Redman Triathlon

This last weekend, we went to OKC so that Russ could do the Redman Triathlon for the fifth year in a row. This was his fourth time to do the half ironman distance, 70.3 miles total. There was one crazy year when he did the full iron distance.... yea, he's nuts.

We got up at 4:40 to be leaving Russ' parents' house around 5:40 for Lake Hefner. That was crazy early (especially, since 4:40 OK time is 3:40 NM time, ugh) but it did give us a chance to see a beautiful Oklahoma sunrise.

Here the half iron distance triathletes are about to start the swim.

It was 1.2 miles long, again, triathletes are crazy.

Thomas hadn't slept much the night before, so he took a nap while Russ was out on the bike. And Pirate was really cold after walking through the dew covered grass and getting his legs and tummy soaking wet, so he wanted to cuddle under the blankets with Thomas.

Roxy just wanted her belly scratched. :) Both of my dogs were so good during the race. Everyone wanted to  pet them and share water with them.

Here he is heading out on the run course. I didn't get any pictures of him biking but that was the leg of the race that Russ felt the strongest. His training here in Los Alamos has gotten his lungs used to the altitude so they use oxygen more efficiently and his legs have gotten used to the intense hills that are all over. It was an awesome bike ride!

Here we all are hanging out and trying to find some respite from the super hot sun.



Russ' friend Stephen came to watch the end of the race. When Russ came into the turn-around for the run, Stephen ran with him for a few yards and even patted him on the back, which made his hand wet because Russ was super sweaty and had been pouring water on himself to stay cool. Eww.



Here he is looking good. His shoulders didn't look too sunburned yet also.

Here is Zach, one of Russ' friends from the OSU triathlon club. This was his first half iron distance triathlon and he got second in his age group! Lot of talent and skill here.

We were all so glad that Sabrina came to see the race. Hopefully, we'll get to hang out longer next time.

Doesn't Pirate look good with a faux-hawk? Sabrina did his hair after pouring some water on his head to help him cool off.

Russ got seventh in his age group.  Not his best time but it was still awesome and he had his best bike time ever! 

The Oklahoma heat was way more then we've gotten used to here in NM; it was hot!

Kaitlin, a friend from my sorority and the OSU Tri Club, finished her first half iron distance incredibly strong! She looked awesome and I love her pink sunglasses.

I'm so proud of him and, though I will never do a triathlon, I'm proud to be your triathlon groupie. :)

TriAtomics

He's official. 

Russ now has a bike jersey and a triathlon top from the Los Alamos TriAtomics tri club!

Anniversary Weekend

Friday: We were both off work. :) We relaxed, watched the Tour de France, relaxed some more and did a little laundry.

Please ignore the crazy curl sticking out of my head, my hair has a mind of its own, haha.

That evening we drove to Albuquerque to have a nice dinner and see the national tour of "Beauty and the Beast." This is my favorite Disney movie and I've seen the musical on tour twice.  I love it!

Unfortunately, Google Maps took us to the wrong side of town and we ended up 40 minutes late to the show. 

It was alright but we missed one of the funniest songs ; Gaston asking Belle to marry him. :) Here's another of my favorites! It's Belle singing right after she become the Beast's prisoner, it's beautiful.

Saturday: We chilled. 

And watched the Tour de France.

And Russ played Ratchet and Clank while I read "The Shack." (I cannot recommend this book enough.  If anyone would like to discuss it, I'm your woman. :)

Sunday: Our First Anniversary! Russ did an Olympic distance triathlon.

We got up at 4 am to leave by 5 am for Cochiti Lake. We brought the dogs and while Russ was stretching in the bed of the truck, Roxy got to be his look-out. 

Here all the racers are gathering for the 1500 meter swim to start.

Russ biking onto the 40 K course.  He said that this was a great ride, not as many hills and steep inclines as Los Alamos.

The dogs and I went to the truck while Russ was biking.

I think getting up at 4 am made them tired.

Here he is finishing the 10 K run. He did the race in 2 hours and 31 minutes.

Third place in his age group! (He would have placed in the age group above him, too!)

She thinks she's a lap dog....

When we got home, it was time for the infamous wedding cake.  Russ was not enthused. He loves cake, especially wedding cake, and freezing it for an entire year was a terrible idea in his opinion.

He ate it anyway. :) The frosting didn't freeze well and fell of the cake almost as soon as we cut into it but the cake tasted good. 

We went and saw "Despicable Me" after that and ended up receiving one of our tickets for free! We were the 50th customer and that was the prize. Awesome! (Also, this movie is very cute and funny.)

Yay being married a year!