Summer Fun in Michigan

I can't believe summer is almost over!  We have had an incredibly busy but fun summer.  We took a long vacation to Michigan, Virginia, and North Carolina.  Although I have only been there twice now, Michigan has become one of my new favorite places.  Here are a few of my favorite pictures from Michigan.  (Virginia and North Carolina will have to wait for future posts)

The scenery in Michigan made running awesome.  The humidity, not so much.

Provin Trails

The Choo Choo- awesome chocolate peanut butter shake

Pronto Pups in Grand Haven

Grand Haven lighthouse

Grand Haven, Lake Michigan.  (i can't believe that is a lake!)

A bit different than what I've ever seen in Vegas.

We got to canoe with the YM/YW down this river and then get some Custard at the Dam.

My favorite thing however, was just spending time with Tristram's parents.  It's hard to live so far away from all of Tristram's family and so we cherish anytime that we get to spend with them.  We had good food, good conversations, and good company.  I can't wait to go back!

five months later...

What we've been up to lately:

Work, run, work, run, work, run, talk about work, run, work, talk about running (on repeat).  That is not entirely true but I have been feeling like our life is kinda one dimensional right now.  We do have other interests and talents, I promise!

I think it was that sentiment that drove our choice of date night last Friday. We both put on our flashy new Nike frees, went to la biblioteca, and then got donuts and milk.  We haven't had time to read our books yet but it was fun to switch things up and get out of our normal routine.

Snow Canyon 1/2 marathon

We ran the Snow Canyon half for the first time in 2009 before we were dating just as a group of friends.  I think it was like the first year that race even started.  We picked it cause it was cheap and sounded like a fun road trip.  Three years later we were back at it, married and with my two younger siblings.  It was their first ever half marathon and I was a little worried about them because they maybe didn't train as well as they could have.  Everyone did awesome.  I was way impressed.  Tristram P.R.ed (personal record) by at least 7 minutes and got 25th overall and 3rd in his age group.  I was very happy to see his hard work finally pay off in a successful race.  What a champ!  

The runners

Strong finish by Tristram

I am not puking in the bucket, I am getting my chip clipped off.  (Although, I was close to it)

Working my way around the track for the finish.

Matt crossing the finish line.

Trying to smile and catch my breath at the same time.

This girl was amazing! Very little training and she was sick.  My dad said she looked the best out of all of us when she finished.

Tristram picking up his impressive 3rd place prize.

Now if you want a laugh and you want to look at some REALLY good pictures, the official photographers of the race captured some real classic shots of all of us.  They won't let me post the picture on the blog because they want me to spend millions of dollars to buy them first.  But you can look at the proof: Once you get to the website, search Snow Canyon Half marathon, then last name Jones. You can see both Tristram's and my pictures.   http://www.racephotonetwork.com/QPPlus/Proofs.aspx (my last one is the best i think)

check this one out:
http://i.imgur.com/kp1Fp.jpg look familiar?

Cruisin'

This last week good ol' Runner's Corner took Tristram and I on a cruise for meeting a sales goal we had set.  There were 15 of us employees/spouses total that went and it was good fun.  It was fun to interact with my coworkers outside of the context of work.  We definitely brought some of Runner's Corner with us, running everyday, but I guess that is how we roll.  We even had people running the halls on the ship when the weather was bad.  People probably wondered what on earth we were doing on a cruise.  A cruise and running seem like a contradiction.  I say running is justification for the gluttony and indulgence that we partake of on a cruise.  To appease my conscience.

The dock at Avalon, Catalina Island.  Beautiful morning for a run.  

Tristram charging the hill.  I was catching my breath.

A plaque at the very top of the hill.

I think Tristram's shorts are shorter than mine.

Look how small the cruise ship is.

Found this rib bone on our run.  We were making guesses about what kind of animal would be on Catalina Island with a rib cage that big! Then we saw a buffalo.  Crazy.

Finished our run at this cool cathedral/memorial/gardens place.  Not really sure what it was but it was cool.

Our cheesy but cool picture.  I like how you can see the ocean in the background.

From the ship.

People watching (one of my favorite pastimes on a cruise.  Super entertaining.)

A blow hole in Ensenada Mexico.  

My FAVORITE.  Chocolate Melting Cake (with double ice cream).  Heavenly

Chalk the Block

On Saturday we decided to go on a date to the Chalk the Block at the Riverwoods.  It was crazy crowded but it was a really cool event.  They turned the Riverwoods into a Farmer's Market of sorts and used the parking lots for the chalk art.  The atmosphere was great.  Some guy was playing the electric violin and there were tons of homemade trinkets to look at.  Some of the art was just fun and entertaining but some of the art really was remarkable.  All in all, a pretty cool cheap date.  Provo/Orem should do more things like that.

a little of late

I'm not going to lie, blogging is a little daunting to me.  There is so much to catch up on yet I don't know what to write about.

So here's some pictures.

Cascade Saddle Hike with Britt and Dane

Thorley Family Reunion

Big Springs trail 

little small fry:) new nephew