Crazy June

I'm so behind on my race updates and vacation updates! June has been crazy for me. This is the first Thursday since school let out that I'm not traveling.

Some quick hits:

June 5: Grapevine Triathlon - Paddle, Pedal, Pound the Pavement XI

This was the most fun I've ever had at a race. Total time: 1:21:17. 2nd Female 30-34, 5th Female Overall. It ended at a winery where we got free drinks and BBQ! It was hot on the run and they didn't do a good job with aid stations (AT ALL!) but still a lot of fun and I was happy with my effort.

June 10 - 17: Iberostar del Mar Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico! It was a little too close to call because we forgot we both needed updated passports but it all worked out perfect! 7 full days in Mexico doing nothing but enjoying each other, the sun, and the beach. Celebrated our 1 year anniversary at the resort's Japanese Restaurant. A relaxing vacation for me is based on how many books I read and I finished 3!

Not too many pictures because I only had my iphone and I left it in the safe most of the time. Here's a couple:

    In the shuttle on the way to the resort!

    My sweet husband, the shark!

    Beautiful pool, it was huge with the waterfall at the end.

    There was a small pool with jets inside the rock area.

    

    Our favorite pool area, "The quiet pool."

    There's a pool bar in the back left corner

    that kept us hydrated all day!

June 20: Summer Solstice Duathlon, White Rock Lake

2 mile run/9.3 mile bike/2 mile run

This was my first ever duathlon and I loved it! I'm really liking shorter races were I can go all out. I signed up for this even though it was just a couple days after we got back from Mexico to keep me motivated in Mexico. I was 1st in my age group 30-34, and 4th overall female by just 8 seconds! So much fun. My running club buddy Robin was there and I made a couple new friends while we waited for the awards. Really glad I did it, I've always been intimated by duathlon's because my best event is the swim and there's no swim! : )

June 24 - 27: Blackard Family Reunion Camp Cromberg, California (an hour north of Lake Tahoe) This was a great, much needed trip. The last time the family got together was in 1995. Since I didn't come along until '98, I had never met anyone!! Most people stayed in cabins, Evan's parents in their RV, and us in our tent. We went on an epic hike, played 5 games of Settlers of Catan, at least 100 games of H-O-R-S-E (or pig, lobster, ox), watched the final USA World Cup game, and ate delicious food. It was really sentimental for Evan and I being in the Tahoe area. We lived in South Lake Tahoe in 2002-2003 and loved every minute of it. We're ready to get back during the winter so we can tear up Heavenly Ski Resort like we used to!!

    Family picture on the last day

    Before the hike

June 30 - July 5: Backpacking trip to New Mexico's highest peak, Mt. Wheeler. Great pictures from dad, this one deserves it's own post!

Every trip was incredible, but I'm really glad to be home for a while. (5.5 weeks) I've got some serious training to do to get ready for TransRockies. We leave August 19!