Race report: Lake Sammamish cyclocross race #1

I did a couple cyclocross races two years ago and then fell out of practice (too busy, too many excuses).  This year I decided to try to tackle as many as possible in the season, and today was day 1.  For those who don't know, cyclocross is a crazy fun bike race where you ride on dirt trails (sometimes pavement), go over stairs, hurdles, and more (today beach).  I did the beginning women's race this morning and the boys did the kids race.  All in, awesome. 

The race today was at Lake Sammamish right on the beach.  For the adults course (mine) we did laps starting on pavement, then onto the beach 3 times, up a stair, over many many tree roots and through the dirt and mud, then going again. 

The beginning women's race was funny because it started with kids 7 and up ... which meant I was literally racing the boys' classmates.  The race started in waves with the mid-aged kids, then the beginners like me, then younger kids.  Some of the 10s to teens were amazingly good (like whipping by me  and shouting "good job." 

After my race I found the boys who had been warming up around in the field.  We got them lined up for the kids race and they hauled.  The kids race even had a hurdle which was hilarious (Wilson went over backwards, Cole was good at sprinting over it, some kids stopped completely).  At the end of the race the boys were ready for more wanting 1) new bikes, and 2) to be in the big kid/grown up race. 

 Also post race, Wilson found one of his classmates, Fiona, who is his "girlfriend."  Literally, Wilson calls her his GF, she calls him her BF, and her parents introduced themselves talking about how much Fiona talks about Wilson (the banter is mutual).  All of the kids played on a playground in the middle of the course for a good hour before starting to get grouchy at which point we piled them asap into cars to head home.

All in, an awesome day.  I'm ready to go again!

Race report: Dash Point trail half marathon

It has been WAY too long and I finally got back on the trails for a race - and this was an awesome race! This weekend I ran the Dash Point trail half marathon and loved almost every second.

The race started at 9am which was great because it meant I could get up at a normal time with the boys, enjoy a coffee, then hit the road. It was a small field - less than 200 people all in for the 10k and half. Trail races are typically small, but I think peoples' personality and cheering at the start and finish line more than make up for it. The race started with the entire first mile up hill with a couple flights of stairs and bridges thrown in to ensure very tired legs before going too much further. The half marathon was a double lollipop with a side lollipop thrown in (kind of like an infinity sign on a stick). It was a dry morning and the trail was fairly dry which was great. The race was almost entirely covered by trees, too - also nice.

Here are a couple of the highlights / lowlights of my race: at mile 3 I took a wrong turn, when turning back I jacked my ankle (not awesome since last year I sprained it terribly), a couple cuss words later and I was fine; at mile 6 near the turning point, a bug jammed itself up my nose - a BIG bug; at mile 10 I was going down hill and hit a root funny and fell, like a pancake, on my face, sprawled and winded. The fall was the big ugh moment of the race, but I successfully shook it off and made it to the finish to nab 3rd female. The funniest part of the race was running the final loop of the lollipop and seeing the 1st place woman - for some reason when she saw me she said "oh! It's you!" I have no idea who she is/was so this was entertaining - and now I'm feeling bad that I'm so terrible with faces and names. Felt great getting back on the trails. Now I'm ready for more!!

Here's the start with the small half field lined up:

 

And the finish with the tiniest glob of mud on my face:

Kids art room

I took the week off a couple weeks ago to catch my breath. During the week, I cleaned the house, got rid of a BUNCH of old stuff that just keeps moving with us but that we don't use, and made an art studio for the boys' room. Here's the final inspiration board (all in I only paid a couple hundred as I searched high and low in consignment stores and stores having sales for the best deals).

Kids art room by marathonmom featuring a mid century modern sofa

Dot Bo black chalk / Jcp vinyl wall art / Joybird Furniture mid century modern sofa / 9 drawer dresser / Melissa and Doug Personalized Deluxe Wooden Standing Art Easel - Kids...

Here was the alternate I was looking at. But I decided this + kids wasn't awesome, it wasn't as cozy, and there was just too much animal!

Modern option 2 by marathonmom featuring Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel rug / Slippin Southern rustic chalkboard / Drawer furniture / Swan chair, $16,585 / Amara cow hide ottoman

What to Wear: 1-day trip

What to Wear: 1-day trip by marathonmom featuring jersey t shirts

Helmut Lang jersey t shirt / Chloé v neck sweater / Theory / Miu miu shoes

Where did August go?!

I cannot believe the most fun month of summer flew by!  It's been a flurry - home improvements:

Kitchen write-up to come:

Fancy hotel for a night (thank you hotels.com) - to escape the kitchen redo :) :

Park birthday parties:















Minecraft birthday:


Oodalally - I'm almost excited the shorter days are approaching.  Some time to catch our breathe!  Wait ... 1st grade ... oh.

From digital to downhilling

Last week was a very bipolar week - I spent two days at VidCon in LA where social media stars and fans met and mingled.  Here's a sneak peak:


From VidCon I went to Mammoth to meet up with Matty, the boys, and the extended Taylor clan for a terrific vacation in the mountains. 

The extended clan played and played and played - Gabe led the charge in pretending it was winter and doing some sledding on the street:

 The boys climbed everything and I tried to keep up - we all felt like mighty mice on top of the rocks:

 The boys met with new cousin Finley.  They were less than excited proclaiming "everyone wants to play with him more than us," but we're sure they'll warm up.  Cole said he wants to teach Fin to ride a bike, and Wilson is certain he'll teach Fin to go potty in the potty.

 We also spent a full day downhill biking while the boys played at the Mammoth center.  All I can say is AWESOME and I can't wait to go again. 

Building and making

The time has finally come - we are going to update our kitchen.  Our Ikea order is in and filled, our contractor will call us back ... someday ... I hope ... and the house is getting cleaned up.  The boys (Matt, Cole, and Wilson) all cleaned out the garage to make way for boxes and boxes of Ikea goods:

They definitely earned cookies from all the work, and Cole and Wilson eagerly waited chocolate chip cookies while hugging/wrestling in the kitchen (fine line).