dani being an absolute beast, Britt gets a huge shoutout. Seriously, this girl. God truly blessed me with an amazing friend when He gave me Brittany. Friendship with her feels effortless, easy, and I'm ALWAYS laughing. Even though she would get to see her best friend Kaylee in Madison, I'm so grateful that she gave up her weekend to travel and fan-girl with me. Britt, my cheeks and abs still hurt from all of the laughing. Thanks for being amazing. 

The moments I will never forget:

• Driving through Eureka, Illinois.
• Listening to the saddest podcast possible...and then the most ridiculous.
• You offering me your sweatshirt, when you thought I wanted to wrap myself in towels. 
• You getting your first bee sting.
• Running all over the UW campus like crazy people.
• Being yelled at by IM volunteers at the crosswalks.
• Paying all of those ridiculous tolls, that were always to the RIGHT.
• ...and you sleeping all the way home, but always waking up to change my podcast.

Dani said that she knew immediately after finishing the Ironman last year, that she wanted to win next year. Fulfilling that goal meant giving up her pro-card, and changing a lot of her goals and intentions. Whether she knew it or not, Dani changed a lot this year. Her coaching with Shea changed how she coached me, and how she approached her training. It was subtle at first, but the stress that she felt to achieve eventually turned into a fire to win. Once she won in Muncie, there was nothing stopping her. There was a quiet confidence that made itself known, and she would talk about what it would be like to win in Madison. To me, the slowest runner in my age group, this sounded like crazy talk. To know that you're going to win an event...absolute insanity. But, on Sunday, I got to witness what it was like to watch Dani fulfill that vision. To be the first female to cross the finish...by 43 minutes. It was unreal. 

I got to meet up with Dani while she checked her bike and transition bags in. To me, it was the funniest part of the weekend. While there were a bunch of excited first-time athletes that were taking it all in, Dani just wanted out of there ASAP. If you know Dani, this is funny and so real. 

There are no real descriptions that would do the day justice, but know that Dani killed all of it. Killed her swim. Murdered the bike. Destroyed the run. The entire day was hers to win. While she knew she was ahead, I don't think she ever knew how far. Brittany and I were able to catch her several times during the run, which was the best part. Brittany is my only friend who is also an ex-cheerleader, so she doesn't even flinch when I start to scream like a crazy person. 

Watching Dani come down that red carpet was one of the times where I have been so happy for another person, like hearing Jordan's voice on the phone when he passed his NP boards or watching my SIL's hold their new babies. This was Dani's moment, and it filled me with real joy. There were real tears when she came out again to be interviewed, luckily Nick was there to say, "I'm crying too, but it's time to suck it up and go see her." I needed a man to stop me from going into a full fledged emotional moment. 

While watching such an athletic feat was one of the coolest things I have ever witnessed, the rest of the weekend was way better. Over and over, Brittany and I ran into people who knew Dani, either from Madison, Wausau, or races. All of them had amazing things to say about her. Hearing about her character was even better than watching her race. Dani, you're a rockstar, and I hope you know it. 

John Mayer

I'm so glad that we have awesome friends that don't care when we decide to get seats right by them for the exact same concert! Haha....but seriously! So glad we got to tag along. Drew and Bryn are so much fun, and I'm so happy that they live here now! The concert was a blast, the weather was perfect, and of course John Mayer was perfection. Even the set list was almost perfect(I really wanted his cover of XO, but it didn't happen.) 

I'm a lot more fun when I'm with Bryn...because...wine samples. 

When I'm With You

I LIKE TO BE WITH ME WHEN I'M WITH YOU

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

If I had a great big mansion
I'd rather live in a shot gun shack with you

If I drove a red farari
I'd rather ride in an oldsmobile with you

If I won a million dollars
I'd give it away to spend more time with you

If i had a million lovers
I would trade em all for just one more night with you

With you I can be myself
With you I don't have to be somebody else
It's like puttin on my favorite pair of shoes
I'd like to be with me, when I'm with you

If i owned the finest vineyard
I would rather sit and drink cheap wine with you

If i could live on the moon
I would rather stay in Tennessee with you

If i could sail across the ocean
The ocean would just be blue without you

If i could climb up Mount Everest
I would turn around and climb in bed with you

With you I can be myself
With you I don't have to be somebody else
It's like puttin on my favorite pair of shoes

If i could be like Albert Einstein
I'd rather just be dumb and be with you

If I could sing like Frank Sinatra
I would rather sit and talk to you

With you I can be myself
With you I don't have to be somebody else
It's like puttin on my favorite pair of shoes
I like to be with me, when I'm with you

GoGirl Weekend

The GoGirl Tri will always have a special place in my heart. This race is where all of it started-the race that was the goal of my first tri summer. Every step of the course holds a memory or a lesson from that first summer. It's emotional and so real. 

In ten years I won't care how I preformed, but I did get a 14 second PR(please hold your applause.) But there were some great moments that I want to remember. 

Sandy- Sandy ROCKED her first truly "open water swim." This was such an accomplishment for her. She literally learned to swim three years ago! So amazing. Sandy, you are an inspiration to me. I hope that I'm adventurous and awesome like you when I'm in my 50's. 

Dani- As I walked down the hill in the dark to packet pick up, someone whizzed by me on their bike at about 30 mph. "Jerk!" I thought...of course, it was Dani. She had decided that week that she was going to do the duathlon, but hadn't told me. Of course, she won...because she's Dani. It was fun to cheer her on during the race, and have her yell at me during the last quarter mile. Thankful for a friend and coach like her.

Jordan- My rock. My sherpa. My favorite person. It's so weird to think about my first tri and compare it to this year. The same morning in 2015 was full of nervous yelling, questions that we both didn't know the answers to, and just nerves. Now we have the morning routine so down that we don't even have to talk. I get up. Make my coffee and english muffin. He packs the car and gets the bike ready. It's a beautiful dance that smells like SPF50 and Body Glide. There is no way that I would still be doing triathlon(at least not enjoying it like I do) if it wasn't for Jordan.

Running up the dreaded hill. My biggest win is that I didn't have to stop and walk. I thought about it, but didn't have to!

Indians Game With The Bushnell Fam-Terry and Carole are always so sweet to find ways to get the whole family together. After GoGirl and a quick nap, we headed downtown for an Indian's game in our own suite. Dinner, drinks, and dessert were all waiting for us when we got there. It was a beautiful night-one of the prettiest of the summer. Logan, Kathryn, Megan, Jess, and Jerry joined us too. It was a great night, and an exciting game. So thankful for family. 

Sunday was spent watching the first Bears game of the season(it's going to be a looooong season,) and cuddling sweet babies. Ellie and Katie are both growing way to fast, and getting personalities of their own. It's awesome.