I am a marathoner!

I can't believe it! I ran 26.2 miles. It's all a little surreal right now. I have been prepping for this since last November and now it's finally OVER! Training for this started off as not really something I wanted to do. But the more I ran and the closer I got to the race the more excited I was to see if I could actually do it. I'm not going to lie it was HARD! Mentally tough getting out of bed early in the morning time after time to just RUN! Saturdays were especially tough on my log runs. I felt guilty being gone from my family for hours at a time and the only thing I was accomplishing was RUNNING. My last long run before the race was a 20 miler. That run was especially tough. Meagan started running with me but had to stop at mile 8 and had her mom come pick her up. I finished the 20 miles on my own and it was not as much fun as running with someone. Those last 3 miles were KILLER! When I finished that 20 miles I remember thinking "there's no way I could do another 6 miles" I should mention that on this long run I didn't pack ANY food or energy supplements. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I'm not very experienced with the whole making sure to have energy and such. So in my mind I didn't really think I needed it. Lesson learned.

 (Meagan and I at the start)

 

2 days prior to my race I had butterflies in my stomach, I was anxious and excited and nervous. I felt prepared but still had NO idea what was in store for me. Friday night I didn't sleep very well, I kept waking up and checking the clock. Steps prior to my race:

4:00am woke up (haha more like I was already awake and just got out of bed.)

4:30am picked Meagan up and drove to the finish line where our shuttle was waiting
5:00am hopped on the shuttle bus and headed for the start line
6:30am The race was off!!!
10:30 FINISH!!!! Yay!

At the start of the race I had a small water bottle bag the strapped around my waist and had a little storage. I packed a baggies of apples, some GU energy gel (caffiene free), and energy bead things (basically jelly-bellies), small thing of vaseline and of course a water bottle. Throughout the race I found that I drank at the water stations more because it was easier and less of a hassle. So at about mile 18 I ditched the bag and gave it to a friend cheering for me!

My entourage of cheerleaders along the way:
I really wasn't expecting much support along the way because my kids had soccer games and I know that Saturdays are crazy for most families. Two of my friends from our RAGNAR team and Runner's club came to cheer me on. I saw them at mile 17 and then again at about mile 18. My good friend Elizabeth came and snapped a couple pictures. Ron surprised me with the kids and from about mile 18 and on I saw them about 4-5 times. It was very fun to hear my kids yelling and cheering for me. Poor Callie seemed a little confused, but happy when she saw me. At the last mile my parents showed up! They were so sweet yelling and cheering for me. Finally, at the finish my good friend Amanda Wruble showed up along with my parents and Ron.

My actual race:
I feel like this blog post is all over the place but I don't want to forget one thing. When the race started it was mostly downhill which helped us get a fast start time. I had planned on running with Meagan and Erin, no strings attached we were all going to run our best and see where that got us. We started off pretty fast at about a 7:45 pace. As the race progressed there was a couple of hills but we maintained an 8:10 pace. We lost Meagan at about mile 5, then Erin and I both maintained an 8:10pace. At mile 11 Erin started experiencing some cramping in her legs so she stopped to stretch and use the restroom. I waited for her and we continued. I'm not sure exactly when but I think about mile 14 is when she told me to keep going, her cramping legs were really bugging her. I was sad to continue with out her but felt like I needed to keep going. As I continued running I noticed my pace slowing drastically. I just couldn't pick up the pace. My legs wouldn't do what they were told, I kept looking at my watch and it would read 10min/ mile or even 11min/mile pace. I remember thinking "really? I'm going that slow. Why can't I speed up?" Energy wise I felt good, my legs felt good (other than my right knee aching a little). I was very excited and happy to see my family cheer me on along the hardest 6 miles of my LIFE. Seriously those last 6 miles took FOREVER!!! I remember thinking it's not over yet?!?! I wanted to stop and walk but I continued. As I rounded the last main corner of the course I remember not feeling much, just numbness and a desire to see the finish. At this point I thought I would be a little more emotional but everything was just a blur. I kept thinking "Where is the finish? I just want to see the finish!" When I drove the marathon route with my mom 2 days prior I was a little emotional at the end of the course and choked up a little at the excitement of completing this goal. Well, I finally finished at 4:03 and I'm happy. Not exactly what I thought I'd get but I will take it and LEAVE it! In my future I'm thinking a half marathon will be the most running I'll do! No more of this26.2 miles! Yay! I did it!


Erin and I

Amanda and I

My battle wounds:
Pretty much my right knee is a little achy (I think it's my IT band so I'm trying to roll it out on my foam roller) and my toes have some blisters. I know I will for sure lose my right toenail! haha I think running Ragnar the week before I got a blister under this toe and then the Marathon made it re-blister and raise up. Kinda painful and gross. Oh-well! they grow back right?!! :)
Right foot:

left foot:

Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet

I am a cub scout Wolf leader and get to work with the 8 yr. old boys in my ward. We had our Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts last night. This is an annual "birthday" party to celebrate the Cub Scouting program. Because I work with a wonderful group of people, our evening was a big hit. The theme we picked was a 'Rootin Tootin' good time! We had Tyler Smithson's famous pulled pork sandwiches, and Texas sheet cake!

A few leaders performed a silly skit! AKA the "Chin-agains!" Try not to listen to my singing! Haha  I really didn't know all the lyrics and sang a little obnoxious. I'm the leader with the red bandana.

Amber and I "reenacting" our fabulous skit!

Leaders and Boys made these adorable Wanted posters.

Who wouldn't want to work with their best friends?!?!

One of my FAVORITE aspects of our church is it's focused on the family. I am able to serve and help these cub scout boys but at the same time still be a mother and let my children participate as well. Our monthly pack meetings are a family affair, fully equipped with on-time drawings, gathering activities, crazy awards and cheers. While it can be a little crazy with kids running around I wouldn't have it any other way.

Such a fun night, definitely makes serving in this church rewarding and easy.

Soccer mom COACH!!!

This soccer session I ended up being Noah's coach! It happened more by mistake but it has been pretty fun! So, now I'm not the annoying mom yelling from the sidelines, I'm the annoying coach jumping and screaming out on the field! Haha. (Seriously!) Coaching 4 year olds definitely has it's challenges but it has also been very fun! The way these kids faces light up when the get the ball or shoot a goal is amazing!
We are the Purple Rhinos. My biggest struggle this season has been getting Noah to put on his purple jersey! Seriously! This kid is funny, he doesn't want to wear a purple shirt. He fights us almost every Saturday saying "I don't want to wear purple! Purple is a girl color!"

 

  

 

Go RHINOS!

The victory tunnel at the end of every game is always a favorite!

The only down side to coaching Noah's team is that I really havn't gotten to see Mason play very much. A lot of their games are at the same times on Saturdays and Ron and I  usually split up.

Masons team is the Green Aliens!

"Bad Mom" Days

I'm human and make many mistakes. Lately, my folly has been losing my temper with my children. I'm not proud of this but it does happen. This seems to occur almost daily, from the hours of 4-7pm. Maybe it's because of Ron's longer work hours, or maybe it's just because I dread making dinner EVERY day, I'm not sure which but I had one particularly rough day last week. We had a wonderful day, filled with story time, playing games, and good naps. At about 7pm the boys were in the bathtub while I was getting Callie ready for bed. I could hear screams of excitment and lots of splashing. I had calmly warned them multiple times to stop and please just get out of the tub. The fourth and final time I went in to warn them I noticed Mason outside the tub and a "careless" mess on the toilet from him. It really wasn't bad but I lost it. I started yelling and demanded they both get out and get their pajamas on. As I was yelling I felt like I was having an out of body experience. I see the cranky scary mom and I tell myself to stop. But I don't listen to that voice... As I cleaned the bathroom with clorox wipes, and mopped the floors (not sure why I mopped maybe just to vent and take it out on the floors) I just got more and more disappointed with myself, I knew I needed to change but I didn't know how. As I agressively mopped Mason cautiously approached me with something in his hand. He then handed me a $5 bill. My heart melted and I asked "What is this for?" He replied "Because you were mad." I think that was his way for making amends and apologizing for his actions. I of course took him aside hugged him and we talked about all that had happened and returned his "tip" to him.
One of my personal goals is to work really hard on not raising my voice with my kids. I am grateful for the Christlike love and forgiveness that my children show me EVERY day.

Training for a marathon

I still can't believe I am training for a marathon. A few years back I wanted to run one so I starting running like crazy. I got up to 16-17 miles on long Saturday runs while maintaining a 8:30/mile pace. I was doing pretty good until the shin splints hit me, hit me BAD. I had shooting pain running down my legs, after my Saturday runs I would have to sit for most of the day icing my legs and resting. I went to a therapist who showed me some stretching and talked to me about changing my surface street running to the track or even treadmill. Of course this therapist wanted me to come see him for "therapy" 2-3 times a week. That was NOT an option, I had 2 kids at the time and was working part-time. So I gave up on the whole marathon thing telling myself I gave it my best shot.
Last November my friend and visiting teacher Meagan Horne approached me about running a marathon with her. I dismissed her and told her she was crazy! I wasn't about to put myself through that experience again but she was PERSISTENT. She offered to pay for my race bib into the Phoenix marathon. She even bought me all kinds of running equipment and gear. I of course was not going to let her pay my way, part of paying so much to run a race is motivating to me. If I spend money on a race I am going to train hard so that money is well spent and not wasted. We started training in December. At this point I was still hesitant but willing to run with her and see how my shins did. I didn't want to sign up for the race until I was confident about our running and ability to run 26.2 miles. We are up to about 16 miles now and my shins feel amazing!!!! I can't believe it! I am actually looking forward to this crazy race.
It hasn't been easy and I know the next 5 weeks won't be a piece of cake either. We certainly have our work cut out for us. We have had our fair share of set backs. Some of which are a little silly and we can now laugh at them.

I still struggle with my usual bathroom stops. So, I usually only need one bathroom stop. So far I have made it through a couple long runs without needing to stop, so that encourages me. I have figured out if I cut sugar and dairy out 2 days prior to a long run my digestive system is nicer to me.

I have been experimenting with shoes and socks, and ended up acquiring this blister on a 14 mile run. ouch!

This lovely blister I got from my sock  The seam was rubbing on this toe.

On one particular run Meagan and I encountered many "shoe" errors. I had to stop and remove some arch supports, Meagan at one point on this run had re-tie her shoes and later she TOOK OFF her shoes and ran for almost 2 miles with OUT shoes on because of a bunion. Yes she has a bunion on her right foot. I still laugh at her for that one. Who has EVER heard of a 24 year old with a Bunion?!?!

 This week we had a BEAUTIFUL run at 5:30am in the rain!!!! LOVED it! But this is what it did to my hair! Crazy rat-tail!!! Took me conditioning 2 times and picking through it for 20 mins! Next "rain run" I will put my hair in a braid. Haha!

When this is all said and done I just hope I can cross that finish line in one piece and in our goal time. Running with Meagan has been an absolute delight, it's very difficult to find someone who is at the same level athletically as you. It's more than that though, Meagan and I have formed a friendship that only happens while running hours and hours together. It sounds silly but it's true.

13 Articles of Faith Recognition Night

The Stake Primary held a program honoring and recognizing all the primary children who memorized the 13 articles of faith in 2012. They even asked him to be part of the program. It was so cute when the primary president called me up and asked if Mason would be willing to recite the 5th article of faith during the program. She told me that if he was nervous he could just read it. To which I replied "He doesn't read yet, but he will have it memorized". This is one talent Mason is AMAZING at. He can memorize like nobodies business.

Here he is proudly holding his certificate for memorizing all 13 Articles of Faith.

And yes I couldn't help but record him during his little part. It's too bad you can't see his face I was so proud of him! His courage and confidence inspire me.

Oh well you can't really see anything anyways just listen to him! :)

Happy Birthday to me!

I woke up Wednesday morning  to the smell of Bacon and cinnamon rolls (at 7am!!! so nice to sleep in). Ron prepared a very nice pancake, cinnamon roll, bacon, sausage and OJ Birthday Breakfast! So yummy and a very thoughtful treat. He woke up early and went to the store in 29 degree weather so I could have a lovely breakfast and beautiful flowers.

During breakfast Mason asked me "Mom. How come, when you are old you don't do anything fun for your birthday?" I think he wanted me to have a party at Amazing Jake's or something?!?! haha Well, I thought about his question and decided that we COULD go do something fun. So, I texted all my friends inviting them to Jump Street last min. for my birthday. I kept thinking to myself "I'll show Mason, We will have fun! Ha!" Well, because it was so last min. my good friend Meagan was the only one who showed up with her 2 kiddos. We jumped and let the kids play a while. Then we moved over to the arcade area. Meagan and I eyed the Dance Dance game and just had to give it a whirl.

 Baby Cali and Callie!

Who says you can't have fun on your birthday?!?! :) SO THERE Mason!

Later, my mom took me to lunch at Costa Vida. Mmmmm I think I went there last year for my birthday, hmm maybe a tradition is forming? (Thank you Amber for watching my kids and making that possible!)

Lindsey offered to watch my kids so Ron and I got to go out. We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and did a little shopping (didn't buy anything, but still fun! It was really nice to go out on my ACTUAL birthday, usually we go out the weekend before. I thoroughly enjoyed my birthday and am embracing getting old! I'm grateful for all my many blessings and thankful for my life. Life is good.