Love it!

I loved this talk when I heard it at the General Relief Society Broadcast on Saturday, but I listened to it again tonight and loved it even more...if you get a chance, take a listen...you will love it too!


click here!

Red Rock Relay!

So, back in March or April, my friend Amelia was putting together a team for the Red Rock Relay and asked if I wanted to do it. I couldn't do it for a couple of reasons...then she asked me about a month ago and it turned out that all my reasons for not being able to do it earlier had resolved themselves and I could totally do it and I was super excited!

So, I trained for a month. I started out running 5-6 miles a night for about 5-6 days a week. At first I struggled to finish 5 miles and was running a little over a 10 minute mile. I was kind of disappointed, but figured I still had a month. I kept at it and by the end of a month of training i was at about a 9:30 mile...not super fast, but it was a pretty good improvement! I also was able to run 8-8.5 mile long runs on three Saturdays and I could totally do it and keep up my 9:30 mile! I was super excited about it.

Anyway...onto the actual race...We left Thursday afternoon and headed to Cedar City for a pre-race spaghetti dinner and headed up to Brian Head to a beautiful cabin where we spent the night. We had fun hanging out, sitting in the hot tub (which had SO many chemicals in it was concerned if I would be able to breathe the next day!), and chatting. That night I slept maybe like 4 hours...I guess I was anxious about the next day.

We woke up Friday and headed to the starting line as a team and sent our first runner off. My van was the second van, so we had a few hours to kill before we had to go to the first van exchange, so we headed back to the cabin, did a little yoga (thanks Heather!), chatted a bit more, ate breakfast and decorated the van, well Excursion, but we called it the van.

At the first van exchange, we waited for the other van to come in then we were off. I thought my first run was all downhill...6.5 miles. Well turns out, it was about a mile uphill, then the rest was downhill. It was a really beautiful run through a gorgeous canyon. Half way through I told myself to just enjoy the experience and the beauty around me...I did that for a while, then got my mind back on my run! I had one kill (which means I passed one person)...we won't mention how many times I got killed...ok it was three times, but it was by super, super fast people! I don't know what my time was because I totally forgot to push start on my timer before I started running...I was SO mad!

After my run, two other runners ran then we headed to our next van exchange at SUU. We passed on the bracelet, then headed to Cafe Rio to have some much needed dinner...and I'll tell you, that dinner tasted fantastic! We headed to Wal-Mart where we picked up some needed, and not so needed, things then headed to our next van exchange at New Castle. I pulled out my sleeping bag and tried to get a few minutes of sleep...didn't work at all! So, I was going on 4 hours or sleep at this point, but I was ready to run!

My next run was at about 2:00 a.m. in the middle of nowhere...I don't really know where it was...honestly...I guess I passed a monument about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but it was so dark, I didn't see it. This was my best run though...I loved it! I ran 5.4 miles in 33 minutes...that's about a 6:30 minute mile! It was AMAZING! I had five kills on this leg and it felt fantastic! I think I should start running in the dark from now on...it was really nice to not see what was ahead of me...be it a hill or flat land...it was just great!

Our next van exchange was at Veyo, where we welcomed out last runner into our van and headed to my parents' house in Washington for a couple hours of sleep. I felt so bad because they weren't expecting us until later, but it was 5:00 am and I had to call them to wake them up to unlock the door...I felt SO bad, but it was SO nice to get about 1 1/2 hours of sleep. My parents were so sweet...they had food ready for us to eat, beds ready to sleep in, showers ready to use, flushing toilets (much better than the port-a-potties we had been using for the past 24 hours!) it was SO fantastic! After our little naps, we headed to the next van exchange at the Washington Rec Center.

We sent out our first runner off and were off to run in the blazing sun! My last leg was Hurricane (I think!). This leg was 5.5 miles and I knew my first two miles was going to be uphill, but after running for about 3/4 of a mile, uphill, on a very busy road, it turned into a trail run for 1.25 miles. It was actually pretty cool, but not at all what I was expecting, plus it was so stinking hot! It was about 12:30 and the sun was taking it out of me! After I got finished with the big hill, I just had a couple rolling hills that weren't too bad, but again, it was HOT! I can honestly tell you I was never so happy to see the exchange as I was after this leg! It felt great to be finished and it felt great to accomplish something so great and worthwhile!

We continued to shadow the remaining two runners...making sure they had plenty of water. We had a ton of fun with our last runner...blasting music from the Excursion to motivate her to the get to the finish line and she was a machine...she did an amazing job! It was crazy! We crossed the finish line as a team (well most of a team), took a few pictures, then headed to a pizza place for a much deserved dinner! After dinner, we headed back to my parents house and FINALLY got a good nights sleep...it felt so great! Thanks again to my absolutely amazing parents...not everyone can handle having 9 girls in their house and do it so kindly! You guys are amazing!

Sunday we headed home and I have to say it was so nice to be home with my sweet family! My sweet husband and kids made sure the house was spotless when I got home, which was SO nice...I have the best family ever!

To sum it up...here is what the back of my t-shirt says...

2 days
186 miles
8k feet
I am a running machine!

Such a great experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat! If you ever get a chance to do it...DO IT!

I think I have become a little addicted to running...who would have ever thought?!? Anyone up for the Halloween Half Marathon on October 30th?

Things I've Learned Recently...

Okay, so I have been meaning to post this for about a month now, but I just NEVER have time! Seriously, it's crazy...especially while training for the Red Rock Relay (more about that in another post)...I would run every night after the kids went to bed and by the time I got back, didn't really want to do much. Now that's over, and Jason is out of town, I thought I might actually update my blog!

I was thinking a while ago about the things I have learned recently and a lot came to mind, so I thought I would share...hopefully I can remember them!

• Summer is much more enjoyable after losing 20 lbs. I started trying to lose weight last October and have lost about 20 lbs total. Previously summertime was not a lot of fun for me...it was super hot and miserable! I was shocked at how big of a difference 20 lbs of extra weight makes.
  
• Along the same lines as the above...no matter how much weight I lose, I don't think I will ever feel totally confident and secure about my body. I wish I could get over it, but what's a girl to do?
  
• This one has taken me a LONG time to learn...I've had to let go of caring what people think of me. I think this was one of the hardest things for me to understand. People will think what they will about me, so be it. I am myself and that's what you can expect from me, I am not fake or insincere at all...what you see is what you get. I had to let go of caring if I got invited to every single thing my friends were doing...it's not the end of the world it I don't get invited to every single girls night out, sure I'd love to go, but it's not that big of a deal. Like I said, I feel like this was a big step for me and it has made my life so much simpler.
• I am not a trendy person. I have tried to be trendy fashion wise, but I just can't do it! I feel ridiculous when I do try something trendy on. That and I can never justify spending that much money on something that will probably be viewed as hideous in about a year...I just look at it as saving money! I am for sure a jeans and t-shirt type of girl...it works for me!
  
• I will never stop worrying about my kids. Worrying if I am a good enough mom. Worrying how a choice I make for them today with effect their lives in the future...good and bad. Worrying that my kids don't have enough friends around (even though I know they do). Worrying that I am reading, playing, teaching, singing with my kids enough. I don't think it will ever end!
  
• I am getting older. I know what's totally obvious, but it's taking some getting used to! I have been so used to always being the youngest in a group and that's happening less and less now. What's up with that?!?
  
• I have a lot of fantastic people in my life! Of course, my husband and kids, my parents, in-laws, etc. But I also have great friends all around me...it is such a blessing to be able to call up any number of people if I ever need help with anything...I feel SO blessed!

Okay...I am not very good and putting my thoughts/feelings into words, but these are just a few things that have been on my mind for a while and I'm sure there are many more I totally forgot, but oh well!