Monthly Archives: April 2013

Accountability ROCKS!!

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Mother Nature has brought us another crazy weather week in the Midwest.  On Sunday we had sunshine, amazing temps and a little wind.  Monday, no wind & 80 degrees.  I  laced up after work, welcomed the good weather and hit the road even though I’m not at all acclimated to running in 80 degrees!  I thoroughly enjoyed it!  By Tuesday, it was going downhill as the storms moved in bringing back the cold, rain and severe weather. 

Last night was not warm.  Or dry.  Or fun.  However, it was still WED and that means a 5pm run with the running club.  The running club where people show up regardless of the  weather.  The running club that holds it’s members accountable during good weather and bad.  During short runs and long ones.  Accountability is a powerful thing and it brought 4 of us out last night even in the blowing rain.  Yes, a small number compared to normal but runners still showed up! 

I have to shout out my thanks to these people.  Susan (not pictured), Betsy & John.   Had it not been for them, I would have gone home.  I think we are all at our wits end with the cold.  Then add blowing rain and it would have been over for me.  In fact, I’m pretty sure we all sat in our car for a bit mumbling under our breath when others pulled into the parking area.  But hey, what are friends for if not to help us move it up and out when we would rather go home and be lazy. 

So if you’re having trouble getting motivated.  Or staying motivated.  Or training consistently …..  I strongly encourage you to find a group, partner, or running club with whom you can be accountable.  It helps.  It works.  It will be a game changer for you and enable you to take your runs/workouts to the next level.

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So get out and go, regardless of the weather.  Just try to dress appropriately and avoid lightening storms.   Other than lightening, you can probably survive AND enjoy running in just about any type of weather.  Try it.

Do you have a running partner, or members of a run club, that you can always count on showing up? 

** Be Accountable ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Venus de Miles Ambassador…..

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Last year, I had an amazing time at the Venus de Miles event despite some pretty major bike issues.  Feel free to read about the entire debacle day HERE, where had it not been for SAG support and on course support/riders who helped me, I wouldn’t have finished.  I have nothing but thanks and praise for all the people who provided assistance during the 2012 ride!  Therefore, when I was invited to be an ambassador for the 2013 ride, I accepted without hesitation. 

The 2013 Venus de Miles event for Illinois will take place on July 28, 2013.  It will cruise thru Lake Forest and surrounding burbs, forest preserves and local bike paths.  The ride offers two options, a 25 mile and 61 mile route.  The participants will range from hard core “biker babes” to casual riders.  I can attest to this because I was toward the front when we left Lake Forest until mile 30 when I was out, roadside with tire puncture issues.  After lengthy repairs I returned to the course and was all the way  at the very back with the sweepers.  Riding with the sweepers was a great experience, they were strong riders and would hold up at every rest stop for a lengthy amount time to allow the ladies bringing up the rear to enjoy a leisurely ride as long as they were capable.

Me riding into the finish area after a LONG ass day ride.  I was thrilled to be done!

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Venus de Miles was a great ride but I think the after party took the event to a level like no other offered in the biking community.  The ride was for women, designed by women and the after party definitely focused providing a top of the line experience with gourmet food and feminine fun!  This is the info from the website since it would be impossible to do it justice otherwise:

Post Ride Festival
The fun doesn’t stop when you cross the finish line. Invite your family and friends who couldn’t join in the ride and put your post-ride endorphin high to good use at our celebration at Lake Forest College.

The ride also has a charity component supporting Greenhouse Scholars, “an organization dedicated to helping high-performing, under-resourced students reach their full potential by providing scholarships to attend college and other resources to help them become community leaders.”

So save the date, July 28th, Lake Forest, IL and plan to join me and the other ambassadors to make the 2013 ride the best one yet!  

This is a photo of a few friends from the 2012 ride.  Several of these ladies are also 2013 ambassadors:  Lauren, Erin, Kelly, MacKenna & Me

Venus 2012_Lauren Erin Kelly MacKenna Me

Free race entry “may” follow, so keep an eye out! 

** Ride like a Venus  ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** 

2013 Shamrock Shuffle 8K

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It wouldn’t be fair to title this a “race review” since I’m clearly in love with the race.  I do understand that it’s not for everyone; however, it is definitely a tradition for me!  I love everything from the family friendly expo to the fast paced race thru the streets of Chicago.  Add in the green sparkle skirts, green men, and the amazing atmosphere and it would be hard to keep me away. The Shamrock is really a weekend event for me, not just a race.  I have friends who come from out of town and locals who go with to the expo for a full day of downtown shopping.  The expo was good this year with lots of stuff for the kids:  a magician, balloons, noise makers, sunglasses, candy and snacks galore!  There were a few things for the parents too from great deals on gear/shoes to naked men models from the Women Rock Chicago calendars.  (L to R:  Me, Pam, Mr. April, Amy, Mr. July & Nicki)

Womens Rock Models

Aby even made a shoe painting with Nike Free’s!

Aby Shoe Painting   Aby Shoe Painting_finished

And we came home with lots of loot.

Expo Loot

Sunday was race day.  The expo & downtown walking/shopping, plus my marathon training took its toll and my legs were definitely tired.  I knew this.  What I didn’t know was how that, plus my lack of speed training, plus my extra 6 lbs would effect my race time.  I can honestly say that this is the first event in a long time where I toed the line having no idea what to expect.  So I ran by feel.  Can’t trust the GPS watches downtown anyhow because one minute they say your running a 3:50 pace (right, I wish!!!) and the next it reads a 16:50 pace.  Total confusion.  If you “need” your watch, then go with a foot pod. The course was particularly crowded this year, possibly because I was running slower.  I did lots of weaving around.  The course had a detour, due to a jumper on one of the bridges over the Chicago River, but the course change was imperceptible and seamless.  As always, the Shamrock organizers did a fantastic job of running us thru the city streets as fast as possible.  I loved every minute of it and although I never ran particularly fast, I felt good, had zero foot pain and just enjoyed the moment. Last year I run just under 39 minutes even with a bit of a wardrobe issue.  I should have been faster.  So yesterday, as I was entering the 3rd mile, I flipped over to my time view in an effort to get under 39 minutes again this year.  I didn’t make it.  I finished in 39:23, officially a 7:56 pace although my weaving gave me a lot more real estate than the normal 8K distance so my Garmin pace recorded a 7:35.  Does it matter?  NO!  However, I was unofficially shooting for a 7:30ish average and to be honest, the race felt a lot more controlled that last year so I’ll take it as a win.  Smile My official goal for the 2013 Shamrock was to have fun and get a photo with the green me.  Guess who I saw as soon as I crossed the finish?

Green Men & Me

Hell, yeah!  Mission accomplished!  Let’s go grab some of that free beer now!  Thanks ladies for hanging downtown with me and sharing those beer tickets!  I had a blast.  My fellow lushes Shufflers from L to R (back):  Meg, Dawn, Michelle, Nicki, & Kerry.  Front:  April & Me.

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Apparently we looked like we were having an amazing time because fellow Shufflers were giving us their unused beer tickets as they were leaving the Green Men found us again and took another photo with us.

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And they gave us their card.  Find the Green “Guys” on Facebook and “like” them cuz I know you already LOVE  them.  Fun times!!!

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Until next year, keep on Shuffling! ** ShamROCK Chicago ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Other Shamrock Shuffle posts & photos hosted by the MagMileRunner blog hop:

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Shamrock, ShamROCK, SHAMROCK Shuffle Time!!!

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The time has finally arrived and even though its April and we should be looking for spring flowers, we are instead still hung up on Saint Patrick’s Day as we await the annual Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago.  Thanks, Bank of America for trying to get us a day with great weather even if we are already looking forward to Cinco de Mayo!

If you haven’t ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, your missing out.  Everyone says so.  Just ask Kelly at Running Kellometers!  The Shamrock Shuffle is “officially” THE.BEST.RACE.EVER at least in our opinion!  Even the chick on the promo page thinks so, look how happy she is to be wearing green and ShamROCKing Chicago!    

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And if you know the chick above, I’d LOVE to meet her.  In fact, Kelly would too cuz we know a Shamrock lover when we see one!  Tell her to look for the green sparkle skirts, the ones chasing down the green men for another photo.  The photo below, maybe just be the best photo that I’ve ever gotten at a race and I didn’t even “get” it.  This was courtesy of Nicole F, first from left.  Ms. Fastie can run AND carry her camera simultaneously!  Win!!  So myself, Maggie & Kelly were able to score big on her talent!  No fear, I’ll have my FlipBelt this year so I WILL have a camera on me at all time.  Watch out!

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If the amazing chick from the Shamrock Shuffle promo still can’t pick us out of the crowd since there will be so many fab women in green Team Sparkle skirts, then she should come to the beer tent after party and look for the crazy lady holding the green dye.  I mean really, what kind of St Patrick’s Day party can we have without green beer?

Green Corona

And yes, Brian J, I did steal your photo of this green beer.  Don’t sue me, okay?  I did put the die in that beer for you so it makes it half mine, right?  If not, I’ve already been punished enough by having to steal it from your mobile uploads.  Dude, you have some scary shit in that folder!

Yes, I’m looking forward to the Shamrock.  This will be the first of a billion posts about it.  The best part of the event, besides the fact that it’s the BEST.RACE.EVER., is that the whole weekend is about my run friends/family, even the Emendorfer’s come to town each year to whooooop it up with me!

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So look for my green sparkly crew!   We will be here, there and EVERYWHERE!

Hilton Crew_pre-race

** Happy ShamROCKing ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Chicago Running Bloggers Invade Road Runner Sports

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Although I’m a loyal patron of my local running store in Palos Heights, IL, I love a good run related event!   If we add in a few Chicago Running Bloggers to a run related event then I’ll beg my hubby to let me out of the house  do my best to attend.  So I stopped by Road Runner Sports on Kingsbury in Chicago this week to run and hang out with other area bloggers.

A few of us came early for a 3 mile fun run.  From left to right:  Lauren (Lauren Runs to TRI), Erin (Eri-thon), Kelly (Running Kellometers), Me, Maggie (Mag Mile Runner) & Sierra (Posh Meets Pavement). 

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Although running thru downtown Chicago during rush hour is less than ideal, we still had fun, plus got to demo the new Mizuno’s that the rep had on hand!

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Most of us were in the Wave Inspire 9s, which is a stability shoe.  These are Aby’s shoe of choice and I’ve never cared for them during previous demos.  However, over the course of those 3 miles, they were light, roomy, not too tight on my piggies and my heel did not slip.  This tells me that they have changed a lot over the last couple generations.  In fact, I really liked them and I’m thinking that Aby and I will be twins soon because when I pick up her new pair, I’m getting some for momma too! She really hates it when I make her dress like me just loves it when we match.  Open-mouthed smile

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After the fun run, they made us give the Mizuno’s back we got to chat up other area bloggers, enjoy pizza, beer & water, plus we received an overview of the Shoe Dog system & technology. 

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Although, I didn’t need new shoes, I did take advantage of being fitted and also let them create inserts for my shoes with their super secret technology.  I have approval to move away from the “post style” orthotics from the doc and back toward normal shoe inserts.  These custom inserts from Shoe Dog & Road Runner Sports were molded directly to my feet and they are a stepping stone, a halfway point if you will, between doctor made orthotics and normal shoe inserts.  They cost $80 and will last 1500 to 2000 miles, then I will hopefully be able to run without adding anything extra to my shoes!  Yay for forward progress!

I’ve been a Road Runner Sports fan for a while even though I had not previously been inside a store.  I frequently use their online site to purchase TRI equipment, and random things that I need now that my local run store doesn’t carry.  It’s the only online running retailer that I use that isn’t brand specific.  I shop there a lot and am a VIP member.  I purchased the  “VIP” membership for $1.99 on my first purchase to secure a 10% discount (on every purchase, more if they have a special promo) and then they ship all purchases for free and very quickly.  I don’t think it’s ever taken more than 2 days.  Super cool, particularly when you can’t get to the local run store and you need something fast.  I’m a big fan and I really dislike paying shipping costs!

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So all in all, I had a great night with my Chicago Running Blogger friends. I enjoyed learning about the Shoe Dog process even though Mel D. can do the same thing just by looking at us stand/walk/run & I love my new shoe inserts.  I’m definitely a Road Runner Sports fan and highly recommend them if you need something fast and you can’t get to the local run store OR if you can get to one of their real store locations and get fitted IN PERSON with the Shoe Dog software & a knowledgeable sales rep.  I personally, wouldn’t advise any type of online system that tries to “recommend” a perfect shoe for your foot without actually seeing and talking with you first.  Shoes are important, don’t skimp on the process.

** I Run To Socialize ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Calling ALL Turtles!

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This is a shout out to all the slower runners!  The runners who sometimes describe themselves as “turtles”.  The runners who are sometimes too nervous to come to a group run for fear of not being able to keep up.

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We need you “turtles”!  We need you to be brave and to show up!  We need you to add diversity to our group runs, our running clubs, and our running communities.  We know you’re out there, now come join us! 

I’m currently part of an amazing group of runners, The Frankfort New Lenox Running Club, and I can honestly say that we have runners of all shapes, sizes and abilities. 

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However, the core of our group is in the 8:30 to 10:30 pace range.  We NEED more runners to fill in the slots from 11:00 to Run/Walk.  This helps our group accommodate new runners.  Although we welcome runners of all paces and distances, apparently, we don’t have enough turtles.  We have had complaints that more turtles are needed!

Are you a turtle?  Do you live in the south suburbs of Chicago and need people with whom to run?  If so, we NEED you!  We have people in your pace range, we just need to develop that aspect of a group a bit more so that we have turtles at EVERY run we offer.  And we run a lot.  We run on MON, TUE, WED & THUR evenings and SAT & SUN mornings.  One of those days can surely fit into your schedule, right?  So come out and introduce yourself or feel free to email the F’N Running Club for more info at fnrunningclub@gmail.com.

Help us out.  Please!

**  Always Looking For MORE Runners  **  amanda@tootallfritz.com  **

2014 Dopey Challenge

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A new era begins for endurance athletes at Walt Disney World in January 2014.  The ever popular Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend just got a little bit bigger and a little bit crazier.  In the past Disney has offered many events throughout the weekend to create a family friendly environment that encourages family fun thru movement, while also trying to cater to the crazy serious endurance athletes with longer and more grueling events.  Starting in 2006 they gave athletes the opportunity to test their limits with the Goofy’s Race and Half Challenge.  This “race” required participants to run the half marathon on Saturday, then turn around and run the full marathon on Sunday.  Goofy, right?  Absolutely!  However, I have friends who are “perfectly Goofy” having ran the Goofy Challenge every year since its inception.

For 2014, they upped the ante and are offering for the very first time, the Dopey Challenge.  Sir Dopey is a series of 4 events over the same amount of days.  5K, 10K, Half Marathon and FULL Marathon.

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From the runDisney website:

Run 48.6 miles of fun in the Dopey Challenge!

Are you ready for the ultimate endurance challenge?  Then take part in four days of fun for a total of 48.6 miles in the all-new Dopey Challenge!  Participants will run the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon, and if you complete all four races within the pacing requirements you will be awarded the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge medal and the brand new Dopey Challenge finisher medal for a total of six pieces of “bling.”

The Dopey Challenge will feature:

  • Four courses through Walt Disney World® Theme Parks totaling 48.6 miles
  • Disney Characters and Entertainment on-course
  • Event Weekend Transportation for Walt Disney World® Resort Guests
  • Family Reunion Area with entertainment and characters
  • Indulge and unwind at the Downtown Disney® After Party (Sunday evening)

Race participants in the Dopey Challenge will receive:

  • Champion® Women’s or Men’s cut*Long-Sleeved Tech Shirts for the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge & Dopey Challenge, and 5K cotton Unisex T-Shirt*
  • Special Dopey finisher medal, along with the commemorative medals for the Marathon, Half Marathon & Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, 10K finisher medal and the 5K finisher medallion*
  • Official Race Program Guide*
  • iGiftBag
  • Personalized bib (Must register by November 1, 2013 for name to appear on bib)*
  • On-course and post-race refreshments
  • ChronoTrack B-tag timed race
  • Personalized results website

So the real question is, are YOU Goofy or just plain ole Dopey?  Apparently, I must be Dopey!  This will be my first Disney race ever and I generally live by the “go big or go home” philosophy anyhow so I’ll be registering for Sir Dopey on April 9th when it opens.  I won’t be “racing” the series but enduring.  The plan is to run the miles, all 48.6 of them, and endure.  No more, no less.

** Go Big OR Go Home ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Be a Badass NOT a Victim …..

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You know me, or maybe people like me who walk around in shirts proclaiming “toughness”.  We may not verbally tell you that we are tough or that we are a badass but our shirts, tights, or maybe even our socks will give you a clue. 

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Photos above:  Kari – Running Ricig in the Relax Reflect Badass Tights, me in the 2012 Team Tough Chik TRI kit, & the Sock It to Me Badass socks.

I’ll let you in on a little secret.  We don’t really consider ourselves to be “that” tough.  We are projecting.  We want you to believe that we are tough, even if we don’t necessarily feel it inside.  Fake it til you make it, right? 

Perception is everything.  How others see us has a lot to do with how we carry ourselves.  What we say.  When we say it.  And what we DON’T say will speak volumes.  In today’s society, there is no place for weak women.  The weak become prey.  There are assholes predators lurking in the bushes, on our local trails, in our supermarket parking lots, everywhere really.  Don’t be scared but think for a minute about what you want to NON-VERBALLY convey to them?  What do you want them to think when they see you? 

Be confident.  Be a badass. 

Bad things happen to good people.  It’s not fair.  It sucks.  Some things are really beyond our control but how we react to a situation can possibly change the outcome. 

Be smart.  Be tough. Be confident.  Be a badass …. even when you don’t feel like one.  

I hope that when you see me in my “This is What Tough Looks Like” shirt, you think to  yourself, “Hmmm, she’s not so tough; I just saw her crying on the trail during her 20 miler last week!  I’m tougher than her!”  I hope that makes YOU feel stronger.  I hope that makes YOU feel like a badass.  I hope that gives YOU a confidence boost.  You are definitely tougher than me.   You are definitely a badass.  Live it.  Own it.  Project it.

Be confident.  Be a badass. 

So as your walking around today, I want you to focus on being confident.  I want you to look people in the eyes when you pass them.  I want you to say hello to perfect strangers.  I want you to look tough and feel like a badass walking thru your everyday life.  This is important, you need to project a confident air, even when you don’t feel it.  So pay attention to yourself because you never know when someone else is watching you and trying to decide 1) if you are paying attention to your surroundings and 2) if you are badass or a victim.  If can’t do it for yourself, do it for your daughters because those little eyes are watching EVERYTHING you do, learning your mannerisms, your strengths, your weaknesses, they are learning how to BE from watching you. 

Be confident.  Be a badass.

Me_BAMR shirt 

Badass Mother Runner shirt

In light of the recent attack of one of my run club members on Old Plank Trail in New Lenox, I want to revisit some previously written safety posts.  Please take a moment to open the links below and go over the runner safety tips.  If you have written a safety post in the past, please link it up in the comments below.  Thank you and please be safe.

Six Degrees of Separation …… Virtual Run For Sherry Arnold – February 12, 2012

Safety 1st, 2nd & 3rd – April 19, 2012 

** Be a Badass NOT a Victim ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Long Weekend ….. Long Miles ….. Long Hike …..

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We packed so much into the weekend that I should probably still be home recovering!  Good Friday started early as I hauled it up and out before the sun came up to go to Waterfall Glen in Darien, IL.  It’s not too far away but not necessarily close enough to hit too frequently.  I host a run there every Good Friday and Black Friday as an excuse to get the various running communities together and also have a few friendly faces with whom I can run the trail.  Beautiful location.  Beautiful Trails.  Beautiful weather.  Perfect 9.5 mile loop that is challenging for most of us, but still doable.

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The temps were good, high 20s when I got there at 6:30 am and near 50 when I left at 10:30.  This was the day of my last 20 miler for this marathon cycle (Lansing Marathon on 4/21/13) and I made almost 18 miles on the rolling hills before I needed to go home to the kiddos (and subsequently finish those last 2 miles on the treadmill later in the day).

The trail was mostly clear of snow and ice despite our erratic weather this year. And we were blessed with sunshine all day long.  Win!

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2013 Waterfall Glen Good Friday Runners:023

We also had a lot of runners who weren’t able to make the 8am start time (and above photo).  I saw many friendlies on the trail early, who came out to run a few miles or even the entire loop before heading off to work.  Great turnout with lots of new (and old) faces.  Thanks for coming, everyone!  I’ll see you on Black Friday, same time, same spot!!

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This is the first nice weekend we have had this year that was remotely warm without rain.  So I took full advantage of it by hitting another “somewhat” local trial on Saturday, not to run, but instead to let the kiddos burn off some steam hike.  Matthiessen Sate Park is in Utica, IL about a mile past a much more popular hiking arena, Starved Rock State Park.  While Starved Rock gets all the hype and is definitely more commercial and user friendly, Matthiessen is a hidden gem.  Less traffic.  Better hiking.  Amazing sites.  Plus the kids like to get dirty so it’s a total WIN for us!  Thanks to Aby’s friend, Kara for making the trip with us and “helping” out with the little man!!

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The best part about Matthiessen, in my opinion, is the waterfalls.   Some are easy to find, some are slightly hidden.  We even caught a few in a semi frozen state!

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The second best thing about Matthiessen, is the stairs.  Lots of stairs, inclines & bridges. 

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I love this place and try to bring the kids a couple times a year.  Depending on the season and the precipitation levels, the water may be free flowing like it was on Saturday or it can be totally dry like it was on our trip last summer.  Although the trails don’t change, the sites area always different.  Fun times.  The kids love it.  I love it.  We get to spend time outside together.  Win!

Did you do or see anything exciting this weekend?

** Run, Walk, Hike, MOVE ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **