I May Have Lost My Mind....

So this running thing is kind of taking over my sanity I think. I just signed up to run in a relay race in June. Sounds reasonable at first glance right? I mean that gives me nearly 8 months to keep running and get into better shape. The only thing about this particular relay is that it is 180 miles long and I have to run 3 different legs over a 24 hour period. Each leg is anywhere from 3 to 6 miles and it starts in Logan, Utah and ends in Park City, Utah. Its called the Wasatch Back and you can read about it here.

This is how I ended up here to begin with. It started with my friend Alisha unintentionally putting a bug in my head that I needed to start running in races. Then I started paying attention to that bug. I read about this relay race after running my first 5k a couple of weeks ago.....there was a flyer in my race bag. It sounded interesting and then I found a blog "Marathon Mommies" and someone had posted something there about needing 2 more runners for their team for this same race. I started thinking "wow, if I knew these girls, I would maybe sign up......". Then, the very next morning, I went visiting teaching and when I mentioned that I had sort of taken up running, my partner said "hey my sister just found out she is pregnant and needs someone to take her place in this relay race coming up in June"...... well of course is just happened to be this Wasatch Back relay that I was throwing around in my head! I just sort of felt like it was fate.

So I called her sister up and signed up to take her spot on their team. Then I got online and read more about it....... and now I'm scared. I'm going to have to start running my butt off to get ready for this. Its awesome and scary and crazy...... but awesome! I'm excited and I'm sick at the same time. I'm putting it out there so that I cant back out and you all have to hold me accountable! Basically, it lasts for 24 hours. Our team consists of 12 women and we each run 3 legs each that are 3-6 miles long. So, we will be running through the night, in the mountains (yikes) with little to no sleep and not much food.....like I said, I believe I may have lost my sanity. Here is an excerpt from an article written by one of the runners. You can click on it to read the whole article.

"The Wasatch Back Relay is simultaneously approachable and insane. The
camaraderie was palpable, the scenery breathtaking, and the hijinks hilarious.
Anybody with two vans, 11 friends and at least a mild dose of insanity can
tackle it. Above all, the race is incredibly fun, and both veteran racers and
total amateurs are sure to get a huge kick out of it."

Wish me luck.....

*****by the way, these are not pictures of me or anyone I know. I "borrowed" them from the article that I quoted above.... They are racers from last years relay*****

Friends....

So it's been a year of reconnecting with old friends for me. Saturday I met up with Jessi again....I posted about my lunch with her and Shannon a month or two ago. Shannon had other plans this weekend and wasnt able to come but it was nice to visit with Jess again.

Last night I met with Karolyn and Martha (karolyn left, Martha right). Ive been friends with these girls since about 1991. I worked with them at NuSkin in Provo. We used to go fishing all the time and me and Karolyn went mountain biking quite often. In fact I believe I was with Karolyn biking down the face of Squaw Peak when my toe clip broke and I went head first over my bike.....no helmet either....yikes. Martha and me and Linda took a trip to Vegas once which was a good time....oh, the stories. We took a fly fishing class together and had lots of fun. So, anyway, I actually saw Karolyn shortly after Addie was born. She came to visit me out in BFE one night and nearly got lost......I was a bit out of it though so it was good to have a "normal" visit with her. We met at Z-Tejas for dinner and I really enjoyed it! We plan on making it a regular thing and Im excited to hang with these girls again soon. It is so hard to believe that it has been 15 years since I have seen Martha.....time passes by so quickly. Hopefully we wont lose touch again....Thanks girls for a great night. I hope to see you again soon....

Happy Birthday Daddy.....

This is my dad. It's his birthday today and I wanted to wish him a happy one and tell him how much I love and respect him. He is getting ready to move to Reno, Nevada without my mom for a few months....she will join him after they sell their house. He is going to start a new job with his bank up there and Im excited for him to be having new opportunities and challenges (especially at his age -wink wink). I hope that it will provide a little stress relief too.....he could use that.

My dad is a really funny guy. For those that know him outside of my family, he is a real jokester. Then again, I think people within our family think the same thing. My dad was famous for playing jokes on us kids like "here, have a bite of my ice cream" and then it turned out to be sour cream. Or "have a drink of my sprite" and it turned out to be alka-seltzer. How about the time he promised to give me a whole dollar if I ate a jalapeno pepper.....sooooo not worth that dollar...... and I learned that milk is the only thing that cools off a burning tongue. He also liked to sneak into the bathroom while we showered and dump a huge glass of ice water over the top of the shower curtain.....that made for some pretty loud screams. I could go on and on. He still tries to get away with telling stories....but after 30 years of it......we are onto you now Dad!

Life has never been dull with you and I am grateful for the lessons you have taught me and the love that you still give to me. I love you very much Dad. Happy Birthday.

Morning Jibber Jabber.....

We woke up a little late to get Ian to the bus this morning so I ended up having to drive him and Evan both to school. On the way to Ian's school, we came across an accident. Our streets around our neighborhood are pretty little tree-lined streets where most people observe the speed limit so I am not sure what in the world caused the horrific scene we witnessed this morning. There is a little park that I have posted pictures of the kids playing at before. Somehow this car looked as if it had backed up over the curb and through the park fence.....there was a pickup truck facing it nose to nose as if it had pushed the car backwards over the curb and through the fence. The car was wedged so tightly between the fence posts that the firemen had to literally saw off the top of the car to get the person out. They were sawing as we passed. When we came back the other way after dropping Ian off, they had gotten the person out and had packed them onto the stretcher.....they appeared to be alive which was a relief. It serves as a reminder that some of the worst accidents happen right around the corner from home.

Meanwhile, Addison managed to undo her carseat belt....a new trick she is trying to master...and had climbed out of her seat onto the floor of my van. The only reason I had realized this was because she announced that she needed to pee and then proceeded to pee right where she stood. I heard the trickling and looked back to witness it. Nice. Suddenly I am missing diapers.....Ok, I take that back, no more diapers! Any ideas on how to keep her contained in her carseat now that she has figured out how to unlock it?

I had the thought yesterday that I am really entering a new stage in my life. For the past 8 years I have basically focused all of my energy on my kids and family. And I have been totally fine with that. I would do anything for my family....sacrifice anything. However, I have been feeling like maybe its time to allow myself a little time for me....not a lot of course because my main priority is still here at home but you know here and there.....lunch with a friend, bunco once a month, voice lessons. I still have to fight the urge to justify it....just like I am doing now. It is difficult for me not to feel tremendous guilt when I leave the kids with dad or with a babysitter. Even though I dont do it that often, it is hard for me. But, it feels so nice to get away even for an hour. Is that horrible? I just decided that I am already 37 and I dont want to be 57 and thinking, why didnt I do that? So, slowly I am entering this stage and kinda enjoying it..... I am meeting friends for lunch this weekend.....next week I have a bunco game and a voice lesson..... In Jan/Feb Im going on a 3 day girls trip to Taos, New Mexico for some skiing..... Its nice to have me time and I think it will make me a better mom too! One of these days when I get in better running shape, and I will, Im going to start making little running trips to different races. I plan on bringing the family to those though! Im hoping my kids will catch the bug to run and be healthy with me..... Anyway, I am just jibbering this morning but wanted to "write" down my thoughts.

For those wondering, my father-in-law Don is not doing very well. Some are saying they hope he makes it to Christmas, others are more positive. It is difficult to really know how he is doing from here of course. He fell a week or so ago and really hasnt gotten out of bed since. He wont eat. We think he should stop taking the chemo for a little while to try and get his strength back but others are to afraid to allow that......I hate to hear how he is suffering. I hate that my kids probably wont get to see him again. I hate that we cant help somehow. I hope he knows how much we love him...... We are going to send Denver there for a couple of weeks over Christmas so he can spend time with his dad. They did get a new medication yesterday that is supposed to help him eat. I hope it works. He can use all the prayers he can get......

Here's the Proof.....

I Did It!......

Today I ran my very first race. It was a 5k and I was very nervous about it. Technically I wasnt as prepared physically as I would have liked to have been but Im still happy that I went through with it. What a great feeling to #1 have it over with and #2 to have DONE IT in the first place! Denver came with the kids and Nate, Alisa and Soren also met me at the finish line. How cool is that? It was great seeing them at the end. Nathan snapped some pictures of me and when I get them I will post them....if they turn out....who knows what my face looked like at the end. I know how I felt and I sure hope it didnt show in the picture! Ha!

Ive been running 2 miles everyday but Sunday on the treadmill. I knew that it would be more difficult running on the ground but it was even harder than I imagined. Not to mention it was 32 degrees outside which made my lungs feel like I was inhaling needles. The first mile was pretty rough.....after that, it was a little easier. I did have to stop and walk up the hills twice but it was for only 60 seconds or so.....then I ran again. My shins are really feeling it right now.

So, there you go! I cant wait until I can run a 5k easily....that will be so great to be that in shape. Out of 435 contestants, I placed 320.....sounds horrible but I consider the fact that over 100 people finished AFTER I did a total success! And out of my age group, 34-39, I placed somewhere right in the middle......awesome.