Warrior Dash!

Aaron and I ran a crazy fun race last weekend. It's a 5k peppered with obstacles that have you climbing over cargo net structures, leaping over fire, and sloshing through a mud pit under barbed wire. We intended to run it together, but didn't have anyone to watch the kiddos. So we staggered our runs and went separately.

Before the mud pit...

...and after.

Wahoo!

The Warrior Dash has a viking theme...hence the viking horns.

The mud pit leaves you utterly covered in mud. To clean off you get sprayed down!

Over the fire.

In the mud.

Dir.ty.

Wahoo!! It was so much fun!

A few things

1. I just signed up for the St. George marathon!! I've been thinking of running a marathon for a while. Now is the time for me to do it! Only 7,400 of those who register will be selected, by lottery, to participate. Cross your fingers for me that I'll be chosen! The race is October 1st. If you want to run with me or come cheer me on, I'd love it!

2. I'm completely excited about something. It's my vacuum and mop! Long story, short: I've had tile woes since I moved here 4 1/2 years ago. Nothing to properly vacuum/sweep and mop my hard floors. Our new house has a lot of tile, and it's textured. So I need something good.

Well, my genius husband found the perfect solution: our shop vac! It's been sitting in our garage all these years and I haven't thought to use it on the tile. He tried it and it works like a dream! It picks everything up! I love that my problem is solved, and didn't have to spend money on it.

As for the mop, I got an industrial mop and bucket. I love them. They make mopping so much easier and pleasant. The mop was inexpensive and the bucket was a bit more, but so worth it!

3. I'm going to make my blog private. I'd love for you to keep looking at my blog, so pretty please leave me a comment with your email address and I'll send you an invite.

Thanksgiving Day 2010

We started the day with a cold, windy 5k. The three youngest kids were going to ride in joggers for the run, but it was so stinking cold! We left four of the kids with Jason, and Carter insisted he wanted to ride, even in the cold. It was a great run. I ran hard and felt good about my time, especially considering I was pushing a double jogger into the wind nearly the whole way. It felt like I was pushing a sailboat against the wind. Yeah, tough. It felt so good when I was done. Kristen and Aaron were awesome. They don't run regularly, they just jumped in and ran a 5k...pretty impressive if you ask me.

This is my dreamboat, putting the herb rub on the turkey. He thought it was a gross job, but somebody had to do it. Lily was pretty much grossed-out by the sight of the raw turkey too. It turned out sooo delicious.

I made my aunt Lynn's make-ahead butterhorn rolls. Aaron and I first tasted them 12 years ago and were hooked. My children are hooked on them too. I daresay, Jason and Kristen and their kids are probably hooked too.

Pie. Yum.

Pumpkin pie. We made my favorite pumpkin pie. It's not too strong and pumpkiny...it's just right. We also made a pecan pie, for the first time. I used a butter (as opposed to corn syrup) recipe. It turned out so yummy.

No pie...just ice cream.

Ice cream too.

Ice cream!

Sweetness.

This little guy loves playing in the dishwasher. If we were working in the kitchen, he was nearby...either playing at the dishwasher or in the pantry.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Run

I ran today, for the first time in a long time. It felt sooo good. I ran 2 miles. I was slow, especially on the hills, especially pushing 55 pounds of cute kids and jogger in front of me. But it felt so good.

Super R.A.C.E.R.s : Ragnar Relay del Sol

Incredible.


Running the Ragnar relay was incredible. I enjoyed being with my team, running in the beauty of Arizona, and being challenged. The Ragnar is a relay race of over 200 teams. Each team has 12 runners. Each runner runs 3 legs of the 202 mile race from Prescott to Mesa, Arizona.



Janae started our race Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.


The team was split up into two vans. While one runner was out on his leg, the other runners from his van frequently passed by to give him water and let him know how much distance he had left. The support of team mates was huge.

Sharon with Mike as he ran his first leg up a mountain. I couldn't believe how he ran up that mountain. I think I would have sat down and cried. Wow, Mike.
Sharon was a morale-booster for the whole team.

My first leg was really pleasant. 1:15 Friday afternoon outside of Prescott. I ran down the mountain Mike ran up. The sky was blue, the temperature was comfortable. I felt great.

I was so impressed by Marinda's speed. She is fast. And she's fun!
Janae is a babe. I've known her for about a year but I got to know her on a new level through the race. That girl has determination. Her second leg took her on an unlit trail littered with debris. It was like an obstacle course in the dark. Afterward she got quite sick and required an IV. The next morning she ran a long, uphill leg. She just kept going, and going, and going.

Some of our team. We were the Super R.A.C.E.R.s (Really Awesome Cool Expert Runners). The Superman on top of the van was great. It made me laugh inside whenever I saw him driving toward me.

Team support: Jeff giving Mike water on his third leg of the race.

My second leg was at about midnight. It was cold and very dark. My dreamboat came up and paced me on his bike. I was so glad to have him there. He kept me from being afraid the boogie man would jump out and get me. Distances at night also seem much longer than during the day. I appreciated his company.
I love this picture because I look like my little brother, Jordan, before his races when he was in high school.

My third leg began Saturday afternoon at 1:20.

My family came to watch me run. Seeing them gave me a big burst of energy. I was so happy to have them there. Lily hung out the car window and cheered, "Go Mom!" I loved hearing her little voice shout for me and seeing her little hand wave out the window. Carter just wanted out of the car and into the stroller!

Look at this cool picture! Lily jumped in the air just as I ran by her. Look at those feet off the ground...what a jump! It looks like her shadow is trying to jump onto my shadow's back.

I felt energized for the first half of that leg. In the second half the sun beat down on me. I really appreciated the water Jeff passed on to me.

Passing the baton to Sharon for her last leg.

My biggest fans!...My mom, my husband, and our kids.

Chatting amongst ourselves while we wait for Zach to arrive.

Zach ran a hard 8 miles. Passing off to Julia.

Larry and Sheila were an essential part of our team: the cooks! They made delicious meals for us that hit the spot after our runs. I felt so bad for the other teams who had to grab Campbells soup or a hot dog (gag) at gas stations along the route. Thanks, Larry and Sheila!

We finished the race at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night. It was an experience I'll never forget!

A personal victory

I ran my longest distance this morning. It felt great! The weather felt wonderful and the desert mountain scenery was beautiful.

It's official.

I'm registered for the Ragnar Relay Del Sol!

It's a 181.2 mile relay race from Wickenburg to Mesa, Arizona. There are 12 runners per team. Every runner runs three legs of the race, ranging from 3 to 8 miles each. I'd better get training!

First race ever!

I wanted to run a race for my 30th birthday. I've never run a race and wanted to do something new and challenging. I chose a 5k the day before my birthday. Aaron, the kids, and Mom came to cheer me on.

Before the race. I was excited! The sky was blue and the weather was perfect.



Aaron and the kids waited on the side lines about a quarter mile from the end. I got a good luck kiss from Lily and ran on with renewed energy!

Mom was at the finish line. I hoped to finish the race in 35 minutes. I finished in 29 minutes!!

It felt great to run a race. I felt invigorated and a sense of accomplishment.


Some friends have invited me to do the Ragnar Relay del Sol with them in February. We'll have to see about that one! It sounds crazy fun and so challenging.