#AnnaBucketList18-January and February

Holy heck. What a ride the first part of the year has been. That alone will be it's own blog post. And when I went to go write on my bucket list for February, I realized that I never wrote January. I honestly haven't been slacking at life, just my writing. Life has trumped writing these last few months and I could feel it-that I hadn't wrote or journaled the way I would normally. So sorry folks!

But before we begin recapping, here is the song I am digging right now:

Cannonball

Ok, so let's get to it.

So January I was able to catch the skijoring series as it came through Helena. I worked on the content/writing for the winter 2018 campaign for the Montana Office of Tourism, so I was intrigued by this partnership of a horse and a skier doing jumps and tricks for points. Check out the story and episode here. Beginning of January, the skijoring series came to Helena Fairgrounds, which is just a stone's throw from my place. Well, it is if you are a really good outfielder...ok, maybe not, but it's like only 3 blocks away. I can literally see the fairgrounds from my bedroom window.

Right away I could see the appeal. I walked in and there was a concession stand selling hotdogs, treats and beer. There were people lined up and down the course, as well as people in the stands. I snuck in an open spot ready to watch the action. Montana is great-you can go to any crazy event like this and instantly be friends with the spectators next to you. The athleticism in this event is nuts. First, you rider and horse are working as a team to go as fast as they can, while the skier behind them is maneuvering up and down slopes and hills and "climbing the rope" to get the best possible position. The rider and horse from the episode menitoned earlier was even there, so that was super cool to him in action.

                                             

Of course, with the speed and hills, there were crashes. That's part of the game. But, as each rider and skier came out for this winter rodeo of sorts, music blared and the crowd cheered. One guy lost a ski and skied the rest on the one ski. It was an afternoon well spent watching the multiple rounds of every team. Even one skier reached out to me on Instagram to get a copy of photos and video. Check out these pics and videos below. If you have a chance next winter to catch a skijoring event across the state, I highly recommend it!

                                         

                                         

Oh hey February!

February I crossed two items of my bucket list. The first was meeting Meredith Atwood or better known to those in the triathlon world as SwimBikeMom. Her Instagram and website have gained national attention and loyal followers. Meredith has always been an advocate for women in this sport from all shapes, sizes, abilities and backgrounds. She is a fierce fighter for that. More importantly, she  is relatable and approachable because she started this journey after starting her own family and being in a job that was unfulfilling and looking at her own life for a sense of purpose. We can all relate, right? She has written books, blogs and has her own apparel line. But, she doesn't get caught up in that. She doesn't believe in social media promoting "teams or squads" on social media. And if her "why" isn't there for a race, she doesn't feel obligated to suit up.

I met her when she came to a triathlon clinic. This clinic was geared towards beginners, but I really wanted to meet her and you can always learn something. And my friend Kathleen was going and wanted to support that-plus my friend Amy came up from Bozeman. I loved her approach to newbies and the sport of triathlon. I love her story and transformation and just generally loved her approach to all things-so kind and humble and stripped of all the bullshit. Later that night we all went for drinks and I was able to get to know her more. She is the same person across from you with a beer as she is when she is presenting. Nothing to hide, everything to share and ready to listen. It was a honor meeting her and now calling her a friend. Oh and she is making her way to a plant based athlete!

My other item is Cotton Top Pasteries opening in Helena. I mean, who doesn't want to support a local place that makes delicious treats and has their opening on Valentines Day. Supporting them on their first day, buying a cookie and scone, on Valentines Day is definitely supporting self love and of course overall GNP. #AmIRight

So, these are a few of my #annabucketlist18 items from the first couple months of 2018. As always, explore more and always remember, you do you.