Runnin' on.......

Like everyone else in the world, I have been occupied with work, life, and living, some motorcycling, plus a little running from time to time.

Since I last posted in June, I have completed 5 more races and will be doing the Rock and Roll San Antonio 1/2 marathon in December.

In June, I completed the Wounded Warrior 10K in Las Colinas, Texas and finished 14th in my age group. This is one of my favorite events, so I try to do it every year.

Another event I did in June is the HEB Summer Run to Fun 5K, and I placed 2nd in my age group and got a nice medal for my efforts.

In July, I ran the Endurance Outfitters Hot to Trot 5K and placed 3rd in my age group and got another medal.

                                                               Age Group Placers


In August, I ran the Schlotzsky's Hot Bunz Run 5K and finished 4th.

I had two races in September. First was the Gallop or Trot 5K, and I got 3rd in my age group once again and another cool medal. The next day was the Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival and 1/2  marathon which was a race I had never done before. Many of my friends signed up for the event, too, so we all got to gather together for before and after race pictures.  I also did something else I had never done before, and that was to ride in a hot air balloon! Great experience!

                                                My 1st hot air balloon ride!

I have been keeping up with my 2,015 miles in 2105 challenge, and as of today, I have completed 819.36 miles. I am on a team with two other women, so my portion was to complete 672 of those,miles, but I am on a roll and want to keep up the momentum. I just signed up to do 2,016 in 2016, and I am already looking forward to completing that, too.

Lots of trips in the near future: Seattle this month, Rome, Florence, and Venice, Italy next month, will be running my first FULL marathon in Little Rock in March, and then in June, my family and I will be doing the Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon in San Diego.

In between all of this, I keep working away and try to maintain my friendships and go on as many group and solo motorcycle rides as I can fit in.

                                                       My jacket on my Triumph

Lots of great opportunities both personally and professionally are on the horizon, and as always, I am excited about the whole lot of it!

Birthdays, Bush's Spring Chicken 10K, BBQ, Bluebonnets, and Bicycling

March and April were super busy months for celebrating and adventure. I picked up a friend at the Dallas airport on March 20th, his 52nd birthday. I had celebrated my 56th birthday on March 10th.

 Edible arrangement birthday surprise!

To celebrate his arrival, we drove to Waco before stopping for a birthday dinner at Ninfa's, a wonderful Mexican restaurant.

On March 28, we both geared up to run the Bush's Spring Chicken 10K in Temple, Texas. We supported Team RW&B and wore our shirts for the team picture before the race.

Wearing the Eagle

With Ernie's encouragement and with him jogging with me the entire route, I had a personal best for a 10K!

Along the route...

Photo op!

I am also a part of the 2,015 miles in 2015 challenge, and we logged 107 miles during the month of April to include 10 miles done on Good Friday! It's always nice to have someone to encourage and push you toward your goals.

Ernie's friend's brother passed away in a diving incident in the Cayman Islands (it made the local news here since his brother was a native Texan), and we drove down to Conroe to support Paul at the funeral service. It was heart-wrenching and very emotional hearing this man's kids and step-kids say such beautiful things abut him. I wish I had known him while he was living. He definitely knew how to appreciate life while loving and supporting his family.

After the service, we headed over to the little town of Cut and Shoot, Texas, a place I had long wanted to visit because of the cool name.

                             

                           

We stopped at the local motor cycle shop and bought t-shirts to wear with the Cut and Shoot name. 

Afterwards driving home, we came across the most gorgeous field of bluebonnets and stopped to take some pictures.

In April, we had tickets to the MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas F1 track in Austin. It was an AMAZING weekend, and it was the first time I had ridden two up on my own bike. We got to ride a parade lap around the track on Saturday night, and Ernie's thought was that we would always remember this night and our first ride two up. On that, he is 100% correct. It was incredible.

                                                  Gassing up for the ride to COTA

Two up...and liking it!

                                            Waiting in line for the parade lap to begin......

                                                                    MotoGP at COTA

The lean.....

                                                    Playing around with the GoPro...

                                                      Unsuspecting of hidden camera....

The Finish Line

After the races were over, we went to the Cheap Trick concert on the grounds. I had never seen them in concert before. Great music and good times!

Robin Zander

                               While I was at work, Ernie would take my Triumph out for a spin........

                                                                   Oatmeal, Texas

Lampasas mural.....

We went hiking at Colorado Bend out to Gorman Falls (something we had also done a few years ago), strawberry picking, strolling through Fredericksburg, cycling, and a group motorcycle ride for motorcycle awareness called Do You See Me Now where we also bought shirts to support the cause. 

                                                     Strawberry fields forever....

                           The Auslander...a nice German restaurant in Fredericksburg.....Mmmmmm

Rouladen

Do You See Me Now?

                           

                                       Lining up for the ride from Temple to Copperas Cove...

               Mesmerizing Gorman Falls at Colorado Bend State Park...great hike out and back!

                       ...

Krause Springs....a nice day for sunning on the rocks, cooling off in the springs, or walking the paths

                                                

                                                            Cycling with Team Roadkill

We did so many things here in the Hill Country of Texas, and I enjoyed every moment and every experience. There is so much to be happy about and thankful for, which reminds me.....BBQ!

Some of the finest BBQ in TEXAS....we stopped here after visiting Krause Springs and then reading reviews about BBQ places close by. 

What a spread! Tater Tot casserole, cole slaw, spicy corn, and cobbler. Some of the BEST BBQ to be had, and we ate heartily and still brought leftovers home.

Many changes going on to include a new job opportunity for me and clearing up multiple personal issues for Ernie. It's an ongoing struggle for him.....

                                                                 More to come!!