Danskin Triathlon

Rachel finishing up the Danskin.


Nice Stride!


Finishing up the Danskin, about to begin my stride.

Heading out on the bike.

On Sunday I completed my third Triathlon of the season and it was my best so far. My goals were: swim under 19 min, bike higher than 17.3 mph, have better than an 11 minute mile, and have a better overall time than any other triathlon. I accomplished three of the four!!! I biked 17.7 mph, had a 10:15 minute mile, and posted my best time of 1:37:04 (14 seconds better than my last tri three weeks ago). I just missed my swim goal by 9 seconds. We are still throwing around the idea of doing another one in 3 weeks in Lake Geneva; I think that I will have to check out the course, because there is a hill on the run called 'Killer Hill.' We'll see!

1, 2, 3...

A biking trail Trav found right by our house.


Mara and Trav heading out on the trail.


Mara and Rachel at Illinois Beach State Park. We ventured here one Saturday while Trav was stuck in So. Ill/KY with work.

At the lake at the state park.

Mara counting to 10!!!!

I'm Your Hero!

For Daddy...

Mara and her smoothie mustache.

She has to eat with her kitty by her side.

On the road again...

The triathlon season has begun, with my first one being the Trek Women's Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie. I did this one last year and have done the course 4 times already, but am always nervous beforehand. So much so this year that I slept maybe 3 hours last night, even with Tylenol PM. Needless to say that the lack of sleep and poor morning nutrition did NOT help my race, but I am fine with the results; I have only been training consistently for 3 weeks.

Pre-race, in my new bike shorts! My what a difference they made!

Family pic before my wave went off!

My in my wetsuit coming out of the water, running to the bike. My best swim time by 50 seconds, but I felt exhausted!! Can't you tell from my face? HA HA!

Mara enjoying her breakfast while watching the bikers come and go.

On my way back to the transition after the 12 mile bike. Not my best, but my bike is sure a beauty! Even had someone tell me it was the 'prettiest' they had seen all day, out of over 1600 others!

On my way to the finish line from my 5K run, completing the triathlon. Good Times!

Dedication and fun times

Wanna share my saltine? I only licked it once!


HA HA HA...


Playing in the tent. Nothing like an uber happy child!! So loving that!

Dress up with Mommy's purse, my purse, mommy's necklaces (which are actually medals), mommy's belt and bracelets.

At church with Pastor Jerry praying over me when I was dedicated.

Family pic

Strike a pose....

VOGUE!

While I am working hard...

Someone else is hardly working:




The 16# Salmon Trav caught while out fishing on Lake Michigan this morning with some guys from New Zealand.

ZOOO!!!

On the train at the zoo for my company picnic.


Mara and her aunties Emily and Rachel.


Checking out the Macaque's.

On the carousel.

Virginia/DC Trip

Family pic at our starting point, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.


4 mile RT hike to Rapidan Camp, where Pres. and Mrs. Hoover spent a lot of time from 1928-1932.


Mara is wiped out on the way back.

Trav at the summit of Old Rag, the hardest climb he has done to date.

Old Rag...

Mara having a great time at a playground.

Daddy and Mara with the bear.

Mara with Arlington House in the background, JFK's burial site in the forefront.

Mara at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The nuk was how we kept her silent during the changing of the guard ceremony.

Washington Monument (duh!!).

White House

World War II Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Don't ask...

FDR Memorial, the best memorial in DC by far. Probably 'cause I like FDR so much; what a great social reformer!

Jefferson Memorial on the other side of the Tidal Basin, which was overflowing.

Jefferson Memorial.

2 Blackhawk heli's following the Presidential Helicopter, which I couldn't take a pic of cause it came up on us so quick!

This scripture was inside of the US National Holocaust Museum and I thought that it was very inspiring and full of determination. One of the best museums I have been to, outside of the National Underground Railroad Museum in Detroit.

Command module of either Apollo 11 or 13.

Unmaned aircraft. Super cool

Trav and Mara with the lunar module of Armstrong and Aldrin.

The Smithsonian Castle on the Mall.

The Old Post Office National Historic Monument. Offers up incredible views of the city if you can't get into the Washington Monument.

Said views from inside the bell tower of the post office. To the left of the DOJ, and right are some museums, just forgot which ones.

A Federal Building that I thought was very beautiful. Through the doors is the Woodrow Wilson Plaza where there are summer concerts. Very peaceful there, with few tourists.

Lunch break during a 6.5 mile RT hike.

View from the top of the hike. Mara wasn't impressed.

Another family pic.

Greetings, welcome to my tent!

I got an owie and I have only been here 10 minutes!