Fort Collins and Laramie

Fort Collins, Colorado may be my favorite weekend getaway spot. I can't say enough good things about this wonderful town! We arrived Thursday afternoon and thought we'd check out Old Town for a lunch spot. As soon as we arrived, we found out that we were 10 minutes away from the start a Reading Flash Mob. So much fun - we grabbed a free book (which we got to take home), popped a squat around the fountain, and read for 15 minutes. Simple enough. So I found a great little Meg Cabot paperback for Bridget and read aloud to her. A photographer from the Coloradian even took our picture. Unfortunately, another picture made it's way into the newspaper the next morning...but we still had great fun!


Headed over to Coopersmith's brewery off the main square and I had the most delicious vegetarian burrito and a great ale.
Settled into the hotel, scouted around the town, then dinner at Uncle's Pizza where B slept on my lap would round out nicely our first day in Fort Collins. 

Friday began with a trip to Firehouse Books for B to get a Fancy Nancy book and to pose in front of Ladybug Girl picture. If you remember, we dressed as Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy for our Albuquerque 10k costume race in 2010. Firehouse Books is also interesting because the gentleman who designed Disneyland's Old Town Main Square used this building as well as Fort Collins as his basis for style and design.


After we drug B out of the bookstore, we headed over to Fort Collins Bike Library and rented fixie bikes so we could enjoy Fort Collins on 2-wheels. We somehow managed to pile on 12 miles with those little legs of B's. We stopped at Cheba Hut on the Colorado State University campus for yummy subs where Greg told me the meaning of 420. What rock have I been under all these years? And George, quit laughing!


After completing all those exhausting miles on a bike with no gears, we decided we needed a beer. Off to New Belgium Brewery we pedaled! The tour was all booked up, but we got lucky when someone didn't show up and got in to the tour within 15 minutes of arriving. Awesome tour with great samples of Abbey Ale and my new favorite, Shift beer in a can. I have seriously become a fan of this brewery.

Since B was such a sport, we then treated her to ice cream at the uber expensive Walrus ice cream store. Greg is still in shock with the $9 price tag for 3 small cones! But the girl earned her ice cream today!

Dinner was at Rio Grande, a mexican restaurant. After an hour wait, we ravaged the chips and salsa like we hadn't been fed in 5 days! I inhaled so much salsa that I was barely hungry enough to enjoy my spinach enchiladas. And poor B was almost asleep from her exhausting day and long restaurant wait. Time to go home, set the alarm and get ready to run!

The drive to Laramie on Saturday was interesting. We both commented on how beautiful the West is when driving. We even saw a gazelle running! Race was simply fantastic (except for the searing lungs) and can be read here. 

I had emailed the race director requesting breakfast spot recommendations and she really delivered. At her request, we tried out Turtle Rock coffee for great coffee and delicious breakfast sandwiches. Greg got the chorizo, eggs and potato wrap and I got the peanut butter crunch wrap with PB, granola, bananas and drizzled honey. Mmmm! I'll definitely try to make this sandwich again at home!

After the race at Bridget's request, we went back to Firehouse Books for another Fancy Nancy book. And at Greg's request, we headed over to Odell's brewery for some sampling. Talk about luck. Instead of a brewery tour, we got there just in time to enjoy Wendy Woo performing while enjoying so many wonderful beverages! Since it was now raining outside, a brewery with a band was a perfect place to plant ourselves.
 

Fort Collins was fantastic and very kid-friendly. We were a little nervous at first wondering if we'd have enough to do over the 3 days, but nicely filled the units. The food, entertainment and people are some of the best we've found in our travels. We couldn't believe our luck in stumbling across a reading flash mob. We loved our time at all three breweries. And, most of all, I loved that we got to enjoy family time on 2-wheels. 

Can't wait for the next adventure!

Wyoming Was a Success

What a fun way to knock out the 43rd state in our quest to reach all 50 states! We got up bright and early Saturday morning and left our hotel in Fort Collins, Colorado to begin the one hour trek up to Laramie, Wyoming. I knew the weather was going to a bit chilly, which didn't worry me...until I woke up and heard there would be snow flurries. Ouch! I had brought shorts, planning on the high 40s, but Mother Nature had other plans. No worries, I did have a pair of yoga pants and a wool black turtleneck. I'd be stylin' out there at the University of Wyoming School of Law Ambulance Chase.

The race started with runners being led by an ambulance. That's right - an ambulance! Afterall, it was an "ambulance chase" with lawyers! I started out at my usual 5k race pace, but then a few minutes in to the race my legs started to feel like lead. Then I began sounding like a prank caller with my heavy breathing. Wait - how high were we in Wyoming. Ahh, a little over 7,500 feet. Damn you altitude!

I decided that if I was going to finish this race without my heart exploding, then I'd need to take strategic walk breaks. I've never felt like such a wuss!

So how was it even possible that I finished 2nd in my age group of 40-49 year old? I dunno, but it happened and I couldn't be more thrilled! My second place finish earned me a large University of Wyoming College of Law coffee mug! I can't wait to drink my morning cup-o-joe now!

Welcome to Wyoming (I'm holding my treasured coffee mug).

Bridget hanging out with Socrates at the law school.

Great day and we are over 80% to reaching our goal!

Wyoming, Here We Come

This weekend, our family will travel to Wyoming to knock out our 43rd state. Can you believe it - 43 states?! Unbelievable. I still have to pinch myself that we're really doing this. And no thanks to the exhorbitant airfares either!

So let's throw in some fun facts about Wyoming - a sprinkle of education with fitness is a wonderful combination.

1. Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote. The state motto is "Equal Rights".
2. Yellowstone is the first official National Park (1872), which is interesting since the state was not admitted into the Union until July 10, 1890 (44th state).
3. The first Dude Ranch in Wyoming was the Eaton Ranch, near Wolf. The Eaton's also came up with the term "dude".
4. Wyoming has the lowest population of all 50 United States.
5. The JCPenney stores were started in Kemmerer.
6. The average annual preciptation is 14.5 inches (Cleveland averages 38.71 inches), which is ironic since it is expected to rain the day I'm there (yep, this Clevelander is bringing the rain to ANOTHER race).
7. A bison is on the state flag and is considered the monarch of the plains.

And a few weird facts as well:

1. If one is drunk in a mine, he/she could land in jail for up to a year.
2. Junk dealers may not make any business transactions with drunk persons.
3. It is illegal to wear a hat that obstructs people's view in a public theater or place of amusement.
4. Using a firearm to fish is strictly forbidden.

I'm off for another run the...and maybe pick up Bridget a cowgirl hat while we're in Laramie. Happy Trails!