In honor of Brandon's 30th birthday this weekend, we planned a mountain getaway. Here's a photo of Longs Peak, the only fourteener in Rocky Mountain National Park.


There's a charming little Catholic church made of stone out in the middle of the mountains. Photos don't do this church justice!



Here's a photo from inside the charming little church.



Here's a photo of the beautiful changing leaves.

Koda loved running around the woods. He and his golden retriever buddy, Memphis, played chase-the-pinecones on Saturday.

Here's a picture of a happy Koda with Brandon relaxing in the background.

We're heading up to Estes Park this weekend to celebrate Brandon's 30th birthday. Earlier this week, he was feeling that same feeling I think we all get in some form when this milestone hits. I jokingly said, "Oh, Brandon- that's so 2006 to be worried about your looming 30th birthday" since me and most of my friends all had our 30th birthdays what feels like years ago. What's he feeling bad about, anyway- he's a toddler compared to us!

It's supposed to be cold in Denver this weekend, so I've pulled out all my sweaters, and I'll finally get to wear my new red vest. You know if it's cold in Denver, it's going to be really cool up in the mountains. The first time I went camping in the mountains, I forgot about the temperature difference, and just brought a few blankets along. Having learned a lesson the hard way, I immediately invested in a sleeping bag the following week, and haven't been camping since. Go figure.

Have a great weekend, all. I'm looking forward to being away and will hopefully drink in the beauty of the Rockies for some pre-race inspiration. Only 9 days to the half-marathon!

(a friend recently pointed out that I used to talk about my dog 24/7 on my blog, but now it's shifted to my dog AND running, so thought I'd shake things up by talking about mountains and birthdays this time) :)

Am I dreaming?

If you ever get a chance to train for a race, whether it's a marathon, half-marathon, or 5k, I highly recommend it. It has done wonders for shaking up my normal routine, and for helping to refresh my sense of self. I feel like a new and improved version of myself. I have a new appreciation for my body- both it's abilities and limitations. I'm listening to my knees and feet and hips. Trust me- they've been talkin' to me. I feel like if I can survive this, there are a lot of other things out there I can accomplish if I set aside the time and make the effort. I still have the 13.1 mile mark to hit, but if I can do this type of thing, trust me- you can, too. We signed up in January, and I couldn't even run a full mile without stopping.

I ran 10 miles yesterday and know what Body Glide and Clif shots are. I'm cheering out loud for the Rockies as they enter the bottom of the 12th inning. I have to keep my hands busy making some new necklace charms to remind myself that I'm still Nicki- just version 2.0.

Even though a lot of the scenery in downtown seems so very gray with the graffitti and concrete that surrounds us, I can't help but appreciate the odd things that I find visually stunning. For example, there's a big parking lot we often walk by with with red, white, and a blue metal fence surrounding one edge. In the first photo, you can see the blue metal on the left and the red metal on the right. I notice this every time we walk, and today wondered to myself, "Does anyone else take the time to appreciate the way the red, white, and blue repeat themselves in the midst of the neutral grays and tans in the background?

There's also a parking lot we walk by with a stunning vintage neon sign that reads "Parking," along with a red arrow that points you in the right direction. Immediately inside the parking garage, the white and royal blue section of the wall with these sort of fanciful swirls caught my attention today.

Thanks so much for all your sweet comments about Koda. He's doing great! He was very out of it on Thursday after his anesthesia. He's was on the equivalent of codeine for the five days following his surgery, and while I would have been a mess, he was for the most part same old Koda.

On Saturday, I took him for a walk, and you could tell he just wanted to run. We played it cool and walked, though, because dogs just don't show pain or injury the same way a human does. His stitches seem to be healing well. Our poor little guy has a space where his tooth used to be, but luckily, he never shows his teeth unless he's growling at another dog- a very rare occurance for Koda. He's a lover, not a fighter!

We live in a neighborhood full of all sorts of dogs, including lots of little dogs who bark furiously and look like they want to attack as their owners at the other end of their leash try to control them. Koda's always so calm, sometimes a bit curious, but he never barks back. Such a sweet puppy.