Monday
afternoon marked two full weeks since we arrived here in Boulder. I've
posted a few pics here and there on social media despite wanting to
post 1000 and decided to use my blog for something other than running
for a change, well let's be honest it will include some running too but
anyway I decided to share our first couple weeks experiences and photos
here for anyone interested.
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| Got to spend a little time in Iowa with my BRF! |
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| LOTS of time in the car |
Two
Mondays, we pulled up to our house here in Boulder, exhausted and
gross. We had packed my forester to the gils as we totally
underestimated how much stuff we still had left to bring. Anyway we all
carried a few things in and as soon as we walked in, immediately I knew
we were home. Emir had decorated the whole house with our pictures,
knick knacks and arranged everything in all the rooms. It looked great
and the kids were so excited to walk into their home rather than a weird
house full of boxes.
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| Welcome home!!! |
Emir
went back outside to get a few things and came in calling for Niko and
Una saying he had something for them, it was a 7 year old boy from
across our circle that we now live on. Turns out he also has an 8 year
old brother and 2 year old sister. The kids have quickly become
inseparable riding bikes, going to the park, back and forth between our
houses, making trades. It's amazing how quickly kids bond and to have a
kid come running in our house within 5 minutes of arriving was just the
sign I needed to know "this is all going to be ok and work out."
I
spent the better part of the first week at Target and doing things
around the house. One of the things I LOVE about it here is how much
more freedom kids can have. We live on a circle now which is connected
to a couple other circles with no outlets so there is very little
traffic plus there's sidewalks EVERYWHERE here. There are also paths
(biking, running, walking) EVERYWHERE so the kids can go many places
without ever having to encounter a road. Therefore, the kids were
riding and running around with their new friends all week which allowed
me to get some things done, obviously still not as much as if they were
at school but enough.
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| path at the park |
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| running |
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| LOVE the views at the park |
Aside
from visiting Target, we have been enjoying the LARGE park that is less
than a mile away. It's beautiful there, gorgeous views, a lake and
obviously awesome playground stuff for the kids. A side note, currently
there are goats at the park which at first we didn't understand why
however we have since learned these are actually goats that are rescued
from all over the country and employed by the city of Boulder. They are
called Mutton Mowers. They also have a couple llamas that hang out
with the goats to protect them from the riffraff. I think it's so
great but so funny. The goats are basically hired as lawnmowers for the
city. I'm a little obsessed with them and may offer to go to the park
more often because of them ;-) hahahaha
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| GOATS |
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| Llamas! |
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| Bubbles!! I wish she could live at our house |
The
city of Boulder has an incredible recreational program. There's so
many programs and also awesome facilities. Last weekend we visited the
East Boulder Community Center. They have the usual workout equipment
but also a rock climbing wall and a kick ass pool. They have an 8 lane
lap pool as well as a fun pool with a gigantic slide, lazy river and
basketball net. Niko has decided to take an intro to rock climbing
class there to learn the basics and see if it's something he wants to
get into as they have some amazing programs here for that.
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| Longhorns |
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| running with the cows |
On
Saturday we went to the Liquid Mechanics 3rd anniversary party. It's
in one of the other towns nearby, Lafayette. We had a great time as
there was tons of kids and live music, oh and the beer was pretty darn
good too.
Obviously
I didn't go the whole first week without running, duh. And I probably
don't need to say it, but running here is AHHHHMAZING. I mean yes
there's been a couple times I just wanted to quit after a mile or two
which I'm sure is related to adjusting to the altitude and the fact that
we have been traveling for like a month straight but no matter how
shitty the run, it's still a million times better than any other run
I've had. The scenery, the trails, it's just all so awesome. And I
would be remiss if I didn't talk about the community. There's just
running groups and group runs galore. Plus everyone here runs even if
it's just a little bit each week. I've already been asked by a couple
neighbors to go on some short early morning and evening runs. I also
joined the Boulder MRTT (moms run this town) before we actually moved
here to start making a few connections. I even ran with my now friend
Aubrey a couple times this spring. Last week they posted a 15 mile run
for sunday morning and I had 18 so I figured it was a perfect chance to
meet more ladies from the group. Everyone was so welcoming and I had
the best time. Back in PA, it was just so hard to fit in group runs or
runs with a friend because they just didn't work with our schedule and
usually I have to drive somewhere to get to one. BMRTT is so perfect
since everyone is a mom and has a million things so even tho it sucks,
we all met at 5:30 so we could get our long run in and still be there
for all the kid activities of the day. Everyone is pretty much in the
same boat so they all help each other out to make sure the runs get
done. And icing on the cake, I've made like 10 new running friends in
about 2-3 hours of running together.
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| MRTT running friends |
Of
course now there is a whole new world of trail racing available to me,
all within such reasonable driving distances. I have actually already
signed up for my first Colorado race. It is one the new UA Mountain
running races. I'll be running the 50K at Copper Mountain on September
9th. It's only 1.5 hours away from Boulder and the race starts late
enough in the morning that it's an easy drive race morning. Since
Copper mountain is a huge resort mountain, there are tons of activities
year round so the family has decided to join me in on the fun. I know
it's going to be super tough since I haven't been training at altitude
long but I'm still excited to take part in my first Colorado Mountain
race.
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| passed by Copper Mountain on the way to Leadville |
While
we are on the topic of trail racing, the infamous Leadville 100 took
place this past weekend. We made a day trip out there since it's only 2
hours from Boulder. The town itself is so cute! We spent the morning
exploring town, the National Mining Musuem and of course The World's
Highest Craft Brewery ;-) The afternoon and evening we spent at Twin
Lakes which is where the aid station for miles 39 & 60 is. The
scenery there is beautiful and the aid station is situated right around a
few little stores so it was very convenient for those of us
spectating. I was impressed by the sheer number of people there
watching and cheering. It was a very fun atmosphere and we got to hang
out with some friends as well. I know it will be a giant undertaking if
I get in but being at the race definitely made me decide to enter the
Leadville lottery for 2018. I can't live so close to one of the best
100 milers and not do it! Plus we actually have way more crew and
pacers at our disposal here in Colorado than we did in PA. I know I
would have TONS of support if I get in. fingers crossed!!
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| spent some time with Jess while she crewed Tim |
And
since it took me so long to get back to writing this, the kids have
started school. Last Monday we went for an hour to meet the teachers.
We ended up meeting a bunch of other kids and their parents, some
actually live right here in our little neighborhood, hence how I ended
up with 7 kids in my house monday after the visit to school. Every year
Niko is always so nervous to start school even though he was in a small
school with all the same kids the last 3 years. This year was so
different. He was so excited. He said he loved that so many of the
kids in his class live so close and he can walk to their houses. He
also was super pumped that he was going to ride his bike to school.
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| school time! |
The
lifestyle is just so much different here. So relaxed, so outdoors, so
active and everyone is incredibly friendly and happy. I knew it was a
perfect fit for Emir and I but it's become very clear very fast that
it's a great fit for Niko as well. Not to say that it isn't for Una but
she is still so young that it can be difficult to get as good of a gage
on her. That said she seems to be enjoying herself and she's ridden
her little minnie mouse training wheel bike more in two weeks of being
here than the entire time she's owned that bike. And this past weekend,
Emir attached her little bike chariot to mine so now I can ride her to
school too. She LOVES it, giggling and all kinds of princess stuff in
there with her. And it's a great workout for me!
All
in all, even though it hasn't been long, I think it's pretty safe to
say, this was the right decision. We didn't make the choice to move
lightly. It was a better career opportunity for Emir but it wasn't
something we absolutely HAD to do. If it was only he and I, we would
have made the decision to move in two seconds as hello obviously we are
mountain loving, trail loving crazy ultra runner people but we had a lot
of other things to consider. It's not going to be easy to be away from
all our family and friends but now being here for this short time, I
know that this was where we were meant to be. We were trying to live a
Colorado lifestyle without the Colorado but we were given an amazing
opportunity to actually live that Colorado life here and I'm so glad we
took it.
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| family hike right outside our door |
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| Pearl Street |
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| Eclipe |
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| family hike at Chautauqua |
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| fun on pearl street |
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| view from our deck |
PS If anyone wants to join me at Copper Mountain, use the code BIBRAVE40 to save 40%
