Hello, Lover…

About a year ago I became familiar with a Colorado Snowboard company named VENTURE Snowboards. There are a few Colorado based ski and snowboard companies but none like this one. All the other companies outsource some part of their operations overseas. Not Venture. They are designed, built, created and tested in Colorado, Southern Colorado to be specific, Silverton Colorado to be more specific. Even the wood that is used is grown in Colorado. Being fiercely proud of my Colorado heritage, this made me really like this company. I fell in love with the company when I learned how environmentally conscious they were, they run their entire operation off wind energy, recycle everything they can, avoid toxic chemicals unless absolutely necessary, only use soy based inks in their graphics, which they keep to a minimum. Even the top of the board is petex coated hemp. Ventures philosophy was to create quality over quantity, and in an environmentally friendly manner. By doing this they only create ~300 boards a year and the price tag can be a little more steep than the mass produced competition. This is why I have admired these boards from a far. Until now…
This weekend while strolling through Salida, E and I went into a local bicycle and snowboard shop. There she was, my size, last years model and on sale. A really great sale.
Saturday was my inaugural ride on my new Venture Zephyr Snowboard. All I can say is I am really, really in love now…

Wrongly Convicted?

Today Tim Masters has been released from prison on his life sentence for the murder of Peggy Hettrick almost 21 years ago.
You can read the story here

This murder happened in my hometown, on the eve of my 15th birthday. The body was discovered in a field blocks from my fathers house on the morning of my birthday. It was the first murder I remember really paying attention too. It hit close to home, the main suspect in the case was a boy I went to school with. I did not know him, I only knew of him. I guess like everyone else I had always thought him to be guilty. By our justice system we are supposed to believe people are innocent until proven guilty. I was 15, I was believing all the rumors I heard. Today I am questioning myself because I guess I still remember those rumors, all the talk, the friend of my sister, whose uncle was on the police force, that knew someone that saw… you get the idea. I am questioning also the media. What more of this story does the public not know? I can’t help but wonder…

13.1

I did it! I completed my first half-marathon.
I did it in 2:46 and would I do it again? oh hell yes!
E completed his marathon in 4:14.
Have either of us walked normally since crossing the finish line? NOPE!!!

We spent a total of 26 hours in Phoenix, here is what we did (in order):
Drove into town
Went to the expo, got our bib's, shirts, shwag etc
drove to the start and finish lines to get an idea what we were doing the next day (started questioning what we got ourselves into and our sanity)
Ate a deliciouse Olive Garden dinner with LOTS of pasta (YUM!) and MORE Pasta
Went to sleep
Woke up at 4:30am
Ate a banana, yogurt and dry bagel
Got on bus to the start line
Stood around and shivered until the sun came up
Marathon took off at 7:40am
I stretched, shivered, stretched, stood under a heat lamp and got ready for my race
Half marathon start gun went off at 8:30am
Mooooved up to the start line with 20,000 of my newest friends
Crossed the start line at 9:10am
Ran,
Ran,
Ran some more...
add a little walking in here too
Crossed the finish line
Stumbled around for a minute.
Got my medal
Ate some salty food, rested...
walked back to the van, changed out of sweaty clothes
Caught up with E
Took a short nap
Ate a pizza
drove home (with a short detour in Santa Fe to Trader Joes to replenish Cheapo wine stash)

The only thing I would do differently next time is schedule a massage right after the race, spend the evening after the race soaking in a tub, and resting instead of driving.

Getting Ready to Bail

As soon as I can I am leaving the office and E and I are off to Arizona!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

2008!

Is here and I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Just survived the holidays and have been relishing in the lovely Colorado snow filled weekends.

New Years Eve, E and I spent with Miss Bick and her boyfriend (Ben) in Monarch. This past weekend in celebration of E’s birthday, we invaded the parents Steamboat condo with our friends Matt (Twowheeledworld) and Jess. The snow gods smiled upon us again and we had an awesome time. Part of the weekend we tried to get lost on Rabbit Ears Pass with snowshoes and the other part we spent riding knee deep powder on Mt. Werner.

This coming weekend, my first half marathon and E’s first full marathon in Pheonix. Wish us luck!!!