Road Trip!

Post workout boat cruise

Jack's prize

It was hilly and windy





In search of sun and warmer weather, I cashed in on an offer to come to Southern Illinois for the weekend. With Adam still gone, and Jack and I at home trying to find some spring break fun, we loaded up the car, and headed 5 1/2 hours south to meet up with my friend Debbie at her lake house. The long drive was worth it for some warmer temps, outside training, and just hanging out by the lake.

Friday Debbie and I switched off watching all the boys to get our workouts in. (this is just 1 of many creative ways moms of younger kids get their training in) So, Friday morning I headed out for a windy, and very hilly brick workout. It was 1 1/2 hrs of riding up and down steep hills followed by the same amount of running over the same hills. It is pretty remote and at times I was a little nervous about being snagged by someone in a pick up with a gun rack on the back of their pick up, or being bit by dogs chasing me, but the scenery was pretty and the little bit of fear got me moving over the hills. Next it was Debbie's turn to do her workout, and I played with the boys watching them jump off the dock into freezing water, swim, run around like boys, feed fish and catch them and all kinds of crazy boy stuff. Jack was having the time of his life. 6 hrs later, with both of us done with workouts, we headed out for a boat ride around Lake of Egypt. It gave me the urge to go water skiing which I haven't done in years but love.

Saturday Debbie's husband was there and took all the boys out fishing so we were able to do a long ride together in the hills and wind again. The temps eventually reached 70 that day, but the wind made our ride a little chilly in the morning. I wasn't complaining too much because I was just glad to be outside observing that there is actually green leaves and trees with purple flowers blooming in Illinois right now. Its interesting too; in southern Illinois, road kill not only includes dead squirrels and rodents, but dead fish carcases too. The rest of the afternoon we hung out, on the boat and deck (without coats even!) Jack caught fish and was so excited and having a blast being all boy, all weekend, totally making the trip worth it.

In the afternoon I got word Adam had qualified for Kona out in Oceanside. I am so happy for him and relieved to see all the hard work paying off, and yessssssss this means another trip to Kona :) and more beach and surf time for me. I'll have to dig out my Iron Maiden armor again though. I had a huge hunch I'd be dusting it off again for Kona. October is a long way off and there is a lot of Ironman training ahead as he plans to do IM Wisconsin and Kona this year.


Thanks to Debbie for a fun weekend, hopefully we didn't wear out our welcome as we may need to come back for another get away sometime.