Long's Peak Hike

 

Just returned from a really fun trip to Colorado.  We had to move Mikaely to grad school at University of CO, Denver. After we got her moved in, we took a trip up to Boulder and then hiked Long's Peak.  Fun but exhausting day!  Here is a video that Lance made of the hike:  Evans Fam Long's Peak.mp4

Lake Zurich Tri, 2026

 Super fun race at the LZ tri with Lance, Mik and Juju! 

ThE whole family got in on the tri today with Diana out cheering us on!  Both Lance and Mik did great and enjoyed the race!  Juju had a difficult day due to GI issues and then a bike problem, but still represented!  Good day!    

Rockford 70.3 2026

 Fun race and great conditions for Rockford 70.3 on Sunday 6/14/2026.  

It rained a lot over the last several weeks and the Rock river was really high and the current was moving fast!  This resulted in very fast swim times for everyone: a recond for me (27 min) and a world record for the fastest swimmer for 1.2 miles!  

It was fun racing with Chris, Josh, and Ellie. We all finsihed and achieved our goals for the race!  

Colombia Vaca 2026!

 Best VACA ever?  Maybe, it was amazing! 

    Such a fantastic tour of the country and a great chance to meet so many nice Colombians!  Diana really organized a nice trip with stops in Medellin, El Retiro, Salento, and Bogota. We met with both sides of the family and personalized tours of downtown Medellin, Communa 13, and Jardin Botanico. Selento was my favorite part of the trip, especially the day we hiked 11 miles up a river into the high Andes and got to see the Cocoro valley! Lance and Mikaely did amazingly well with their Spanish, talking with everyone like they were natives. But every time I tried to speak, they looked embarrassed and couldn't wait to tell me how bad I sounded! But I still tried. 

The photo to the right is of Salento. Super hilly with great shops, cafes and restaurants. I don't usually like trout, but the trout there was awesome and very well prepared.  Lots of great cappuccinos, iced coffee, and espressos.     

This photo is from the day we visited Communa 13 and got a personalized tour by someone who lived through the 2002 government takeover. 

Lance, walking across one of the 5 suspension bridges over the river on the day of our long hike. 

Andes mt run with Mika

 Maybe the most beautiful runs Ive ever done! Spectacular scenery and vistas on both sides as we ran along a ridge, 6,400 feet above sea level! 

Duathlon Nationals 2026- South Haven, MI

Fun 24 hours with Mik at Duathlon Nationals in South Haven.  It's a cute town, and the race venue was pretty nice as well. Really fun to have Mikaley there cheering me on!   

Here we are after the race. Also, this week we had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at our feeder!  That's the first time since COVID. 

DoNutStop Half-marathon

 Had so much fun running the DoNutStop Half-marathon on Saturday with Lance and Mikaely!  

We each had our goals, and all 3 of us achieved them! Mik wanted to break 2 hours and ran 1:56. Lance also wanted to break 2 hours and ran 1:45. I just wanted to get close to last year's time of 1:31:30, and ran 1:32:30. Plus, it was a good day for running, and we had fun and got coffee afterward. Everyone was really sore, but especially me. It was really fun coaching Mik too, and I feel like it worked because she was more than 5 minutes faster than her fall half-marathon time.  Now on to the Twin Cities Marathon!   

Bikepacking from SD to Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

My plan for bikepacking from SD to Memphis got shortened due to my father-in-law's health issues, but it was still a great trip!  I made it 1006 miles to Albuquerque over 17 days. Lots of great memories and really got to see the American Southwest up close!  

But also, way more difficult than I anticipated!  Despite trying to ride more in the months leading up to the trip, my butt and perineum couldn't handle the time in the saddle.  Also, at the end of every day, my whole body was incredibly stiff and sore.  I think more from being bent over the handlebars than pushing the pedals. It was also pretty lonely at times. The other negative was that my father-in-law wasn't doing well, and I felt very guilty taking a trip like this while everyone else was at home helping out!    This video tells the story of my trip. 

Day 8 of SD to Albuquerque bikepacking

 Can’t believe I’ve made it to Phoenix, AZ today! I’ve had many doubts along the way. My ass, right knee and both wrists are really feeling it! Stopping at bike shop tomorrow to see what can be done to my bike to alleviate some of these issues. 

Start on Sunday 3/1: probably the most difficult day! Used GoogleMaps in biking mode and took me off course. Had to set up tent in the dark and struggled to sleep.

Monday 3/2. Much better day: roads were wider with bike lane,, less traffic and more scenic. Maxed out around 5,000 feet and then hair raising descent into Salton Lake area. Plus met up with Di and Mik

Tue 3/3: took day off to watch tennis, run w Mik, and have a nice dinner w Sandovals too.

We’d, 3/4: another really tough day. Camped at a ghost town, desert center. Scary! 

Thur 3/5: brutal day: first 100 miler! Included 30 miles on I-10 expressway! That was crazy! Again, got off course! 

Fri, 3/6. Ride to Salome, AZ- difficult

Sat 3/7, ride to Wickenburgh, AZ. Ok

Sun3/8, ride to Phoenix. Best day since LaQuinta! 

Sixty Eight

 HBTM! Getting very excited about my backpacking trip that starts in less than a week!  Nervous too! 

Tonight I'll start packing things up and taking an inventory of what I still need.  It has been a difficult month so far! Awi had a stroke and is making a slow recovery. It's very difficult to see how much he has lost and how far he has to go in rehab. We're all hoping he can find the motivation and will to work super hard and gain more independence. Abi is also now on her own and lonely. Diana is feeling the weight of being the healthcare professional and all-around responsible person in the family. I'm also feeling guilty for going on this solo trip.  But I've been planning it for a year, and I only have this one window of time I can do it. I just hope Gabe is happy at the sub-acute rehab (Elevate) and makes good progress so that he can stay there at least until I can return to help out. 🙏🙏🙏