KISS ME DIRTY

BEFORE the RACE, CLEAN and PRISTINE

I participated in a different kind of race this week...a MUD RUN.

My friends, Jennifer and Mikki, talked me into signing up for this cool race series named "KISS ME DIRTY".  HOLY COW!!!  This has every other race I have every done beat!!!  I was so afraid there would be a 12 foot wall we would have to scale and jump off of.  But quite the contrary, the obstacles were very manageable.  There were walls to climb and puddles to crawl through, but it was hilariously crazy.  I have to admit, having Jennifer and Mikki there to do it along with made it that much more fun.  We were chucking clumps of mud and pushing and pulling eachother into the puddles.  The little streams that we had to traverse were so cold, my feet were cramping up.  In the end there was mud all over our bodies, hair, in the shoes and even in places that were pretty well covered (that's what I discovered when I got home to take a shower). We found out there is another race in August and are planning to do it again.  Who knew physical activity could be so much FUN!!!

If you are curious how some of the course looked here are some pictures the local newspaper took yesterday.



AFTER 4 MESSY MILES of OBSTACLES on WHEELER FARM



THE FAMILY THAT RUNS TOGETHER...

 Saturday, June 18th...the family was up and dressed at 6:00am in the morning and we were driving to the Pavilion at the River Trail in South Jordan.  Steve, the kids and I signed up to run in the Country Fest 5K.   We did this race with the kids a couple of years ago and had a GREAT experience and the kids have been asking to do another race.   The weather was perfect and the race started on time.  Steve and the kids began in the front of the pack while I took my usual place bringing up the rear.  I started with my friend Mikki by my side, but as soon as I began to "run" I realized I needed to start of a little slower and waved her ahead.  The sweetheart that she is, she tried to encourage me to stay with her, but I told her to go ahead and make her best time.  So I was on my own and to be honest, I don't mind it too much.  It makes me very self conscience to "run" with someone.  I don't run for long and feel like such a loser, so it is just easier to run alone and go at my pace.  I do try to challenge myself.  As the continued down the path I could see Mikki and one of my girls running together.  What an awesome feeling to know that there was someone encouraging my daughter along too.  I did not see Steve cross the finish, which told me I was doing better than I had the last time I had run this course.  I kept pushing along and began to made my way through the neighborhood.  I actually enjoy that portion the most.  I love the pretty houses we run, or in my case, wa-og by.  As I was about a half way through the neighborhood, there I saw my angel.  Steve was there to help encourage me, as he has done in all my races, through the remainder of the race.  I love to see his face.  He always makes me feel like I am accomplishing something and that I have ALL the abilities to do it.  I crossed the finish line a little after 45 minutes (my goal was 45minutes).  Mikki, who had come in 6 minutes before me and all my kids along with Steve, stood there at the finish cheering me in.  Gotta love that family of mine!!!

 We hung around for the awards.  Steve knew he was getting an award for his age division, which was a FIRST place.  He also came in FOURTH overall...holy cow that man of mine can run FAST!!!

We hung around through the other awards to see if any of our kiddos had placed and we were glad we did...

BECKY won a 1st PLACE medal

BELLE 2nd PLACE medal

&

KATIE took a 3rd PLACE medal

in their age division...They were all tickled and I must say, I was a pretty proud mama.

As usual, I am very blessed for my family, especially Steve that supports me and is my biggest cheerleader.  He makes me feel like I can do ANYTHING and has helped me to do things I would never have dreamed I could do.

WA-OGGING OUTSIDE

With the bitterly cold weather we have had the last few weeks I have taken to treadmilling rather than freezing my bum outside.  There are two problems with that...

(1) the treadmill can get a bit boring after a while

(2) it is too easy to stop earlier than i initially had planned.

So after looking at my planner yesterday and seeing that it is only 11 WEEKS until the Salt Lake Half Marathon I realized I needed to take this "working out" a little more seriously. 

So I pulled on the running tights (okay, I know the mental image of me in running tights is terrifying, but you can stop laughing now), the ear muffs, gloves, 2 layers of shirts and a hoodie sweat shirt.  I also opened up a pack of handwarmers that I picked up at the Target $1 Pot a month ago.  With nano in place and garmin on my wrist (unfortunately the battery wasn't completely charged and only got about have my wa-og recorded)  I headed outside.

The first part of my walk was cold, but not as bad as I had anticipated, but the second half, mother nature decided to mix it up on me and decided to send down some snow.  And the last  few blocks I had the cold wind hitting he side of my face with little ice pellets mixed it...NOT SO MUCH FUN!!!

There is a pretty cool sense of accomplishment that comes from going outside for a wa-og compared to just doing it on the treadmill.  Looking forward to more training outside!!

RUNNING SCARED

Steve ran in what will probably be his last race of 2010...the Provo Halloween Half Marathon. What a fun race to finish the year off on. He joined lots of other racers in costumes as the ran down Provo Canyon. He pulled out the "Scarecrow" costume I made him several years ago when we dressed up together as Dorothy and the Scarecrow. We had heard that it is a pretty fast course and that many people can PR on this one. So I was a little nervous that with the costume on he might not have a fabulous time, but he managed to finish with a time of 1:22...which is pretty darn good. Not a PR, but he 2nd best 1/2 marathon time.
I am gonna gush a little. I am so proud of Steve and his ability to do so well when he runs these races. I love standing around the finish line and watching the other racers come by. Then the moment comes when I get a glimpse of him. It is not usually so easy to pick him out as it was this time (not many guys dressed like scarecrows running ). I get so excited. I get so torn between taking pictures of him running or cheering him on. I usually choose the cheering and miss getting some better shots.

HOBBLECREEK 1/2 MARATHON

I wa-ogged (walk/jogged) in my 3rd half marathon of the year. I have been a little more nervous than I usually am before a race. My experience in the Ogden 1/2 in May was HORRIBLE and I was afraid of having some of the same problems. I was also nervous about all the steep down hills that you run in Hobblecreek. Needless to say, I still got myself out of bed at 3:30 am and got my running clothes on, taped up my feet to hopefully prevent blisters and got my bagel and banana to eat before the race. Steve and I drove to Mapleton and boarded the bus about 5:15 am and it took us up the mountain. This, in my opinion, is the most nerve racking part of the day. That 13.1 miles seems so much longer when you driving it in the bus. The bus let us out about 1 mile from the starting line, so you walk up a hill to get to the start. Our friends, the Hanceys, had driven their rv up to the camp site, that is located at the start, so we found them and hung out in a warm rv before the race. I kissed Steve good-bye and wished him luck as he made his way closer to the front of the running pack and I headed toward the tail end. The race was suppose to begin at 7:15am, but we did not actually start until 7:55am. I was a little bothered by this...you want to avoid running when it is super hot and those 40 minutes we waited, was eating up that "cooler" running time. Before I knew it, I was off, crossing the start mat and activating my timing chip. I felt GREAT. I would alternate between jogging and walking. I especially jogged on those down hills and took advantage of the momentum you get. I kept pace with my Garmin watch. I was doing awesome (for me). Last year I had finished this same race in 3 hours and 19 minutes, so my goal for this year was to finish in 3:15. But by the end of the 2nd hour I could see I was on pace to get their closer to 3 HOURS!!! I was so excited and not feeling any of the aches and pains I have felt before during a race. When I got to mile 10, I saw Steve. He had finished his race and came back up the trail and found me. I have to tell you have blessed I feel to have such a supportive husband. I was so excited to tell him about how well I was doing and how good I felt physically. I did slow down a little when I got to the part of the course that leads through the neighborhoods (about mile 11 and 12) and it was then I started to feel a blister on the side of my heal, rubbing every time I stepped. I pulled out my ear buds when I saw the sign that said MILE 13 and ran on the grass trail that lead to the finish line. I finished with a time of 3:08!!!

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in the past 3 years of participating in these 1/2 marathons is EVERYONE RUNS THEIR OWN RACE. I am so proud of what I do. I am slow and I walk/jog the whole thing, but I am doing it. I am in the back of the pack, but I am doing it. And this race was neat because I could see improvement. I jogged more than I usually do, I can feel my body has gotten strong from the work I have put in. I love the sense of accomplishment.

OGDEN HALF MARATHON

Woke up at 3:45am. Steve and the kids were sound asleep as I dressed for the race. I applied my "13.1" temporary tattoo to my arm, braided my hair, used the foot powder that would help prevent blisters, made sure I had my bagel and Powerade and was out the doors of the Marriott by 4:30am and on my way to be loaded on the buses that would take me and the other 2300 Half Marathoners to the start line. That is when you really begin questioning your sanity. The bus just keeps going and going up the mountain and you keep thinking, "that should be 13 miles...shouldn't it?" The bus finally stops and we file off the buses and feel the crisp air. Luckily there are barrels that have fires lit in them. We all gather around and try to stay warm for the next hour and a half until we begin the race. Some people are chatting about past races, PRs, and injuries they have had. Some, like myself is eating a light breakfast while downing some powerade or water and thinking about what the race had in store for us. About 40 minutes before the race the lines at the port-a-potties begins to form and people begin to shed layers of clothing and dropping their gear bags off to be driven to the finish line. Time to wander over to the start line. I don't line up anywhere near the front. I walk/jog and try to stay out of the way of the REAL runners. So I am more towards the back of the crowd. People around me are stretching and it is now that the excitement of what we are about to accomplish can be felt in the air. At 7:00 am the crowd of people lurch forward and then slowly make our way toward the official starting point. As I cross the timing mat, I press start on my Garmin watch and begin my wa-og of 13.1 miles and hopeful that I will better my time from last year.
The first 4 miles I am feeling pretty good. I want to be doing 14-15 minute miles. I am on track. It is beautiful as I am wa-ogging. At about mile 2 I strip the knit gloves off and drop them to the side of the road for someone to collect and donate to DI, but my hands have warmed up and it is silly to carry them along with me. I am still in the "slower" pack of people. I jog ahead of a woman with the green shirt and then slow down to a brisk walk. Within minutes she is jogging past me and I watch her slow down to a walk. Aww....someone I can pace myself with. We both seem to know this and we continue the "dance" of alternating leads for 4 miles. It is then that I pull off to a port-a-potty and when I come out she is gone. This is when the race began to take a negative turn. Something just started not to feel right. I stop at each water station, have a drink of water and visit the port-a-potty(I know TMI)I'll just leave it at that. Put each stop is adding minutes to my time and no ground is being covered. I am watching my goal of crossing the finish line quicker than last year slipping through my fingers. I am trying to remain positive, "...at least I will finish...remember to run your own race...just doing it is important..."

After mile 10 you are officially out of Ogden Canyon and there is a HUGE group of people to cheer on racers. This feels so good. Kind of the boost ya need to help you go those 3 more miles. I thought it might be enough, along with the messages that have been left by other runner's families, to push me to the end . But shortly after I completed mile 11 I can feel my body aching. Every step brings a new pain along with the discomfort I have been feeling throughout the canyon. I pass by a bench and for a breif moment think, "I should stop and sit there....Steve would come and look for me everntually..." But I don't. I pass by the bench and will my legs to keep going. It is then that my "KNIGHT in SHINING ARMOR' came out of no where. There was Steve who had walked up the trail to walk along with me for the last 2 miles. I was so grateful to see him. I explained to him the troubles I had and my frustrations with knowing I would not attain my goal. He told me I was still making good time considering all the stops I had to make. I know he talked to me as we walked on the trail, but unfortunately I can't tell you what he said. I was focused on finishing. Then we came around the corner onto the street that would lead me to the finishline. That is when Steve left me. He ran ahead to take pictures of me finishing. This, in my opinion, is the longest mile in ANY race. When you can see the finish line, yet it doesn't seem to be getting any closer. I am focused on the music playing on my nano...it is then that Miley Cyrus's THE CLIMB comes on. I know, way corny, but seriously I needed it. I was feeling so defeated that I had not made my goal, but then I hear Miley singing,

"I can almost see it

That dream I'm dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head sayin,

You'll never reach it,

Every step I'm taking,

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking but I

Got to keep trying

Got to keep my head held high

There's always going to be another mountain

I'm always going to want to make it move

Always going to be an uphill battle,

Sometimes you going to have to lose,

Ain't about how fast I get there,

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb"

I totally began crying. Not a pretty tear dropping down my cheek, but the full on blubber with the ugly look on my face. I began to run, as much as my legs would let me, until they lead me over the finishline. And as I crossed they announced, "...Nikki Weber just finished..." over the loudspeaker. I get my medal for completeing the race. And that quick it is over. My official time 3:39:26. Definitely not my best time, but I DID IT and I FINISHED!!!

SALT LAKE MARATHON

This was my first time running in the Salt Lake City Half Marathon. Steve has run the Full course a couple of times and it was the 5K that I first tried any sort of race. This year I thought I would give the half a try. We got a ride to the start in our friend's motor home. Which made it very convenient for last minute potties before the race. Steve and the other "real" runners took their place toward the front of the pack, while I headed to the back of the line where I would feel more at home. I was a little nervous to be ll alone, but once I crossed the start line, I really got into the fact that I could o at my own pace. No worries about how fast the person with me was running or the fear of going too slow and embarrassing myself. It was my race, my run and I would do it MY way.
I enjoyed the course, more than I thought I would. I did not have my best time, but I had thought it would take me 3:45 to complete the whole thing I was done in 3:25. So that was an accomplishment, for me. And even better was that I felt GREAT. I did have a few blisters on my feet, which I was actually a little proud of and wore like metals of honor. The Salt Lake Half is definitely a race I would like to try again.

PERFECTION

Tuesday, I had not done my early morning treadmilling. I spent the early morning finishing up the synopsis of Sunday's Relief Society lesson for the Newsletter and then received an email from the Bishop asking if I could email him the Ward Newsletter in the next day or two. So for 2 1/2 hours I bounced between the two projects making sure that they were PERFECT. I did not want to let the sisters in the ward down by not having the newsletter in their "inbox" that morning and I did not want to disappoint the Bishop by not getting the newsletter, in PERFECT condition, to him. I was so meticulous in making sure the page was balanced, that fonts were appropriate for the theme of the article, and that the clip art was "just the right". Everything was emailed and I shut down my computer and then I had to decide...would I put on my workout clothes and get on the treadmill or would I just pass for the day...

It took some self talking, but I did go up and get dressed in my running clothes and even grabbed the mittens and ear muffs and decided to take it to the street. As I left the house with Miley Cyrus singing "The Climb" in my ear I was deep in thought. I thought about all the effort and time I put into those newsletter, trying to make them PERFECT. Would anyone even notice or care? Why do I put so much effort into something like that and yet I find it so difficult to put that much effort into my own fitness? Something that is so important to my health and longevity? I need to have that same mind set for my own health. I know it exists. I have seen friends that have that dedication, Steve stands as an example of that dedication. Maybe a good part of that thinking is not wanting to let others down. This brought me to thinking about how determined I was to not let people down...yet it is so easy to let myself down..."you promised yourself you would wa-og today"..."Ah, there's always tomorrow". End of conversation and off come the work out clothes, not to be thought of the remainder of the day. This conversation continued for 3 miles until I walked back into my warm house.

Did I come up with the answer...NO...but I am glad I acknowledge this way of thinking I have.