Northwest Adventures!

Last month I had my first business travel to the Northwest. Several of our vendors are located out there and we try to knock them all out at once (Nike & Adidas are in Portland and Brooks is in Seattle). We flew in a day early so I was able to do a little downtown Portland runsploration...

Business meetings quickly ensued but I managed to get a campus tour at Nike. It's huge. Has several running trails on site, a large fitness facility (complete with lap pool) and a soccer field in the center. Loved the energy there.

A chandelier made out of gymnastics rings...love.

Everything is so green and lush there.

Campus selfie

After a few days at Nike we then visited Adidas. This campus also has a soccer field in the center where employees play on their lunches.

Adidas selfie (learned that the founder's name was Adi Dassler...and that Adidas wasn't an acronym, ha!).

Pharrell and Kanye are plastered everywhere, including the elevators

Adidas rooftop selfie

After Adi meetings we headed to the train station to take a ride north to Seattle

The train ride was 3 hours and had an excellent drink cart to pass the time :)

We were visiting Brooks in Seattle to celebrate their 100 year anniversary...they planned the weekend full of fun activities. Here's a view of the Puget Sound from my hotel room.

Bright and early on Friday morning the Finish Line crew made our way to the starting line of the 10 person relay...of which several hundred people participated.

Marc, Larry, Alyssa, Sarah, Andy and Ryan...the other three people on our team were from Z.appos.

I ran two of the 10 legs, as Sarah had been a little under the weather. Was gorgeous to run along the waterfront.

After a few business meetings we got fancied up and took a duck boat tour of the city. Here's a view of Seattle from the water...you can see the Space Needle on the right.

Boat tour with buddies

We also were able to take a tour of the new Brooks HQ building...then had cocktail hour on their balcony

The evening's entertainment included live music in one room and a dance party in another. There were almost 1,000 people in attendance. This was quite the event!

Midway through the evening this guy showed up. I had surprised him for our 10 year anniversary with a trip to Seattle. I was thrilled he made it in time to party with us and meet all my work friends. Missed this guy so much...I had been away from home for a week!

Here's us face-timing the surprise

And I was able to face-time with the girls every day that I was gone. Missed them so much!

The next few days were spent exploring the city...and breweries, of course.

Shots, shots, shots...

Hair of the dog

Happy 10 year anniversary to us!

While Mike came out to join me in Seattle my sister and niece were gracious enough to spend the weekend with the girls. This trip wouldn't have been possible without Kim and Taylor. Initially Izzy was sad to hear I wasn't coming home AND that her daddy was leaving. But to have their aunt Kiki and cousin Taylor at their house was the next best thing. Here's a pic Taylor took of our sweet girls one morning. I think they look so grown up here...can almost get a glimpse of what they'll look like in the future. So stinkin' cute.

Until next time, Seattle...

Mid-May Musings...

 Not too much going on in our lives these days...but enough to keep us busy and always entertained. The weather has turned into the beautiful Spring that we love and that means lots of outdoor time and driveway drinking with neighbors. We're happy and content...but can't wait for the pool to open in less than 2 weeks!

Izzy's best buddy...they both love fashion

Speaking of fashion, Izzy has taken to designing Prom dresses. Thinking she's got a hidden talent here.

And after almost 2 years at the same gym, we switched to be closer to home and on a team with Izzy's best buddy. Competitions will start soon!!!

 Laney is always asking to try on my shoes and loves dressing up

 Daddy/Buggy breakfast date on Good Friday

 Showing off their new kicks and Easter goodies

 Girls rule

Lots of driveway time in the sun

 Their favorite restaurant

 Mikey and I celebrate 10 years (!!!) this week. Stay tuned for more details... 

We snuggle a lot in this house and it's my favorite time of the day

Giving their babies fresh air

 Now onto Cross Fit talk...it's a large part of my life so I feel the need to constantly document my progress in this journal of mine. Last month Meg and I participated in a fundraiser for an orphanage in Uganda. Love that I get to share CF with Meg...we sweat together then catch up afterwards. #trapsfordays

 A few weeks ago I participated in my 2nd individual competition (GLOC) and this year I was in the Rx division (read: I didn't have to scale any of the weights!!!). 

 The sandbag carry basically crushed my soul but what was special about this event is that it started with 75 wall balls...I knocked those out 100 times easier than I ever have before. Then I rowed forever, not setting any personal records. But when I got this #60 sandbag on my shoulders Jaime quickly joined me and ran, then walked with me. She's always amazing when it comes to being by my side when I need her most. The second lap was without the bag but this time Izzy and Laney joined me. At one point they were beating me which didn't help my morale but they sure were cute. I did finish before them (just barely) and my heart nearly exploded when I watched them run across the finish line. 

 The Finish Line team..Lindsay placed 2nd overall, Kirsten was in the 20-something and I was in the 40-something finish. There were 85 Rx athletes so I was very happy with my finish. My goal was and always is to be stronger than yesterday. Check and check.

 One of my best buddies, CF teammate and coach Clint was there to cheer us on the entire day. Of course we celebrated with beers afterwards.

 Before the wall balls....focusing on the target. I only had ONE no rep. Yeah buddy.

 Deadlifting to a new PR of #205 

 Strategizing with Jaim

 Kettlebell snatch at #35 and 24' box jumps. Ouch. 

 Watching your best friends PR in a big way? Priceless.

The feeling when you PR and all of your friends are there cheering you on and crying with you? Best feeling ever.

Getting in some werk with Jaim

 Our team of 4 for the CF180 competition next month

 Ran the Mini again this year (13.1 miles) with my Perfect Stranger girls. Of course we stopped to kiss the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's bricks around mile 8. 

 Finish Line runners in the beer garden

 Cheerleader pose outside of the track

 Celebrating our finish

 

 And since I didn't train for the 13.1 miles let's just say my legs were tight the days following race. Lots of rolling and mobility. And it never fails, whenever I bust out my foam roller the girls are right next to me rolling and moaning (modeling mom's behavior).

 I'm leaving in a few hours for business in Portland and Seattle. Excited to visit the Northeast for the first time but not looking forward to leaving the girls and Mike for a week. Tried to fit them into my suitcase but there wasn't room for anything else :)

Happy Mother's Day to all our moms...love you guys!