Hippie Chick

Last weekend, I ran in the Hippie Chick Half Marathon race.  This was my 5th year in a row running this race.  I really enjoy the course, and it comes at a good time in the year when the weather is usually nice.

This year the weather was a bit warmer than I like.  When the race started, it was already in the low 60's.  I was trying to improve on my time from last year.  I started at the back of the pack, so I was running too fast to try and catch up with the pacer that I wanted to run with.  I probably shouldn't have run so fast at the start, because by about mile 4, I was starting to feel too hot.  I slowed down, and thought I might still have time to catch up with the pacer.  But I never really got back into it.  It got warmer and I got slower.  I was able to finish in under 2 hours, which is always my goal for a half marathon, but I wasn't able to improve on my time from last year.  At the end of the race it was in the low 70's.  It was just too warm to go any faster.  I tried, but that was the best I could do.  There's always next year!

Ready to Run

With Simon and Sam

Some Friends with me Before it Starts

Talent Show

The boys were recently in a talent show at their school.  They had to audition the week before.  Daniel and Sam each played a song from their recent piano recital and Simon played a song he had prepared on his guitar.  All 3 played and it was cute and neat to see the perform.

Battle of the Books

This year, Daniel was part of a team that participated in Battle of the Books.  It's an organized way and competition for kids to read books and then be tested over the books at the end of the school year.  Daniel was on a team of 5 kids.  They all read books all school year long.  They studied and reviewed their books with a team leader.  Then his team competed against other teams here at school.  On a recent Wednesday after school, his team competed, and they qualified for the finals.  The finals took place the following Friday during school.  They competed against another team and they won!  It was very exciting, and Daniel was super happy.  I was very proud of him.

Competing in the First Round

Team Photo

Competing in the Final Round

Getting Their Trophy-They Won!