Logan Top of Utah

This may end up being lengthy…I apologize for that! I need to write this before I forget my experience and what the Top of Utah Marathon (TOU) means to me. I want to start off by saying how truly grateful I for my ability to run and for my body to endure these long and strenuous miles I put it through. I thank my heavenly father everyday for this wonderful gift. I have wanted to TOU for the last 4 years and every year some obstacle has gotten in the way. I was starting to think TOU was not ever going to be a reality. This was the year I decided no matter what happened I was going to run TOU and finish TOU even if it took me 6 hours! Back in May I signed Kelly and I up for this marathon, something I have never done because something always got in the way. I committed to this race and was not going to back out! I was not going to let my sinus problems, injuries, or my children's cross country get in the way of this race. TOU will be lucky number 6 marathon and the one marathon I really want to run.

I started training for this race and was getting really excited to run TOU. By the middle of July I started having bad pain in my left calf but still continued to run on it being very careful about my distance. Kelly and I ran the Ririe Days ½ marathon and I knew at the time this may not have been the smartest idea but my determination was greater than the pain. I know that was a stupid idea and hindered my training for TOU. I went out 3 days after the Ririe race and could only run a ½ mile. I knew I was in trouble and called my sports medicine guy to come and fix it. Only certain injuries can be fixed, stress fractures cannot! Lesson Learned J I had to stop running and training for TOU, it was time to let my leg rest. I pulled out the bike and started to train on my bike without the impact. This is not nearly as effective but it does help.

I had to give up running Mesa Falls Half because I was still having pain. This was one of the half marathons I love to run but I had my sights set on TOU and needed to stay focused. When I was able to run again I had 3 ½ weeks until TOU so I had to go out slow but get in the distance. Long runs were slower than I wanted but I knew I had to take it easy. Two weeks before the marathon I started having bad knee pain in my right side, AGH! I went to the Dr and it is tendonitis in my knee from over compensating for the injured left leg! Just my luck!!!! What to do? Keep running your training for a marathon! I actually back my training off a little bit and started biking and running to give both legs relief. The last week before the marathon I decided not to run and let my legs rest and hopefully all the pain and inflammation would go away. Friday Sept 11^th the kids had a cross country meet I had a hard time walking up and down the hills it was so painful in both legs. I actually considered at not running TOU, if I could not walk up and down hills how was I going to run a marathon? This next part may sound really strange to some of you but it is part of my story and it need to be told. I prayed and prayed for Heavenly Father to help me get through this. I wanted it so bad and I knew I needed his help. Wednesday of last week my legs started feeling so good and I knew I would be able to run the race. I made the decision to run TOU at all cost knowing I was going into it with odds stacked against me and with the potential of taking 6 hours or not finishing.

Friday the 18^th my children had a cross country meet in Rigby. I was not going to let them run so we could get into Logan at a decent hour. Last minute I changed my mind…..and it was so worth it. Kelsie ran her first race of the season! Kenzie did amazing even with a potty stop! Kolton ran a 17:48 in 16^th place! That was motivation for me to go out and do my best. We got to Logan at 9:00pm. Packet pick up for the race ended at 9 but they were wonderful and still let us get our packets!

I have never cried at the beginning of a marathon only at the end. The first mile I got a little teary because I could not believe I had made it! Every mile was wonderful and every step I took I was thankful for. Kelly and I chose to run this together because our family was going to be there and we knew it would be easier for them to find us. We have never run a full marathon together this was a new experience for us. Mile 20 I was on track for a 4:30 marathon feeling good knowing I had 6 miles to go! YEAH! Mile 21 my knee went to jello and gave out. I had to start walking and running slower if I was going to finish. Having my family there for encouragement helped so much. All of my kids ran with me for part of the course. Kolton stayed with us for 8 miles. I finished with a 4:55 and that's what I wanted to finish! I had to be happy and not discouraged I could not get a PR. With all the obstacles that got in my way finishing was amazing. I still am a little bummed that until mile 20 I was having a good race but I will get over thatJ.

I had my sister Robbie her husband Matt and son Patrick, My mother in law, and my children being amazing cheer leaders! Great signs great fun! Our new motto "girls with cute shoes run fast" ! The meaning behind it is " even though you are struggling and not having the best day or race put one foot in front of the other and finish what you started" I don't know if they will ever understand what it meant to me to have them cheering, I don't know if I would have finished without them. Kelly made this race to fun and memorable he brought a camera, phone, and fruit snacks. He had so much energy and was so excited to see his wife in this new way. He has only seen the long run Jennifer and not the marathoner. He pulled me through this race and made me laugh along the course talking to our family and trying to fix hotel problems while running down the road. I love him so much for this!

Everything we do in life is a lesson and a growing experience. I have found that marathons teach me determination. You can do anything if you set your mind to it I knew I would not have the time I wanted but I knew I could finish. TOU was such a growing experience for me and a very humbling experience.

 

Happy Birthday Kelsie!

I am really sucking at this blog thing.....

Yesterday my baby girl turned 13. Now we are onto the adventure of raising teenagers. Today we took her to downata to swim WHAT A BLAST! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELSIE

Bonneville vs Hillcrest

Being a former Bonneville High alumni and now having a child going to the same school I have BEE Pride. If I would have been a little younger I would have attended Hillcrest, my class was the last one to graduate as North and South Bonneville. This made it so all of my younger siblings were the Knights and not Bee's. Through their high school lives I cheered for BIG RED not Green. I now attend rival games and meets between the schools and I find myself wanting both schools to do well. This brings me to the real reason I write this particular blog.

The last few years I have been watching Colton run cross country and track. Every year I see him improve not only his time but his sportsmanship. The last few track meets I have been paying close attention to Hillcrest and Bonneville kids who run the same events as Kolton. These are also the same kids who run cross country in the fall. All of these boys are very familiar with each other and know their competition. I have seen this competitive edge help the boys have good sportsmanship.

There are a few select juniors at Bonneville and Hillcrest who will run their hardest and try to beat the rival school. But in the end after the races each one will shake the others hand and congratulate them for a job well done. As I have been watching this over the years I am seeing each one of these boys show true sportsmanship. What great examples they are to everyone around them.

April Fools...Jokes on who?

I do appreciate a practical joke and I am a big prankster. Many times I have short sheeted beds and pulled my fair share of "camp pranks". My friend and I go to the Relief Society retreats just to pull pranks and write on others windows with eyeliner. There is nothing funnier when the 90 yr old sister in your ward is laughing with you because you wrote "I'm Sexy" on her window. I have a sense of humor and I think good pranks are funny.
There is a line when I think it is just too much work. Today my kids pulled an April fools joke on me that was "funny" but wow!!!! I came home to my box spring and mattress being switched. Yes it is funny but I made them put it back. As I watched them rearrange the furniture I laughed I hope it was worth it! thanks guys that was FUNNY!

YW Broadcast "Return to Virtue"

It has been a really long time since I have updated my blog....and my wonderful sisters reminded me that it was time to commit to blogging again! SOOOO no better time like the present.
I had a great opportunity this weekend to watch the YM general broadcast in Salt Lake at the conference center. My wonderful neighbor called and told me her sister who works for the church had tickets available and we were welcome to them. So I took my girls and made a last minute trip. I was really sad I could not bring the YW of my ward but it was so last minute.
I invited my sisters and my neighbor, what a great time! It was fun to drive down and laugh and enjoy each others company.

The young women's meeting was amazing! It was great to listen to the YW Presidency talk on Virtue the new value added to personal progress...encouraging all these girls to commit to virtue and live lives that are virtuous. Sis. Daltons talk was very inspiring to me "virtue is purity". She talked about a white rose and that became her symbol of faith and purity. Today for class I brought white roses for the girls and attached the saying "virtue is purity" to remind them of the wonderful talks we listened to last night.

I am so thankful for my sisters, it was wonderful to have them with me and for there great example to my daughters. I know they made sacrifices to come with me to Utah and leave their families behind. I love you guys!!!!

17 years and counting

Last weekend was our 17 year anniversary. Seems like we have only been married just a few years. It has become a tradition that we go to Vegas for our anniversary. Four years ago we signed up for the Vegas Marathon and have gone ever since. The Marathon is just a few days before or after our anniversary depending on when it falls. This year is actually fell right on the anniversary so we decided to run the 1/2 and run it together that was fun and it felt like we were cheating just a bit, to cut off half of the race! This year we wanted the time to spend together knowing I was having surgery as soon as we got home. So it was a nice weekend ALONE.

I have been to Vegas probably 10-15 times and every time we find something new to do and NEVER get bored. My first request was to stop at the Silverton and see the HUGE aquarium. That was so cool and it is connected to Outdoor World, which makes Cabela's seem like nothing. I actually enjoyed walking through Outdoor World and seeing all there displays. We always have to spend a day in Primm shopping, and Got GREAT DEALS! Saw our neighbors at the mall, they also got great deals. Saturday we went to the Marathon Expo and got our race numbers and then Shopped at the Vegas Outlet Mall. Had to eat a a buffet, which is always overrated! And early to bed for the 4am alarm.

The Race on Sunday was so much fun! Where can you run with Elivs, showgirls and renew your vows all at the same time? After the race we got tickets to Mystere a cirque Du Sollie show. I have always wanted to see one so we chose one we could get tickets at as reasonable price. the one I really wanted to see was O the tickets were 175.00 a piece, could not justify it! Kelly took me out to Ethel M's Chocalate factory they have an incredible light show, saw the fountains at Bellagio (one of my favorite things) We had such a fun time and it felt good to have the day of the Marathon to do things instead of feeling like we were to tired to do anything. VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Train Wreck

Ok, I know most of you ladies out there can appreciate and understand as women we sometimes have this YES syndrome. That is what I am going to call it. Kelly calls it my train wreck weeks because he can stand and watch me do too much but cant stop it. I find these weeks start off as easy weeks where you have a few scheduled items and then you get asked to fit more things in your week. I know I have a problem of just trying to do it all and I cant say no. Does everyone have this problem or do I need help?
I just recently had one of these weeks and I know my family suffers a little from my yes syndrome, but how do you say no? As wives and mothers there is always something to do and continues even if your schedule does not allow it. We always have the school volunteer moments, can you come and work in my class, volunteer for PTO or Booster Club, Field trips etc. (I recently went on a field trip with the 7Th grade class, Scary) We always have our church callings and obligations and then those are always added upon. Dinner needs to be brought to the neighbor because she is sick or just had a baby, how can you say no to that? Then yo have the random from people that just ask or need help so you do it. (THIS IS NOT A COmPLAINT!) Because I really do like to help out when I can. And don't forget Parent Teacher conference needs to be fit in between 5-8pm on Tuesday night before mutual!!! And the "Oh mom i forgot I need.......for this class....um by tomorrow....Sorry!"
After everything is said and done I refuse to give up some of the optional things that I really want to do that are not really mandatory. Showing up to the High School to send off the cross country team for state and making sugar cookies with the girls on Halloween because it is a tradition. During these weeks Kelly always asks "what are you going to give up?" my reply is "nothing I can do it all!"
After a week of little sleep and doing way to much I sleep for a day and everyone recovers. I do really hope I am not the only one who does this! When it is all I feel like my weeks following are not very productive because I do not get as many things done. I love my life and wold not have it any other way! This is just life and another train wreck week will be coming soon so I will enjoy this week catching up on Blogs and spending an entire day on my laptop!