Friday, July 22, 2011

Make Your Own Arm Warmers

Between drinking wine and being at 9,500 feet in Breckenridge, Colorado, I have killed a few brain cells in the last 24 hours.

I forgot my arm warmers, which is a problem when you wake up to run or bike and it is 35 degrees. So, I did what any cheapskate full blooded American would do and stopped at Wal-Mart and bought some men’s socks.

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I cut off the toes, and voila, arm warmers, 2/$5.00. Can’t get that from a running store.

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I even thought I could repurpose the leftovers for as toe warmers or a hat for my guinea pig. I love how these hide my hideously long Morton’s Toe.

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Ken and I headed out early for a ride from Breckenridge to Copper Mountain. About 33 miles round trip with 1,500 feet elevation gain. You may wonder why I always give the elevation gain. That is my way of saying it was a big hill and it was hard. We met up with my friend Julie, Duathlon champion. She kicks my butt every time. That’s Copper Mountain ski area behind us.

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It was cold as shit at the start. My fancy arm warmers are under my shirt and I’m still freezing.

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I had to stuff my hands down my pants to get them warm on the way up. The whole ride to Copper was basically in the shade because the sun hasn’t made it over the mountains yet. Wish I had a picture of me copping a feel on myself, but I don’t.

After this kick ass ride, we caught up with my parents and my brother and his family. My parents rented a house up here for all of us for the week to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. It is awesome. Pure heaven. Here’s the view from the house:

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My brother lives in D.C., so I don’t get to see him that much. It is really fun to have all of us together. Although he did lay a mean fart in the kitchen this morning and let me walk through it with no warning . He also clogged the toilet, but I said I wouldn’t tell. Like brother, like sister. He does grill a mean pork loin, however.

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After our bike ride, we all drove up Boreas Pass which takes you to 11,400 feet. We then did a gorgeous hike up above tree line. Like I always say, it sucks to live here.

Here are the parental units who conceived baby SUAR. You can write them a thank you note if you’d like. Or a hate mail note.

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Now I’m resting and gearing up for happy hour which I totally deserve.

Tomorrow a.m.? Ken and I are going to run some of Boreas Pass. Ken is doing the Colorado Relay and his leg is an 8 mile ascent up to the top of the pass. He wants to do a dry run. But, no dry hump.

My favorite picture so far from the trip: Emma and my dad.

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Do you ever take trips with your extended family? Like it or hate it? We don’t do this type of thing often. I like having all of us together, but I hate it when my brother pulls my hair and reads my diary (oh, wait that was fifth grade).

Beach or mountains for a vacation? I am actually a total beach person. As much as I love the mountains, I think I like the beach even more. Actually, give me both of them together and it would be about perfect.

SUAR

44 comments:

  1. Never EVER take trips with family. Wouldn't even consider it. My wife's family is a different story. That's ok.

    Beach. Or Mountains. Yes to both.

    I'd have been astonished if you had taken a pic of yourself with both hands in your pants. Now THAT would be a special hidden talent.

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  2. Love the pics! My favorite is a toss up between the one of your Dad and Em and the one of you showing off your arm warmers with your brother completely uninterested in this accomplishment sitting on the couch. LOL.

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  3. The elevation in Breck is a killer! We were just there last month visiting family, and set out for a deceptively easy run the first day, only to realize about 10 miles later that we had actually been running *downhill*, meaning the trek home would be entirely *uphill*. I think my husband and I were gone for about half the day. The older I get the less I like the sun on my skin, so I'm definitely more a mountain person than a beach person. Luckily my dad & his wife now live in Breckenridge, so we always have free lodging with built-in babysitters (which balances out the negative aspects of too much family togetherness :)

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  4. I love the pic with your parents in the background...hahaha! They are sooo not interested in your nifty arm warmers.

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  5. Great idea on the socks-turned-arm-warmers! Gonna have to steal that one.

    Really like the picture of Emma and your dad. So, so cute.

    We don't travel with extended family much (they all live here, in the same town, we probably see enough of one another ;) ) but you've got me thinking...would be fun to go for a weekend to some place cool, like this amazing-looking mt. retreat you're at...

    BEACH for sure. Mountains are gorgeous, and love the hiking part, but I feel like I'm at complete peace at the beach -- especially Lake Michigan. There's nothing like freshwater. Speaking of which, you and your family must come to northern Michigan. I'll show you the most beautiful beaches! :)

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  7. Those are some awesome pictures! Pork loin- is that really just a fancy term for pig "sausage"?
    Trip with family? Nah, I'd rather leave my wife and kids beh...oh, extended family...uh, we've tried that a few times and we hate it. I love my parents, but they are too go, go, go for me! My MIL? Just annoying. But if I had to choose, I'd choose my mother in law because it's fun to watch her piss my wife off :) Mean and evil, but true.
    Beach or mountains? Either! My family would hate the mountains, but I'd be happy in both places!

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  8. I've taken one (or two) vacas with my hubby's family. Don't care to ever do that again.
    I love the beach and we usually vacation to the beach but if given the chance to head out to CO and take in those sights I would be all on it.
    Love the pics!

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  9. gosh it looks beautiful !!! and the though of needing arm warmers is unbelievable to me as we are in the midst of a heat wave

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  10. My boyfriend, sister, and her boyfriend all come on vacation with us and I love it. It is so nice to have everyone together since we all have such busy schedules

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  11. you definitely deserve happy hour! 35 degrees?? it is 95 where i am!

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  12. I think the ideal place to live would be to plop Colorado along the Pacific Ocean! Someone asked me if I ever tire of running in the CO mountains....no, never, but a beach run is pretty cool!

    Have a blast during the rest of your trip. I'm out of town next week and won't be able to read your blog...let me know if anything exciting pops up back in Denverland!

    Loving the picture of your dad and Emma, best ever!

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  13. It is sooo beautiful up there! My husband is doing the Copper Triangle in a couple of weeks, so we'll be up there the whole weekend! We can't wait!!
    How fun that you get to do a mini vacation with your extended family! We've done it in the past up in Grand Lake and it's always been awesome!

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  14. Since when does somebody from COLORADO require arm warmers when it is 35 degrees out?

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  15. Just got back from 3 weeks at the beach with family.... Loved it!!! Kids spending quality time with cousins.... we have help with the kids.

    Wanted to comment that it was over 80 degrees at 6:30 here this morning. Going to get over 100 today. Your pictures are a breath of fresh air. Loved them!

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  16. Oh goodness, those pictures actually made my heart flutter--I love Breckenridge so much!! When we were there last summer (yes, I'm still living in the past) I remember waking up to those mornings in the 30's. I thought they were so glorious. I'm living vicariously through you and your pictures!!

    We used to do Outer Banks trips with extended family and I loved it. It was the only time I got to see my Cali cousins. Such great memories.

    There is something totally intoxicating about the beach AND the mountains, but I was totally taken by the mountains last summer. I'd never done a real mountain vacation before. I'm totally hooked. But, I grew up going to the beach and will always love that too. In my perfect world, I have a house at the beach and a house in the mountains. In the real world, I live in Missouri...

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  17. It's all coming together now that I see that picture of Emma and you dad... Ha!

    Your trip looks fantastic!

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  18. I LOVE vacationing with my extended family. My sister in law, Angie from Bitchy Runners, usually comes up from Texas in the summer but has yet to do so this year. ;(

    Mountains. Hands down. Ever since moving to Charlotte, being so close to the Appalachian's, I have fallen in love. The beach is hot and the ocean is sticky. Give me a cold river and a waterfall.

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  19. Love the view from the cabin! I could never go away on a trip with my paarents (it would dirve me crazy)!!

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  20. Wow what beautiful pics. No, I would never take a vacation with my "whole" family. I wouldnt be able to relax because I would be being judged the whole time. Loved your arm warmers, they looked great. Its neat to hear about you being in cooler temps. when here in Ohio the heat index is going to be 110 today. Have fun with your fam!

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  21. Niceeeee and economic! I totally did that with a pair of mine here: http://www.blondeponytail.com/2011/03/wanna-see-what-else-i-can-do-with-my.html

    Colorado is gorg--enjoy special time with your family and make sure you always have someone near to blame farts on.

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  22. Shut up about having to wear arm warmers and working out when it is 35 degrees outside (it's 100 degrees here with 90% humidity and I am really pissed about it and now I am pissed at you). By the way, I thought I was the only person to call my parents "parental units." hugs...when i am not mad anymore.

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  23. Jamoosh...ever ridden a bike in 35 degree weather? Coming down a mountain will freeze your nuts off.

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  24. I would drown myself in a hot tub before taking a trip with extended family. Or strangle myself with homemade arm warmers.

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  25. Mom and I took a "Thelma & Louise" trip to San Francisco a couple of years ago (minus the part where we drive over a cliff of course). Yes to both mountains and beach.

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  26. I buy the Hanes men's tube socks in a pack of 6 for under 7 dollars and use those as "throw aways" for races.

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  27. Mountains will always win out over beach. I grew up smack dab between both. The beach = sand in my crotch. Mountains = eating obscure berries and hoping I don't die. Way more fun.

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  28. The arm warmer recipe just made my morning. Can't wait to go buy some socks and make mine! Those pictures are amazing! Your family looks waaayyyyyy more fun than mine :)

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  29. Congrats to you parents on their 50th anniversary, that's a long time of kissing the same person. Good for them. :P And congrats on all that bike riding, mountain running. You'll surely dominate those 70.3. Anyhoo, my friends and I are doing the CO Relay also! Hurray!

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  30. Funny you ask! Tomorrow I leave for a family vacay in your neck of the woods! I can't wait till I can't breathe because of all that mountain air. My lungs are trying to suck up as much sea level air as possible before the decent up and away.
    But I love it anyway. Cannot wait, this is our second trip as a family to CO. I see good times ahead!

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  31. Those pics make me yearn ever-so-slightly for the mountain life. It truly is beautiful...but I find I get a bit claustrophobic when I'm away from the beach, so I'll live vicariously through you :)

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  32. A beach in the middle of the mountains?? SOLD. Just get the mosquitoes away from me and I'm good!

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  33. omg that last pic is totally hilarious!

    I've done the knee-high arm warmers twice now:
    Disney Marathon - http://superfoodsuperfood.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/walt-disney-world-marathon-recap/
    and
    Shamrock 10 Miler -
    http://superfoodsuperfood.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/2011-shamrock-10-miler/

    It's like my new favorite thing for cold races! Can either push them to your wrists for use later, or throw them away and not even care!

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  34. We go to Wyoming for vacation (i.e., mountains and wildlife!). Maybe we should house swap for vacation sometime. I live in the "mountains" on Maui. About 1500 el. 15 minutes from the ocean! :)

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  35. Oh to feel 40 degrees, what I would do! Sick and tired of the heat.....love the idea, may try it in the future.

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  36. Fun, fun, fun! Love the bike ride - so you are saying that 38 degrees doesn't feel 'refreshing' after the heat we've been having??? You probably didn't have to dodge a bunch of tourists, though, getting out on the bike path early. That's a positive thing. :-)
    Boreas Pass is beautiful. Betting you will have a blast of a week in a most lovely area with beloved family!

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  37. I made some cute arm warmers for part of my daughters halloween costume last year... the same way.

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  38. Hi,i'm a new follower the arm warmers are a great idea,my son has just brought some but gosh they were expensive think i'm gonna give these a try :)

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  39. Ironically, the one time I took an extended family gathering, it was to Colorado... Pagosa Springs. It was a disaster. Day 1, an RV lost breaks, rolled down the mountain and flung their towed vehicle into my van. Got to play Dukes of Hazard for the rest of the week alone with 3 children 14 hours from home. UGH.

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  40. Ingenious idea on the arm warmer! I love the beach and we do have a beach cabin but I would have to say the mountains. More hiking, running, scenery options. :)

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  41. I am not one who gets jealous of others so I'll stay that way but can I make you an offer....you adopt me and I'll ride with you in 35 degree weather with a heat lamp and then make you dinner. I'll walk Lucky. I'll laugh at everything you say and do. I'll hang with the kids while you and Ken go out.

    Let me know where to send my resume!!!!!

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  42. I just returned from a trip to CO with my parents and husband for our 2nd wedding anniversary. Haven't been out there before, and I LOVED IT!!! We stayed in Manitou Springs, and trekked up to Breckenridge and Golden (free beer) on a day trip. It is soooo gorgeous there. Everywhere is beautiful. Can't wait to go back, maybe next summer! I used to be a beach girl, but I think I have been converted to a mountain girl!

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  43. Not only am I all about the beach, but so is my immediate family - AND, we enjoy vacationing together, even though we are three very different people (so much so it might strike some as odd we are related).

    We have been known to schedule cruises in the Caribbean together. However, while both my mother and brother are all about the "daily Manhattan" and my fiance and I are frequently stuck in a bottle of wine, my sister and her husband no longer participate in enjoying an adult beverage. I think our love great food and the sun keeps us together!

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  44. Once upon a time, brian ran a disney half in 27 degrees and needed warmth. he used old tube socks that were his lucky volleyball socks in high school. now they are his lucky sleeves and he won't get rid of them.

    He graduated high school in 1994... Gross, nasty, old socks!

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