Perfect { Summer } Weekend - Bend, OR

Last spring/summer my destination of choice was Lake Chelan...this year it's Bend, Oregon - I love this place and can't get enough of it. If the City of Bend is looking for a spokesperson, other than Matthew Fox, I'd love to submit my application. With so much love for this city and the people that live there, how could I resist running a half marathon in Sunriver, with one of my best friends? I couldn't...so we did it!

Few things about this half-marathon that was different than any of my previous races...

1) Training for a half (at least for me) requires a bit more than running a five miler here and there and taking an entire week OFF from running the week before the race.

2) Practice what you preach - NEVER and I mean NEVER wear something to a race that you've haven't run in before. I tell most running friends this and wish so badly that I had taken my own advice. I bought a new sports bra at the Nike outlet in Bend the night before and thought I was going to suffocate from how tight it was. Immediately after crossing the finish line, that thing came right off and most likely will never be put back on.

3) Running in the Seattle area at 300 - 500 ft elevation is COMPLETELY different than running in the high desert at 4,000 ft - WOW! I was perfect until about mile 8 and then the altitude hit me like a ton of bricks - tight lungs (way.too.small.sports.bra.did.not.help), headache, nauseous, etc. I hate excuses, but this was my run for that.

Megs and I had hoped to finish the race together, but for the first time ever I had to stop and walk so I told her to go ahead - she was on FIRE and I didn't want to hold her back anymore than I already had. The course was the most beautiful and flattest I've ever run and I will definitely be back to do it again. Another plus side - there were only 1,600 runners in the half and 250 - 300 in the full! I highly recommend this race if you're looking for something with less crowde. Congratulations to all of my friends that ran the Rock N Roll races this past Saturday - we were talking about you and cheering you on from Sunriver - Spry and Becki (each of their first - they did AWESOME), Karli, Brad, and Brooke (I would have traded you my sports bra for your cabbage).

Steve and I drove down Friday morning and had the best weekend ever (to date) in Bend. On Friday, we picked up our packets, ran errands, carbo-loaded on a an excellent pasta dinner and Greek salad, enjoyed some beers on the deck and relaxed. Saturday, we ran the half, considered going to a bar to watch the World Cup, but decided against the crowds and hung out at home instead. We love spending as much time as possible with Miles and Ava so we figured staying home and playing the yard would be easier than hanging out in a bar. That afternoon, Steve and I ran out and surprised Ava with a slip and slide and a tutu bathing suit - we can't help but spoil these two kids when we're with them. That night, Galen and Ava had a party to go to so me, Steve, Megs and Miles went and walked around downtown to check out the Bite of Bend, ate a delicious Thai dinner and of course...drank some more beers. Sunday morning, Steve and Miles got their first summer buzz cuts...courtesy of their barber, Galen. On our way out of town, we had a photoshoot some of Megs and Galen's friends and then headed out for our long and gorgeous drive home.

The highlight of the car ride home was stopping in Longview and meeting our friends, Lindsay and Ryan's, newborn baby boy, Gunnar - isn't he precious?? He was born on Father's Day (2 weeks early!) and currently weighs 5 lbs 9 oz. He is the tiniest baby I've ever held and already looks exactly like his daddy. Congratulations Linds and Ryan!