Life on the Runn...

Turns out I'll be doing a lot of traveling in the very near future.  I can't express how excited I am about my upcoming adventures, though I'll be missing my adventure buddy on the second leg of my excursion. Over spring break, Brian and I will be continuing our life of exploration as we head to Spain.  We will be there for just over a week and will be splitting our time between climbing in Siurana and sight-seeing in Barcelona. Upon returning from Spain, I will be heading to Honolulu, Hawaii with the Academic Decathlon team. We will spend just about a week there as well; the first portion of our time will be spent readying the kids for the competition and supporting them as they get good and nervous competing in it.  The second portion of our time will be spent exploring.   This is what I call livin' the life!!  

Saturday marked the first run, a 5K, of 2104 for my run-buddy and me.  I think I recall us swearing off cold weather runs after our chilly 20 degree Stache Dash (let's not forget the scampering back and forth to the car as we awaited the start of the GLO Run either), but there we were shivering at a start line once again. Thanks to construction and a confused GPS, we took a little detour to get to Veteran's Park, where the run was held.  We watched the clock as our 8:30am registration deadline crept nearer and nearer, but we made it to the park and got checked in as the thermometer crept closer and closer to 30 degrees.  It turns out we had more time than we anticipated having as the organizers had to delay the start (and relocate the start line) due to icy spots on the course. That extra time didn't make us any warmer, however. Much like the Stache Dash, the course was set up so that runners looped around past other runners.  That gave Jenna and me a chance to e...

The past few days were stressful ones.  After all, it's not every day I get to play mom to 13 kids.   After getting my Division 1 champs safely home Friday night, I definitely needed to decompress.  I didn't have time for that, though, as I had get back to the OC, unpack, and try to squeeze in a few hours of sleep before my 7am wakeup call for the Irish Jig Jog (more on that in a later post). The way I cope with stress is two-fold.  I work out and I clean.  While the Jig Jog took care of the former, I knew I needed a bit more.  I decided to tap into my love of cleaning and organizing to bring me back to center before the work week begins. Thus, I took to clearing out some unused items from my closet.  While I was at it, I got to thinking about a better way to organize my scarves.  I thought about buying a towel rack to hang on my door, but I saw some drawbacks to that.  While I was pondering what to do, I came across a shoe rack I had purch...

It's no secret to anyone who knows me: despite not yet having my own, I love babies, love, love, love them.  From those tiny little fingers and toes to the way they curl up against you like little potatoes, nothing beats snuggling with a baby.  When it comes to babies, I'm not so good at sharing.  I'm definitely the one who is forced to pass Baby onto the next anxious set of arms.  And I have been awaiting the chance to be a baby hog as the impending arrival of a few very special babies, my newest cousins, neared. The wait is now over (all I have to do now is schedule a visit so I can get my hands on these little ladies).  Over the past two days, both the Unti and the Runnells family have gained new members. My cousin Jenny welcomed her second child into the world, and Brian's cousin Cory became a first-time daddy. Allow me to introduce two wonderfully perfect little girls to you: Brooke Elizabeth Malic 3/4/14 Addison June Runnells 3/5/14 I c...

Several years ago, my introduction to the climbing world was marked with sore arms, chipped nail polish, new (and only sort-of cute) shoes and the Nimmer family.  The Nimmers were among the first people I met at the gym, and to call them the First Family of Adventure Rock would be an understatement.  In their own ways, each is an impressive climber, and in their own ways, each is an amazing person.  Andrew, Melissa and Alex were all kiddos when I began my coaching tenure -- I'm using that term very loosely.  Andrew and Melissa became the kids Brian and I weren't quite ready to have but happily borrowed for weekends.  They were tons of fun to take places, climb with and fill with snacks and treats.  They weren't alone in this.  The Brengosz and Fields kids were favorites as well. ARCT circa way too long ago to admit Young Andrew, book in hand, just as he always used to be And getting back to the climbing talk, I'm also proud of Andrew's conti...