okay last year my cousin JaNae did STG and loved it soo much she wanted me to do so I hesitantly signed up for the runners series, I went to St George in January and did the St George half then in March we went down and did the Lake to Lake relay. got my guaranteed entry into the hard sought after St George marathon. Still not really wanting to do it, and waiting till the VERY last day I finally signed up. finished of all my spring runs and went into a runners hibernation state. mid July I tried to start my training with no avail. I decided to sign up for a couple of halfs to hopefully kick start my training. It didn't work, I went into STG with a couple halfs run and no more than that since June.
I wasn't nervous just worried since I knew I hadn't trained. Don and I made it to st george just in time to meet up with some friends for dinner, not thinking there was room for us at the table we slipped outside and sat in the fresh air. We ended up speaking with an older couple about running and cycling and triathlons. It was a nice dinner even though we missed our friends.
headed to the expo got my bib, shirt, ect, and saw Tom and JaNae. Made quick arrangements and headed back to the hotel to sleep.
We got up at 3:15 to leave. Melissa drove and Kimberly joined us. We got on the 2nd bus heading up. it was windy and cool at the start, we found an unlit fire and sat around it and someone came and started it. we talked and waited. Finally the start. My hope was to finish-then to finish in under 5 hours. I started with a friend Christine, she was doing a 5 minute walk and a 1 minute run. It was a little faster pace than I wanted so once we hit the hill-Veyo. I dropped back to my own pace.
I was feeling sore, knowing it was because I was so under trained, at mile 14ish my ankle started to hurt a little and it promptly started to bother the back of my knee, mile 16-17 it wrapped around to the front of my knee. I would tell myself to run through the song I was listening to on my ipod, then I could walk. I did that for a while but then I just couldn't any more. it was too much pain. I saw many a sag wagon pass, I even saw a couple people get in. :( That was NOT gonna be me. I had put too much into this race and even though I didn't want to be there I was NOT giving up. I cried for a bit, wished Don was there. it took so long to get to the mile markers. I thought I would be out there all day. I talked to a couple people but they always started running and I could never keep up. The pain came up to my hip. It was really bad and I was actually a little worried I wouldn't make it at this point. And it hurt to run down hill and that was mostly what was left. long sloping hills that you can really pick up pace and get done quick, I had to walk down. I saw a sign that said Liberty blvd. it seemed like eternity until I finally made it to that street!!! There was a bike trail a long side of the road we were on and I kept hoping Don was gonna come but he didn't I texted him letting him know my condition. I hoped to finish in under 5:30 at this point.
We were finally into town, as I turned into town there was a sprinkler thing to run through it felt good, I walked over to the water station and they had candy . I figured I had 3 miles left, I was gonna eat some candy, I got a red vine and a kit kat and ate them up had some water and was on my way. wondering how I was gonna do this. by now I could run for maybe 20 seconds before I was in too much pain. The pain was no longer in my hip. I ran/walked as far as I could. Not long after the candy station Don did come by on his bike and helped me finish, probably a little stronger than I would of if he hadn't. The finish line couldn't get to me quick enough. I was determined to run through it. I walked quickly through the finishers area, grabbed ice cream, chocolate milk, a piece of bread and a plate of food. found Don and we sat on the grass for a while then he went and got my drop bag and we left. Yes I finished. I was pretty miserable, but I have never been so happy to be done!! That was soo long! My watch gives me a moving time of 5:37. :(
happy things-
I found another pair of my FAVORITE shorts at the Nordictrack booth at the expo!! I haven't seen them at their booths since I first got them and this time they were in the clearance bin (only one pair though).
I got to spend time in St George and see God's beautiful creations-Snow Canyon, We gotta bring the kids here!!! I remember being there as a kid!
All along the course I was reminded, by signs, I am pacing The Haunted Half in two weeks and it is gonna be a blast cuz I have a friend running it with me!
my phone is being replaced for free (see sad things),
I finished marathon #5.
sad things-
my knee still is sore and I have a really bad sunburn!
I ran with my phone in my bra and my sweat shorted out my battery charging area so I can't post my pictures.
so that's it. I'm gonna take it easy on the running. I hope I haven't completely burned myself out, I really had planned to do the buffalo run in March-50 miler but I think I'm gonna have to wait. I am gonna spend some time in the pool and on my bike. I really hope I am gonna be ok to run in 2 weeks, and at ragnar LV in a month.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
pre race jitters
I don't know why, even after 4 marathons I still feel so unprepared. It drives me batty!! I feel so dumb when I step outside of myself and look in. I know I will be ok. I know I can do it yet it gets to me. that little voice tells me I'm no good and I can't do it. Well guess what I CAN do it! I WILL do it!! This little person inside of me is wrong!!!
oh and ALWAYS before my Sciatic nerve hurts :( I have 6 weeks and it is already acting up! boo
oh and ALWAYS before my Sciatic nerve hurts :( I have 6 weeks and it is already acting up! boo
Thursday, August 2, 2012
where has the time gone!
I guess an update is in order.
Utah Valley did not go as planned! Don and I stuck together but at about 12 Don's IT band acted up. HE barely made it across the finish. About mile 23 I had had enough of him and him of me so I went off and finished. The course was nice but I didn't like running on the highway 80% of the race.
Ragnar-WB I was totally burned out. I should have skipped it all together! Ragnar was the week after UVM. I had 21 miles. might as well been another marathon. Our team name was Harold's Angels. I think that in itself needs a post of it's own. so look for that soon. The next week we had a fun little 5k with all the kids. and then we fast forward to now... August 2nd. I pretty much took July off. I ran a few times but I was totally burned out and as for the marathonn maniac? I have been completely broke so it sits in my email waiting for me to get a little extra $$ I really want a tank too so I am waiting.
Friday, as in tomorrow, I am running a half marathon. The moonlight half. I won't have a watch. I am a lot slower than before so I have no idea when to start. I have tried over the past two weeks to get my butt moving. I am up to running 2-3 times a week instead of once every 10 days lol.
Anna is flying in tonight to do the half with me. I think she will like it!
Utah Valley did not go as planned! Don and I stuck together but at about 12 Don's IT band acted up. HE barely made it across the finish. About mile 23 I had had enough of him and him of me so I went off and finished. The course was nice but I didn't like running on the highway 80% of the race.
Ragnar-WB I was totally burned out. I should have skipped it all together! Ragnar was the week after UVM. I had 21 miles. might as well been another marathon. Our team name was Harold's Angels. I think that in itself needs a post of it's own. so look for that soon. The next week we had a fun little 5k with all the kids. and then we fast forward to now... August 2nd. I pretty much took July off. I ran a few times but I was totally burned out and as for the marathonn maniac? I have been completely broke so it sits in my email waiting for me to get a little extra $$ I really want a tank too so I am waiting.
Friday, as in tomorrow, I am running a half marathon. The moonlight half. I won't have a watch. I am a lot slower than before so I have no idea when to start. I have tried over the past two weeks to get my butt moving. I am up to running 2-3 times a week instead of once every 10 days lol.
Anna is flying in tonight to do the half with me. I think she will like it!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
26.2 miles from Marathon Maniac
There is the pretty cool club called The Marathon Maniac's. You have to be extra cool to join it. ok just kidding but there is some pretty tough criteria. I really didn't think I was there yet but after having both Salt Lake and Ogden pretty close i checked it out and realized I wasn't there yet. then As I ran one day listening to The Marathon Show podcast he said he was gonna be running Utah Valley in June. hmm that would be cool to run with Joe. I started thinking about it and then remembered the MM and checked the criteria again and realized that would do it. I talked to Don he had been doing so well I thought maybe he was ready to take the plunge and do his first full. He sad sure. so I saved up the money to sign us both up. We got one of the last spots because when JaNae went to register the next day it was sold out. :(
SO here I am It has been about 3 weeks since Ogden. I have ran a total of 6 miles since then. Don has been having IT issues since March, he got it under control but it came back this week. Once again I am here 2 days from marathon and totally nervous! I have my great group of Running mom friends that have reassured me again that all will be well.
48 hours from now I will be pounding some pavement, once again mostly down hill. Grasping another marathon under my belt. I really didn't think this time last year I would be at #4 knocking at my door, taunting me. I will prevail and I will get my number and bib and be part of a very special group of people!
SO here I am It has been about 3 weeks since Ogden. I have ran a total of 6 miles since then. Don has been having IT issues since March, he got it under control but it came back this week. Once again I am here 2 days from marathon and totally nervous! I have my great group of Running mom friends that have reassured me again that all will be well.
48 hours from now I will be pounding some pavement, once again mostly down hill. Grasping another marathon under my belt. I really didn't think this time last year I would be at #4 knocking at my door, taunting me. I will prevail and I will get my number and bib and be part of a very special group of people!
Monday, May 21, 2012
It's mind Blogging!!!
I often think about the things I want to blog about while I run but when I sit down I have already blogged them away in my mind. Some times someone will say something and I will remember I wanted to blog about that!
So here are a few of the things I thought about while I ran on Saturday through the beautiful land God has blessed us with!
I usually don't put my music on during the first bit of a long race. I love to listen. As I started down the canyon I listened to everyone's feet. I blocked out the talking and just listened, you know what the pitter patter of 100+ feet sound like? Rain!! Yes! I imagined myself out in the mountains by myself sitting in my camping trailer listening to the rain. It was so beautiful to see the river roaring down the mountain and listening to the rain drop feet. If you have never listened to that gosh ya gotta!! It really is so amazing!!
I have been saying I don't want to do Ogden again but after running it again I think I want to again!! It really is such a gorgeous run!! You just don't get the full impact of the beauty in a car. It all goes by soo fast!!! We ran down toward Pineview Reservoir and the steam off the lake caused some pretty spectacular clouds!!
As we came around I saw some magnificent horses!! They were running through the field!! I felt like I was in a Harry Potter postcard, ya know cuz pictures in the movie move. The mountains behind them the rolling fields! They looked bigger than life!! It was so amazing I just took it in! Beautiful horses!!
I looked out across the lake as we came into the final canyon, and although I really wanted to enjoy the lake I saw so many people standing along the dam cheering their family and friends on I love that they put names on bibs because I loved to hear my name called out. It is so helpful!
While running down the last main canyon into the city there are so many signs! I would just add my name and take the other out. You Can do it Aunt Sheri! We love you Mom! It made me think of all my family who were cheering me on somewhere else!
The last three miles are a struggle. I didn't have the downhill helping me pull I was all on my own. we came around under the road and dozens of people stood cheering me on assuring me there was just a little bit more! and even more signs here! I read everyone one of them with me name. We run along the path and people pull out the sidewalk chalk and write encouraging things along it! Some made me laugh some made me think some made me want to cry, Like the one that said there is only 10 minutes left when I actually had 2 miles which would take me twice as long! One that made me laugh-"Chuck Norris never ran a marathon" or "Chuck Norris runs on a treadmill". One that made me think and want to cry cuz it truly is inspiring was "No half times, no time outs, no substitutions. It must be the only true sport." Those silly things help pass my time! but I am so thankful for the sweet hands that write those to keep us going a couple steps more!
Most of all I am so thankful for my strong legs and body that carried my on for 26.2 miles! (my watch said 26.47!) I feel like I can do anything!
and now for a few pictures I spaced! Start line with my friend MCat and the last one is of my shirt/bib/medal!
And JaNae! I can't believe I didn't get a pic of us!! :,(
So here are a few of the things I thought about while I ran on Saturday through the beautiful land God has blessed us with!
I usually don't put my music on during the first bit of a long race. I love to listen. As I started down the canyon I listened to everyone's feet. I blocked out the talking and just listened, you know what the pitter patter of 100+ feet sound like? Rain!! Yes! I imagined myself out in the mountains by myself sitting in my camping trailer listening to the rain. It was so beautiful to see the river roaring down the mountain and listening to the rain drop feet. If you have never listened to that gosh ya gotta!! It really is so amazing!!
I have been saying I don't want to do Ogden again but after running it again I think I want to again!! It really is such a gorgeous run!! You just don't get the full impact of the beauty in a car. It all goes by soo fast!!! We ran down toward Pineview Reservoir and the steam off the lake caused some pretty spectacular clouds!!
As we came around I saw some magnificent horses!! They were running through the field!! I felt like I was in a Harry Potter postcard, ya know cuz pictures in the movie move. The mountains behind them the rolling fields! They looked bigger than life!! It was so amazing I just took it in! Beautiful horses!!
I looked out across the lake as we came into the final canyon, and although I really wanted to enjoy the lake I saw so many people standing along the dam cheering their family and friends on I love that they put names on bibs because I loved to hear my name called out. It is so helpful!
While running down the last main canyon into the city there are so many signs! I would just add my name and take the other out. You Can do it Aunt Sheri! We love you Mom! It made me think of all my family who were cheering me on somewhere else!
The last three miles are a struggle. I didn't have the downhill helping me pull I was all on my own. we came around under the road and dozens of people stood cheering me on assuring me there was just a little bit more! and even more signs here! I read everyone one of them with me name. We run along the path and people pull out the sidewalk chalk and write encouraging things along it! Some made me laugh some made me think some made me want to cry, Like the one that said there is only 10 minutes left when I actually had 2 miles which would take me twice as long! One that made me laugh-"Chuck Norris never ran a marathon" or "Chuck Norris runs on a treadmill". One that made me think and want to cry cuz it truly is inspiring was "No half times, no time outs, no substitutions. It must be the only true sport." Those silly things help pass my time! but I am so thankful for the sweet hands that write those to keep us going a couple steps more!
Most of all I am so thankful for my strong legs and body that carried my on for 26.2 miles! (my watch said 26.47!) I feel like I can do anything!
and now for a few pictures I spaced! Start line with my friend MCat and the last one is of my shirt/bib/medal!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Ogden Marathon!!!
WOOHOOO!!!!! Is it ok to start with that??
Well when I ran Salt Lake I really wanted to finish in 4:30 but with the leg cramps and all it just wasn't possible so I set out on that goal again today...I did it!!
I didn't have a good long run between the races till last week and I hoped it wasn't too close to the actual race. I ran good this week, hydrated and carb loaded, um ya who doesn't love carb's!! they are my absolute fave!! Was gonna have someone pick up our packets (mine and Don's) but the opportunity rose for me to hitch a ride with someone so I took it! We headed up last night to pick them up and then came right back and I really wanted to go to bed at that point but I decided to take Cora and her friend to get a movie and candy. I went and laid down on my bed but heard Don a calling so I went out and helped him work on his engine for his '56 Ford. Finally came in the house around 9:30 and took a shower and laid in bed till he came in and lights were out at 10:30. Surprisingly I slept good again.. I woke up about 10 minutes before the alarm was set to go off. We got up-when it went off and after a snooze... and headed over to get Melissa, stopped to get gas-my bad, and headed to get my sister Wendy. Melissa and I were dropped off to meet up with some friends but got the wrong ones ;) we headed over to the buses and met up with JaNae and I also saw my neighbor Yvonne and her sis Yvette. I honestly didn't even feel nervous this morning! I thought it was weird!!
OK so on the bus as soon as we get moving I thought the bus driver was falling asleep because he was rolling his head but We are pretty sure he had turrets or something cause he twitched and moved the whole way up there. It was scary some times.. but we survived the ride and got to the start line! Met up with Yvonne and Yvette again and then headed to the start after a potty break.
I promised myself I wouldn't ruin it by starting off too fast like last year so I took it easy and ran with the 4:30 pacer. I love when a pacer encourages walking and drinking at the water stops. SL they ran right through!! I did end up getting ahead of the pacer at one of the water stops and didn't see them again till later in the race. Even though I tried to take it easy I still worried I was going too fast but kept at the pace because it was comfortable. I walked through all of the water stops and because I ran the course last year I knew the parts that would be easy and the ones that would be hard. I did walk a little bit up the big hill but I was a few minutes ahead my pace chart I knew it would be ok for a breather. When we got to the top there was a water stop with sponges to I wet my neck and kept plugging along (mile 14). Finally we were over the hill climbs and I kicked it back into a comfy pace and took teh down hill with ease. I knew it would be mostly downhill till mile 23. I took advantage of the gravity and let it guide me down. Mile 23 I just wanted to be done, my legs were starting to hurt and I was so tired. I walked a little bit and the pacer caught me. About the same place I was caught last year by the pacer. This time I wasn't gonna let the pacer over take me. I got a gu and some water put on a great song and went for it. I didn't see them again (except when I looked back)!
I was starting to struggle again and had texted Don hoping eh would come help me. I saw a guy in a black tank top and thought gosh what is Don wearing!! I remembered and looked up and saw him far off in the distance running toward me, I was sooo happy to see him. I needed him to get me through those last 2 miles! Sadly he had to listen to me grunt and cry under my breath. It is so painful when you are soo close but so tired and exhausted, not to mention in pain. The toll a marathon takes on a body is so hard! Finally we came around and he said there it is the Finish. WAY DOWN the street I could see a little glimmer of white that was a tent. I tried so hard but had to stop and walk again. I turned around to see how close 4:30 was he was about 200 yards behind me so I walked for a bit and we talked to the guy next to us then I said we gotta go and I ran oh I tried to run, I did. Finally I could read the finish I scanned for the clock. Don got out of the corral cause they won't let him finish with me. the cheers of the crowd get to you, you know. I finally saw the clock and it said 4:29:?? and I almost cried!!! I was gonna do it!!! I was gonna make my goal!! Oh My Gosh! I can't believe I made it!!
I was finally done!!! I could still walk! I got my beautiful medal! I could still walk! I was feeling good! The other marathons I had done I just wanted to go home I was miserable. I walked through the runners area and got a water, bread, little veggie smoothie, chocolate milk. gosh I could have used a bag!! I ate the bread and drank some water, had some of the smoothie, drank down my choc milk. Don hopped the fence and came into the runners area and we sat down and took a couple pictures and talked. I looked at my phone and noticed a missed call from Yvonne, I was like what the heck? so I called her back. She had been taken off the course because she got sick, low on oxygen. :( I wanted to cry with her!!
We sat for a while and then went and met up with Wendy and headed home. I was walking on clouds with my time! Honestly this time last year I didn't think this was possible!!
So now in 3 weeks I will run Utah Valley, I will go in again with a happy positive attitude. Running 3 marathons in 60 days=Marathon Maniac.. I am just planning to run it easy and in less than 5 hours nothing huge like this one. but maybe if I am feeling good I will go for it.. I just don't know!
Well when I ran Salt Lake I really wanted to finish in 4:30 but with the leg cramps and all it just wasn't possible so I set out on that goal again today...I did it!!
I didn't have a good long run between the races till last week and I hoped it wasn't too close to the actual race. I ran good this week, hydrated and carb loaded, um ya who doesn't love carb's!! they are my absolute fave!! Was gonna have someone pick up our packets (mine and Don's) but the opportunity rose for me to hitch a ride with someone so I took it! We headed up last night to pick them up and then came right back and I really wanted to go to bed at that point but I decided to take Cora and her friend to get a movie and candy. I went and laid down on my bed but heard Don a calling so I went out and helped him work on his engine for his '56 Ford. Finally came in the house around 9:30 and took a shower and laid in bed till he came in and lights were out at 10:30. Surprisingly I slept good again.. I woke up about 10 minutes before the alarm was set to go off. We got up-when it went off and after a snooze... and headed over to get Melissa, stopped to get gas-my bad, and headed to get my sister Wendy. Melissa and I were dropped off to meet up with some friends but got the wrong ones ;) we headed over to the buses and met up with JaNae and I also saw my neighbor Yvonne and her sis Yvette. I honestly didn't even feel nervous this morning! I thought it was weird!!
OK so on the bus as soon as we get moving I thought the bus driver was falling asleep because he was rolling his head but We are pretty sure he had turrets or something cause he twitched and moved the whole way up there. It was scary some times.. but we survived the ride and got to the start line! Met up with Yvonne and Yvette again and then headed to the start after a potty break.
I promised myself I wouldn't ruin it by starting off too fast like last year so I took it easy and ran with the 4:30 pacer. I love when a pacer encourages walking and drinking at the water stops. SL they ran right through!! I did end up getting ahead of the pacer at one of the water stops and didn't see them again till later in the race. Even though I tried to take it easy I still worried I was going too fast but kept at the pace because it was comfortable. I walked through all of the water stops and because I ran the course last year I knew the parts that would be easy and the ones that would be hard. I did walk a little bit up the big hill but I was a few minutes ahead my pace chart I knew it would be ok for a breather. When we got to the top there was a water stop with sponges to I wet my neck and kept plugging along (mile 14). Finally we were over the hill climbs and I kicked it back into a comfy pace and took teh down hill with ease. I knew it would be mostly downhill till mile 23. I took advantage of the gravity and let it guide me down. Mile 23 I just wanted to be done, my legs were starting to hurt and I was so tired. I walked a little bit and the pacer caught me. About the same place I was caught last year by the pacer. This time I wasn't gonna let the pacer over take me. I got a gu and some water put on a great song and went for it. I didn't see them again (except when I looked back)!
I was starting to struggle again and had texted Don hoping eh would come help me. I saw a guy in a black tank top and thought gosh what is Don wearing!! I remembered and looked up and saw him far off in the distance running toward me, I was sooo happy to see him. I needed him to get me through those last 2 miles! Sadly he had to listen to me grunt and cry under my breath. It is so painful when you are soo close but so tired and exhausted, not to mention in pain. The toll a marathon takes on a body is so hard! Finally we came around and he said there it is the Finish. WAY DOWN the street I could see a little glimmer of white that was a tent. I tried so hard but had to stop and walk again. I turned around to see how close 4:30 was he was about 200 yards behind me so I walked for a bit and we talked to the guy next to us then I said we gotta go and I ran oh I tried to run, I did. Finally I could read the finish I scanned for the clock. Don got out of the corral cause they won't let him finish with me. the cheers of the crowd get to you, you know. I finally saw the clock and it said 4:29:?? and I almost cried!!! I was gonna do it!!! I was gonna make my goal!! Oh My Gosh! I can't believe I made it!!
I was finally done!!! I could still walk! I got my beautiful medal! I could still walk! I was feeling good! The other marathons I had done I just wanted to go home I was miserable. I walked through the runners area and got a water, bread, little veggie smoothie, chocolate milk. gosh I could have used a bag!! I ate the bread and drank some water, had some of the smoothie, drank down my choc milk. Don hopped the fence and came into the runners area and we sat down and took a couple pictures and talked. I looked at my phone and noticed a missed call from Yvonne, I was like what the heck? so I called her back. She had been taken off the course because she got sick, low on oxygen. :( I wanted to cry with her!!
We sat for a while and then went and met up with Wendy and headed home. I was walking on clouds with my time! Honestly this time last year I didn't think this was possible!!
So now in 3 weeks I will run Utah Valley, I will go in again with a happy positive attitude. Running 3 marathons in 60 days=Marathon Maniac.. I am just planning to run it easy and in less than 5 hours nothing huge like this one. but maybe if I am feeling good I will go for it.. I just don't know!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Las Vegas Ragnar! 2010
Vegas BABY!!!
A week after The Wasatch Back I was on that runners high thinking I could do ANYTHING! My friend from high school, Emily and I chatted back and forth on Facebook she said she thought the relay sounded soo fun she would love to do it one day! well I didn't tell her I had already looked thru the rest and had an eye on Vegas. But I soon told her and we talked about going. I quickly talked with Don about it and his usual sure whatever pushed me over the edge! I immediately wrote her told her I was in. I soon got a message back and I went right the the Ragnar home page and posted in their forum we needed a team! I would go back every day and see how many people had looked at my post cuz I came right out and said we wouldn't be any help if you actually wanted to win. pretty much who wants to slow old women on your team :) well a couple weeks later I got an email! I was sooo excited and posted to Emily to call me as soon as she could! I was heading up to Park City to drop my son off for summer camp but she called on my way there and we chatted and we both were excited. ! I then thought I wonder if Don really is gonna let me do this! I got home before I emailed the captain back and talked to Don. He was for it! With in a day or two of getting on teh team I got another email saying they were looking for more runners so I called JaNae, My BRF (best running friend), and she talked to Tom (her husband) and she was on The Unknown's! I got him the check and then it was the waiting game. Soon time passed quickly and here we are it is all over and I am now blogging it!!
Emily flew in Thursday morning, I picked her up. WOW I haven't seen Emily probably since graduation (ok within a few months of graduating!) which was more years ago than I'd like to remember! She wanted to visit with her gramma so I took her there. I had a bunch to do so I had to be on the ball! Around 2 Don got off work and he came home finished packing his stuff we loaded everything up and headed to the school to pick up the kids, took them to Gramma's, went and picked up Emily and then headed to Tom and JaNae's we all drove down together. Finally on the road about 4:30. Sweet Laura across the street from JaNae brought over a big bag of peanut M&M's. We pulled into Mesquite late Thursday night and checked in then got some food. Us girls all got Spaghetti. As we were eating I got a text from our team captain saying he was checking in. I said should we go meet our team? We had never met any on them. So we went and met almost everyone!
We had talked over the months about changing the name but never did and it is funny cuz by the time we got to Vegas I think there were only a few people who actually knew anyone. Van one: Dan, Michelle (those two are married), Ronn, Mitch, Jason and Doug. Van 2: Nilo, Matt, Alan, JaNae, Emily and me.
We went back to the rooms after dinner. Everyone was pretty tired but we, Anna my sister also came down with us, Don and I went to the casino. Don won $500 in the slots which was awesome!
Tom was sad the next morning when he found out we had gone out with out him. crazy me another 3 hours of sleep that night. arg...
We met our team at 11am to head to our exchange! NIlo was our first runner from our van so as Jason came in Nilo went off. We headed to our next exchange. this really felt different from The Wasatch Back. I think I was really nervous for WB. This time I knew what to expect for the most part. but I was really tired! JaNae ran next, then Matt, Emily and then me. Like I said I was tired! I had only slept maybe 3 hours that night and the night before that I hadn't slept much either. My run was 2.5 miles (the smallest run of the whole race) and marked as easy. I was expecting to do it rather quickly. I did Not do it quickly in fact it wasn't easy at all it was almost all uphill!! 2.5 miles in 26 minutes. I handed off to Alan who was runner 12 so we would soon meet up with our van 2. I was seriously disappointed in myself. In fact I really wanted to cry. I was really tired I climbed in the back totally sad. but everyone was so encouraging and lifted my spirits. We were already 20 minutes ahead of our projected finishing time.
After we handed off We drove to our next stop where we told the husbands to come meet us cuz my phone charger was forgotten. we met them at our stop and they game me the charger and we talked for a while (we really should have been sleeping). as soon as we went up to where everyone else was sleeping we laid down just to get that dreaded phone call that van 1 was getting close so we packed up our stuff and went to meet them. I grabbed the back of the van so I could lay down. I stuck my head phones in and slept till it was my turn to run. good thing I did! this next leg was listed as hard and it was 7.2 miles. I was really worried about this one. it had been a few weeks since I had gone that distance. it turns out this leg was actually the easiest of the three. 7.2 in 1 hour 6 minutes! I have never ran that average pace before! I was soo happy! it was a good boost I needed! after we handed off to Van 2 we cruised to the next major exchange and got to sleep again. However it was soo cold (seriously isn't this Las Vegas??) that we all slept in the van. I stuck my head phone sin my ears and tried to get comfy. I guess there was someone snoring (not me) but they never bothered me. I think I was smart to stick the music in my ears. I still didn't sleep great because it is hard to get comfortable sitting up. once the sun had risen I needed to go to the bathroom and stretch! I didn't want to get back in the van yet so I walked around and decided to head up to the exchange and watch. Oh the smell!!! PANCAKES!! I wasn't passing those up! At the exchanges they have food you can buy and the money goes to something local. this money went to the local school. They were soo delicious and a bonus for something hot in my stomach! I walked around after and decided they had to be getting close so I went back to the van (don't worry I texted them letting them know there were yummy pancakes they didn't want any?!) and everyone was up and starting to get ready. they had worked it out that the next runner would be around a certain time. In my head I thought he'd be about 10 minutes faster so without sharing my opinion I encouraged tehm to get to the exchange quicker but they didn't budge and by the time we got there Jason was waiting :(. Well Nilo took off and we were at it again for our last legs... how did this happen so fast!! We waited soo long and now it was almost over!! well when my leg was up I was ready it was so cold and the wind was howling :( before I even started I had a side ache :(
A week after The Wasatch Back I was on that runners high thinking I could do ANYTHING! My friend from high school, Emily and I chatted back and forth on Facebook she said she thought the relay sounded soo fun she would love to do it one day! well I didn't tell her I had already looked thru the rest and had an eye on Vegas. But I soon told her and we talked about going. I quickly talked with Don about it and his usual sure whatever pushed me over the edge! I immediately wrote her told her I was in. I soon got a message back and I went right the the Ragnar home page and posted in their forum we needed a team! I would go back every day and see how many people had looked at my post cuz I came right out and said we wouldn't be any help if you actually wanted to win. pretty much who wants to slow old women on your team :) well a couple weeks later I got an email! I was sooo excited and posted to Emily to call me as soon as she could! I was heading up to Park City to drop my son off for summer camp but she called on my way there and we chatted and we both were excited. ! I then thought I wonder if Don really is gonna let me do this! I got home before I emailed the captain back and talked to Don. He was for it! With in a day or two of getting on teh team I got another email saying they were looking for more runners so I called JaNae, My BRF (best running friend), and she talked to Tom (her husband) and she was on The Unknown's! I got him the check and then it was the waiting game. Soon time passed quickly and here we are it is all over and I am now blogging it!!
Emily flew in Thursday morning, I picked her up. WOW I haven't seen Emily probably since graduation (ok within a few months of graduating!) which was more years ago than I'd like to remember! She wanted to visit with her gramma so I took her there. I had a bunch to do so I had to be on the ball! Around 2 Don got off work and he came home finished packing his stuff we loaded everything up and headed to the school to pick up the kids, took them to Gramma's, went and picked up Emily and then headed to Tom and JaNae's we all drove down together. Finally on the road about 4:30. Sweet Laura across the street from JaNae brought over a big bag of peanut M&M's. We pulled into Mesquite late Thursday night and checked in then got some food. Us girls all got Spaghetti. As we were eating I got a text from our team captain saying he was checking in. I said should we go meet our team? We had never met any on them. So we went and met almost everyone!
We had talked over the months about changing the name but never did and it is funny cuz by the time we got to Vegas I think there were only a few people who actually knew anyone. Van one: Dan, Michelle (those two are married), Ronn, Mitch, Jason and Doug. Van 2: Nilo, Matt, Alan, JaNae, Emily and me.
We went back to the rooms after dinner. Everyone was pretty tired but we, Anna my sister also came down with us, Don and I went to the casino. Don won $500 in the slots which was awesome!
Tom was sad the next morning when he found out we had gone out with out him. crazy me another 3 hours of sleep that night. arg...
We met our team at 11am to head to our exchange! NIlo was our first runner from our van so as Jason came in Nilo went off. We headed to our next exchange. this really felt different from The Wasatch Back. I think I was really nervous for WB. This time I knew what to expect for the most part. but I was really tired! JaNae ran next, then Matt, Emily and then me. Like I said I was tired! I had only slept maybe 3 hours that night and the night before that I hadn't slept much either. My run was 2.5 miles (the smallest run of the whole race) and marked as easy. I was expecting to do it rather quickly. I did Not do it quickly in fact it wasn't easy at all it was almost all uphill!! 2.5 miles in 26 minutes. I handed off to Alan who was runner 12 so we would soon meet up with our van 2. I was seriously disappointed in myself. In fact I really wanted to cry. I was really tired I climbed in the back totally sad. but everyone was so encouraging and lifted my spirits. We were already 20 minutes ahead of our projected finishing time.
After we handed off We drove to our next stop where we told the husbands to come meet us cuz my phone charger was forgotten. we met them at our stop and they game me the charger and we talked for a while (we really should have been sleeping). as soon as we went up to where everyone else was sleeping we laid down just to get that dreaded phone call that van 1 was getting close so we packed up our stuff and went to meet them. I grabbed the back of the van so I could lay down. I stuck my head phones in and slept till it was my turn to run. good thing I did! this next leg was listed as hard and it was 7.2 miles. I was really worried about this one. it had been a few weeks since I had gone that distance. it turns out this leg was actually the easiest of the three. 7.2 in 1 hour 6 minutes! I have never ran that average pace before! I was soo happy! it was a good boost I needed! after we handed off to Van 2 we cruised to the next major exchange and got to sleep again. However it was soo cold (seriously isn't this Las Vegas??) that we all slept in the van. I stuck my head phone sin my ears and tried to get comfy. I guess there was someone snoring (not me) but they never bothered me. I think I was smart to stick the music in my ears. I still didn't sleep great because it is hard to get comfortable sitting up. once the sun had risen I needed to go to the bathroom and stretch! I didn't want to get back in the van yet so I walked around and decided to head up to the exchange and watch. Oh the smell!!! PANCAKES!! I wasn't passing those up! At the exchanges they have food you can buy and the money goes to something local. this money went to the local school. They were soo delicious and a bonus for something hot in my stomach! I walked around after and decided they had to be getting close so I went back to the van (don't worry I texted them letting them know there were yummy pancakes they didn't want any?!) and everyone was up and starting to get ready. they had worked it out that the next runner would be around a certain time. In my head I thought he'd be about 10 minutes faster so without sharing my opinion I encouraged tehm to get to the exchange quicker but they didn't budge and by the time we got there Jason was waiting :(. Well Nilo took off and we were at it again for our last legs... how did this happen so fast!! We waited soo long and now it was almost over!! well when my leg was up I was ready it was so cold and the wind was howling :( before I even started I had a side ache :(
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