#AnnaBucketList18-July Aquabike for the Win, Zimmerman Trail, Epic Hike and Imagine Dragons!

This is a Christmas in July post! Like, literally. Christmas is next week, but here I am writing about July. This is a fun way to relive this summer at least!

But, first here is a song I am loving right now, especially when I can run!

Without Me

Last year I had always thought about doing an aquabike. I had a training partner that really enjoyed them and I started thinking. The run was always my most "needs work" of the three components that compile the triathlon. So, I always wondered what it would be like to take that part out and really hammer down on the bike and then be donzo! So, I decided to pull the trigger on this bucket list item and get it crossed it off.

I picked the Spring Meadow triathlon in Helena to be the race. It was the perfect venue. It allowed me a chance to get go back and see my friends in Helena and race at Spring Meadow State Park, which was my favorite place in Helena and right by my old house, plus I could see my horse! #winning

I signed up and headed to Helena. I was excited to see some Missoula friends and old teammates at the event as well. Last time I did this race, I did the Olympic and I had a horrible experience. I did it 2014 and I was training for my first Ironman 70.3 Calgary and used it as a training race. I did not enjoy the experience. I wasn't a fan on the course for the run (this has since been changed!). It was an odd two loops and on the first loop I stepped wrong and tweaked my ankle a bit and honestly I was just over it. Also, during this time I was iron deficient. But, I was over it. However, enough time had past and now I was approaching this race with a different fitness and different attitude and healthy. Plus, I had just done Ironman Victoria 70.3 the month before, so I was enjoying this sweet spot of training of coming off a big race before heading into another big training block for Chicago.

I knew going into this race that there was only a certain number of aquabikers and I had a good chance of placing. I wasn't sure how they did age groups, whether 5 years or 10 years, but I knew I just needed to get to pound the pedal and have a strong swim.

I got there race morning and headed to rack my bike and meet up with my Base teammate, Jennifer. I said hello to everyone there and really enjoyed the race vibe. I was doing the sprint aqua bike, so we were last to head into the water. I hadn't swam in Spring Meadow for a few years, but right away it was familiar as each stroke took me around the lake and then I got to the channel in the last part and I heard friends and my old swim coach, Paul cheering for me.

I got out and headed to my bike. There was another lady across from me and I just had this feeling she may be an aquabiker as well for some reason. But, it's always good to assume everyone is-ha! I headed out towards bird's eye road like I had done on so many rides while living in Helena. As we were slowly climbing the lady I saw in T1 passed me. I thought "ok, stay close and then hammer it on the turn around and make her work." And that is what I did. I headed back towards Spring Meadow looking for Bill Wells, like everyone should do naturally, and hearing him cheer for me. But, he missed me-I was too fast ;-) Then I circled around the last loop to head back and I really enjoyed this part and felt so good pushing it because I knew I didn't have to run! I did see an older man in front of me and I believe he had an IM tattoo, but I had to catch him if I could and I also wondered how he got in front of me. I think he was doing the Olympic, or he is one hell of a swimmer.

I rolled into T1 and then I got of the bike and I was done! The lady never caught me and she rolled in and she wasn't running either, so she was in the aquabike division. She looked bummed, but she had a great race. I stuck around and cheered and caught up with friends. I stayed and ate at the BBQ with other racers and waited for awards. I felt I did good, but wasn't sure. I did end up winning the aquabike division! It was a good day and I was really proud of myself. I really had a good day and seeing my friends and teammates in the town I love and supporting a race I enjoyed was amazing. I really enjoyed going all out and then just being done in the aquabike and it has a real strong appeal for those who want to practice going hard and yet want to be done off the bike.

So, this summer, Zimmerman Trail in Billings was closed to start construction. They closed it off for a few weeks before they started and people took advantage of it, including me! I have always wanted to ride up it and the thought of doing that with no cars was fantastic! I first walked up it, laid in the middle of the road. Then a couple of times I took my bike for a spin up and down it a couple of times.  One time at the end of a couple runs, I met a guy on a bike at the bottom of the gate. He was just stopped on his bike. I told him he could go up it and he looked hesitant. I said just go around the gate and that it was a nice ride, I had just done it a few times. Then I was like, k bye. I loved crossing this off my list because I remember a time in high school I had a boyfriend that would ride up it and I thought it was the coolest, hardest thing I could imagine. Definitely a cool ride.

This summer with all my shenanigans, I only got to hike once. So I decided it needed to be one I haven't done before. My friend Laura, who is always up to adventures, came with. We hit Sioux Charley. It was a great day and beautiful hike with a rolling rivers, horses, birds and a beautiful lake at our stopping point. We took our time and enjoyed the scenery. We hiked about 3.5 miles in and sat down by a lake and replenished our fuel supply. Then we just sat there and enjoyed the view. Then we headed back and at the end there was just a random horse in the field of the parking lot. He had a cowbell on and a ranger was there trying to find his owner. It wasn't us, but I would have taken him if I could have! The hike was about 7 miles and it was nice to get out. My legs were trashed because I was starting to train for Chicago, but it was definitely worth it. I recommend this hike for a day trip.

                                           

Last, but definitely not least, I crossed seeing my favorite band off my bucket list! In the fall of 2017 I purchased tickets to see Imagine Dragons this summer. My best friend Ashley and I went and met up with my friend Summer! Ashley and I got into Bozeman and headed to get something to eat and we ran into our old high school friend Drew Shug! So, we had a couple of drinks with him and his wife and caught up and that was super fun! Then Summer showed up and we all walked over the outdoor stadium together. This concert took it to another level. The vibe was so high and it transcended time and space. Not even kidding. It was magical and amazing. I haven't been to a concert in a long time and this performance, signing to his songs, his message, running through the crowds, seeing the sunset behind the stage and finally the fireworks to end it was so cool. It was the best decision to buy those tickets and I would definitely go see them again! Summer concerts with friends on a Montana summer night can't be beat. If you have a chance to see them, definitely go do it!

That wraps up another great #annabucketlist18 month. Remember to keep exploring

and as always, you do you.

#AnnaBucketList18-March-Goodbye Helena.

Well, March has certainly came and gone. There are many reasons this post has been delayed, but mainly because it was a big life move. And it needed processing....and a lot of boxes.

But, first this song. I am digging this right now.

White Flag


Where to begin? Let's start here. It really started in the fall of 2016. That urge. The nudge. You know what I am talking about. That feeling that you want more, need more and dare I say it...you need change. Change is scary even when your natural setting doesn't change at all. Little did I know that the first little nudge would come only a month after that first feeling I had. This slight tapping came in the form of AAA laying off people. This was the first glimpse that universe was trying to tell me something. Was this my chance to become a change agent in my own life? I applied to places I dared to dream of out of grad school. I applied to other places I wanted to live in Montana-Missoula and Bozeman. I kept pushing forward as well to stay in Helena. Also, I was ignoring the little niggle that I need to leave Helena. But, I had a routine, a fish, a horse and trails for days. Plus, my childhood best friend lived here and her three rascals and my porch overlooked a community garden and Mt. Helena. I would need more than a niggle of change and therefore proceeded to really focus on staying in Helena.

My persistence paid off. I landed a job at the state that I thought I would really love. It combined my love for planning with travel. I was excited....and yet cautious. I have never had a job I loved more in the state when I worked for Governor Schweitzer. And the small stint I had after that felt stifling. And  since that time with the Governor, I had gone to grad school, started writing and focused on my creativity, my voice and helping others along the way. I was nervous that an office in government, no matter what the job would try to throw dirt on that fire. And it did.

The job itself was amazing. I liked my team, I liked being the storyteller of the state I loved and I had incredible experiences. But I will say this. A person in a management position does not make them a leader. And I will leave it there. I could slowly feel my voice leave and feel fear and anxiety creep in on a daily basis and I could see this in my direct team. They also felt they had no voice...no value...no creative input. And I will leave it there. But, I will say this. You decide how you will treat people and how you own your brand. And at the end of the day, people leave bosses, they don't leave jobs. I was applying for other jobs by Thanksgiving.

On New Years Eve I decided to take a page out of the spirit junkie handbook and my best friend and I made intentions we wanted to take into 2018 and shit we didn't want to take into 2018. For more on that-see my blog post about getting your shit together was so last year. On January 2nd, that fear and anxiety ended. Just walking in the office again took a bit of my soul. And that was my last day. Ripped off like a bandaid. Why not start immediately with not taking the crap you don't want in 2018 and letting it go. I immediately felt relief and went to my best friends house to eat dip. Hey, we each handle our own stuff our own way, and this dip tho....

Now what? I started freelancing. I kept going to therapy. I slept the fuck in. And I started hustlin'. I set goals both professionally and personally. And then the nudge came again. This time a little bit stronger. I looked at where I am going with my life and what do I want out of it. I mean, I was staring down the barrel of 40 this year. I was about to hit my half way life mark (okay, maybe that is 50). And I started the process again of looking at where do I want to live and what do I want to do. I knew this-I wanted to work in a place that I felt valued, had a voice and could be creative AF and use my skills of communication and public relations. I also knew I wanted new experiences...and I was beginning to feel like I was in a rut. A rut? Gah. That's hard to say about your life. My routine and surroundings had become too comfortable. Too routine. I wasn't growing, I wasn't meeting new people anymore and I wasn't cultivating new experiences where I was living. But, once again I worked hard to stay in Helena. I love the town and the location. And I did find something and as soon as I found it, it was gone. That was a gut punch...but after I caught my breath, wiped the tears and picked myself off the ground...it was a gut check.

Around this time I headed to Billings for my father's birthday. And I needed to lick my wounds. And I needed a new view...literally and figuratively. I hung out with my dad and my mom. I then decided to meet with my friend Jennifer Mercer. Over wine and ice cream-because, life, she mentioned to me that I should look into Billings. I had honestly never thought about it. I always looked at western Montana or Helena or places like Oregon or British Columbia. I know, it may seem odd. Later that day I looked around and found two jobs I would be interested in and one remote position in Billings. I talked to my parents and then headed back to Helena, but not before each parent gave me a slice of advice as side with my eggs.

Upon my return to Helena, I devised a list and a plan...and made sure my Starbucks app was up to date, as this is where I set up my writing work space and now it was ground zero. I would head there with my Mac and a mission. Life will knock you down but it's how you get back up that matters. I applied at the places that appealed to me, as well conquered other items to set the world right...however only a few know of those and that is way it will be for some time.

I was attending a small business conference in Helena with two of my friends and I got a call from one of the places. I will sum this up quickly-I had a phone call with the strategic director, then another with the owner, then another call was set up. These two calls were imperative in pointing me in the right direction and told me this was the right place for me. Simple words that I said in my life were being echoed in the tone and tenor of these calls. Words that the spirit junkie in me connected with and that the universe was saying this is your calling. So, the next phone call turned into a meeting, as I would be in Billings anyway. At this meeting I met part of the team and ultimately was offered the job. I was given two start dates-in two weeks or four weeks. They were very understanding that I was moving a life and closing a chapter. Even when all signs point in a direction-the right direction, it is hard to leave some of my favorite people and horse. Yes, that horse and I have had a bond since 2013, so yes, the horse was hard as hell to leave. I always put a Christmas card in the owners mailbox and upon leaving I put a picture of the horse and I in the mailbox and gave my contact information in so they could reach me if something were to happen to him.

My horse when I was saying goodbye and I love him. He did this. We still have carrots and catch up when I visit!

After I met with key stakeholders in the community and tapped into what the triathlon community looks like here, such as: Is there a bike group? An outdoor long course pool? A Masters group? Running and biking routes for long training? I took the job and decided on the two week route. I packed up my life within a week essentially and waved goodbye to the moving truck. I kept an air mattress, a camping chair, my bike, a few clothes, my coffee maker and of course a plate and bowl-which I never used because I was saying goodbye to everyone over meals. But, I loved living like this. And I have too much shit..but that is another post.

It was hard to leave Helena. It had my favorite views, running routes and cycling loops. I became a marathoner and an Ironman living there. But, alas, I tapped out my growth there, both personally and professionally. I needed a different space and a different place to grow. And that is okay. In fact, it's more than okay to recognize that and then do something about it. And more importantly it's valuable to know your worth, both financially and spiritually. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you're worth less than you are. Ever.

And just like that, I became a Billings resident again. I have big plans for you Billings and amazing people to connect with here.

P.s. I know it's now July, but with training for a big race and a new job and a life change, other things have taken priority. Thanks for sticking with me.

Remember to explore more, think outside of the box and always live in the you do you vibe.