Ragnar 2013

I have said it before...I'm not a runner.  I really do respect runners though.  They are so disciplined.  My running looks more like a trot.  Furthermore, I really only run when I have something to run for.  When I was younger, I ran for a team...I ran after a ball, to kick it into the goal, or pass to someone so they could kick it into the goal (preferably someone from my own team).  But just run?  Blargh.

Now, I run for races.  It gives me a deadline and motivates me to get out there an do it.  And, over the years, I've come to like running a little bit.  I still have a long way to go.  I still don't love it, but I think I can one day.

Last weekend, I loved running.  Yes.  More than "like," I loved it.

A few months ago, a friend told me there was an opening on her Ragnar team.  What is it?  Ragnar, Napa Valley...the best relay race ever.  Starting from Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and ending in Calistoga.  200 miles.

Awesome.

I was really looking forward to running Ragnar.  However, I was sorely unprepared.  I had wanted to run while I was in Utah, but it was so hot, I just couldn't.  (or decided I couldn't...whatever)  Shortly after returning from Utah, I hurt my back.  And not just a little.  For about 3 weeks, I was in extreme pain.  I was icing my back all day long, going to a chiropractor 3x a week, and still needing help to get up in bed.  After only 3 weeks, I was beginning to think that I would never feel better and would have to survive the rest of my life feeling pain.  Oh how my sympathy grew for those with chronic pain.

I wasn't able to run for a while.  And Ragnar was quickly approaching.  Before Ragnar, I was running a painful 13 minute mile.  I could barely run a mile straight.  My back had really taken a toll on me.  I told my team leader, Scott, that I'd be much slower than anticipated.  He didn't care.

At the starting line with van 2.
Eric and Scott Summers, Christie Killen, Kari Carlson, me, and Beth Headly.
Van 1 had been running all morning, and we were waiting for their last runner, Jennifer, to come in so Beth could start off our 1/2 of the team.  Since I was the last runner in our van, I felt no pressure to be all geared up and ready to run yet.  

Ragnar came.  I bought my reflective vest, a head lamp, and a flashing back light.  I had snacks, 3 running outfits packed, iPod set...I was as ready as I could be.

Wine country.  It was gorgeous.  I appreciated the beauty of the landscape far more when the others were running.

That weekend was gorgeous.  It wasn't too hot.  We got plenty of rain.  And it was an all around good time.  I was pretty happy that my first run, 5.9 miles, was kept at an 11 minute mile.  My second run, at 4:30am, was a 10 minute mile.  I was pretty excited.  I was the last runner in our van, which meant we were able to go to a hotel and try to get a few hours of sleep before we had to run again.  My 3rd and final run was difficult.  It was only 5.5 miles, but I had a big headwind pushing against me, I was tired after not sleeping for over 24 hours, and I just didn't have the strength.  BUT, I did it.  I brought us home and it was exhilarating.  I loved it.  And I want to do it again!

Yeah!  Team "Running on Fumes" makes it to the end.

Best Time Ever

A few weeks ago, I recieved an email informing me that my registration is complete for the Provo River 1/2 Marathon.  I ran that race 5 years ago, but I assure you that I did not register for it this year.  So, I sent an email to inform them that they have contacted the wrong person.

The next week, I got instructions on where I should pick up my race bib, where to park, etc.  I'm nearly positive I didn't register for this race...but perhaps I did since I keep getting emails.

Well, after this last email, I've decided that yes, I did in fact not only register for the race, but I ran it, because this is my best time ever.  Way to go me!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jeanette,
Congratulations on completing the 2012 Provo River Half Marathon! We hope you had an enjoyable experience and are taking time to recover.  It was enjoyable, thank you, and I am currently "recovering."  

Your official chip time is 02:00:47  And I didn't even break a sweat.
To see all the results and your place, please go to 

This is a great accomplishment and we hope to see you back next year. Keep on running!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If every race is like this one, I'll be sure to register again next year.

I'm Not a Runner

I'm not a runner.  I admire runners.  I think they are disciplined and strong.  I have tried to emulate runners.  Two times now, I have participated in 1/2 marathons in order to see if I could discipline myself as runners do.  I completed the 1/2 marathons, and actually did alright...but it wasn't discipline that got me through it.  It was adrenaline.

I'm not a runner.  But, I signed up for another 1/2 marathon.  It was mainly out of stupidity.  Nonetheless, I'm doing it.  And this time around, it's been so so so hard for me to run.  I fear huge embarrassment.  So, come Saturday, March 3, we'll just have to see how I do. 

I'm not a runner, but I can run -- or trot.

Running to Sleep

For Mother's Day, Marcus fixed the tires on our jogging stroller. I haven't been able to use it for at least a year! I can't tell you how thrilled I was to get my old jogging stroller back. So, when Sammy goes off to school on the bus, Callie and I go for a little run. Callie seems to really like it -- I was surprised to see that she had fallen asleep during our first run. She's so cute! I love this kid.

Death by Running -- Part 2

Yep. I'm still convinced I may die a grizzly death this Saturday when I run the 1/2 marathon that I'm very ill prepared for. I just got back from running 6 miles, and at one point I'm pretty sure I was looking like this furry friend pictured above -- eyes wide open, struggling for breath as my hair flopped around me. Ok, maybe it wasn't that bad...but still. Whatever picture I was, it wasn't pretty. I ran the 6 miles in little over an hour, but I'm not worried about my time as much as if I'll need to amputate my legs following the race. I may be in critical condition and that's all they'll be able to do for my suffering soul. Anyway. If I'm preparing for death, I might as well have an updated soundtrack. I'm sick of what I've been running to, and I'm thinking something new will mix things up and give me that added umph that I'm so desperately in need of.

Any suggestions out there? What's on your running/workout play list?

Death by Running

How would you choose to die if you had a choice? I have always said "In my sleep." It says a lot about me no? I don't want much work to have to go into it. No pain. Just nice, simple sleep. I've never even considered death by running, but it may be in the cards for me, because, you see, I'm scheduled to run a 1/2 marathon the first weekend of May. I was doing well, running. Then two weeks ago, I stopped. Things got really busy, weekend trips, sickness, holidays, and birthdays...I stopped running. Today, I ran again. I ran 5 miles -- well, I would say I successfully ran about 4 miles. I'm not sure how this 1/2 marathon will go.

A Load Off My Back

...and hips, and thighs, and tummy, and face. It's true. I've lost some weight. And I wasn't going to write about it until I was at my goal weight, but my friend just wrote about a goal she has, and it's similar to mine, so I thought I'd just write about it now -- as encouragment I suppose.

When I was in Michigan picking up Callie, I gained a lot of weight. A lot. And the truth is, I never took off all my pregnancy weight from Samantha -- TWO YEARS AGO -- and I gained A LOT with her. 50 pounds. And Sammy was a small baby! Sure after she was born I lost 18 lbs in about 3 days, but the last 10 didn't peel off. Then with the added weight in MI, I was just big for me. And I had it. I was sick of not fitting into my clothes, of not liking what I say in the mirror, blah blah blah. Plus, I just wanted to be healthy. I suppose that's what sparked the whole 1/2 marathon idea.

My original goal was to lose weight before Scotty and Annie's wedding. I didn't want to have wedding pictures around where my face looked like a marshmellow and my tummy with an innertube around it. In 2 weeks, I lost 7 pounds! Woa! I was very encouraged. I basically ate a ton of veggies. (If you want an in depth plan, I can let you know. I answer all inquiries.) Then I went to CA for Scotty and Annie's wedding and nothing happened for about 3 weeks -- eating treats but watching calories. No more weight loss, but no weight gain.

My next goal was to finish the weight loss by the time Bryan got home from his mission. I started to exercise regularly by running and using weights. Weights make a huge difference -- I highly recommend them. I just did a weight routine at home when I had time, in between each spoonful of food for Samantha, squatting with Callie as my weight, just fitting it in where I could. Usually after running I do my a real arm workout. I have a thing with arms. It's been really fun and encouraging to see my body change.

I've lost a total of 15 lbs. I'm 5 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight, so I'm excited about that. But my body still looks so different than before I was pregnant. I'd like to lose 5 more pounds so I'll be around my highschool weight. I guess I'd have to lose about 8 more pounds to be fully there, but I'm not trying to be 18, just fit and healthy again. Pounds only give me an indication of that target. So, 5 more and I'll be doing alright. Hopefully I can get a bit more tone and be feeling great.

I had gone back and forth about posting all this. Yes, it's an accomplishment, but that means I have to confess to the world that I was actually 15-20 overweight. But how many of us have weight we want to lose? So, I thought maybe it could be encouraging. I wasn't going to post it until I was right where I wanted to be, but then when Jessica said she needed some encouragment, I thought I'd just proclaim it to the world now: I'm 15 lbs lighter and feeling so much better!

Running Continued...

Tonight I ran 7 miles, and during this run, I learned a lot. More things that make running easier, tips if you will, for the beginner.

3) It's easier to run when you have good music to push you along.
4) Don't run the hard hill when you are at the end of your run. If you do it by accident, that's one thing, but deciding to do it, that's just stupid.
5) There is a certain point when you are running when the pain goes away. Then it becomes kind of exhilarating, it gets easier -- until the pain comes back again anyway. Because it does.
6) When you start to see your body changing, for the better, that is always encouraging and makes running easier, because you see some results.

That's good enough for tonight. I had a lot more reasons while I was running, but oh well. I'm nervous that I won't be ready in time for this 1/2 marathon in August. My goals are that I finish it, which I think I can do, and that I'm not the last one...which I really hope I can accomplish. We'll see.

AND, I have some pretty awesome video of Samantha walking and if I can figure out how to post it, I surely will. It's adorable! I'm sorry, but I just have the cutest kids!

It's Official...

...I'm running/jogging/trotting the Provo River 1/2 Marathon! (That's 13.1 miles for all of you who do not know.) Hopefully all goes well. It's a month from today. AH. I'm excited and really nervous. I got a confirmation email today that told my my bib number. I can't wait to pin that to my shirt. How cool will that look?!

As I've been running, I've noticed some things that make the task a bit easier. Today, while pushing Callie in the stroller, two such things stood out to me.

1) Running without a stroller.
2) Running on a flat surface or downhill.

Yes, surely these things make running easier.