Happy Anniversary

As the weekend progressed it just continued to get better.  We spent the day driving around enjoying the beautiful scenery.  Watched a fun movie on the tiny little screen of the tablet, "The Best Marigold Hotel".  By Monday we were ready for a short run and head home...turns out we don't do a very good job of eating healthy while on the road and as a result we were feeling pretty sluggish and really needed to get some exercise, though to be honest, neither of us felt like it (all the more reason to do it).

So off we go with big plans of running a portion of the trail where the epic 25k Trail Run is taking place.  We did manage to run/hike about 3 miles in...the weather couldn't have been any better.  What a beautiful place to run and the view is amazing!  You can see the White Clouds and the valley and Challis.  It's gorgeous!  We saw two big herds of deer and thankfully had the dogs on leashes!  

We headed back down to the trail head which was quite a bit of downhill since the whole trip in had been uphill, yep, hill training definitely needs to be in my repertoire.  Turns out I need a bit of practice on the downhill.  I tripped and scuffed up my hand and got a few new bruises...another joy of Turning 50...lovely bruises😕.  Oh well, nothing broken so off we go. Now that I've been able to see a small portion of the trail its a bit less intimidating.

A quick stop in Stanley for a bite to eat and were on our way home.  The drive is so wonderful, every time we get to go to this part of the world, we want to stay...we're always eyeing properties that are for sale.  Of course the properties we like the most are quite expensive so it isn't likely we will ever actually own a property in that part of the world but it's sure fun to dream.

The next day is Tuesday and our anniversary. It's typically a day for a run with the weenie crew.  Jeff decided we needed to play hookie from our normal routine.  He carried a small pack and we had our own run to the top of the Evil Knievel jump site to watch the sunset. Turns out the view is quite spectacular from up there...he'd packed a couple beers and some cheese and crackers so we had a little treat and a beautiful sunset.  It was awesome...I'm a pretty lucky girl!
I didn't know quite how lucky though until we got home and proceeded to hang up my anniversary gift.  It's a beautiful quilt frame made of wood from my grandpa's barn, with both my grandpa's and my dad's brands burned into the frame.  It also has a handle mounted at the top which came from the same barn and he included a plaque at the top with my maiden name.  It's incredible and I can't believe he did this for me...I will treasure it always!

I know this doesn't really have anything to do with turning 50 but it's all part of the journey and that's really what it's about, the journey is the experience. 

Valentine's Day

Yesterday was Valentine's Day.  I got to spend it with the best Valentine ever and what an amazing day!

But let me catch you up first.  I had a mid-session assessment with the trainer on Friday. I was really hoping I'd be further along than I am but I guess it's a sign of my lack of motivation for the last couple of weeks. I haven't been doing a very good job job with my diet and exercise and it shows. 😕 All the more reason to get moving, literally.

So that brings us to Valentine's Day.

It started with a nice long soak in the hot tub, watching the sky begin to lighten, drinking coffee......ahhh.....what a great way to start the day.  I highly recommend it!

This was followed by a beautiful run through farm country.  What a gorgeous morning...sun coming up, birds singing, beautiful views of the mountains, you really can't beat it for your first 7 mile run......ever! Yes, I said 7 miles.  I ran 7 miles yesterday.  What!?!  I said I ran 7 miles yesterday, all at one time, without stopping!  It was awesome! and motivating.  Just what I needed to kick it in gear again and get back on track.

We had a great morning run followed by a delicious breakfast with friends.  Then home to pack for the rest of our weekend adventures.  But wait, what is this?  (I can't believe I didn't take a picture). There, in front of my car, is a new bike.  Well, new to me anyway.  My Valentine had bought me a new bike. I've never had a 'road bike'.  One more way to celebrate my 'Year of Turning 50'...Epic bike adventures!

This is just the first half of the first day of the weekend...I'm not saying every day is like this, but if you look around and pay attention, most days are pretty great.....just sayin'.

Ok, back to the weekend.  After admiring the bike, we got a few things thrown in the car, loaded up the dogs and headed for the mountains.  We're going to go check out the area where the epic trail run is happening in June.  The drive takes us through some amazingly beautiful country.  The Sawtooth mountains in central Idaho are breathtaking and beautiful everytime!

The day started with a run at sunrise in beautiful farm country and ended with the sunset in beautiful mountains....and this is just day one.  

See what I mean...all you have to do is look for it.  I wonder why it takes so long to learn that?

So far, I love being 50! I'll let you in on a little secret...I'm not actually 50 yet...maybe that's why it's so easy to be optimistic about it.  I'll let you know when I get there.  

The beginning of my "Year of Turning 50"!

I can't even believe I will be 50 this year.  How did I get to this point?  It happened so quickly and I feel like I've missed so much...I really must not let that happen anymore!
So this is the start of what I've decided to make an EPIC year, my 50th.  I think I can make this my best year ever,so far, and share it with you.

I haven't ever done this before so hopefully you'll forgive me as I learn how to do this...maybe by the end of this, my 50th year, I'll have it figured out?!?  I guess we'll see.

For those of you that know me, you know I am fortunate to have an amazing support system.  My husband is at the top of that heap (more on him later), some incredibly motivating family members and many many friends who fit into that bucket as well.

I'm a bit of a procrastinator, therefore my blog is starting in February rather than January. I've been thinking about doing this for a while but it took me to now to get started. 😞

The basic plan is to get fit, be healthy, have epic adventures and generally enjoy life.  In other words, finally take charge of my life!
I think I'm off to a pretty good start.

The idea all started on a late fall camping trip to one of our favorite locations near the Montana border.  It was one of those relaxing weekends where the weather cooperates and things just seem to click...suddenly it occurred to me that 50 was right around the corner.
How is that possible? I feel like I'm still 'growing up'. That was when I decided I would make my 50th year as epic as possible! (I really like the term 'epic' so you'll probably read that a lot).

In December I had signed up for a boot camp class at the college.  This was the third time I'd taken this same class in a year so I pretty much knew what I was getting myself into but it felt different this time.  For some reason this time I felt like I really 'got it'.  I mean I really suck at it and I'm always last in the class but this time I didn't care so much about that part as what it could do for me physically and as a result, mentally.  So when a fellow classmate suggested we hire the instructor of the boot camp class as a personal trainer and actually pay more for this torture, I actually agreed!  Seriously, who does that at 50?  Well OK, probably lots of people, but until now it wasn't anything I would have considered.  She quickly took me up on it, recruited two more guinea pigs, got us signed up, collected our money and we were committed!  Beginning the first Friday in January and every Friday after that for 12 weeks we had committed to (and paid for) our own personal fitness (read torture) journey.

About the same time that I signed up for the boot camp class, I also registered for a trail run.  My first ever!  I am so excited about this epic event and I hope it's just one of many in my 50th year.  The run isn't until June so I figure I have lots of time to get ready, right?!?  I guess that's why it was so easy to talk me into hiring a personal trainer...I knew I had this race looming.  It's a 25k (15.5 miles) trail run in some incredibly beautiful country in Idaho. As you know, Idaho has a lot of mountains, big ones!  Any trail run in Idaho is going to involve a lot of ascent probably a similar amount of descent a and very little time on flat ground...I have my work cut out for me!

I have a lot of smaller, but no less epic, adventures planned along the way.  For starters, hiring a personal trainer for the first time in my life was a pretty big leap....and you know what, I LOVE IT!  I'm pretty sure it has to do with hiring the right person and working with an amazing group of friends, but I really look forward to those Friday evening workout sessions and it's really disappointing if I have to miss one.

So January is done, one 12th of my year is over, I've just begun my journey and I already feel amazing.  Makes you wonder "why didn't I do this sooner?"  No time to dwell on the past, this is now and I'm embracing it!