Melissa's Road Race 2014

This has become one of my favourite traditions.

A weekend in the mountains with a little {albeit slightly painful} run, delightful right?

Yep, it doesn't get much more beautiful than this.

 Except maybe this.

We had the privilege of sharing a condo with this beautiful girl and her parents.

{Summer Recap 4 1/2: Welcome Olivia!}

 Our group was a little smaller this year.

Life events and such.

{Jenna was 2 1/2 months postpartum so definitely deserved a pass.}

 We ran into my friend Elena at the end of the race and I introduced her to my Dad.

She asked if he is the reason I run and, you know, I hadn't really thought much about it.

But of course he is.

I had immediate flashbacks in that moment to being 10 and jogging with Dad.

I hated it of course {I think that was right around the beginning of my sloth phase} and remember him being much more fit than I.

I am thankful now that he set that example for me since it obviously stuck.

I hope that each time the kids cheer us on it's sticking with them too.

 We finished off the day with a lot of relaxing, hydrating, eating and just a little booze.

{We've learned our lesson and do not overindulge after the race anymore.}

The next morning we were treated to a gang of elk just outside our Canmore condo.

{I know, I thought it was a herd too but nope, the correct term for a group of elk is a gang.  There we go learning again right?}

Then after a lazy morning with our own gang {see what I did there?} we headed out to the streets of Canmore.

 Managed to stop in one bookstore.

 Then it hit Jeff, we're not quite sure what but he was in no state to be out and about.

I'm glad we didn't push it because he was in bad shape by the time we got home.

In lieu of our little walk about town I took a bit of a scenic route home and let the family sleep while I stopped for pictures now and again.

 I just love this time of year and in the mountains it's something else.

I'm already looking forward to next year.

Melissa's 2013

Another fabulous run in the mountains this year.

We added a few to our group, including Jeff! 

{Were you all aware that hell froze over?}

Well, frozen we were since the temperature had dropped significantly compared to last year.

I had a Mama guilt moment as I watched children in snowsuits walk by my two dressed as shown below.

They're hearty though and, thanks to Gram and our friend Steve, took a trip to McDonald's to warm up during the run.

After cheering us on a little first and snapping this shot, that is.

{Thanks for the photos Mom.}

 There really isn't a better road race than Melissa's.

You start the run down the main street of the gorgeous mountain town of Banff.

 And what would a mountain run be without a mountain right?

We certainly got one, from about kilometers 2 to 4.5 actually.

The consolation being that after this you get a whole lot of downhill.

I was so glad to run with my Dad this year and hope to make it a tradition.

Has the pain of the mountain worn off enough to commit Dad?

 I was ecstatic with my time as I beat my personal goal by a whole minute.

As proud as I was of myself, it paled in comparison to my pride in this guy.

The husband ran 10 kilometres and lived to tell about it.

What seemed like an impossibility just a couple months ago was accomplished.

His stubbornness determination floored me but I really shouldn't be surprised.

Jeff can do anything he sets his mind to.

He has completely transformed himself physically in the last 7 months.

In doing so he has also vastly improved the life of our family.

His energy, capabilities and confidence have skyrocketed.

I think the main difference is that, though we've always known how great he is, he's actually starting to believe it.

Dear Running: I Hate You, I Love You

You make me sweat, you make me ache,

You burn off all the things I bake.

You frustrate me, you've made me weep,

You make me get a better sleep.

Through sweltering and stormy weather,

I love how runners stick together.

Like when I feel I'm gonna hurl,

A stranger yells "you got this, girl".

{Actual event from Tuesday.}

I'm headed off to Banff today,

A relaxing mountain getaway?

Ha ha ha, sounds great, but no.

Ready or not, 10k, here we go.

{Note:  I couldn't even stop myself from rhyming.
Apparently I have been reading too many toddler books.}