13.1

Here goes nothin! Heading down the road to sunny southern Utah. Some MUCHO needed sun, R&R, and.... oh ya - to run my butt off. I'm too short on time to explain my excitement on racing with Becky. You'll catch the DL on that later. I'm honored. Simple as that.

I'm battling the beginning of a cold- Zicam, Cold Eeez, and OJ are my treatment plan. Otherwise, wish me sweet loads of luck cuz I'm gonna need it. I'd love to update you on my new blog asap... however, I need a break. So see you with race recap, pics and a swiggity sweet face lifted blog on Monday - or Tuesday. We'll see.
Peace Out

"Run like you stole something."

GONNA BE ON 0PRAH.... someday + A WICKED NEW SLOGAN

Most people take every OPPORTUNITY to make an EXCUSE.... I'm making every EXCUSE to take an OPPORTUNITY.

SistaC- supervising 6 kids at the park before her lap swim

You like my new slogan? I freaking LOVE IT! SistaC got my wheels turning (literally and figuratively) while I was riding my bike home from the Lap Swim Pool. 

You see, three of us mom's who want to be fit, healthy, active, happy women have banned together to allow ourselves the chance to exercise without sacrificing time with our children. Sure anyone can pawn off their kids to a built in daycare at the gym (ew gross - don't get me started on the germ thing - OR the boringness of running on a treadmill!) But can you train for a triathlon with your baby on your hip? We can. 

This week Layla cheerfully hopped into the Chariot bike trailer and with baby in tow - I rode my bike down to the pool (4 miles). I met up with SistaC + 2 kids and L-dub with her +3 kids (twins to boot!) Us mom's rotated 20 min in the pool for lap swimming with 20 min of being

0cto-mom on the playground with the kids.  After my hard swim, Lady fell asleep in the bike trailer once more on our 4 mile ride home.

Sista C brought up the point that a lot of people would make the excuse that they don't have time to exercise or train because they have kids, too busy, no money for a gym pass etc. That's crap.  I thought about SC's comment. There is always a reason to make an excuse. I've come up with some rad ones in the past. But excuses void opportunities and I've missed out on too many awesome opportunities in this life because making an excuse was easier. My life is now, opportunity to live - and live active is now. My excuse is simple - I was busy looking for opportunities to live MY life. 

Next week I plan to do it all over again- except once home, swap out the bike trailer attachment for the jogger wheel and get in a run if afterward.  Swim-bike-run

Ya baby! Maybe SC's idea that 0prah will praise us someday for our awesomeness will come true... maybe 0prah will even buy us all new cars! ---- eh, I'll ask for a new bike instead ;)

LIVE 'N LET RUN

Some people do it for the sticker. I did it for a different reason. 

I've chosen to live and run. I love both choices. There were times where it's obvious running wasn't a choice for me... and sometimes I didn't want to chose to live either. But those times are past and this weekend was proof. I ran harder and farther than I've ever imagined in my life. Over 21 miles in less than 24 hours.

I AM..... SDAY RUNNING. 

Rad team, funny as heck, punch drunk with fatigue in the middle of the night.... good good times.
You had to be there to laugh at these "one liners" but I just had to do it:
"Dad, you have something stuck to your butt."
"I was a scout master... so I know a lot about space."
"So, is there a reason why you're driving in the left lane."
"Shut your pie-hole and run"
"The sound of Kday laughing so hard he was going to choke on his cheese burger"
"Ya, we have half a tank of gas..."
"This baby doesn't turn so well, but listen to it purr like a kitten."

 Our finish time 29 hours and 19 min.

129 place out of 658 in our category

Average finish time is 32 hours

We rocked.

Knee Caps

It's a good thing I have knee caps to keep the ligaments inside my knees from exploding and spilling out the front of my legs! I thought my knee caps were going to shatter after my 8.5 mile run down Trappers Loop on Saturday evening.

In pure fear of letting my Ragnar Team down, I decided I had better face the music and make sure I could handle the run. It's the middle leg of the race that I've been worried about. I completed the run at what felt like race pace. Only it wasn't as fast as I'd like... instead it was an 11 min mile. But it felt AAAAHH--MAZE--ZING! !
I know that my thighs were chaffing so hard that I wouldn't have been surprised if my pants caught fire... and my spare tire was hanging super far over my hydration pack... and my face was flaming red. But I felt so much joy and fulfillment while running next to my trusty dog and being followed by my super rad husband and daughter in the car, giving me the double thumbs up every time they passed.

My legs have never ever felt like rubber the way they did when I reached the gas station at the bottom of the canyon. But my heart never ever felt so full either. Ya, I freakin did it. That doesn't mean I'm not worried about running 8 miles before and another 5 after... but at least I know I can do the 8.5 in the middle.

CONQUERING CRESTWOOD - Part II

... But I don't. And then I reach the top, cars swooshing pass on the highway. Holy smokes... I did it! It wasn't pretty and it wasn't fast. I turn south and push into the headwind with long- strong strides. I try to control the small grin on my face as I continue down the highway against rush hour traffic. I wonder if the drivers think I'm crazy for taking my precious cargo on this busy road. I wonder the same thing. I gaze ahead and see an approaching cyclist. Before our eyes even meet I feel him looking at me, smiling at Layla and then at me. It wasn't the typical "avoid eye contact with the fat girl so she doesn't think you like her" scenario. Instead, I felt a brief moment of acceptance and worth. His smile and simple nod felt as though he was saying to Layla, "Wow you are one lucky baby, you have a great mom who is out here doing something hard." I felt accepted. We finally cross the highway and head down the steep road home. I take a break from staring at the road in front of me, I look up at the setting sun on the Great Salt Lake. And there it is.... I found it. A feeling that women spend a lifetime trying to create. I felt Beautiful. I couldn't shake the enormous smile that overwhelmed my face, I couldn't hide the goosebumps across my entire body, and my eyes couldn't hold back the swelling of salty wetness that began to fill them. Beautiful was the blatant contrast of how I looked, but it was the genuine glow from within that consumed my soul and I couldn't contain it. I cried for four blocks. I did it. I conquered Crestwood and much more. I know the feeling of inner beauty if fleeting but as long as my legs will carry me, I will won't stop running. It feels too good.

CONQUERING CRESTWOOD - Part I

 

I went for a run with C yesterday the kids came with us and we perused our way through our town and picked out our future fixer-upper homes, as if we were both made of money. We finished our run at her house and after swapping birthday party ideas I re-packed Layla up in the Chariot and I casually mentioned that I was going to jaunt up Crestwood and then down the highway back home. Before I turned off C's side street I was already wishing I had bit my tongue and just headed straight home. But too late, I said it out loud and I had to prove to myself that I'm not the slob that I feel like when I look in the mirror. 

So I ran, trotted really. Barely even a jog. Up Crestwood, I steered Layla toward the eastern mountain range and passed the quiet cemetery. Should I hurry and turn around and take the short cut home before I'm too committed? "No Sday! Keep your feet moving, I don't care if a speed walker could pass you. You are not a quitter." I continued to push. Push myself, my legs, my heart, my baby... up the steep hill. Another jogger rounds the corner from Thornfield and heads up the hill in front of me. I try to catch her and the only response my legs will give me is the threat to seize up. My glutes and hamstrings were revolting against this sad attempt to redeem myself after eating an entire bag of D0ve chocolates... but I ignored their message. I pushed harder. She disappeared. "Who cares, she's not pushing a baby up the hill with one hand." 

I scope out each repaired crack in the road, covered in a thick stripe of tar. It's the perfect temporary finish line, just make it to that next crack.... and then the next, and the next. I think of stopping. 

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THAT GIRL #3

Since discovering the world of tennis in the 7th grade I have not explored many other sports. When I was a young girl I attempted to play a few sports including; softball, soccer, gymnastics, and dance. I had no natural talent in any of the above sports but I enjoyed the competition. (My juniors tennis coach always said I had NO natural talent at tennis either... but I worked harder and had more heart than any other girl who walked on the same court as me.) My soccer career ended immediately after the 1st season in grade school. I got confused about switching directions half way through the game, I was afraid of the ball and I was more worried about how fat my legs looked with shin-guards on. (So what did I turn to? Tennis.... a sport where a small rock solid ball flies at your face instead of your feet and at quadruple the speed of a large soccer ball and court rotations happen after every single game..... what was I thinking?) Needless to say, I haven't really touched a soccer ball since 2nd grade. I only dated boys that played the sport and I really only watched the game to see cute, sweaty guys run back and forth. The same reason I go to the REAL games now!

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THE GIRL WHO: Loves to play Indoor Soccer! Kday and I went to an indoor field with our friends last weekend and my stomach was filled with butterfly's, I didn't know where to stand or what to do with the ball when it came my direction. But I am damn competitive and I wasn't going to let those boys beat me. I sucked, except for the beginners luck goal assist that I made, but I couldn't get off the field! I haven't had the stamina to play a sport like soccer before and I really loved it. I am hoping to take some sort of lessons from my friends who know something about the sport and add soccer to my current list of League Sports I'm participating in. Tennis, Volleyball, and now Soccer! I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LOVE SO MANY SPORTS, OR BE FIT ENOUGH AGAIN I love my new lease on life!

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THAT GIRL #2

A girl who is assumed to be a runner, based on her blood pressure and heart rate. Before I donated blood, my vital signs were being taken and the girl said, "Wow, you must be a runner or something, your blood pressure and heart rate are really low." Prior to my weight loss I had chronic high blood pressure and my resting HR was around 90.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE THAT GIRL

Friday morning while running the Shoreline trail with Kashi, I passed 2 women about my age walking the trail with baby-packs on their chests and talking. I jogged past with Kash on my side and kept going until my side-ache stopped me for a few minutes. I was smiling from ear to ear, looked out over the Valley and I realized how much my life has changed in the past year. I have become someone I never thought possible. I had given up on my future, my health, my goals, and myself, but doubt has left the building and I am alive again after 7 years. So I am starting a page on the blog dedicated the moments that stop me and give me the chance to realize that I am the girl - "I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE..."

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE...
The girl with her hair pulled back in a braid, ipod in one ear, trusty dog by her side and running up the side of a mountain with confidence and a smile.