Dodge City Days 5K

Saturday morning my best friend Lori and I headed to Dodge to participate in the Dodge City Days 5K.

Why is this a big deal? Well, you would just have to know our track record for girls day out isn't very good.  I know we've made it to at least one, in crappy weather and we should have probably just stayed home that time! Someone always seemed to be sick, or the weather uncooperative.   The last time we planned to do something together, we were suppose to go Christmas shopping. We buried my Dad that day instead.

I got to her house, 30 mins away, around 6:20am, and then we headed to Dodge.

Those of you that are familiar with Dodge City, the course was UP second street (street by the steer.),  around the school, through part of the civic center, around some residential area, back down by the school, and DOWN second street to where we began. 

 

Before

After

Feel the burn!!

I had a certain time I wanted to hit. I didn't hit it, but had just over a 15 min mile through the entire race. Which I don't find bad for a occasional run/ mostly walker going up and down hills, but I was still a little bummed.  I stayed with Lori for about 10 seconds as we started. Ever see a Yugo race a Corvette? It was a bit like that.  Me: I'm running. I'm staying with everyone. Look--there's Lori. Hi, Lori!!..This is going to ROCK.....Ahh, lordy....my lungs are burning... do blood clots burn? ...can ankles snap off??...that 80 year man just passed me...walking is cool... No shame in walking.

The hills were wicked and my calves were burning just  walking to the line to begin. As I got into it, I was SURE my phone app wasn't working and that I was probably at LEAST half done.  About that time, the app kicked on, telling me I had gone 0.60 of a mile. =-O I'm sure my tears were just mistaken for sweat. hehe

Hills or not...it was A BLAST!!! 

Lori got 1st for her age group, and I didn't come in last.

 Success!!!

While walking the strip of sidewalk that had farmer's market type tables set up, I found a lady selling Iris bulbs, and came home with Mariachi Music, Vandal Spirit, Silver back, Keeping up Appearances, and Feature Attraction. I can't wait to see how they all do!

Thanks for the great day, Lori!! =) When can we do it again??
 

County Fair 2014

Whew!! Thank goodness this week is over. I feel like I have been ran over by a train, and guessing from the kid in his bed, sleeping at 12:51 in the afternoon, and the other 2 men flopped on the couch, they are feeling the same way!

Here are our results from the fair!

For level 2 foods, Tristen made a German Chocolate Cake, Orange Chiffon Cake, and Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies.  He was awarded Champion level 2 with his German Chocolate Cake.  This is his Dad's favorite cake, and we've now tried several different recipes. This one, though, is a keeper and the new favorite!  He got to take it to the auction. His other goodies got state fair blues.


He also entered a flag case, and got reserve.  This flag case will be given to my mom, to put the flag in that was on top of my dad's casket.

Rabbits he was awarded both Grand and Reserve with Tort Dutch.
 

And his steer got a blue.  The steers are a long and dramatic story, but I'll just say we are all kind of glad to be done for a while. He also got a blue in Beef showmanship.
 


Jacob took a rocket this year. It was a level 5, and about half way though I wasn't sure he would be able to complete it! Things flying across the room usually are not a good sign!   (There wasn't even a level 5 to mark on the report you have to check in into the fair. Only through 4. It was pretty wicked!)  He did, and flew it successfully. Despite a few problems, he was still awarded Grand Champion with it.

He made fishing pole holder for our house, and got Grand on it. He's run out of places to put things for his room..his mother may or may not take this to her advantage with "suggestions" on projects to make!

He took 3 rabbits...2 which were really really young, and one that was really too old. He's been working hard on them, just doesn't have much show wise right now. Those that he took got blues.

His steer also got a blue, as well as blue in Beef Showmanship.  Jacob was awarded the small animal herdsmanship award.
 

 

 


 I entered 3 pictures, one receiving a red, the other 2 blues. I took a plate of pretty green peppers from my garden, and got a blue, and took 2 jars of Monster Energy Jelly. I was hoping for a blue, figured I would get a red, because its just really a strange thing, but couldn't believe it when Tristen sent a text saying they had slapped a grand champion ribbon on my jars! I also took 4 rabbits to our fair. My Havana doe got Grand. I have been itching to get her to a show. She's a senior now, but hasn't been able to get to a show because she was born at a weird time. Too young for this show, out of coat for this one... I'm not sure I'm going to keep her to show, or if I should just get her bred. Hmmm. Anyway, the reserve went a a little chocolate mini rex of mine.

All and all, it was a good fair. I think we just have so much going on, both on the schedules, and in our hearts, that we just weren't all there this year. I usually love fair week.  I also think having a fair board member in our family adds to it. Though the drama doesn't really involve me, I KNOW about what goes on or what issues come up. I think people would really be surprised and shocked at some of the things these guys deal with.

On to next year!