3rd Annual Brown Family and Friends Triathlon!

We did it again, folks! The 3rd Annual Brown Family and Friends Triathlon! It was soooo good to be back in Portland and see so many friends! A few years ago, Michael and I got the idea of putting on a family-friendly triathlon event for all our friends. Oaklyn had just barely turned one and we had wanted it to be something even she could "do", keeping the distances short enough for little kids, with longer options available for the older kids, so everyone comes away feeling challenged and accomplished.

So, back in 2013, we had fun testing out pretty much every possible swimming spot in the Portland area and thought over each location as to which had the best area to also include a bike and run route. Vancouver Lake became the clear winner and we have held this "race" there every year since. There is a beautiful sandy beach with warm water, a paved bike trail, and a big grassy field to run in. All the course and race-day logistics planning occurred in preparation for the first year's race and so each successive year has been a piece of cake to throw together. Making the finishers' medals has also been so much fun and I love seeing how excited the kids get when they get to wear them around their necks! This little triathlon has been a perfect way to bring so many of our friends and their families together to enjoy swimming, biking, and running in the great outdoors

We have tried to make it as "real" as possible for the kids to experience what a real triathlon is like, from body marking, to race numbers, to finishers' medals, an awards ceremony, etc. While at the same time, our whole goal is simply to HAVE FUN!! We try to walk the line of just enough organization to avoid chaos and low-key enough so each family can go at their own pace and do what works best for their kids.

Huge thanks to Holly for coming to take pictures for us!!!

Pre-race meeting

This is what happens when you squat down too soon after the body marking ; )

The "game time" look of a girl and her puddle jumper, ready to start the race

Most of us before starting the swim

 

This year's medals!!!!

 Medals in the works

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Course Map

Bike Course

Ode to Oregon

Since Michael's MBA classes are online for the summer, we decided to take a trip to Portland for a couple weeks. We had SUCH a blast! We got to hangout with the Martins, see a bunch of friends, eat at our favorite places, enjoy the farmers' markets, do lots of running and hiking, go to the coast, go to a couple weddings, a birthday party, and hold the 3rd Annual Brown Family and Friends Triathlon!! And that's just the beginning. Pretty much every day was loaded to the max with fun and the girls were champs! The trip was perfect!

First stop: Multnomah Falls

These two little monkeys are best of friends!

 Strawberry picking at Sauvie Island

 Thank goodness for a pool and hotel with AC on a 100 degree weekend!

 Watching the Velodrome races

No words for this cuteness!

So comfy

Beema!

Beach Rockstar

Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot.

Sometimes we get really creative with out pictures : )

 We are always on the lookout for cool little rocks and such during our hikes. We have quite the collection from this trip alone : )

Seaside

Mike scored a wetsuit at a local thrift store for $7. And by thrift store, I mean an old shack labeled "Seaside Stuff". If you've been there, you know what we're talking about!

 We are so glad Kayla could join us for Mike's "special moment" of jumping in the ocean : )

The Beach House

 Even with an oceanfront view, I can't take my eyes off Whitley!!

Clam diggin'!

Shout out to Oaklyn for putting her coat on all by herself!

Oh, you know, just a little morning beach yoga with the babe.

 Chi: Found it.

Fort Stevens State Park, near Astoria, OR

"I got it, I got it! I can do it mine self, I am a good rock climber!"

 Shipwreck at sunset!! This ship sunk in 1906.

Our little Whit. Asleep most of the trip : )

We found this totally awesome fort on one of our hikes up the beach. It was a pretty rocky coastline so we had to carry both girls, but it was so worth it! I don't think too many people have been to this spot.

Tillamook Head Coastline

 Rory and Oaklyn at Salt and Straw Ice Cream

The Portland Waterfront is one of our all-time favorite places to run! So many memories!!

Fitness Friday!! I miss the craziness of our Mama-Tribe workouts!!

So many favorites!! Cedar Island is DEFINITELY one of them!!

"You can do it, Dad! Grip with your toes!"

Monique and Emmanuel

Throwback to that one day when we went to two wedding ceremonies on opposite sides of town, a reception, and a birthday party on the same day. Oh, plus we woke up early to stand in line at the REI garage sale, where we scored some sweet swag : )

Holly and Bill

BFF's for life even if they live on opposite sides of the world

Oaklyn was Holly's little shadow all night. She LOVED getting to dance with the "bride princess" 

With the Lattins! Can't wait to visit you guys in Samoa!!!!

Just some after-church-hammocking