Last day of Colorado vacation. Sigh. I never want it to end! I feel so blessed that my home feels like a vacation destination regardless of the season. Colorado gave me 11 perfect hot, dry, sunny days. Couldn't ask for anything more. I hope everyone had an amazing Fourth of July yesterday, it is great to have the chance to celebrate this country in true summer fashion. I love the 4th because the celebrations generally include close family and friends, and everything happens outside! Any holiday that can be celebrated with fun outdoor games and grilling is good by me.
This past weekend was glorious on the activity front. On Saturday, I found myself back at my high school track to do some nostalgic interval running. It felt a bit different than it did with my coach and team back in 2004 and 2005, as it was just me and a construction worker on the track. Apparently I am the only psycho that voluntarily goes to a high school track at 9am on Saturdays. It was strangely nice to be back though, and I did some speed work which was fun. I'm pretty sure the track hasn't been resurfaced since I graduated [tough...] but you have to work with what you have. I sort of felt like I was getting back to my roots!
On Sunday we had the second annual family rafting excursion at Echo Canyon Rafting with my brother as our guide. This is his second summer as a rafting guide up in Canon City. We had a BLAST. First of all, rafting is just awesome. The water level is really high which makes for bigger rapids and a faster flowing river = more intense. Perfect 90 degree day, so the water crashing into the raft felt really good. It was such a good time and reminded me what being one with nature feels like. You can get warped sitting in an office 5 days a week. Always make the time to remind yourselves that humans are simply part of nature and experience it in any way you can! Rafting is an awesome activity of choice if you can find something local. If you are in Colorado and want to have a kick ass rafting experience, check out Echo Canyon Rafting, it is the best of the best of the Arkansas River. Request my brother as your guide and I promise you a killer time.
Yesterday, I celebrated the independence of this country with a little 6 mile run first thing in the morning. I went back to the High Line Canal and didn't make a wrong turn this time! Go me! It was already 90 degrees when I started at 9am so needless to say it was a pretty scorching 6 miles. I never need water at that distance and I was approximately 2 seconds away from stopping a random passer-by and asking for a sip of agua. Cotton mouth like I have never experienced, probably due to the heat and the fact I was running on a dirt path. It was a beautiful morning and there were tons of people out and about, so great choice to start off the day.
After a quick dip in the pool, I headed over to Washington Park in Denver to meet up with my best friend from high school and a bunch of her med school friends. Wash Park is a very social young active scene in Denver. I showed up and there were dozens of volleyball nets, corn hole games, badminton nets etc... set up for the enjoyment of all. All of course coupled with coolers of beer and snacks. Our group set up a volleyball net and we spent the next three hours playing game after game of volleyball. It was a total blast! I have a swollen, bruised knee from diving for a serve [diving on hard ground sort of hurts] and broken blood vessels along my forearms from the ball, I feel so hardcore. It hit 100 yesterday so no better way to enjoy the heat than to sweat playing games with your close friends. I need more volleyball in my life!
Finished off the holiday by grilling with close family friends at our house. It was a perfect night outside and nothing better than the company of loved ones. We had a serious meat picnic with salmon, deer and elk. Yum!
I hope everyone had an amazing long weekend and I am excited for more beautiful active summer weekends in the coming weeks!
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