The best part was finishing together
We left our apartment in central Ljubljana on Saturday morning for Emerald and Leo’s first trip to Kranjska Gora. Less than an hour later, we were in the Julian Alps, spending the weekend somewhere I’d been excited to share with them.
I’d signed up to volunteer at the Julian Alps Trail Run, working the finish-line aid station. I got to watch the winners of the 120K and 80K races come in—and hand out medals for the kids’ fun run, including to Emerald and Leo. It was a pretty special way to be part of race weekend.
On Sunday morning, I got to run the 15K myself, thanks to an entry gifted by the race organizer. Masa, Emerald, and Leo were waiting near the finish, and Emerald joined me for the last stretch. We crossed the line together. Later, she told me that was her favorite moment of the whole trip.
There was a little bit of the Bay Area with us, too. My trail-running friend Tommy had traveled to Slovenia for the 120K. Tough trail conditions meant he wasn’t able to finish, but we still got to share meals, easy runs, and some good time together. The group selfie is us just before my Sunday race.
Somehow, we fit all of this into one night away: volunteering, running, the kids’ medals, catching up with a friend, and time to enjoy the mountains. By Sunday afternoon, we were home in Ljubljana, with time left for the kids to spend with their grandparents.
I’m still getting used to how close everything is here. A whole mountain weekend, and home for an afternoon with family.
