I mentioned this a couple of months ago, but I think only on Facebook, that next month me and 11 new friends of mine, will be taking part in the Ragnar Cape Cod 200 mile run from Hull, a town on the edge of Boston Harbor, to Provincetown in Cape Cod. Cos you know me, always looking for a fresh new approach to a running challenge. And this year, this was the challenge. 200 miles between 12 of us, to be covered in 24 hours. And yes, that means running through the night. I’ll plan to chat a little more about it in another blog post, but I’m just touching on it here cos I’ve had a pretty miserable week running wise. My body is feeling seriously battered. Every step of even my short runs this week (around 4 miles) has been such a fu#king struggle. Its taken such a massive effort to make myself lace up and actually go. My typically week only allows for 2 definite days where I can get some decent running done. On a really good week I can squeeze in a 3rd day, but this rarely happens. I also do 2 gym sessions a week, this works out only cos I happen to have my own little gym at home, so I can lift once the boys go to bed in the evening. So given these small windows of training opportunities, means the days I can run, I have to. I usually look forward to the days I know I’ll get a workout or run done, but not this week. This week I just wanted to throw a toddler grade temper tantrum at the very idea of physical exercise. To sit on the side of the running trail, pouting in hostility. More than anything I didn’t want to do it. But also, more than anything I did. Or had to, as the case may be. Really, what are the choices? My share of these 200 miles won’t run themselves. And you can be sure I’m going to be feeling all levels of tiredness over the 24 hour period when I’ll be lacing up to run 3 times, covering a total of 22 miles for the team. So negative, whiney, pouty, tantrum throwing attitude and all, I forced myself out to run.

And since we’re all about the running chat tonight, last week our friend, who also happens to be Jamaican world class 100m sprinter, Asafa Powell came to visit. But for this visit the focus was all about his 2nd major talent, that of being a kick ass mechanic. While he was here he fixed up The Husbands truck, serviced the lawnmower and got the recreational 4-wheeler back in working order. Which means 4-wheeling is now the only thing the boys want to do. Case and point, Keane ready to blaze a trail through the forest.

In the face of endless threats of physical harm if he didn’t watch his speed and keep my eldest baby safe, Asafa just gave me a confident, yet non-reassuring smile.

Keane scaring me shitless with his fearless “look momma, no hands“.

As he waited patiently for his turn, Cullen worked on his art.

I’m told its a drawing of the ocean, with sharks.

Time for the youngest to have a go.

Another rant on speed control from me, and Asafa is all “Are you seriously still talking? Cos I’ve seriously stopped listening.”

And off they go.

Pause for a discussion on new twists and turns in the 4-wheeler trail.

During our trip we squeezed in a few days of whatever the weather fun at The Great Wolf Lodge. This hotel is totally geared towards families and kids. Its a grown ups nightmare. There, I said it. Before kids the idea of staying at a place like this would send me running, screaming for the hills. All of the over stimulation, the loud, bright, chaotic ambiance of hundreds of families all staying under the same hotel roof, is my idea of purgatory. But post kids, this is exactly the type of place you go, cos this exactly the type of place they LOVE. And my 2 loved it. The indoor water park? LOVED. The extensive range of activities like rock climbing, mini golfing, gem panning, bowling and the ceiling ropes course? LOVED, LOVED and LOVED. In the evenings they had bingo, bubble dance parties and story time. This place truly catered to every element of kid enjoyment. And as long as the boys are having a good time, then I’m having a good time, even if it is at a place that 5 plus years go, would have sent me running, screaming for the hills.

3 days and no less then 6 hours each day spent at the hotel’s water park. They never tired of it.

Keane really enjoying the spray poles.

Cullen however was completely offended by them.

When we weren’t at the water park, we made our rounds through most of the other activities.

Panning for gems.

The boys were awful mini golfers. Keane barely patient waiting to tee off as Cullen almost climbs his way through the frog tunnel in his efforts to get his ball through.

Finally, with the little bother out of the way, Keane was clear to tee off.

A questionable technique for sure.

But the end result was a ball in the hole. Happy Cullen.

A slightly better putting technique from Keane.

After golf we hit the low level ropes course to practice rope crossing with a harness.

Low level ropes course complete, now its time to go up, to the high level ceiling ropes course.

Thats me and boys up there in the rafters. The Husband was the photographer for these. He likes to believe he’s just as good at photo capturing as me. However, I have some criticisms, but my standards maybe a tad bit high.

Courageous Keane on his maiden crossing.

Cullen surprised me with his very casual, showing no fear approach to each rope crossing.

The boys.

Bowling!

During our trip we had planned to take the boys skiing and snowboarding for the first time. But early Spring and the snow on the slopes has started to thin out, fast. So no skiing or snowboarding was going to happen this time around. But we still went to check the slopes out anyway.

No skis, no problem. Running shoes work just as well.

Not a productive weekend as far as photo sharing on the blog went. But productive as far as getting ourselves outside to enjoy the warm and toasty, sunshine filled Spring weather that has finally hit. Shorts and t-shirt weather is almost upon us and summer plans are beginning to get talked about and figured out. The heat is coming, so I need to get to sharing the last of the photos from our Winter’ish Spring Break. Its on my “to-do” list for the day.

With literally hit the ground running upon arrival in Massachusetts. It was Easter Sunday, there was an egg hunt scheduled and our cousins Paul and James had waited, patiently, all day for Keane and Cullen to arrive. Within minutes of us pulling into their driveway, they were armed with bags, racing through the back garden and surrounding forest for Easter Bunny egg scatterings. And there were loads.

On your marks, get set, hunt!!

The only time you’ll see Cullen in full on ‘eye of the tiger” mode, is when there’s candy on the line.

With Cullen off on a hunting frenzy, the other boys take a more leisurely approach.

James has caught up and teamed up with Cullen.

Jackpot!

Keane on the gathering trail.

Paul finds a rare and interesting egg.

Keane with another jackpot! egg find.

Jackpot! egg for Paul too.

James the hunt director.

The older boys do one last sweep of the area to ensure no egg got overlooked.

Easter Egg Hunt Group Photo!

Inside to crack open these babies.

The next morning we woke to find a cheeky little snow storm had blown into town. Spring in Massachusetts can be very random, so we arrived prepared, with all of our snow clothes.

Keane excited to zip-line in the snow.

Cullen pretended he didn’t want to zip-line, but we made him and he loved it.

Unfortunately Paul & James did not have Spring Break, so while they spent their day in school, we spent ours running wild in the snow storm.

We’re back from our Massachusetts mini break. And true, while most people were migrating south towards coastal beaches for a warmer, sunnier Spring Break experience, we went North, towards chilly winds, snow fall and rain. But we enjoyed every second of it. Will of course begin the Spring Break photo share soon.

Always a good time when you get to see cousins, and hunt for oversized treasured eggs.