The You Betcha Family's Summer Bucket List

What an awesome link up from Holly & Trista!

 

So, let's take a look at the You Betcha Family's Summer Bucket List...

 

 

Camping

 

Some good ol' tenting it. We will likely do this near a lake or river and mix in Fishing, Floating Down the River, or Both. Before we know it snowflakes will be falling again so we have to get in as much as we can while we can.

 

Backyard Bonfire

 

We have tried to get this one in a couple of times already and the weather keeps interrupting us. Rest assured we have the hot dog & s'mores materials ready for the next nice weekend evening Mother Nature gives us.

 

Fishing

 

Mr. You Betcha wouldn't let us get buy without this one. Honestly, I find being out on the lake very relaxing and many days it's the only way to beat the heat {or should I say humidity}.

 

Biking at Itasca

 

They have some amazing bike trails at Itasca State Park and ever since we went kayaking there two years ago we have wanted to go back to take Little Man biking. Kinda cool to have the Mississippi Headwaters practically in your backyard.

 

Float Down the River

 

If you have never experienced this I am sorry. It's a summer must around these parts.

 

Drive In Movie

 

Every summer we say we want to go and we never do. There is one only 45 minutes away and I say this year is our year. Only $5.00 for adults and 5 & under are free!

 

Minnesota Zoo

 

We have taken Little Man to a few smaller zoos and I think he is finally big enough to appreciate the Mac Daddy Zoo of the Great State of Minnesota. It really is a great zoo and I can't wait to see it trough my son's eyes.

 

Play in Sprinkler

 

Backyard fun at its best. Nothing better or cheaper than setting up the kiddie pool and the sprinkler.

 

Fireworks

 

This is also a summer given and another first for Little Man.

 

Alexandria Races

 

This is where Mr. You Betcha went on our first date. Since this summer marks 10 years since that magical night I think it's time for a walk down memory lane. We also got ice cream after the races so I might have to add that in.

 

Hometown Days

 

This is the first annual city celebration I am helping organize. I have several bundled up emotions regarding this event but it should be a good time.

 

Twin Cities COLOR RUN

 

Looking forward to meeting up with some of my bloggy friends for this FUN RUN. See you in July Lisa, Candis, and Kayla! Go Team COLOR ME RUNNING!

 

Grand Marais 5 Year Anniversary Trip

 

September will mark 5 years since I married the man who drives me crazy {I wouldn't have it any other way}. We plan on celebrating by traveling up the north shore for a few days to get away from life, just the two of us.

 

5k's

 

There are about 3 of 4 local 5k's Mr. You Betcha and I want to do together. I am not too serious about them and just plan on doing the best I can. However, like I said before Mr. You Betcha has gotten pretty intense about his running. He had me print him a training schedule and everything. He really wants to be the fastest fireman at the Smokin' Hot 5k the end of July.

 

Minnesota State Fair

 

This may or may not happen but I think it would be fun if it did. I haven't been there since I was a little girl. Sometimes huge groups of people stress me out so I might change my mind after The Zoo & The COLOR RUN.

 

Garage Saling

 

Sportin' Heels and Getting Deals Baby!

 

I realize that all this seems like alot. We will probably just take summer a day at a time and see what happens. Don't sweat the petty stuff and don't pet the sweaty stuff!

 



I have created a MONSTER!

It's been forever again and I'm sorry. I won't whine and tell you about how busy I am because if you know me at all you know it's true and I love the life I live. However, I wanted to drop in to tell you about the monster I have created.

No, I'm not talking about Little Man...

His current "THING" is scaring people in the most obvious way. I find it absolutely hilarious.

Back to my story...You see, in early May, Mr. You Betcha and I did a 5k to fulfill his wellness credits for work. It was his first 5k and I started the year with a PR. I wrote about it HERE.

The following weekend we did a run for Breast & Ovarian Cancer and we both officially PRed!

 

It was cold & windy {we are talking 20 mph sustained winds}!

 



I was pushing for 37 minutes of less and before the race he had told me he wanted to do it in 30 or less. The coarse was not laid out to make it easy. It was a turn around and there was a HUGE hill in the middle. So just after you went up it and came down the other side you had to turn around and go up it again! 

I look like a gomer but was happy to be closing in the the finish line!

 

My official time was 37 minutes and 12 seconds and although I was shooting for 37 minutes or less I will totally take it based on the circumstances. Heck, it was 2 minutes off my time the week before! I was damn proud!

 

 

Mr. You Betcha finished in 31 minutes and 41 seconds. Not far off his goal of 30 minutes or less. The weekend before he had a time of 35 minutes 45 seconds {he held back with me for over half of it}. I say not too bad for the first race he ever pushed himself at.

 

It was funny because that day he told me that 5k's weren't so bad and he would probably continue to do them with me because they made him feel good. That was until this came out...

 

A neighboring fire department is hosting a 5k Run/Walk and  will be presenting an award for the Fastest Fireman and someone has decided he it out for blood bragging rights.

He has been cracking the whip and most nights tells me we need to go in the basement and workout/train. This is usually as I am sitting on the couch looking at him like "You have fun!" This girlfriend has had NO motivation lately.

Just wanted to share with everybody....I think it's funny....I have created a MONSTER!

New Blogger Love

Hey Friends,

Go check out Mary at Life With Mary Britni.

She is my newest follower and is hosting her first giveaway HERE.

 

I Unofficially PR'ed!

I know I haven't been around lately and for that I apologize. Let's just say April was a cold {we had extra below average temps for April} mess!

I just wanted to swing in to tell you all about my unofficial 5K last Sunday. I was super nervous because it was the first time Mr. You Betcha and I ran together. It was a walk/run hosted by his employer to earn their wellness credits for the year. I was terrified that I was going to in some way embarrass him.

Picture of nervous me on the way to the 5k.

You see, earlier that morning we had gone to a neighboring fire departments pancake feed and I was convinced that half way through I was going to be in dire need of taking a pancake poop. -OR- I was going to vomit in front of everyone. -OR- I would have to be hauled away on a stretcher.

Good news is NONE of those things happened and I unofficially PR'ed!

Since the walk/run was the easiest of several activities that employees could do to fulfill their wellness credits for the year the majority of participates showed up in their jeans and hunting boots. It was clear that many were just there to put in their time and were planning on walking it {there is nothing wrong with that}.

When the group was gathering by the starting line Mr. You Betcha and I decided we wanted to see what others were going to do; we didn't want to be the only "runners."  Mr. You Betcha got in a few good laughs because I kept scanning the crowd looking for others who might be "runners" and saying things like, "She has running pants on!" and "That guy looks geared up to run!"

When the fitness coordinator gave everyone the go ahead to start and a handful took off at a jogging pace so did we. We stuck together for the first half doing my walking/jogging intervals but I could tell that I was holding him back. I kept telling him to go ahead and that he didn't have to wait for me. It took much convincing but finally when I went into one of my walking intervals he kept going.

Mr. You Betcha finished around 35 minutes 45 seconds and I wasn't too far behind him at 39 minutes 15 seconds. Almost 2 minutes less than it took Lisa and I to run/jog/walk/crawl our first 5k last September! WooHoo!

Finally, I am pleased to announce that this crazy girl is doing another 5k tomorrow for Breast & Ovarian Cancer and YES I am dragging Mr. You Betcha along. I am encouraging him to do his own thing for the entire race since I think he is curios as to what he is capable of. I am pushing for a time of 37 minutes or less but we will see what happens. I will try to take more/better pictures and get a recap up for you guys early next week. I have missed everybody!

Here's to being better, to being faster, and to being stronger!

Thursday Tale from the Scale

one hundred sixty nine point four
DOWN 12.6 lbs TOTAL

I wish this was due to some clean eating and exercise but in all honesty it is 100% from being sick. However,  I have not seen the 160s in close to 5 years so I will take it all day long!

I'm on Day 6 of my antibiotic and feeling much better so am working on getting back into my routine. I need to get some decent groceries, dust off 30 Day Shred, open my Zumba DVDs, and fire up the treadmill lace up my sneakers and run outside because it has been beautiful.

I am getting SUPER excited for the upcoming 5k season and have been looking for local races to do this summer besides The Color Run. I have 8 that are for sure on the list and a few that are maybes.

I have been playing around with the idea of a 10k or a Half-Marathon but I just don't know...