Jam at the Damz

Today Ro and I were able to participate in the 'Jam at the Damz'!  We did the 10k course, and it was a lot of fun! :)  We raised $155 and discovered that we needed to raise $250 to earn the really cool biking jersey (bummer!)  The event had raised over $65,000 when we left!  It was for a great cause so I was really glad we went. We did get a nice t-shirt and had a lot of fun!  So when we were getting ready I had put on Ro's shoes because they said that there might be some thorns on the ground because they had mowed the grass at the sides of the sidewalk.

 (Here she is waiting before we head to the starting line)

I asked one of the volunteers how the track looked, and he said that it was clear that over night all the thorns and such had been blown to the side and as long as we stuck to the sidewalk he didn't think her feet would have a problem.  Ro is not overly thrilled with her boots, so I decided I'd just take them and try it without them.  

Here we are at the starting line!

So me and Ro were doing really well, we were heading up the 10k pack (there were other racers doing the 25k, 50k, and 100k that started before the 10kers)  along with one other fellow.  We got to what we thought was our checkpoint, but the volunteer said "Not yet, keep going you are doing great!"  So we kept going.  It was quite a large hill, I was very surprised and said to the gentlemen "I hate to think how the kids are going to manage this hill..." because there were quite a few kids in our 10k race, but they had other bikers with them.  So we kept going.  We got a little behind the other fellow because there was a large downhill, and I like to give Ro a break after a long downhill.  So we went another half mile or so and started up this hill that I thought was GIANT!  (We are used to Wash Park which is mostly flat!) 

 Here is me showing Ro where we were headed!

 A far away shot of the course, we headed up that next hill (this was a little ways after the first large hill).

 It's hard to see, but the trail goes all the way up the far hill.

So...around the time we were 3/4 of the way up the third large hill, another volunteer catches up to us and was like "We are so sorry, but the lady told you wrong, you weren't supposed to come up any of the hills, the 10k course is back the other way."  Leave it to me to get lost!!!  So we turned around and finished the race.  We ended up around the middle/front of the pack due to our extra couple miles going UPHILL!!  We laughed about it, and now Ro's distance is even farther.  There were 4 stations that you punched a checkpoint card, and at the end we had "Jam the Damz'. 

 (Another nice photo from the extra part of the race, it was pretty so it was worth going!)

 This was during one of our water/rest breaks.

After the race, showing off how our punch pass was complete!  As you can see Ro needed a long rest!  I tried to have her give me her water bowl after and she just looked at me like "You have to be kidding mom, I just ran a marathon!"

 

This was Ro after she got a few minutes to catch her breath.  My tired, but happy dog! :)

CaPR- Bow Ties and Tails Event!

Zane, Ro and I were able to attend the CaPR: Bow Ties and Tail Event on Saturday.  I forgot to take pictures...but there was a photographer there so hopefully I can acquire some of them later!  I did remember once we got home, so I took a cute photo of Ro with her bow tie on.

Ro was the lucky dog that got to pick a tennis ball at the end for the winner of the big prize for the night!  I was joking that Ro would accept bribes because she is good at the 'Drop' cue, and I could have her put the ball back if it wasn't the persons...and then she really did drop one!  Made me laugh! :)  She did a really good job behaving.  We had the normal 'arrival excitement' that comes with having such a happy girl, but overall she did fabulous.  Zane even commented after we left that she did a fantastic job.  If I do get some photos I'll make sure to add them to the post.  Have a good week!

I can't believe how far behind I am on updates once again!  I'm a happy to say that Ro and I are having a fabulous year at school so far! Much different from last year.  She is settling in nicely and not having tummy issues like the beginning of last school year.  (She does try to sneak crumbs left from student snack, but not nearly as much).  I have been very busy with work and many nights we aren't home until at least 6.  Ro developed a strange bump on her ear, but the vet checked it and said it isn't anything we should worry about and it might even disappear over the coarse of a few months.  (Apparently it is quite common for younger dogs...)  Overall her health was super good!  Her weight is perfect and she behaves really nicely.
Ro and I have been busy getting in shape for our 10k next Saturday at Jam at the Damz!  We are on the Adaptive Adventures team (the group that has been lending us a hand-cycles each week).  We set up a donation page to help with our registration fees, so if you'd like to help please check it out! http://www.grouprev.com/shannonandro?saved=1
We are now up to 7 miles without getting too tired, so we should be up for the 6 mile race hopefully running most of the way!  :)  Ro really likes getting out and running as do I!   
A few weeks ago we volunteered at the Ataxia Run, Walk, Roll.  Ro was doing such a good job I let her man the tent for a bit.

 And here is just a cute photo of her! :)

We are headed to the Bow Ties and Tails event for Canine Partners tonight, so I'm sure we'll take some more photos! 
I am very grateful for how flexible Ro can be.  Our lives a very full and crazy most days.  With work, three kids, and everything else we have going on it's nice to know she can handle it.  I thought for sure the beginning of the school year was going to be crazy.  A week before school started my grandmother passed away and we drove all the way to Salt Lake to attend the funeral and back over the coarse of only 2 days, and the next day had to start work.  I was so glad she was able to manage all of that (and me worrying!). I know there is so many more things I meant to post about, but at this moment I can't think of any of them!