Sand Hollow Marathon

I have to be honest. I did not want to do this marathon. Not at all. I wasn't totally into it when I registered. Then, because of scheduling conflicts, our peak of 19 miles was hit way too soon, like five weeks ago. I actually planned on doing a 22 miler the next weekend. Melissa was out of town, so I had Casey do it with me. I don't know if it was due to the change in running partner, or the cold, rainy weather, or that mentally I wasn't wanting to be there, but I didn't finish. Only did 14. This was the first time I've had to quit a run, and it got me pretty down. Then I decided to do an all day ZUMBA training the day before the race. I knew it wasn't the smartest idea, but it was in St. George, and they rarely have trainings down here. Then, Casey decided last minute to go on a snowmobiling trip to Wyoming, so now I had to arrange for babysitters and also worry that the kids wouldn't sleep well the night before. Friday night came and I was secretly hoping I would come down with that nasty flu that's been going around. Lame, I know.

I woke up Saturday morning healthy as could be. Darn it. So I got ready and picked Melissa up and we started the marathon at 7:30 with just a handful of other runners. The morning was a little overcast, but not too cold. It was actually perfect running weather. We started losing our layers around mile 2. We ran strong and steady and got to the turnaround point (13.1 miles) in 1:54. Not bad, seeing as we were trying to break 4 hours. I started noticing some sprinkles. Nothing major. Around mile 16 it really started to come down and it didn't stop after that. Not once. It was just a constant, steady, very wet rain the whole rest of the way. Yuck. Mile 18 was the bottom of the mile-long, nasty hill, affectionately nicknamed "Nemesis". At that point, my legs and my hamstrings in particular were so tight and starting to really bother me. I decided my best bet would be to walk the hill. I told Melissa to leave me. She looked reluctant, but I really didn't want to hold her back. I wanted to break 4 hours, but she really, really wanted to break 4 hours. She took off and I walked that hill in 13:13. Yikes.

After that it was a nice downcline for two miles. (It's okay if you don't know that word, I made it up. It's the opposite of incline. BTW, I also made up scrunchi, but that's for another time.) I started feeling numb all over. Remember, we had shed our warm layers when the weather was cooperating. I was concentrating pretty hard to put one foot in front of the other. Then this truck pulled up and this angel jumped out and put a big black garbage bag over my head and poked holes in it and helped me get my arms through the holes. Bless her heart. After that the coldness was more bearable. I walked a couple more times, but I was able to pick it back up when I got to the spot where I told myself I would run again. Finish time: 4:08. So I didn't finish under four, but it's a PR, so I'll take it.

Melissa DID finish under four, 3:54 was her time. So proud of her.

I know it looks like I'm walking. I'm not.

You'll have to excuse some of the faces
I made in these pictures.
My face was so numb I couldn't
tell if I was smiling or not.
They're not pretty.

At mile 24, hooray!

I was a little unsteady on my feet after finishing.

I thought I was smiling.

The fans.
Notice how they're always at the finish, come rain or shine or snow or whatever?
They're seriously the greatest.


Flowers from Casey.

My kiddos (and Nicole).

Finishers.

Pictures

Cheesy

He thinks a hat equals cool

Snuggling Uncle Josh

Grandma Jepson and Jada
I sooo love this picture

Playing Pretty, Pretty Princess

They're both in heaven


Best Buds

They love to wrestle


The boys' favorite thing is playing the Wii

Don't tell Beckham he's not really playing

Sometimes they do get along


Beckham's new trick

Jada at her first dance festival
How great is it that the elementary school
still does the dance festival?

I think this is the 59th year

Too cute

School friends

Last night we went out to eat at Benja's for my dad's birthday (59!). It was good times, good food, great company. I love living so close to so many of my family. And even though there are so many of us, I really do miss the ones that aren't here (Kaelee, Natalie, and their Matts). After our fabulous dinner we all came to my house to watch BYU dominate on the DVR. Some pictures from our sweet night:

The birthday boy and his hot date, aka my mom.

Easton was the only kid allowed to come.

Breanne and Melissa

Erin, Easton, Chet

Casey and me

Easton and Josh
It's not possible to get a normal picture of Josh. Promise.

The whole crew

Beckham trying to get my dad's attention during the BYU game.
Not happening.

Happy Halloween/Easter/St. Patrick's Day

Yesterday my kids celebrated all three. While I was working in the office they got into their Halloween costumes, found the Easter baskets and empty eggs, and filled them with fruit snacks. Then they had me hide them around the house and went on an Easter egg hunt. They had a great time. Come to think of it, we actually did not celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Didn't even wear green. Oops.

Lake to Lake Relay

Yesterday was the 50 mile Lake to Lake relay starting at Gunlock and finishing at Sand Hollow. Last year we did a sister's team and had so much fun we couldn't wait to do it again. Kaelee is 6,000 miles away so Erin, my sister-in-law, joined the team this year. We were Twinkle Toes and made our own cute/ghetto shirts and were all glittered out. We had so much fun and the day seriously flew by.

We challenged the men in our family to put together a brother's team and run against us, but they didn't come through. But our cousins accepted our challenge and put together an all-sibling's team (three brothers, two sisters). We've been talking trash back and forth for a few months. We knew they would have an advantage since they had three boys, but they weren't as well trained as we were, so it was up in the air. Surprisingly, we were almost exactly the same pace so we pretty much got to spend the entire day with them. In the end they beat us by three minutes, but they did have boys on their team, so we're okay with that.

Our finish time was 7:12:42, which we were pretty happy with. At the awards banquet we were completely shocked when they called our name for 6th place in the all-female division (out of 34)! Totally awesome. I'm so proud of my girls and can't wait to do it again!

Nicole and Natalie
On our way to Gunlock. Kind of awake.

Starting line, Gunlock 8:00 a.m.
Nicole, Natalie, Erin, me, Melissa

Nicole ran the 1st leg. See how happy she is?

And happy to be done:)

Erin running it in.
This was her first race ever and she totally rocked it.
So proud of her.

Hanging out with the Sanders' team
Nicole, Shane, Travis, Halie

Nicole and Erin

Waiting for my hand off from Nat

And I'm off!

Nat's done, and looking pretty pleased

Melissa getting focused

Me giving Melissa some much needed water.
It got pretty warm, but not windy. Yay!

Nicole's pretty happy to be finishing her
2nd and final leg.
Melissa running it in with her.

Nat sprinting in to the finish of her 2nd leg

I'm so excited:)

Finishing my 2nd leg

Melissa waiting for my hand off

Melissa finishing the final leg around Sand Hollow

And done!
Natalie, me, Melissa, Nicole, Erin

The fam


Awards Banquet
Melissa, Shane, me, Travis, Erin, Kiley,
Natalie, Char, Nicole, Halie

We had SO much fun running with them.

6th place all-female team, holla!