Thursday:
Headed out to Denver on a 6am flight. Out of bed by 4:15 (rough wake up), felt like I didn't get any sleep. On the flight out couldn't fall asleep, I think the excitement of having to be responsible for 1 person (not 2 little people) for a few days had my brain confused and pleasantly surprised. It's amazing how just sitting by yourself doing nothing at all can be the greatest thing ever.
Arrived in Denver around 8:30am. In the car with Mike by 9am. Getting in that early really messes with your head. We were eating breakfast by 10am at a place called Turleys in Boulder, CO (http://www.turleysrestaurant.com/index.php). I highly recommend this place, up to race time I was following a 'minimal' meat diet and this menu had plenty of veggie options and all their meats are grassfed/organic/etc.
I told Mike that I wanted to cram as much stuff into this vacation as possible so directly after breakfast we hit up Flatirons for a hike. We climbed to "Royal Arch" and sitting at the top of the mountain it still didn't hit me that I was in CO. The hike did me some good considering I wasn't running that day, the hike was a nice replacement.
After the hike we headed to Denver for a little down time before dinner. At around 6pm I was 'zombified', Mike was wondering if I was going to make it out for sushi, jet-lag was setting in. Needless to say, I pulled through and we had a great sushi-fest at Fontanas (http://www.fontana-sushi.com/).
Headed out to Denver on a 6am flight. Out of bed by 4:15 (rough wake up), felt like I didn't get any sleep. On the flight out couldn't fall asleep, I think the excitement of having to be responsible for 1 person (not 2 little people) for a few days had my brain confused and pleasantly surprised. It's amazing how just sitting by yourself doing nothing at all can be the greatest thing ever.
Arrived in Denver around 8:30am. In the car with Mike by 9am. Getting in that early really messes with your head. We were eating breakfast by 10am at a place called Turleys in Boulder, CO (http://www.turleysrestaurant.com/index.php). I highly recommend this place, up to race time I was following a 'minimal' meat diet and this menu had plenty of veggie options and all their meats are grassfed/organic/etc.
I told Mike that I wanted to cram as much stuff into this vacation as possible so directly after breakfast we hit up Flatirons for a hike. We climbed to "Royal Arch" and sitting at the top of the mountain it still didn't hit me that I was in CO. The hike did me some good considering I wasn't running that day, the hike was a nice replacement.
After the hike we headed to Denver for a little down time before dinner. At around 6pm I was 'zombified', Mike was wondering if I was going to make it out for sushi, jet-lag was setting in. Needless to say, I pulled through and we had a great sushi-fest at Fontanas (http://www.fontana-sushi.com/).
Friday
We pulled out of Denver early to begin our journey to Moab, UT. Other than the 45 min drive through time at Einstein's for a bagel.
Lot's of driving and great scenery.
We stopped at Glenwood Springs to hike to Hanging Lake. Great hike, great view.
Arrive in Moab around 6pm, with just enough daylight to setup my tent. Eat some food, have a few drinks and it was time to hit the sleeping bag.
We pulled out of Denver early to begin our journey to Moab, UT. Other than the 45 min drive through time at Einstein's for a bagel.
Lot's of driving and great scenery.
We stopped at Glenwood Springs to hike to Hanging Lake. Great hike, great view.
Arrive in Moab around 6pm, with just enough daylight to setup my tent. Eat some food, have a few drinks and it was time to hit the sleeping bag.
Saturday:
The day starts with some famous Breakfast Burritos made by Red (my brother). One thing about camping with Mike is you know the food is going to be GOOD.
The hike on the agenda for the day was Delicate Arch. If you have ever seen a license plate from Utah, that's the Delicate Arch.
After our hike we hit MILTS for a burger and a milkshake (http://www.miltsstopandeat.com/). The wait was long but the food was worth it.
Saturday night was a quiet evening with the excitement of the race on everyone's mind.
The day starts with some famous Breakfast Burritos made by Red (my brother). One thing about camping with Mike is you know the food is going to be GOOD.
The hike on the agenda for the day was Delicate Arch. If you have ever seen a license plate from Utah, that's the Delicate Arch.
After our hike we hit MILTS for a burger and a milkshake (http://www.miltsstopandeat.com/). The wait was long but the food was worth it.
Saturday night was a quiet evening with the excitement of the race on everyone's mind.
Sunday:
Early start to the morning. Everyone who was racing was up by 5:45. The "Other Half" Marathon is a great race(http://www.moabhalfmarathon.com/otherhalf/index.cfm), mostly due to the small number of racers and the logistics. The race coordinators do a GREAT job with getting everyone to the begining of the race and all the post race festivities. We were at the 'loading area' and on a school bus to the start of the race before we knew it. Hanging out with all the other runners before the start of the race is always fun, the excitement, dj, and the drums.. The first 6 miles of the race was a nice pace, not to hot and no head wind. The last 7 was a different story all together, the sun was up which makes you realize you are running through the desert and a head wind was strong and consistent. But in the end, I finished, and didn't have to walk. But I missed the 2 hour mark by 33 seconds.. So I'll be signing up for yet another half..
We decided to stay in Moab the night after the race, which was a welcome idea. Usually we pile back into Mikes car and drive back to Denver after the race. We drove through the Arches (http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm) and pondered the idea of ancient alien civilizations. We hit up Zax (http://www.zaxmoab.com/ )for dinner and by the desert course I was dead to the world and the hotel bed was a welcome site.
Early start to the morning. Everyone who was racing was up by 5:45. The "Other Half" Marathon is a great race(http://www.moabhalfmarathon.com/otherhalf/index.cfm), mostly due to the small number of racers and the logistics. The race coordinators do a GREAT job with getting everyone to the begining of the race and all the post race festivities. We were at the 'loading area' and on a school bus to the start of the race before we knew it. Hanging out with all the other runners before the start of the race is always fun, the excitement, dj, and the drums.. The first 6 miles of the race was a nice pace, not to hot and no head wind. The last 7 was a different story all together, the sun was up which makes you realize you are running through the desert and a head wind was strong and consistent. But in the end, I finished, and didn't have to walk. But I missed the 2 hour mark by 33 seconds.. So I'll be signing up for yet another half..
We decided to stay in Moab the night after the race, which was a welcome idea. Usually we pile back into Mikes car and drive back to Denver after the race. We drove through the Arches (http://www.nps.gov/arch/index.htm) and pondered the idea of ancient alien civilizations. We hit up Zax (http://www.zaxmoab.com/ )for dinner and by the desert course I was dead to the world and the hotel bed was a welcome site.
Monday:
Time to head back to Denver, but first a few stops. First stop, a wine tasting at Grande River Vineyard. I had never done a wine tasting before but drinking at 10am and not feeling like a lush is ok in my book. Second stop was a random stop in Glenwood Springs, CO for lunch. I did a search on google for places to eat in Glenwood Springs and "The Pullman" had some of the highest recommendations of the bunch so we decided to try our luck. All I can say is if you are passing through Glenwood Springs, eat at "The Pullman" (http://www.thepullmangws.com/). It had been a while since I have been out to eat and not had to tell one of my kids to stop picking their nose or sit down, etc... So the change of pace was nice.. And the FOOD IS AWESOME!
We arrived back in Denver late afternoon. I helped Mike get his man cave fixed up and we hit up Fontanas for ANOTHER sushi dinner.
Time to head back to Denver, but first a few stops. First stop, a wine tasting at Grande River Vineyard. I had never done a wine tasting before but drinking at 10am and not feeling like a lush is ok in my book. Second stop was a random stop in Glenwood Springs, CO for lunch. I did a search on google for places to eat in Glenwood Springs and "The Pullman" had some of the highest recommendations of the bunch so we decided to try our luck. All I can say is if you are passing through Glenwood Springs, eat at "The Pullman" (http://www.thepullmangws.com/). It had been a while since I have been out to eat and not had to tell one of my kids to stop picking their nose or sit down, etc... So the change of pace was nice.. And the FOOD IS AWESOME!
We arrived back in Denver late afternoon. I helped Mike get his man cave fixed up and we hit up Fontanas for ANOTHER sushi dinner.
Tuesday:
Airport and then back home.. Good Times! I think I needed a vacation from my vacation..
Airport and then back home.. Good Times! I think I needed a vacation from my vacation..
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