First Annual Reindeer Run

Merry Christmas everyone! Matt and I started our morning with our first annual reindeer run. We stayed up way too late on Christmas Eve having a wee bit of champagne and eggnog (leaded). What better way to work that off then to wake up and run? :) We did '8 under 8', 8 miles at 7:57min/mile pace. Our last mile was a 6:54! We were decked out in holiday wear and were able to wish many passers-by a Merry Christmas! We had such a great time that we are going to make it a holiday tradition and hope others will join us next year! I am on it for tee-shirts. :)

We hope that you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year, we love you!

Gingerbread Men and Women

Matt and I went on a 10 miler this morning. It was so beautiful outside. We left home at about 6am. It was so dark and peaceful outside.
I then began my cookie-making. These are my ginger people.
I have way too much time on my hands! haha!
Do you like my Packers guy?

BOSTON BOUND!!!!

Registering for Boston with my celebratory champagne!


After a debut marathon in Jan 2008 with a time of 4:36 I found a passion for running and getting faster. :) It is that competitive streak in me! I ran a VERY hilly San Diego Marathon in June 2008 with a slightly better time of 4:11. I decided that I wanted to try to qualify to run the Boston Marathon. It is the oldest marathon and running it is quite an accomplishment in the running community. To run it, you need to run a marathon and get a qualifying time. Here is the list of qualifying times BAA. I made my Boston qualifying attempt in the Tucson Marathon on Dec. 7th. To see mine and Matt's results use the following link. Choose 'marathon' from the drop-down race menu. My bib # is 378, Matt's is 404.
Here are our results.
I needed a time of 3:40 to qualify and I ran the marathon in 3:32. I crossed the finish line crying and laughing. I was so happy to have accomplished my goal!
I used a training plan (Advanced Marathoning) by Pete Pfitzinger. Pete Pfitzinger It was an 18 week plan and it peaked at 55 miles a week. For Boston I will be using a similar plan but this one will peak at 70 miles per week. A big challenge but I think I am ready! I just received my confirmation from the BAA that I am registered for the marathon. It is on April 20th-Patriot's Day. Matt and I have our plane tickets and hotel all set. We are very excited!
Matt is making his Boston qualifying attempt at the PF Chang's Rock and Roll AZ Marathon on January 18th. PF Changs Marathon He had some technical difficulties at Tucson but is ready to get his 3:10 qualifying time.
Because I qualified in Tucson, I will get the honor of running the PF Chang's half marathon with first-timers- My Dad (GO DAD!!!!), sister (YAY EMMA!), Shannon (WOOHOOOO SHANNON!) and Mike (UofA Still rots!!) They are going to ROCK IT and I am so excited to cross the finish line with them! They are doing so well with training and I am so proud of them.

Turkey Trot

Matt and I ran a rainy- day race in Fountain Hills on Thanksgiving morning. Our friends Jason, Mike, and Shannon also ran in the 5k. My time was 20:56 and I was the first place woman overall! I got a trophy and my name in the paper. Super exciting! :)

Our House

After a lot of 'issues' we purchased our first home. We could have never done it without so much help from Matt's sister Kris.
We bought a 3 bed 2 bath home with a pool, fireplace, and garage in Scottsdale. The house has all hard wood flooring and neutral paint colors. We are lucky that we do not need to do any work to it! (As we are now out of $) :)
Our home is old, which we wanted. We are .5 miles away from the Scottsdale greenbelt which we use every day for running. We love our new neighbors, everyone is so friendly! We discuss how lucky we are each day to have found this house. We were the first ones to put an offer on it the second day it went on the market, so the seller accepted ours. We found out that there were many other offers on it after us, some a bit higher. We really lucked out!
Here are some pics. We are looking forward to making it our own and to putting a garden in the backyard!

Matthew and Ariana September 6th, 2008 Coronado Island, CA

Matt and I were married on the beach, in front of the Hotel Del Coronado on September 6th, 2008. We had a beautiful ceremony with our closest friends and family. We then went to brunch at the Del. The Hotel Del Coronado was so accomadating and I am very impressed by the way they treated us. The weekend was so fun, filled with plenty of beach time, eating and drinking, and riding around town on beach cruisers. Matt and I can't wait to go back for our first anniversary!
We also stayed at the Crown City Inn for a few nights. We loved it.
Matt and I had a magical wedding, what we both had dreamed of, and we thank everyone for making the trip out.

Hotel Del Coronado
Our wonderful photographer
Crown City Inn

Ariana's Latvia Trip

Wow, it has been quite sometime since we have posted. I am not very computer savvy so Matt had to show me how again! :)
We have a lot to share so we will start with the trip I took to Latvia with my mom Rita, dad Andris, sister Marisa, and brother Lukas in July 2008.
We had an amazing time and I feel so lucky and blessed to have had this opportunity. Why Latvia? I am 100% Latvian. For those of you who don't know, Latvia is a small Baltic country on the Baltic Sea. Latvia It was quite an emotional trip as we were able to see many historical sites and even the childhood home of my late Grandfather. This trip made me appreciate where I come from and the trials my family, and all Latvians had to go through for freedom. You see, Latvia was under communist rule until 1991. I am amazed at Latvia's history and I am so proud to have my heritage lie in such an amazing country.
Read more about Latvia at Wikipedia for a quick lesson! :) History Lesson
I hope you enjoy my pictures.