Yellowstone Half

Found this sitting in my drafts: 6/2015

Some days opportunities knock.  Last January I saw a post on Facebook from a race director needing some help with a race. It was called the Grand Teton Half. I thought it sounded fun and I love being on both sides of a race!  I had a phone 'interview' and he said he would love me on the team!  Fast forward to last weekend!  It was the Teton Half. First I have run one race with Vacation Races,  it was Zion  2014 and I loved it!
This race is also through Vacation Races and I felt honored to be apart of it.  It was a long two days and as I drive out of Jackson Hole I realized I really wanted to come back and run Yellowstone Half the following week.
By Tuesday I decided I really couldn't afford it and didn't have a spot on the pacing team so I wasn't gonna go.  Thursday morning I got a message saying some spots opened and within a couple minutes I had a ride, a spot and a place to stay! So excited!
We pulled into West Yellowstone and went right to packet pickup and got our bibs.  Then headed to the hotel to check in.  I haven't berm to Yellowstone since I was a young child so everything was new to me. As we were getting ready to leave another van pulled up that had a few more pacers, we ended up getting in their van and heading out to sight see. I really wanted to see animals we saw some elk, buffalo and cranes.  And a beautiful sunset.

Pacer bio

Hi! I'm Sheri Sorensen! I ran in high school but stopped after I graduated. I started running again in 2009 to loose a little weight and relieve some stress. I fell in love with it again! I have ran 6 marathons, over 25 half marathons, many 5k's and 10ks. I also learned how to swim and began triathlons in 2014. My favorite distance is the half. I have paced over 15 halfs! I am a busy mom of 4 active kids and have a husband that also runs and cycles! We think having fun while being active is a great thing for our kids to see. We love to plan weekend getaways around races!
My favorite thing about pacing is seeing others accomplish something they didn't think they could. I also love feedback! I am excited to help you achieve your goals! Happy running!

Six months of running adventures

Today I ran a 5k. It has been a long time since I have ran a 5k-not associated with a tri. I had a lot of thoughts during this run.  Let me see if I can find the words that ran through my mind. 

I started the year recovering from the flu but ran a half, it was freezing cold.  A week or two later I was in St George running another half.  A week or two later I ran 12+ miles across a frozen lake. A week or two later a ran a Ragnar Relay in Phoenix AZ. No it isn't the hot/cold thing I was thinking about it is the variety of the runs. A couple weeks ago I ran a 2-woman relay and the transport was a boat down/up the river!  In 3 weeks I get to ride a train to the start!!  How cool is my running adventures just this year! 
I had my temple to temple run, Salt Lake Marathon and today was the sprinkles-hoping for the cherry in a few weeks.

Today I ran for someone,  no not in their memory, but because he can't run.  This sweet 10yo boy is confined to a wheel chair, so I was his legs and I pushed him while he was in a big stroller. It was so amazing.

I thought about why I ran.  It used to always be about me but lately it hasn't.  I just love to pace and help other runners.  I loved pushing Reese today.  It was an incredible day!  I was filled with emotion as I crossed the finish line and everyone cheered for him!  In 3 more weeks I get the honor of pushing him again for a half marathon, the cherry,  but maybe not.  Maybe it is just another layer because we are only 6 months into the year!

First ride since the turkey tri!

I am a huge Nervous Nellie when it comes to cycling!  It goes to a new level when I hear about accidents too.  There was a pretty bad accident a month or two ago where two cyclists were killed.  I was terrified to go out.  Well I really am to the point I have no choice,  I need to go out and get some saddle time. I am doing Woman of Steel and it is next week!  I have not been on my bike since November! 
I so grateful for spin class to keep my muscles together and strong.  The ride was so smooth and I felt really fabulous!  I pushed hard and wanted to go further but was on a time restraint. I did a tour with the progressively harder hills.  The last hill I have attempted 4 times and today was the second time I made it! Although my legs were screaming I pushed and pushed!  I love the feeling of something hard! 

Expect more cycling posts! Cuz today is one of those "I love cycling!!" days!

it's like riding a bike.

it has been exactly 4 months since i have dipped my foot in the pool. This happens to be a bad thing when you are less than 3 weeks from a triathlon. It also has been 5 months since i have been on my bike, however I have been spinning off and on so at least I have that going for me. As for my running... well we shall see today. I plan to go out this afternoon and give it a go.

ok swimming, I forgot I love it! It all came back and I swam just fine! I am less nervous than I was! I imagined being in the pool during the tri, I thought about last year and just focused on my strokes. I loved it. I wish I was faster! There isn't much hope for that but I am happy I can do it!

I am gonna try to go to the pool as much as I can and just keep it going!

Bling Blong

I will post my Salt Lake Marathon experience, but first I wanted to share this funny thing that happened.

I hung my marathon medal on my board, turned around and the board fell!! Can you believe it? 

You remember this?  I think I had posted it when I made it so many years ago?  Well the bracket on the back couldn't take it any longer! 

I posted it on a Facebook group as a 'runner's problem' and started a small frenzy of people talking about how they display, or don't display,  their medals. I decided since they are down I would lay them out and look at them!  

Half's, relays, 5k's and marathons

I need to do a recount of my half marathons.  I have 20 medals,  I thought my count was 20 and I know there was 1-2 that I didn't receive medals.

Anyway!  Don wanted to lay his with mine and after we had them all laid out he asked me to calculate the cost of it all.  Blah.  I am happy I am able to pace and get a free entries! 

Staring Ms Marathon in the face

After that rotten marathon 18 months ago I really didnt think I would domanother one but here we are, the eve of a marathon. Salt Lake again, a new course that looks like a beautiful course and we are going through one of my favorite pkaces to run, Bonneville Rd and Memory Grove!
My packet is picked up, done lots of carb loading, not nearly as well trained as I had hoped. But ready or not in 12 hours I will be sitting at the start line ready to go.
I thought I had mentioned why I chose to run SL last but couldn't find it so I will write it now.

I had been told SL Marathon was pretty miserable and one of the worst out there so it had always been out of my mind.
One afternoon I was watching The Spirit of the Marathon (if you havent seen it, go watch it) for, well I've seen it a few times. Anyway,  they interview the mayor of Chicago,  he said something like "we close the roads of the city down and you get to run the streets of your home town, who wouldn't enjoy that?" My thought was, that sounds awesome! So I pretty much signed right up!

Looking back two years ago when I last attempted this one I think about running through some areas I live that I woukd never have the chance to run. Sooo many memories of my beautiful home town. I am soo excited to run snd really enjoy this marathon! I cant wait to feel the love from the city! Although I am questioning my sanity! 

See you in 26.2!