1/2 Marathon traning kickoff..........a hike!

Here we go here we go again!!!

Today I kick off my training for the Wilson bridge Half! I need this, I need a solid you better run this many miles today or else!

Things in the running department have really been lacking latley but I am about to change all of that, I woke up pumped and ready to go today, when I opened my training log it was strength and stretch day! bummer I was totally stoked to run, but I guess that just means tomorrow I will be double stoked?

Anyhow, yesterday we decided that working around the house was really getting on everyone's nerves and we all needed a break. Handsome, decided driving about two hours north west to Skyline drive, might be fun. I was game and so were the kiddos. We grew up in the foothills of the blue ridge mountains about 45 mins from them and when we were teens we would always go for a hike or to watch the sunset or a picnic. Living in suburban southern Maryland there is not much in the way of scenery and we miss that.

Anyhow upon arrival the girls proceeded to run like crazy chicks! I finally got them to stop for a picture


After handsome talked to a ranger to find out how difficult the trail was we set off for a .5 mile warm-up (or walk to the actual trail) but first we had to stop and stretch



Don't mind Handsome he is a goofball!!

We sauntered along for a while looking at butterflies and flowers, approximately ten minutes in both girls were tired of walking! ay yi yi this might be a long "hike" After an hour or so we were pretty hungry and stopped for lunch



We convinced little missy to walk a for a while longer and we would alternate putting her on our shoulders and having her walk! The views at the top were breath taking! But by then 2 miles into the hike, the girls had just had it! and they both wanted daddy, so Handsome being the super dad he is hiked like this for more than 30 minutes...uphill



good thing he is super strong, had they been stuck with me they would have gotten left behind!

We stopped for a break right at the end to eat an apple!

and to attempt family self portraits




well we tried!

We managed 4.17 miles with the first two pretty much up and the second two mostly down, we dragged encouraged the girls to walk as much as possible but being 2 and 4 they did pretty well and got carried at least half of it!


Did I mention it was 100 degrees, with a heat index of 105 and a code orange air quality day? Gatorade and Popsicles never tasted so freaking good!

and I figured it was a good way to kick off 1/2 marathon training.

Hope everyone had a great weekend I promise to make my way around to check in on everyone soon!