2009 year in review!

As I started to remember 2009, I was thinking 'it wasn't a busy year'; however when I started reviewing my photos and writing this summary, I realized the year was just fulfilling as previous years. There were many trips and lots of new memories with friends.

JANUARY

In January, we took our annual hut trip with 16 friends. This year, the trip was at the Peter Estin Hut in the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association. The trip was wonderful even though I forgot all the 4lbs of bacon. (No, I'm not kidding.) And, once again, the weather was splendid with lots of sunshine.

FEBRUARY
This month was a quiet month except a few happy hours with friends and a local high school playoff game, which put me on the each of my seat. There was also my birthday, which I celebrated with friends.

MARCH
In the month of March, life was started to come alive again with the time change and spring.

During the first week, we took a ski trip to Aspen with Gary and Cindy. We skied all 4 resorts even though the weather was very spring-like.

I also had a very nice dinner out with my best girlfriends.

By the middle of month, we started training for Ironman. I started out very motivated and then April came.

APRIL
The month of April bought us 20" of snow. This is all fine but I was ready for spring!

MAY
The first weekend in May, we went to Fruita for 18 hours of Fruita. It's Colorado's only 18-hour team mountain bike race. All I can say, is this race is fun! It was the first time, I have ever ridden my mountain bike with lights, ridden a bike at 3:30am, got rained on and didn't really care. I would highly recommend this race.

In the middle of May, I went for a ride with Sarah in Golden. This might not seem like a special important event but for me it was a big deal because I actually left the bubble of Boulder to go riding. I had a great time riding up Lookout Mountain, around Red Rocks and Golden!

And, by now, I was in ironman triathlon training full force.

JUNE
The first weekend in June bought us snow. I remember this because we meet our team in town for ride to Ward. From our house, to town, to Ward and back is about 60 miles. I was so excited about this ride because it was going to be my first long ride of the season. The ride up to Ward was just fine. However, once I got to Ward, I looked up and what did I see - white snowflakes. I chuckled to myself, put on my jacket and proceeded to ride down the mountain as fast but as carefully as I could. I made it down to find Michael waiting for me. I jumped on his wheel and away we went home! It took me about a day to warm up!

The following weekend was warm. We ran the Mesa Trail. We both ran it in record times and with no falls.

The last weekend in June, we went to Lubbock, TX to compete in the Buffalo Springs Half-Ironman. The highlight of the trip is my friend Melissa and I flew there. (We learned the difference between a non-stop and direct flight. Our direct flight from Denver to Lubbock Texas took 3 flights but we never got off the plane.) The race itself was good. It wasn't the best race for Michael or me but they were very strong races so we couldn't complain.

After I returned from TX, the following day, I meet my Mom and Jim in Cheyenne, WY. They were passing through the state on their vacation. Visiting the town and hanging out with my family was precious!

JULY
For the 4th of July, we took our annual trip to Crested Butte. It was a grand 5 days of vacation time! The only way I can describe the trip is 'adult- summer camp.' The days are filled with lots of mountain biking, hanging out with friends, poker night, parties, and just simple fun! We can't imagine our summer without a trip to Crested Butte every 4th of July.

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AUGUST
August wrapped up the season of training. At the end of the month, we took the trip to Penticon, Canada for Ironman. Michael and I both had great races in which we had PRs, Personal Records, however; we are both greedy and know we can go faster. Thus, the reason we are returning for the same race the same time next year.

After the race, we took a few days with friends to stay at a nice resort along Okanogan Lake Beach and to visit the wonderful wineries. My favorite was the Dirty Laundry.

SEPTEMBER
During the month of September, we did a few special things. We celebrated the end of the triathlon season with our friends on several different occasions: a celebration with FastForward with an end of the season dinner, a dinner at teammates house, and an IM celebration at teammates' house. Also, in the month of September, we celebrated Michael's Birthday - he ages up next year, along with me.

I also hiked Grays Peak with my friend Erica. I should note that we had planned this trip in July when we were in hardcore Ironman training. I should also note that when hiking a 14'er, there are many things one should be aware of: weather, blisters, altitude sickness, etc. However, I now have a new thing that people should be aware of: biting dogs...

For a girl's day, Melissa and I mountain biked from Heil to Hall, then had hamburgers and beer at Oscars Blues. Oh, what a wonderful girls day with awesome sunny weather.

OCTOBER
I really loved October. It was a quiet month that did not include training but lots of fun.

The first weekend in October, a group of friends rode the same trail - Heil to Hall - and had the same lunch as the last weekend in September. It was still great fun but not quite as warm. A cold front came through and really made the later half of the ride cold. There was a reason why it became cold. The first snowstorm of the year came that following weekend - Oct. 9-10. Yes, the snow and cold came early this year.
The weekend of the 16th brought us lots of fun. I hosted a girl’s poker night and Michael did his first open marathon. Michael had an awesome race but is not so anxious to sign up for another open marathon. I should also note that the weather was wonderful - low 80's all weekend.
The third weekend of the month brought my first annual girls' weekend in Estes Park. I say annual because there will be many more. A few of my girlfriends and I rented a house for the weekend to hang out, talk, eat and ride horses. It was an awesome trip.

NOVEMBER

The first weekend in November, I took a trip home to VA to see my family. It had been over a year since I last visited - way too long. The trip was absolutely wonderful. I spent quality time with each and every family member.

On my dad's 60th birthday, we spent the day just hanging out with each other and then having dinner with the whole family. I spent an afternoon at a park with my brother and his girls. I took a hike with my mom at the Peaks of Otter on a wonderful warm Saturday morning. And, last but not least, stayed up until 4:30am with my awesome sister-in-law.

Thanksgiving weekend was a busy one. I ran my first 5K in 1 1/2 years that morning. (25:50) and then we had dinner with some friends in Denver. That Friday, we went mountain biking at Heil. On Saturday night, I celebrated a friend's birthday and Thanksgiving once again. Sunday, I ran and walked the Mesa Trail with some fellow runners.

DECEMBER
The first weekend in December, we took our annual trip to Brainard Lake. A snowshoe into a cabin, a nice dinner with friends, a 'slumber-party' with friends, and then a cold hike back to the cars. The following weekend, I attended a holiday party and co-hosted a cookie party with Megan. The third weekend brought more holiday fun and a birthday party at the local bowling alley. I should note that I can't bowl but I did beat my score from last year.
On Christmas Eve, we took the day off from work and then had a very nice evening at The Cork with Michael's family. Later on that night, I chatted with my favorite cousin in Australia and talked with my brother on the phone - all while watching Santa on Norad. Christmas day was a quiet day. I made blueberry muffins - a favorite of mine - in the morning, we rode the bike trainers in the late morning and then went to his family's' open house that afternoon.
New Years Eve brought a lot of fun - cleaning of the basement, 2 naps, a ride on the bike trainer and a wonderful party.

And, I close with this quote - "Wishing all of you a fresh, bright 2010. Take nothing for granted - Be Positive - Love the ones around you - Be thankful for what you have and BE YOU."