24-hour date to Alamosa

Ben was pretty bummed that I couldn't do the Black Canyon Triathlon with him this year. I mean I was, too - but I also got a trip to Oregon instead and so my loss was a little softened. :) But the Black Canyon Tri is part of 4-series race and there was one more for the season - the Splashland Triathlon in Alamosa, Colorado. Alamosa is a small town in the Southeastern part of the state - near the Great Sand Dunes. So I suggested to Ben we go and do that triathlon together and he was totally on-board.

This triathlon is unique in that it's backwards - you run, bike, and swim. Weird. Ben and I did a small practice backward tri the week before and it was different for sure. Of course your run felt stronger, but the bike was a bit harder because your legs have already done some work. Then it was interesting because for the swim, your triceps were already exhausted. Who knew how much strain biking was on the triceps!? Also, the swim was in this "hot springs" pool - Splashland.

Anyways, we got a hotel for Friday night and the plan was to leave around 4:30 - it's a 4-hour drive from our home. But life happened and sort of fell apart . . . Emmy was taking the Flex to a PT appointment as I got home from work. However, the Flex just completely died in the driveway. Emmy was worried about the Flex and I was worried about her missing her PT appointment (it was her first one and I didn't want to pay for it if she didn't make it, ha). But we finally got a hold of Jonas and he came home and got Emmy and dropped her off - late - for her appointment. Jonas looked at the Flex and couldn't figure out the problem.... 

We had to wait to pick up Emmy from her appointment (and the PT talked to me forever!) and then as we got home, Emmy - who was beyond bummed that the Flex (the car she gets to use) wasn't working, told us that among the many weekend plans ruined by the broken-down Flex, one was that she didn't have her costume for the cross-country fun-run costume race the next morning. You know, the one I had asked her about on Monday and if she had her costume figured out, etc. - to which Emmy replied, "It's only Monday mom!" In a not-terribly-friendly tone . . . Sigh. So then I had to run to Walmart and find a Woody from Toy Story costume. Luckily there were two in the store - a men's XL or a boy's M. Boys M = size/age 8-10. Oh well, I knew Emmy would be able to pull it off - and she did and was, as I called her, a "sexy Woody." Haha. Pics of her on a different post . . . 

Then we had to drop Emmy off at the football game - and finally Ben and I were on our way at 6:30pm. Oh well. We had a nice drive, but didn't see much of it because it was dark by the time we got to where we've never really driven before.

Race morning started out cold! Like in the mid-20s cold. Which is cold for a bike ride! I knew the run would be totally fine and the outdoor hot springs of course would be, too. But I was a bit worried for the bike. Ben and I checked in and got ourselves ready and tried to warm up a bit. 

Then it was on . . . and the run was great. It was pretty scenic and I felt good and that I was pushing it at my max. Ben came in 4th. I was the 2nd woman. I could have been 1st . . . This girl and I ran the whole thing practically together - sometimes I was a step or two ahead and sometimes she was. But right close to the finish we had to funnel down to single-file and I let her ahead. So she beat me by like 1/2 a second. So that was kind of awesome. She was also 17 years old. . . 

Then the bike was fine. I wasn't cold at all. It was again pretty. I got passed by a few and so that was kind of a bummer. I saw Ben coming back as it was an out-and-back route and he was looking good at third position! 

The swim was a bit different. It was 800 yards. Not bad. But the lengths were 50 yards - as opposed to the 25-lengths of most pools. I had never swam a 50 length and so it was just different. It was serpentine style, which I hate. I got bonked pretty good on the head once. I was only passed once, though, which was shocking because I am so slow. One end of the pool was 3 feet deep and didn't have a wall to push off of, so you kind of just walked over to the next lane and then began to swim again. A bit weird and I think it slowed me down, but not a big deal. I didn't love the warm water. Actually, the warm water wasn't awful, but there were these jets that pushed out hot water and I hated that. My body was producing enough heat and I didn't love the extra. But I finally finished and all was well.

Ben ended up taking 3rd place overall and 1st place in his division - go Ben!! He did awesome. I ended up 3rd place overall female and was super happy with that! I got 2nd in my division, which was dumb because there were only two of us, ha. Anyways, it was super fun and we were both happy with how we did.

One of Ben's best-friends from Littleton, Dave Tandberg, lives in Alamosa and is the president of the small college there - Adams State. Dave and his wife Darren actually came to Splashland and got to see Ben and I getting our medals. Nice, ha! We then spent the rest of the afternoon with them. We went over to their awesome "president's home" where presidents of the college have been living since the 1930s, which was when it was built. It was such a unique and awesome home! We got to take a tour of the small but beautiful campus and even got to see Dave's office and got some Adams State merch as well. :) 

We walked back to Dave's house and people changed to get ready for the football game. When then walked back to campus and made our way over to the stadium. On our way, there was a tour being given to prospective high school students (lacrosse, I think) and Dave "had" to give a speech. It was awesome seeing Dave in his element as president and so fun for Ben to see and hear his speech. It was perfect. We got to watch the game in the president's box and that was super cool. We even got a free, catered lunch out of it. On our way out, Dave took us on to the field and we watched a few plays there before half-time begun and we left. 

It was a really great 24-hour date and maybe the Splashland Triathlon will become a new yearly tradition!

Pre-race and a bit cold. And a bit nervous. And a bit excited.

After race and a bit warmer (but just a bit). No longer nervous nor excited. But a bit happy with our results and especially with being done. Ha.

Ben's awesome results. 4th in the run, 3rd in the bike, and 19th in the swim. Again, 3rd overall.

My results: 13th overall run (but 2nd female), 18th bike (3rd in female), and 37th in swim (so slow!). 16th overall with 3rd overall female.

Ben eating his lunch in the president's box. Such a fun time!

Dave and Ben out on the field.

Me, Ben, Dave, Darren, and their youngest daughter Kye.

Leaving Alamosa - that's the President's house in the background. It was soooo cool.

Film

Miles and his friend Aiden bought some old camera at an antique store on the Front Range over the summer. Miles took two rolls of pictures and then tasked me with getting them developed. It took me long enough (and cost about $40 for the two rolls), but I finally the scans. They are fun and just look like vintage pictures (especially a picture of Miles)! Miles had no clue if they would turn out at all. But most of them did and they are super fun. Maybe Grandpa Max will have some tips for Miles and his photography hobby. :)

Here are some of my favorites:

From his second roll, which was mostly of our trip to Yellowstone:

The inside of the Pontiac Chieftain. 

Love this picture - but sad it's a bit dark . . . 

Pretty wildflowers on our hike in Yellowstone.

Love Yellowstone.

Miles atop the Fire Tower in Mack's Inn.

Lake Yellowstone hotel.

Our glorious hike to Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone (or should I say Yellowflowers. . . Hehe).

Not sure exactly where this was taken but it's pretty! Somewhere in Yellowstone. I am guessing it's the path to Lone Star Geyser.

Cool bus thing at the Old Faithful Lodge.

Grand Prismatic - always stunning.

Miles put this on timer - we are at Imperial Geyser. As soon as this was taken Lucy asked, "Can I see it?" Well now you can (months later) . . . :)

Seagull at Big Springs. They sound like crying babies or toddlers. 

Cute chipmunk at Mystic Falls.

Miles and his friends the last few days before he left for his mission. Jeremiah, Emma, and Jentel.

Okay, here are some pics from his first roll - mostly taken at car shows he visited during the summer working in the Front Range area.

Home Sweet Mack's Inn Home.

The Fire Tower.

I want to go back.

Isn't this such a classic and vintage-looking photo!? It and Miles look like they came straight out of the late 70s. I love it so much.

Miles' Mini and its' Free Bacon sticker.

Lovely Grandma Diana in her home.

One of many cars Miles saw and took pictures of.

A dark, but still handsome, Grandpa Max in his home.

More cool cars . . . 

The Bugarins do love them some monster rallies and so Miles joined them on a couple. Funny.

I am not sure where this was taken, but I think it's a great photo.

The gorgeous Fort Collins temple.

Aiden. A stud of a man.

Best buds always. Kind of like BFFs, but in a more manly way. :)

Awesome and fun pictures!

Jonas Army Dump

I received a digital file of all the photos taken from Jonas' unit during all of basic training. I went through thousands of photos and these are the ones I found with Jonas in them. :) Still worth it!

Missionary Miles Photo Dump

 Miles sends a bunch of photos via Facebook messenger. I don't know the backstory of a lot of the pictures, but I still want to post them here for his sake. So I am just going to dump the pictures I've gotten from him - a few from his last days at the MTC and then the rest from his current area in the East Palo Alto area of the San Jose, California mission. He seems to be doing well and is happy - but still anxious to get to Mexico!

Always good to see that Miles is still Miles. :)