Ragnar Relay

I  had an amazing experience running the Ragnar Del Sol relay race.  I was on such a great team of women.  We really got to know each other better and to quote our great driver, Angie, "Van 2=awesomeness."

The running was exhilarating and I loved how supportive the team was.  It was crazy running 197 miles, at all hours of the day and night, fueled by Gu, bananas, and a constant stream of adrenaline, with little or no sleep for over 32 hours (I think I will always remember trying to catch some Zs on the mat in a high school wrestling room with a bunch of strangers).  Our van's runs went by in a blur of driving, joking, laughing, cheering, and the clang of cow bells. We saw creative vans (don't ask what Duck Butter means) and crazy costumes like pirate, disco dancers, Wonder Woman, even a man running in his skivvies.

One of my favorite moments was toward the end of my first leg just as night fell, and I ran the last stretch to the sound of bagpipes, slapping the hands of a crowd of cheering onlookers as I approached my waiting teammate with the bracelet.

 I had the honor of running the last leg of all, and it was a wonderful feeling to come around the bend and see my team jumping and cheering, and Mitch and our boys too.  My team ran the last hundred yards to the finish line together.  I had a great time and as crazy as it sounds, yes, I would do it again.

Rounding the bend to the finish

Running to cross the finish line together

Team Moms and Maidens

Van 2

Lost Dutchman Marathon

It has been one of Mitch's lifetime goals to run a marathon.  Last fall he trained for and ran his first 1/2 marathon, and did great, so he decided to continue training for a full marathon in February.  All was going well until he got sick over the holidays and lost a full  month of training.  When he got well there were not many weeks left to train, and I was worried that he didn't have enough time.  But in the end he did it!  He ran a strong 26.2 miles and I am so proud of him!

Run Forrest, Run!

I am training for this race:

I had always been one of those people who moans and shakes her head at the mere mention of running.  "I hate running," I would say.  "How do people do that?  Why would  you put yourself through that kind of agony when there are other, less torturous ways to exercise?"

I am no longer that person.  How did this conversion come about, you ask?  Okay, I never said I love running, but I no longer hate it.  There are even rare moments when I enjoy it.

What happened?  Baby fat and a bandwagon.  After Brandt was born I just couldn't banish those last ten or...twelve pounds, darn it!  Exercising, trying to eat right weren't cutting it.  I needed a consistent cardio regimen and I knew it.  Then the bandwagon.  My niece invited me to run a 5k with her and some other family members.  I agreed.  There was something about signing up for an organized event, committing, that made me kick it into gear.  I got outside and ran.  I started getting up at 6:00 am and running 3 days a week to train and yes, in the beginning it was agonizing.  But I was building up my stamina and pushing myself  and soon I could go farther and farther.  I set a goal to run the 5k in under 30 minutes and I exceeded my goal by over a minute.  After that race I continued running for exercise and a friend of mine invited me to sign up for the Ragnar.

Training for this race has pushed me farther that I thought I could possibly go.  I have more than doubled my distance and look forward to pushing my record run to 8 miles on Saturday.  That doesn't mean that I look forward to my runs with glee, but running does provide a clarity of mind and a physical release that I've always felt from exercise.  And the best part?  I didn't think I could do it and now I know I can.  It feels so good to exceed my own expectations.  I'm half-way to my weight-loss goal, I feel healthier, and I look forward to some crazy fun come race day.  If I can just find time to squeeze in my training...

Run! Run!

 Mitch ran his first half-marathon last month!  I am so proud of him for accomplishing this goal!   Brandt is proud too.  I ran the 5k and felt good about my time.

A week or two later Dallin participated in his first 1-mile fun run.  He really ran hard.  Caleb also showed great effort in the 5k and they both finished with good times.  It was neat that Grandpa Tom got to be involved too.

 

Storm Run

Tonight my love and I went for a run
My first in months - maybe a year
The city lights made the clouds glow
Lightning flashed like a strobe light
The smell of desert rain sizzled on the power lines
Cool drops slid down my face like tears
The rhythm of my breath was drowned by the
Thunder that chased my pounding feet home