World Bikepacking Tour- 6 months away!

Will this bikpacking trip actually happen?  I really hope so, but so many concerns. How can I leave with Diana's dad in the nursing home and all of the other issues? On the other hand, if I dodn't do this trip now, will I ever be able to do it? Plus, if I don't go, what will I do?  I can't just retire and sit around at home!  Ugh, I'm having an anxiety attack about the whole retirement thing! 

Chicago Marathon- Med Volunteer

 Fun, but very long day volunteering for the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. The best part was seeing all of the PT studnets out there!  

Twin Cities Marathon- in the books!

 Awesome race with Mik on 10/4/26 (TCM 2026.2)!!!

We enjoyed some Dunn Bros coffee on saturday and got registered, then woke up early Sunday to get ready. After Diana dropped us off, we cheked out the Viking's stadium before making last minute hugs and good luck wishes and heading to our respective start corrals. 

Mik is pretty competitive with some of her MWS friends so I was a little nervous that she would go out too hard, but she ran the perfect race! 

She started at a very reasonable pave and thne coming from behind, blew away her competition!   

Twin Cities Marathon in just 10-Days!

It has been really fun training with Mik for the Twin Cities Marathon.  Mik's excitement has even made me train harder than I have in a while for a marathon.  

Here are a few picks from a training run in Denver that we did.  I think she is going to have an amazing race given her training at altitude and her improved fittness level over the last month and a half.  

Erin and Joe’s AT backpacking adventure

 

My hat’s off to Erin and Joe for their amazing accomplishment completing the AT! They were really committed to finishing the through hike. Unfortunately, Erin had to take a break, but bravely came back after about a month to finish up in ME. 

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!