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?