Sydney Fuller

Summer Has Officially Begun

We decided to spend the weekend up in Leadville again. Happy to say all of the snow has melted and the temps are warming up nice. We'll be at our constant comfy 70 degree high altitude days in no time. This was probably the first weekend so far where the kids were able to go short sleeved all day. Which means they pretty much never came inside. Not that they usually have time for the indoors, but this was something more. Isn't that what kids are supposed to do?

Or maybe it was because Dad was finally able to put this up.

To most this contraption is a vehicle for relaxation. Not my kids. To them it is a way to catch some air. "More Daddy, More!" This move here was dubbed the "Underdog."

One thing we are discovering about cabin life is that the kids are constantly covered in dirt. I think they are actual dirt magnets. Just check out these feet.

Between rides the girls would spend hours working on their pretend garden. They put so much work into it that Dad decided to take the girls shopping for some wildflower seeds. We'll see if they actually take. This cabin ground is a weird dry thing.

While all this fun was going on you could hear Yoshi crying from this window. He can't stand being alone. The girls were great about taking breaks inside to comfort their little kitty.

Dad had some meetings during the day so Mom took the kids down to the playground for a bit. I doubt there is another playground with a view comparable to ours.

Longmont Sunrise Stampede

Distance	2M
Time	22:55
Pace	11:28
GPS Analysis	Garmin Connect

So far, I have only ever paced my own family. Natalee @ Indy. Sydney @ BB10K. And now today I had the pleasure of pacing Reagan for 2 miles in the Longmont Sunrise Stampede! I usually run the 10K myself but 2M only starts 10 minutes before the 10K so I knew I wouldn't be racing this year. However, I didn't care because I was fairly excited to run with 2 of my girls in the same race. We had talked about the race all week and they were both bought in pretty good. Reagan tried to get out of it once but Sydney talked her back into it. So it was on.

We got to Longmont High School with time to spare. Got them registered and they hit the on-field warm-ups which had everyone doing stretches that I have never seen a runner do in my life. Its fun to spectate! The plan for the race was simple. We would go out together and Sydney was to run at her speed. She had permission to leave Reagan and I and do her own thing. She is 8 and its just a short course through a neighborhood. Kim would be waiting at the track for the final lap around with camera in hand. Reagan and I were to make the most of it. This was her first "real race". She has done various kid's mile races but those are not timed and not placed. This was a big deal I thought but she didn't see that. Good thing. Let's get warmed up!

The gun went off and Sydney shot out ahead of us as usual. She is "bursty". I could see she was going to be slowing up after 100 yards at that speed. Reagan was confident and picked up a quick pace and just started into the race. She was ripping past people and we were gaining on Sydney. OK, she is onlyl 6. This won't last. But it was! Through mile 1, Reagan never stopped. Just cruising at a quick pace.

We caught up to Sydney and her shoe had come untied. Drat. I told her to deal with it. So she stopped and tied it. She was crying (I later learned) as we left her. Sorry. Thought it was just a quick tie job but I guess there is still a little thought going into a shoe tie when you are 8 and female and it got emotional.

Meanwhile, Reagan was still cranking.

Use the sidewalks, people! Reagan knows how to run a course when you are a kid!

I was really digging this mode she was in but it started to take its toll on her. Her cheeks started getting red. She was needing water from me. She was starting to cough. She was starting to hold her side. The sprint had caught up to her. I tried to talk her through it. "You are doing so great", I would say. We were still passing people and Moms were just looking at her like I was slave driving her to this outcome. That was not the case. I was in the passenger seat along for the ride. She was hurting. I told her she could get a drink from my bottle and walk for a bit. She did and she said her side hurt (likely a cramp). She was coughing like she had smoked a pack a day. I thought she was going to puke. After being in this sport for a while, I knew that a puke would fix things and she could just finish strong. But it never came up.

Right then, Sydney came up to us. Finally, caught back up! She was concerned about Reagan and probably was tired so she wanted to walk with us. I told her that this was a race and to get her butt moving! That was the big coach move. She started running and we could see her motoring along to the track for her final loop. Reagan saw her leave so she hobbled a bit, gave me back the bottle, and then started chasing after her.

The final stretch to the track had Reagan in tears. I told her Mom would be standing at the entrance to the track waiting for her but she had to loop around. "Mommy!", she cried reaching her arm out. Kim wasn't in sight but Reagan was ready for some comfort I guess. We hit the track and could see Sydney 1/2 around making it to the finish. Kim was following Sydney with the camera and didn't realize the big drama unfolding on the other side of the track.

I had told Kim that Reagan might be 30 minutes or so. So she didn't expect us. I started screaming "Kim Fuller" as we came around turn 3 and she caught sight of us and looked shocked. She made eye contact with Reagan. "Mommy!", Reagan yelled. I thought she would bail off the track to the infield to see her but no! She cruised right past holding her side and ran all the way to the finish line!

I was in shock over what I had just witnessed. This six year old just showed more hustle than about every runner out there. She broke her ass in that race. It was falling apart for her and she only ran faster in those moments. I could hardly believe it. You can't teach that shit. The look in her eyes was priceless. I will never forget what I saw and I hope that she can translate that into something for herself later down the road.

Racing is fun! Right?

I picked her up in the air at the finish line. She was coughing and aching. Not sure she could walk either. She left it all out there...by her own choice. We went and sat on the grass with the rest of the family. I congratulated Sydney on her run but after seeing Reagan's performance it was hard to give equal praise but I tried my best. I was just so shocked with Reagan. We quickly left to get them home and some food. Reagan coughed the whole way home. She got out of the car, saw her neighbor, and left to go play. Just another day in the life of a rising star I guess.

When I am deep in the hurt locker at some future race, I now have a beautiful memory to pull out. I will run like my 6 year old. All out.

Results were emailed out later that day.

Holy crap! She was 11 seconds out of 3rd place which would have gotten her an award! If I would have known that, I would have cracked the whip. Amazing finish at the top of the age group.

Sydney was up there too! 13th but she was up against 9 and 10 year olds. That's gotta be a big deal at that age. I think she can improve easily (if she ties her shoes!) and in 2 years could EASILY win that division. Um, unless Reagan chases her down. This might get really exciting then!

We went 1.99 miles with an elevation gain of 65 feet in 00:22:36, which is an average pace of 11:21. View my GPS data on Garmin Connect.

Meet Yoshi

Last weekend we were having a neighborhood garage sale. During the slow time I would do yard work since I had to be outside anyway. My cats were meowing at the front door incessantly because they wanted to be outside. So as is normal for me I was meowing back at them. Sort of had a good convo going on between us when.....I noticed a teeny tiny meow mixed into this mix. So I go check it out. As I get closer to the front door I hear a faint meow off near the back fence. Upon further inspection I find this little guy tangled in our Clematis vine and the fence.

We kept the kitty confined to our bathroom while we put up lost kitty posters. And the girls made sure to check on him at least every five minutes to make sure he wasn't scared. The kitty was named within hours so I had a good feeling he had found his home. Little Yoshi has made quick friends of his new big sisters. He is incredibly friendly and loving towards even a scary toddler. He even lets Kayla carry him around by the neck, which makes Mommy freak out. He hates to be alone and cries for the kids when they go to bed. Anyway, I think its safe to say we lucked out with this little guy...and vice versa.