I decided I needed to give myself options so I didn't spend forever just thinking about writing. Three-hundred and sixty-five posts is an awful lot so if any of you have suggestions throw them out there. It would be fun to get prompts from people. Feel free to challenge me!
For the moment I wrote down several emotions and folded them up. Emotion of the day: Joy. Here's the excerpt for the day:
Sara's eyes flew open. It was her birthday today! Her bright hazel eyes glanced anxiously around her sunlit room. She was not five years old! A huge grin spread across her face. She scrambled out of bed, ran to her bedroom door, and yanked it open. "Mommy, Mommy!" she hollered as she raced down the hallway, pink nightgown flowing with her.
In her parents' bedroom her mother rolled over at her daughter's approach. "Mommy, it's my birthday!" Sara exclaimed.
Her mother gave Sara a sleepy smile. "It is, sweetheart."
"I'm five years old now!" Sara began climbing onto her mother's plush bed. She plopped down and stared at her mother, her expression still one of giddy excitement.
"Yes you are, sweetie." Her mother sat up. "And do you feel older?"
After a moment's thought Sara replied, "I do!" She crawled over towards her mother and gave her a big hug. "Mommy can we have cake now?" she asked.
Laughing, her mother returned the hug. "We have to wait for Daddy to get home tonight." She kissed the top of Sara's head. "But I canlet you open one present."
Sara pulled away, her grin even bigger than before. "Okay!"
Haha aren't kids so cute?
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
A Year of Writing
Last night I was inspired to improve my writing skills. Everyone knows I am completely in love with books. I could spend HOURS in a book store and easily spend at least $100 without feeling guilty. As some of you may know I started writing a book clear back in high school. I finished it once, but it needed a LOT of plot revisions so I've been working on it ever since. Last night I decided to dig it up once again and glance through it. Wow! Can I just say that I forgot how much I love my characters? The writing was amateur but I fell in love with my story once again. I really believe it has potential! Of course my writing still needs some work. So I decided to make myself a goal: A year of writing. Every day I write something and post it. Hopefully I get some good feedback. It's definitely going to take time and dedication but I can do it. :)
Here's the first post:
A sharp pain jabbed into Amanda's side with every stride she took.
Inhale....Exhale...Amanda thought calmly. Although the ache didn't go away immediately the breathing exercise seemed to help. She glanced down at her watch. Pace: 8:45. A smile briefly flashed across her face. She was right on track. Just a few more blocks and the ten miles would be up.
An upbeat rhythm played in her ears, motivating her to keep up her pace. She was vaguely aware of sweat trickling down her bow and wiped it away with the back of her hand. Although her breathing was slightly labored she felt strong. Her feet sprang lightly off the city sidewalks and her muscles felt strong, powerful. A scent of automobiles and tar hang heavy in the air. Her quick blue eyes scanned the massive buildings towering abover her. It was beautiful.
As she rounded the corner she located her penthouse a block away. Eyes narrowed in determination. The final stretch. A surge of adrenaline spread through her body. She lengthened her stride, putting her entire heart into every step. The wind caught a few loose strands of her light brown hair. It pressed against her, cooling off the sweat from her body.
This is why she ran. It felt as if she were flying.
Here's the first post:
A sharp pain jabbed into Amanda's side with every stride she took.
Inhale....Exhale...Amanda thought calmly. Although the ache didn't go away immediately the breathing exercise seemed to help. She glanced down at her watch. Pace: 8:45. A smile briefly flashed across her face. She was right on track. Just a few more blocks and the ten miles would be up.
An upbeat rhythm played in her ears, motivating her to keep up her pace. She was vaguely aware of sweat trickling down her bow and wiped it away with the back of her hand. Although her breathing was slightly labored she felt strong. Her feet sprang lightly off the city sidewalks and her muscles felt strong, powerful. A scent of automobiles and tar hang heavy in the air. Her quick blue eyes scanned the massive buildings towering abover her. It was beautiful.
As she rounded the corner she located her penthouse a block away. Eyes narrowed in determination. The final stretch. A surge of adrenaline spread through her body. She lengthened her stride, putting her entire heart into every step. The wind caught a few loose strands of her light brown hair. It pressed against her, cooling off the sweat from her body.
This is why she ran. It felt as if she were flying.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Infatuation vs. Love
Alright, for all of you who are about to read this post please understand that I am neither infatuated nor in love! I was merely curious about the difference between the two. Here's what I found out:
When does infatuation end and love begin? Surely there is a difference between the two words. Or are they really similiar enough to be interchangeable?
Definition:
Infatuation -
1. A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion of attraction
2. An object of extravagant, short-lived passion
According to this definition infatuation is foolish, maybe even blind. So maybe all love starts out as an infatuation. We meet someone and get caught up in the moment of being in love. He or she can do nothing wrong in our eyes. They appear perfect. Of course to any sensible, level-headed person this seems pretty foolish. We all know no one is perfect. Mostly this is the physical aspect of the relationship. We want to hold them or be held or kiss. We wouldn't take our hands off them if we had a choice. However the romantic rush is short-lived, as stated above, and once this stage has ended either things end or they progress. They never stand still. Both persons are continuing to move in one direction or the other. So if the infatuation is really love then the relationship will continue, regardless of flaws or fights. And if not then the passion will die with the relationship.
Definition:
Love -
1. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person
2. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection
Synonyms: tenderness, fondness, warmth, passion, adoration
Now seeing the definition of love we see it is not an object nor foolish as the definition of infatuation stated. Instead love is a feeling towards something or someone. Love is more than just a passion, it is tender and affectionate, and a personal attachment - meaning we have invested our time and interest. Love is not just about the physical but about the mental as well. With love the person understands and accepts the other person for who he or she is. If this is the case then when the infatuation wears off in a sincere relationship love is left behind. Both persons are beginning to understand the other. For better or for worse. Secrets start coming out. You yearn to share your entire life with this one person, regardless of your past mistakes. You are no longer an independent person, but rather depending on each other for support.
So when does the line of infatuation end and love begin? When we can notice someone's flaws and imperfections and still want to be with them, knowing fair well that things won't be easy? Maybe when we honestly realize our life would seem pointless without them because our lives have somehow become intertwined with theirs. When we share their emotions and forget what everyone else looks like. Nothing matters but making he or she happy.
If infatuation is foolish and extravagant then maybe love is calm and comforting. An unexplained feeling of awe and devotion that leaves you breathless. Almost as if there is physical pain simply by being separated. A longing so deep you would merely be content just sitting next to them...
What can I say, I'm a romantic. :) And I think way too much!
When does infatuation end and love begin? Surely there is a difference between the two words. Or are they really similiar enough to be interchangeable?
Definition:
Infatuation -
1. A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion of attraction
2. An object of extravagant, short-lived passion
According to this definition infatuation is foolish, maybe even blind. So maybe all love starts out as an infatuation. We meet someone and get caught up in the moment of being in love. He or she can do nothing wrong in our eyes. They appear perfect. Of course to any sensible, level-headed person this seems pretty foolish. We all know no one is perfect. Mostly this is the physical aspect of the relationship. We want to hold them or be held or kiss. We wouldn't take our hands off them if we had a choice. However the romantic rush is short-lived, as stated above, and once this stage has ended either things end or they progress. They never stand still. Both persons are continuing to move in one direction or the other. So if the infatuation is really love then the relationship will continue, regardless of flaws or fights. And if not then the passion will die with the relationship.
Definition:
Love -
1. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person
2. A feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection
Synonyms: tenderness, fondness, warmth, passion, adoration
Now seeing the definition of love we see it is not an object nor foolish as the definition of infatuation stated. Instead love is a feeling towards something or someone. Love is more than just a passion, it is tender and affectionate, and a personal attachment - meaning we have invested our time and interest. Love is not just about the physical but about the mental as well. With love the person understands and accepts the other person for who he or she is. If this is the case then when the infatuation wears off in a sincere relationship love is left behind. Both persons are beginning to understand the other. For better or for worse. Secrets start coming out. You yearn to share your entire life with this one person, regardless of your past mistakes. You are no longer an independent person, but rather depending on each other for support.
So when does the line of infatuation end and love begin? When we can notice someone's flaws and imperfections and still want to be with them, knowing fair well that things won't be easy? Maybe when we honestly realize our life would seem pointless without them because our lives have somehow become intertwined with theirs. When we share their emotions and forget what everyone else looks like. Nothing matters but making he or she happy.
If infatuation is foolish and extravagant then maybe love is calm and comforting. An unexplained feeling of awe and devotion that leaves you breathless. Almost as if there is physical pain simply by being separated. A longing so deep you would merely be content just sitting next to them...
What can I say, I'm a romantic. :) And I think way too much!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tucson Marathon
I did it again! I now have my second marathon under my belt and boy was it just as crazy as my first. However, despite everything, I can proudly say that I love running! I did things a little differently this time around. Some were good, some were bad, but I defintely learned from my experience! Here's how the race went:
We started on Mount Lemon (or at least I believe it was Mount Lemon...). The ride up was miserable to put it bluntly. All runners were transported on buses. I ended up on a yellow school bus - I just missed getting on a nice tour bus. :P And of course the window by my seat will not stay up to save it's life! With every bump it would slip farther and farther open and when you are driving to the top of a mountain there are bound to be several bumps in the road. For a while I would just push it up every time it slipped. It would stay for a few minutes before falling once more. Then it just stopped staying up all together...Unless I held it there. Talk about ridiculous! I was so frustrated! A gentleman behind me offered to hold it up for a little while. I graciously obligued. I swear the trip up took 30-45 minutes too.
The beginning of the race was mostly downhill. It was great! I was going at a good pace, full of energy. After running down the mountain we entered the highway at mile 9 - Oro Valley Road, I believe. This was the boring part. Don't get me wrong, the mountains down in Tucson are really pretty. They seem to just spring up from the valley! The rest is all desert though; cactus and sagebrush. Plus at this point we started fighting a headwind of 20 mph. Talk about degrading! I was going strong through mile 15. I slowed down a little after that, but I was still going to come in before 4'30". Then mile 20 hit me. I just didn't want to run anymore! I was doing great energy wise. I'd kept my carbs and electrolytes up, but mentally? I just wanted it to be over! My hips killed, the wind was frustrating, I had lung burn... It was definitely "the Wall." At mile 23 we FINALLY left the highway - see why I was bored??? Unfortunately the last three miles were more uphill than downhill. I couldn't seem to find my momentum. Sometimes it hurt less to run, other times I just didn't care. I wanted the race to be over. I was so excited to see the finish line! Unfortunately there was a sharp turn right before it and it was all on sand so I couldn't even get a good sprint in. Oh well. I finished! It felt so good when they put that medallion around my neck. :) Final time 4'45" - slower than I wanted, but next time I will be better prepared.
There are several things I learned from the marathon:
Pros:
- I ate really well - lots of veggies, not too many carbs (sushi the night before was perfect!)
- I researched what I was suppose to eat.
- I didn't feel sick the entire marathon! (probably because I ate well)
- I paced myself fairly well up until the end.
- The wall didn't hit me until mile 20 (it was mile 17 on the last marathon)
- I trained using a lot of stairs and hills - helped strengthen my quads and gave me more endurance.
Cons:
- I didn't keep to my training schedule! I didn't run Saturdays and there were very few weeks I actually ran all of the other days I was suppose to. Next time it will be better, especially now that I am learning how to budget my time.
- I wasn't prepared to be cold. Solution: long-sleeved shirt and possibly spandex pants, and look at the weather forcast
- I didn't mentally prepare for the wall. I'm sure if I actually ran the entire race I could cut some time off.
Goals:
- Strengthen hip-flexors
- Defeat "the Wall"
- Stick to my training schedule
- Run more stairs and hills to increase time
- Be prepared for weather
Although I was slightly disappointed in the results of the race I feel really good that I accomplished the 26.2 miles once again. It was hard at the end knowing that no one would be waiting for me, but I guess that is what happens when you move far from home. :) I definitely did NOT like the fact that I had to get back in my car and drive five hours. I'm sure I was very amusing to anyone who watched me attempt to get in and out of Beauty (my car) every time I stopped. Haha I was always yelping in pain. The good news: it only took me three days to recover, although I haven't ran since then. :)
My big goal is to run the Boston Marathon someday. That means I need to cut an hour off my time. Probably won't happen in 2010 but maybe around 2012? We'll see. :) Not sure what the next marathon will be but I will keep you updated!
Keep runnin' strong!
We started on Mount Lemon (or at least I believe it was Mount Lemon...). The ride up was miserable to put it bluntly. All runners were transported on buses. I ended up on a yellow school bus - I just missed getting on a nice tour bus. :P And of course the window by my seat will not stay up to save it's life! With every bump it would slip farther and farther open and when you are driving to the top of a mountain there are bound to be several bumps in the road. For a while I would just push it up every time it slipped. It would stay for a few minutes before falling once more. Then it just stopped staying up all together...Unless I held it there. Talk about ridiculous! I was so frustrated! A gentleman behind me offered to hold it up for a little while. I graciously obligued. I swear the trip up took 30-45 minutes too.
The beginning of the race was mostly downhill. It was great! I was going at a good pace, full of energy. After running down the mountain we entered the highway at mile 9 - Oro Valley Road, I believe. This was the boring part. Don't get me wrong, the mountains down in Tucson are really pretty. They seem to just spring up from the valley! The rest is all desert though; cactus and sagebrush. Plus at this point we started fighting a headwind of 20 mph. Talk about degrading! I was going strong through mile 15. I slowed down a little after that, but I was still going to come in before 4'30". Then mile 20 hit me. I just didn't want to run anymore! I was doing great energy wise. I'd kept my carbs and electrolytes up, but mentally? I just wanted it to be over! My hips killed, the wind was frustrating, I had lung burn... It was definitely "the Wall." At mile 23 we FINALLY left the highway - see why I was bored??? Unfortunately the last three miles were more uphill than downhill. I couldn't seem to find my momentum. Sometimes it hurt less to run, other times I just didn't care. I wanted the race to be over. I was so excited to see the finish line! Unfortunately there was a sharp turn right before it and it was all on sand so I couldn't even get a good sprint in. Oh well. I finished! It felt so good when they put that medallion around my neck. :) Final time 4'45" - slower than I wanted, but next time I will be better prepared.
There are several things I learned from the marathon:
Pros:
- I ate really well - lots of veggies, not too many carbs (sushi the night before was perfect!)
- I researched what I was suppose to eat.
- I didn't feel sick the entire marathon! (probably because I ate well)
- I paced myself fairly well up until the end.
- The wall didn't hit me until mile 20 (it was mile 17 on the last marathon)
- I trained using a lot of stairs and hills - helped strengthen my quads and gave me more endurance.
Cons:
- I didn't keep to my training schedule! I didn't run Saturdays and there were very few weeks I actually ran all of the other days I was suppose to. Next time it will be better, especially now that I am learning how to budget my time.
- I wasn't prepared to be cold. Solution: long-sleeved shirt and possibly spandex pants, and look at the weather forcast
- I didn't mentally prepare for the wall. I'm sure if I actually ran the entire race I could cut some time off.
Goals:
- Strengthen hip-flexors
- Defeat "the Wall"
- Stick to my training schedule
- Run more stairs and hills to increase time
- Be prepared for weather
Although I was slightly disappointed in the results of the race I feel really good that I accomplished the 26.2 miles once again. It was hard at the end knowing that no one would be waiting for me, but I guess that is what happens when you move far from home. :) I definitely did NOT like the fact that I had to get back in my car and drive five hours. I'm sure I was very amusing to anyone who watched me attempt to get in and out of Beauty (my car) every time I stopped. Haha I was always yelping in pain. The good news: it only took me three days to recover, although I haven't ran since then. :)
My big goal is to run the Boston Marathon someday. That means I need to cut an hour off my time. Probably won't happen in 2010 but maybe around 2012? We'll see. :) Not sure what the next marathon will be but I will keep you updated!
Keep runnin' strong!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
New Places
I am now a resident of Arizona! I moved down to Winslow - you know, "Standin' on the Corner..." - two and a half weeks ago. It took me a few days to get over the homesickness, but now I honestly love it here! I've been making friends: Joseph, Mary Catherine, Ashley, Janae (just to name a few). Basically I'm always with the Ricks family down here. :) My friends have been showing me all the amazing things to do around the area. Did you know there is a giant Jack Rabbit that you can ride? Yeah, they make fun of it in the movie Cars. Isn't it cute? I love animals. ^^
I've also been cliff jumping at Clear Creek, driven an amazing Jaguar convertible, ran a 10k, eaten at the Rootbeer Stand, and visited the Little Painted Desert. (See Below)
This picture doesn't give the bird's mohawk justice...
Last weekend I also visited Tucson for the first time! It was pretty incredible. Joseph showed me around the city. (Much bigger than Winslow BTW!) First we went to the zoo! Did I mention I love animals??? Haha.
This picture doesn't give the bird's mohawk justice...
The otters were definitely one of my favorites!
And at night the city looks incredible.
These are all of my adventures for the moment, but I'm sure there will be more to come!
Monday, April 20, 2009
SLC Marathon
As most everyone knows I have been training for the Salt Lake City Marathon for the past three months. Training has been a rewarding experience, although the process as a whole been a rollercoaster ride. Hehe. I started out on treadmills, now I hate them more than ever. Seriously, I would rather run in a blizzard than one of those blasted machines. Needless to say I do most of my running outside, despite the elements. I've learned to run in rain, snow, and my absolute favorite SUN! There was a week that I actually ran on a track, without music. Although I had no choice, I was in the middle of the pacific ocean and running ON water was not exactly an option. :) Near the end of my training I discovered I love to run with people, whether they are running alongside me or riding a bike (as Megan did). My total progress was this: I started out running at about 5.0 mph. Not bad, sometimes it was slower. Now my pace is about 6.1 or 6.2 mph and this is for several miles! Woot yeah!
Alright, enough with the training details and onto the main event! I spent the night with Megan's grandparents - LaVerne and Chet - and woke up early to get ready for the race. I parked Stevie (my car) at the Gateway and caught Trax up to U of U. My legs felt ready for action. I actually jogged a couple of paces. My whole body was quivering in anticipation. The ride was long, but after 45 minutes we finally reached Legacy Bridge at the top of U of U's campus. There were tons of people milling around waiting for the race to start. Most people were involved in the half marathon. We all congregated on the road. I saw Kyle Jennings from high school. He was running the half marathon so we talked until the race started. The start was kind of amusing. The announcer counted down, then there was a gun shot and everyone started to move forward. Although it was more of a shuffle than anything else. It didn't take us long to break up. The start was all downhill. Tons of people were passing me but I kept my steady pace, knowing I would need to conserve my energy. The morning air was cool and crisp. My music pounded in my ears. I had so much adrenaline! Every once in a while my emotions would get the best of me and I would start to choke up, but I soon discovered that I couldn't cry and breath at the same time. Haha.
At every mile along the course it said which mile you had finished and the amount of time you had been running. Every couple of miles there were rest stations with bathrooms (port o' potties) and people holding out water or gatorade. At my first rest stop I tried to run and drink at the same time... Yeah, didn't work out. I spilled a bunch. That's when I learned you walk when you are trying to drink something.
The course was really hilly. I remember looking at the elevation chart once and realizing I would encounter a few hills, but I guess it didn't fully sink in. Most of the hills were within the first 10 miles. I didn't stop to walk any of them! Except for the one at the very end. Thankfully the sky stayed overcast for until about 10am and even when the sky did clear up there was always a breeze.
I was feeling pretty good around mile 10. My pace was the same and I still had energy. Mile 16 was when everything hit me. I was tired. A couple miles earlier I had started to feel the wear, but this was definitely the Wall. I struggled. My mind was thinking, 10 more miles. Somehow I found my rhythm again, although I was all-too-aware of hot spots on my feet. Then at mile 18 it just hurt. My legs didn't want to go any further. I had 8 miles to go and all I wanted to do was sleep. I would glance longingly at the grass. I could see myself asleep in my car on my way back to Tremonton. It was hard. I stopped to walk for longer periods of time, but my legs hurt all the same. I ate some jelly beans and forced some gatorade and water down, but nothing helped. Food was the furthest thing from my mind. Even the gatorade was starting to make me feel nauseous. I remember thinking I was crazy! Part of me even thought that I would never run a marathon again. (Although I knew I could never completely make that promise.) One thing was certain, I would not give up!!! I took out my headphones, no longer amused by my selection of music. Every step hurt. My face became stoic although my mind was raging a huge battle against itself. I was counting down the miles, looking anxiously ahead for the next sign. One of the few things that kept me amused was the photographers. I started posing for the cameras, doing anything to keep my mind off the battle. I felt like I walked a lot, although it was probably less than two miles in total.
Finally I came to the last two miles of the race. There was a blasted hill. Despite my aching feet I knew I had to finish strong. I was determined to run the rest of the way once I got to the top of the hill. I walked the whole way up, exhausted beyond belief, but when I hit the top I ran. I forced my stride to lengthen. One last stretch, I thought. My eyes were focused on the Gateway straight ahead. I knew I would have to take three more turns before I could see the finish line. I passed the temple. My breathing was labored, but I couldn't stop. I wouldn't start up again. That last mile honestly seemed to take forever, but finally I rounded the corners. I could see the people. I started looking around almost overcome with emotion then I saw the finish line. Without thinking I sprinted straight ahead. I could hear everyone. I knew my family was cheering me on. I swore I heard my name but I couldn't focus on anything. It took every last ounce of energy to sprint towards that finish line. I passed a handful of people. Finally I was across. After slowing so rapidly I thought I was going to pass out. Thankfully I kept walking, trying to suck precious oxygen into my lungs. Someone handed me a medal. My mind must have been somewhat numb. I think I had to force myself to smile. I had done it. I finished in 4 hours and 42 minutes. Under my goal of 5 hours too!
The marathon was a great experience. I could hardly walk after sitting down for a few minutes. Everything hurt from my waist down, but the pain was worth it. My family was beaming and it didn't take too long for me to start beaming as well. Now I've started planning for the next one. I think it will be Top of Utah in September. I'm crazy. I knew after one I would do another. The feeling is very addicting. Even now I long to run out in the sunshine, despite my stiff muscles. :) I think I am still on an emotional high...
My family and roommates were all so amazing through all of this. I know how proud they are of their marathon runner and I hope they realize how much they did for me. Life really is a marathon and although there are times when we want to quit it is worth every minute of suffering once you cross that finish line. Thanks everyone for your support!
Alright, enough with the training details and onto the main event! I spent the night with Megan's grandparents - LaVerne and Chet - and woke up early to get ready for the race. I parked Stevie (my car) at the Gateway and caught Trax up to U of U. My legs felt ready for action. I actually jogged a couple of paces. My whole body was quivering in anticipation. The ride was long, but after 45 minutes we finally reached Legacy Bridge at the top of U of U's campus. There were tons of people milling around waiting for the race to start. Most people were involved in the half marathon. We all congregated on the road. I saw Kyle Jennings from high school. He was running the half marathon so we talked until the race started. The start was kind of amusing. The announcer counted down, then there was a gun shot and everyone started to move forward. Although it was more of a shuffle than anything else. It didn't take us long to break up. The start was all downhill. Tons of people were passing me but I kept my steady pace, knowing I would need to conserve my energy. The morning air was cool and crisp. My music pounded in my ears. I had so much adrenaline! Every once in a while my emotions would get the best of me and I would start to choke up, but I soon discovered that I couldn't cry and breath at the same time. Haha.
At every mile along the course it said which mile you had finished and the amount of time you had been running. Every couple of miles there were rest stations with bathrooms (port o' potties) and people holding out water or gatorade. At my first rest stop I tried to run and drink at the same time... Yeah, didn't work out. I spilled a bunch. That's when I learned you walk when you are trying to drink something.
The course was really hilly. I remember looking at the elevation chart once and realizing I would encounter a few hills, but I guess it didn't fully sink in. Most of the hills were within the first 10 miles. I didn't stop to walk any of them! Except for the one at the very end. Thankfully the sky stayed overcast for until about 10am and even when the sky did clear up there was always a breeze.
I was feeling pretty good around mile 10. My pace was the same and I still had energy. Mile 16 was when everything hit me. I was tired. A couple miles earlier I had started to feel the wear, but this was definitely the Wall. I struggled. My mind was thinking, 10 more miles. Somehow I found my rhythm again, although I was all-too-aware of hot spots on my feet. Then at mile 18 it just hurt. My legs didn't want to go any further. I had 8 miles to go and all I wanted to do was sleep. I would glance longingly at the grass. I could see myself asleep in my car on my way back to Tremonton. It was hard. I stopped to walk for longer periods of time, but my legs hurt all the same. I ate some jelly beans and forced some gatorade and water down, but nothing helped. Food was the furthest thing from my mind. Even the gatorade was starting to make me feel nauseous. I remember thinking I was crazy! Part of me even thought that I would never run a marathon again. (Although I knew I could never completely make that promise.) One thing was certain, I would not give up!!! I took out my headphones, no longer amused by my selection of music. Every step hurt. My face became stoic although my mind was raging a huge battle against itself. I was counting down the miles, looking anxiously ahead for the next sign. One of the few things that kept me amused was the photographers. I started posing for the cameras, doing anything to keep my mind off the battle. I felt like I walked a lot, although it was probably less than two miles in total.
Finally I came to the last two miles of the race. There was a blasted hill. Despite my aching feet I knew I had to finish strong. I was determined to run the rest of the way once I got to the top of the hill. I walked the whole way up, exhausted beyond belief, but when I hit the top I ran. I forced my stride to lengthen. One last stretch, I thought. My eyes were focused on the Gateway straight ahead. I knew I would have to take three more turns before I could see the finish line. I passed the temple. My breathing was labored, but I couldn't stop. I wouldn't start up again. That last mile honestly seemed to take forever, but finally I rounded the corners. I could see the people. I started looking around almost overcome with emotion then I saw the finish line. Without thinking I sprinted straight ahead. I could hear everyone. I knew my family was cheering me on. I swore I heard my name but I couldn't focus on anything. It took every last ounce of energy to sprint towards that finish line. I passed a handful of people. Finally I was across. After slowing so rapidly I thought I was going to pass out. Thankfully I kept walking, trying to suck precious oxygen into my lungs. Someone handed me a medal. My mind must have been somewhat numb. I think I had to force myself to smile. I had done it. I finished in 4 hours and 42 minutes. Under my goal of 5 hours too!
The marathon was a great experience. I could hardly walk after sitting down for a few minutes. Everything hurt from my waist down, but the pain was worth it. My family was beaming and it didn't take too long for me to start beaming as well. Now I've started planning for the next one. I think it will be Top of Utah in September. I'm crazy. I knew after one I would do another. The feeling is very addicting. Even now I long to run out in the sunshine, despite my stiff muscles. :) I think I am still on an emotional high...
My family and roommates were all so amazing through all of this. I know how proud they are of their marathon runner and I hope they realize how much they did for me. Life really is a marathon and although there are times when we want to quit it is worth every minute of suffering once you cross that finish line. Thanks everyone for your support!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Running through Swamps!
HAHA! I LOVE this story! So tonight I went running with my good friend Brad. Much to our surprise we have never been running together before, but we had a blast! So we set out at a good pace at least 6.0 miles per hour, probably a little more. Our goal was to run eight miles. Really, not terribly difficult. We are both distance runners. :) Here's the thing Brad is seriously awesome. I think I would consider him one of my best friends. He isn't dramatic, I try not to be dramatic, but I can completely be myself around him. (Don't worry, we are just friends, nothing more.) Anyway, so around mile three we were running down 1800 North and it lead to a dead end. We were about a block away from 1000 West, but their was a flooded field blocking our path. Being the awesome pair we are we decided to brave the swamp and cross it.
Our first hurdle was a wire fence with barb wire along the top. Brad made it over first - he's a lot taller than me so he just had to step over it. Then it was my turn. He held down the wire for me and I stepped over with my left leg, picked up my right leg and I was caught. I know, it was ridiculous! Thankfully it took me all of two seconds to fix. We laughed and the continued onto the bigger obstacle. A vast marsh.
At first the going was easy. Brad lead the way as we hoped from one dry patch to the next. Occasionally our feet would come across a little water, but nothing too bad. Until we reached the middle. By this point our feet were only half dry, but we were way to far to turn back now. We trudged on, actually it was more like hopping, laughing and talking the whole time. Our shoes and socks ended up getting soaked. The water was unavoidable, however we finally made it to the end of the mire. That did not conclude our quest though. Before we could get back onto solid ground we had to cross yet another fence. This one was higher than the first and very unstable. Brad suggested I use him to help me get over, but I couldn't get my footing right at all. So then he said he would lift me up so I could stand on the barb wire then jump over. It wasn't too difficult. I even landed on my feet. Hehe. It didn't take Brad long at all to get up and over, but he did end up falling. :) Although he jumped right back to his feet. Then we were off and running again. Haha! It was so much fun!
We did finish our eight miles. It felt nice, although I was tired by the end. That makes thirteen total today - I ran five this afternoon. I figure it is my last week to really push myself then it's three weeks until the marathon! I am so excited! And it looks like I may have found a running partner too. Yay!
As for other news I just got back from a week long cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was soooo much fun! Hopefully I can get pictures up soon. My dad is the family photographer so he took most of the pics.
It's good to be back! I'm sure I'll have more stories soon!
Our first hurdle was a wire fence with barb wire along the top. Brad made it over first - he's a lot taller than me so he just had to step over it. Then it was my turn. He held down the wire for me and I stepped over with my left leg, picked up my right leg and I was caught. I know, it was ridiculous! Thankfully it took me all of two seconds to fix. We laughed and the continued onto the bigger obstacle. A vast marsh.
At first the going was easy. Brad lead the way as we hoped from one dry patch to the next. Occasionally our feet would come across a little water, but nothing too bad. Until we reached the middle. By this point our feet were only half dry, but we were way to far to turn back now. We trudged on, actually it was more like hopping, laughing and talking the whole time. Our shoes and socks ended up getting soaked. The water was unavoidable, however we finally made it to the end of the mire. That did not conclude our quest though. Before we could get back onto solid ground we had to cross yet another fence. This one was higher than the first and very unstable. Brad suggested I use him to help me get over, but I couldn't get my footing right at all. So then he said he would lift me up so I could stand on the barb wire then jump over. It wasn't too difficult. I even landed on my feet. Hehe. It didn't take Brad long at all to get up and over, but he did end up falling. :) Although he jumped right back to his feet. Then we were off and running again. Haha! It was so much fun!
We did finish our eight miles. It felt nice, although I was tired by the end. That makes thirteen total today - I ran five this afternoon. I figure it is my last week to really push myself then it's three weeks until the marathon! I am so excited! And it looks like I may have found a running partner too. Yay!
As for other news I just got back from a week long cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was soooo much fun! Hopefully I can get pictures up soon. My dad is the family photographer so he took most of the pics.
It's good to be back! I'm sure I'll have more stories soon!
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