Color Run 2014

The Color Run - "The happiest 5k on the planet" - came to Seattle again this year, so we couldn't help but sign up. If you've been reading for a while, you know I decided to sign up last year to challenge myself... And boy did I. I'm a life-long athlete, but hate - I mean HATE - running just to run. So the idea of doing it for 3.1 miles was not only groan-inducing, but kind of terrifying.

But. I did it last year and again this year, running the whole thing. Woohoo!! Here are some pictures I snapped through the fog of color:

Nate post-race in the color haze.

We found a great spot for a photo op from above the party before we headed home:

I wore way too many layers - Not used to warmer temps yet!

 Once we got home we took some less-foggy snaps:

 

The aftermath was pretty... smurf-esque:

Through my shoes AND socks!

After headband removal...

Luckily we got most of it off, but my toes are still a little blue three days later.
Last but not least, I tried to capture some live action of the after-party again this year. It's no where near as good as last year's GoPro video (we decided not to deal with carrying it while running this year), but it captures the color party fun nonetheless:

Color Run coming to your area? Check here and SIGN UP. Walk it, run it. whatever. Go do it.

Random Round Up: Au Naturel

You guys, it's been woefully quiet around this corner of the internet the past week, and I apologize. But quiet here means crazy-headless-chicken-style-busy in my actual three dimensional life. Woof, what a week!

Workshops and extra activities on the job, and all kinds of fun stuff outside of it: Friends in town, spontaneous house guests, Mother's Day celebrations, and of course, The Color Run Sunday morning.

We'll talk about that stuff later, but for now, let's kick of the week with some natural peace and quiet:

Sunset over the water from my in-laws' backyard. Gorgeous.

The lilacs are here. Is there any better smelling flower?! Dreamy.

A gorgeous Saturday to pick up our Color Run race packets.

Ok, not actually a natural occurrence, but I always love this sculpture at Seattle Center.

The lawn is growing like a, well, weed. Can hardly keep up with the mowing!

Happy Monday - I'll try to be around more as I recover this week!

And P.S. The lawn no longer looks like a jungle. Three cheers for the hubs.

Random Round Up: Laid Back

Eighty degrees last week, 50's and pouring rain for the weekend. Isn't that just the way?! At least the flowers are thrilled.

Yum.

Lil' driving range time with the hubs.

New über-cheap nail polish art brush set (under $3 on Amazon)

And first round of playing with the brush set: Tie dye-esque!

After a 3.2 mile run Saturday morning - The Color Run is this coming weekend!

My week ahead is packed from now through Sunday night. Whew!
Have a good one, guys!

Random Round Up: The Little Things

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happiest. Like a visit from my dearest Emily this weekend, a cushy new kitchen rug, and watching the bumble bees have a hay day in our flowering back yard.

Bumble Butt

Loving the new rug* - Found at Target.

They're baaaack! Sweatshirt-stamping craft time with Em.

Outdoor mat upgrade.

Also, found this pre-color pic on The Color Run's photo site - We're already talking about next year's race!

My friend/co-worker Jessica, myself, and Nate

*In New Floor News: We found out we can't have anything rubber long-term on our new flooring as rubber stains urethane over time, so we've had to do a bit of a rug redux. It's weird and something we had no idea about prior to purchase, but in the grand scheme of things, not really a huge problem. I'm glad we know so we don't lift our kitchen or sliding glass door rug in 10 years time and find a big dark square! Consider this an FYI for all you laminate-owning peeps out there: It's info direct from the supplier.

Color Run Recap

I trained, I ran, I partied.
If The Color Run is headed to your city, get up early (ours sold out in 6 hours), slap down the money, and get ready for a good time, because it's completely worth it. And I've got the pictures to prove it!

Pre-race packet pickup on Saturday.

Color Run Seattle!

After-party explosions

...That left me looking like this by the time we got home.

So glad we had the GoPro to use!

Boom. Color.

Completely coated.

And, just to give you a better taste of the full experience: A GoPro video Nate took during the after party (it's only a minute and better with sound, turn it up!):

I'm pretty proud - I hate running, but with Nate's encouragement I trained and was able to run the whole thing AND keep up with a coworker of mine we ran with who's training for a half marathon. I call that decent!

Now what are you waiting for? Sign up!

Random Round Up: Hustle

It was a weekend on the move: Mother's Day with each mom, prep and completion of The Color Run, and squeezing in putting the house back together whenever possible.

Puggle in Profile

Adding to the Sperry stash.

A couple stellar spring days in a row.

What's a Friday night without a little extra long baseboard wrangling?

One of my fave deco-style buildings in Seattle Center.

I'll be back with a full recap of The Color Run in all it's glory later this week. Happy Monday!

Random Round Up: Macro Moments

First things first: YES, the floors are in!!! And I can't wait to show you more this week. For now, let's get up close and personal with a few weekend moments...

A little Sunday a.m. Starbucks cinnamon roll action.

Swiffer floor duster is my new BFF.

Painted baseboard in waiting.

Cheap, bright sunnies to wear during The Color Run... NEXT SUNDAY!

Lots of paint touch-ups = Very. Small. Brush.

I'll get some pictures together and get you the floor reveal asap! Stay tuned...

Random Round Up: New & Improved

I didn't take a ton of pics this week/end, so mixing it up a little for today's Round Up. Some of this info is newer then the rest, but all will hopefully improve us. Too cryptic? Let me break it down.

We've been suddenly more active outside of the house of late. Nate and I have both been athletes in some form our whole lives, and I've been jealous as he gets to play soccer in a men's league. Lucky for me, I finally broke into a volleyball team in a work-based league! It's not as high of a competition level as I'd ideally enjoy, but it's been great (here we are in week 7 and I've forgotten to mention it thus far) to get my hands on a ball and play with a team again.

image

I also finally pulled the trigger and signed up for my first 5k race. It's been a goal of mine for years, but since I loathe running, it took a lot for me to actually think about really, truly, doing it. Nate and I singed up for The Color Run in May, leaving me plenty of time to train. It was my second session of two-runs-per-week this last week, and I hit the two mile mark. It's not a lot, but it's a lot for me!

You can see if it's headed for your city here.

Last and most exciting: Nate has been accepted into a distance civil engineering program through the University of North Dakota! He won't start for about a year, due to timing of the web-based schedule, but it's a huge deal. I think he's so brave for committing to it and going all in. PROUD WIFE!!

Funnily enough my father-in-law graduated from the engineering program at UND as well (he attended in person), so we're keeping it in the family. Go Sioux!