Archive for the ‘biking’ Category

Where have we been?

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Wow. It’s been a while.

What have we been up to? Well, back in October I ran in the Nike Human 10K Race. It was a miserable day and ended starting the race an hour and fifteen minutes late, but I finished and we have pictures to prove we were there:

Jim waiting patiently

Jim waiting patiently

Lots of people waiting in the warm tent

Lots of people waiting in the warm tent

Stretching the hip

Stretching the hip

Here I come... oh man I was dying here

Here I come... oh man I was dying here

Then in November, Jim and I headed up to Traverse City for the Iceman Cometh mountain bike race. It was a beautiful weekend! Over 60 degrees the whole weekend – in November! Jim finished the 28 mile race in 2:06 and got 8th in his class. There were over 4400 racers there, so it was crazy. A really great weekend, though. We also paid a visit to the Sleeping Bear Dunes on the way home with Dad and Mom Braam. That was quite an adventure as well.

Ready to go

Ready to go

100_0406

In line

On the trail

On the trail

On the trail

On the trail

It's official!

It's official!

In other news, I turned 27 this week. Not sure how I feel about that. But, I guess there’s nothing I can do about it.

We are very excited for the holidays! Maybe I will post again before the new year. ;-)

0
Posted in Jim, biking, running |

Back again

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Time for another bi-monthly update. I would like to do them more, but these days are getting away from me! So, I will now resort to my favorite method of updating: BULLETS!

  • Jim and I both finished the Riverbank. Jim got a better time in his 10K than he was going for. Yay Jim! I got a worse time than I was going for, but I was able to run the whole thing – no stopping. Given the hills and rain: Yay me!
  • We celebrated 3 years of wedded bliss on May 12. We used a gift card to Carraba’s (I had never been there) and went mini-golfing at Craig’s Cruisers. Our waiter found out it was our anniversary and gave us free champagne! It was a good time, but no trip to Mexico… :-) He also got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers!

  • I headed to Dallas Texas from May 13-May 15 for a database conference. Fabulous time! *sarcasm* Well, I did go with some people from work I enjoy and we stayed in a really nice hotel, but I got horribly sick the day we left. Full on snot attack to the head, chest and nose. I am actually still getting over that.
  • On Memorial Day, we ran in the Jenison 5K. It was a really small race and we just had to go down the road. Jim and I both got our best times ever. After that we headed home and watched the huge parade with Audrey and the kids. Then it was a bike ride to Byron Center and back and then ended the day with a fire. Good day!
  • I got a new road bike! Now I can almost keep up with Jim.

  • I have been doing a few websites lately. I am still really enjoying it. Check out www.rooksarchitecture.com and www.autobodyxperts.com – especially if you want to build a house or get your car fixed!
  • This weekend, Jim and I are headed to Petoskey from some camping, bike riding and other fun things. We’ll also be able to visit Aunt Marla and Uncle Norm. I am really looking forward to getting away.

As you can see we are staying busy and enjoying spring so far!

0
Posted in Work, biking, camping, sick, websites |

He Made It!

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

Jim got home around 11PM on Sunday. He was in one piece and could still walk! They did all of the 250 miles in those two days. The only rain they ran into was on Sunday – no severe storms luckily.

I got in some good quality girl time. Friday night, I got dinner with 5 of my Cornerstone girls. A good time to catch up. We got to see Michele’s cute little belly. We just missed some big news from Sarah because she got engaged the next day!

On Saturday, I went to my cousin Allison’s bachelorette party. It was a fun relaxing time. Allison got lots of embarassing gifts and we ended the night by driving home from Grand Haven in a severe thunderstorm. Now that’s an exciting party.

Jake and her get married this Saturday! It looks like it’s going to be a really nice day. I will post some pictures next week.

0
Posted in biking, family, girls |

Bike to the bridge

Friday, June 6th, 2008

Jim is biking this weekend. He is leaving this morning from Cedar Springs and will end up at the Mackinac Bridge on Sunday. No, he isn’t using his new mountain bike. He is using his Dad’s road bike – it’s a good twenty years old. Hey, if it still works…!

Something like 250 miles.

Supposed to be in the high 80s this weekend with the occasional severe thunderstorm.

I am happy to sit this one out.

0
Posted in biking |

Jim’s new love

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

Jim has found a new love. He went to meet her while I went running last night. He actually brought her back to our house.


He’s so happy. He even got the shoes and gloves.

But at least I am better looking…

1
Posted in biking |

It sounded like a good idea…

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008


We had a great weekend – we were really productive actually. Friday, I did a little yard work and powerwashed the house and then we saw the new Narnia movie. Not the best. I would wait until it’s on video or until it’s on cable – pretty disappointing.

On Saturday, we planted our vegetable garden. In a little while we will have tomatoes, lettuce, bell peppers, green peppers, and carrots. We have to put up a little fence when they start sprouting because we have some very hungry bunny rabbits in our neighborhood.
I decided to do the Reeds Lake Run 10K on June 28, so I am still in training mode. I did the six miles Saturday and still feel pretty good. Jim’s actually thinking about doing it too. He chose playing basketball as his training. :-)

I prefer to not talk about the Piston game on Saturday night. At least they redeemed themselves last night.

I had been watching the weather on Sunday and it looked just beautiful. I really wanted to take a bike ride on the Kent Trails to Byron Center. It’s a really pretty ride and there’s an ice cream shop in Byron Center – that’s all the motivation I need. Well, in my head I had thought it was 8 miles one way so 16 miles round trip. A good solid ride. No, my friends. I was mistaken. We mapped it on mapmyrun.com (the best tool ever by the way) and it was 25 MILES!! If I sit on anything, it has to have at least a three inch pad. I wasn’t ready yet.

Yesterday turned out to be beautiful too! So much for the thunderstorms (which I am bit sad about actually). We went to the big parade in the morning – they go right down Baldwin and it lasts for about and hour and a half! Audrey and all of her in-laws came. 12 kids and parents – we took up a whole block! Parade’s are so much fun when kids are there. After that, Jim apparently didn’t get enough and went mountain biking. Then more yard work – when your yard loves weeds more than grass, the work never ends. Last night we used an Olive Garden gift card (what could be better?) and then saw the new Indiana Jones movie. We both really liked it. Different than the other ones, but good.

I was really getting used to this vacation thing. Working isn’t going to be easy… but that’s why it’s work, huh?

0
Posted in biking, vacation |