An addendum to my last post

I didn't mention how stressful it can be sometimes packing for 7 people. Tyler's brother and sister-in-law were kind enough to let us crash their house Friday night so I could be up early for my race.

So I thought I had everything and had even gone through it all in my head right before we pulled out.

Running shoes: check.

Shorts: check.

Shirt: check.

Socks: check.

About 30 minutes into our drive to Logan the thought suddenly popped into my head, "I think I left my running bag on the bed." And then I voiced this out loud to Tyler. In an effort to get everybody and all their stuff in the van I forgot the most important thing. This happened at 5:45pm and I had to be to Logan to pick up my bib and goodies by 8:00 pm (Logan is about an hour and 45 minutes from our house).

Ah, what to do.

We had to turn back and we did.

And, we still made it to Logan with minutes to spare.

I can't even imagine what I would have done had I realized my mistake later, maybe even too late to do anything about it (like buy new gear because the store might be closed).

Oh, I came dangerously close to missing out on a huge accomplishment.

I really think Heavenly Father sent that thought to me because we were still close enough to turn around and go back, close enough that I didn't lose too much time and still made it to Logan, and we were right by an exit. How grateful I am for tender mercies and someone watching out for me.

The road to my first 1/2 marathon

It all began here:

Our little town of Ferron holds their annual Peach Days celebration in September and in 2007 when my sisters and I were attending we all decided that the following year we would run the 5K that takes you right past my parent's home. It would give us a year to get in shape. Fast forward a year and here we are before the start of the race.

Since then it's become a tradition and a sort of impromptu family reunion to all meet up at Peach Days to run the fun run which is either the 5K or 10K.

I've never been a runner, never really had the desire to run. Growing up my sport was basketball which entailed a lot of running anyway and I didn't feel the need to add to it. Then I turned 30 and entered Kiersten and Erik in a couple of 1Ks. I should have known Erik would have some potential when the neighborhood moms started calling him "road runner" because he was always running to school. But I was happy to cheer them on. Peach Days came in 2007 and I had a goal and began running . . . at night because I didn't want anyone to see me. Wow, at the beginning there I couldn't even make it a quarter of a mile without feeling like I was out of breath. Gradually my distances increased and I ran my first 5K at the 2008 Grantsville 4th of July celebration.

Our Peach Days race came next and my mom took this picture as I was coming up the hill by her house.

I ran another 5K the following summer and was ready for a challenge. We happened to be at East Canyon camping the same weekend a 10K was being held. The starting line was literally a 100 yards from my tent door and I couldn't resist. It was a hard 10K that took me onto a dirt road and up and down hills, but what a feeling that I had accomplished something a little harder.
I ran the 10K at Peach Days instead of my usual 5K and got to run with an old friend I had grown up with.
2010 was the year of baby and house. I was happy to get one race under my belt and got to cheer for my sister Katie as she completed a half marathon and then a full, but with several 10Ks and lots of 5Ks I was ready for a challenge again. So last March I solicited my favorite running crew, my sisters, to see if they wanted to run the Top of Utah Half Marathon in August. It would give me just under 6 months to train. Plenty of time . . . or so I thought. Five kids which includes a baby makes it kind of tricky to find that time.

I now call myself a runner. I still don't especially like getting up to go, but once I do and I come home I'm so glad I did.

A few things I learned along my 13 miles.

• This race was one of the hardest things I've done in my life. Even some of the births of my kids weren't this hard.
• I couldn't have done it without training first.
• Don't start out too fast. I don't feel like I did this and honestly it's kind of hard when you're packed in like sardines at the start to go real fast at all.
• I love running races with my family and hope we keep this little hobby of ours going for awhile.
• I like being at the start of the race and feeling all the energy bouncing off the people around me.
• Walk through the drink stations or you'll get water/Gatorade all down the front of you.
• The oranges tasted like candy.
• I loved the breeze coming down the canyon that kind of pushed me along. I didn't so much like all the humidity from running along side the river. I was sweatin' before I reached mile 2.
• I should have used ointment in spots to prevent chaffing. I had never experienced it before but I did in my last mile and it was uncomfortable.
• It's okay to walk if you need a little break (although this is a goal for the next -- to run it completely). Nobody at the finish line cared whether I slowed a little and walked as I replenished my reserves. They were just happy I made it. I hit mile 10 and this is where it started to slowly climb and I hit my wall. I was so grateful for the cute kids who had their hose out to drench us about mile 11. It felt wonderful.
• Drink, drink, drink. I thought I had drunk enough along the route, but my body told me otherwise. About 40 minutes after finishing, I started to feel nauseous and had a headache. I now know I was dehydrated. The humidity in the canyon and no shade the last 3 miles were not good for my body.
• During the last mile I kept scanning the sidelines for my kids because I knew they would push me on to finish. What a feeling it is to have someone cheering you on and most of the time it's complete strangers.
• As I crossed the finish line the first thought I had is "I will never do a marathon." I honestly don't know how they do it. That's a lot of wear and tear on the body.
• The first half felt like a breeze compared to the last half.
• Stretch, stretch, stretch, and stretch some more. I should have done more stretching afterwards. My legs hate me today and I felt like an old lady at church, hobbling down the hall. Stairs are a killer.

Running 13 miles is not an easy thing to accomplish. My goal was to finish in under 2 1/2 hours which I beat by 4 minutes. I was actually a little surprised when I saw the time at the finish line because I had walked a lot the last three miles. Oh, I'm so happy to cross this off my list, grateful for the challenge it gave me, excited to try another one . . . next year. What do you say, my favorite running buddies?

First day of school

At the end of the school year a friend and I were discussing our year end traditions. She told me how she makes each of her girls a candybar gram.

My mom used to do the same thing for different occasions. I don't know why it never crossed my mind to ever do one.

So all summer I've been anticipating doing one for each of the kids (except for Alex). I was a little excited this morning as the kids woke up.

They all loved them, but Ash was the funniest. I'm sure she just thought it was a bunch of candy stuck to paper until we had her read it. She tried skipping over the candybar until I had her insert the candybar name in the sentence. Then she got it and giggled and giggled. She couldn't wait to get to school to tell her teacher all about it (except when she got home she told me she forgot to say anything).

First shift. I can't believe this girl is in junior high. Who gave her permission to grow up. I wished like crazy today that I could have been her invisible friend to help her when she couldn't get her locker open or she forgot where her classrooms were or she couldn't find her friends at lunch. We'll see how the day went when she gets home and I'm sure it won't have been nearly as traumatic as I've made it out to be.

Second shift. I sent these three off to the bus stop. I missed living close to the elementary today and seeing all the kids excited to get to their classes as they walked or biked. The bus stop just isn't the same.

Alex and I went for a jog/walk this morning after everyone left. It was a rather quiet morning like I knew it would be. I'm just glad I have this little guy around to keep me company as he toddles from room to room.

P.S. I also have the irrigation guys and deck guy to keep me company and anyone working next door. So I should clarify that the quiet morning meant quiet in the house . . . no fighting, piano playing, radio turned up, keyboard clicking. I can't say the same for outside the house. There is no shortage of commotion going on out there.

Battle of the Bluegill

Two years ago Stansbury added a kids' triathlon to their annual Stansbury Days. The kids have to swim 2 lengths of the pool, bike 3 miles, and run 1 mile.

Nate was a little nervous, okay a lot nervous, since this was his first attempt. Last year just Kiersten and Erik competed. But he did great and finished strong.

I'm so pleased with all of them for doing something difficult and succeeding. This was an event that gave every kid who competed a boost of self-confidence, which is a great thing to have right before school starts.

I think I may be a little crazy

Last Friday as Tyler and I were driving up Emigration Canyon on our way to East Canyon, I noticed the signs along the road announcing a half marathon on September 3.

Okay, I haven't even run my first half yet and I found myself thinking that Emigration Canyon would be a nice place to run a half marathon and even told myself that maybe I should plan on running this one next year.

I may just revise that thought in about a week. I have a exactly 10 days until the "BIG" race that I've supposedly been training for since March. I have managed a couple of long runs, my longest being 12 miles. That eased some stress and gave me some confidence that I can indeed pull off this silly little stunt.

Knowing what to keep: lessons from a handcart tragedy

By Wendy Ulrich

Deseret News

Published: Saturday, July 30, 2011 5:00 a.m. MD

As members of the Martin Handcart Company crossed Wyoming in October 1856, they faced evaporating food supplies, increasingly difficult terrain and impending winter storms. In an effort to hasten their progress toward the relief wagons they hoped were coming, they took a desperate risk and burned their extra blankets and coats to lighten their loads.

Within days, temperatures plunged and a raging storm pummeled them with 18 inches of snow. They ground to a halt, out of food, out of energy and unshielded from the fierce winds and cold.

I wince to realize what their decision cost them in frostbite, hypothermia, sickness, misery and death. Days before, those heavy blankets and coats must have seemed like the only variable over which they had any control in the complex equation of supplies and needs, weight and speed. But how they must have longed for that lost protection when the storm set in!

Perhaps the handcart companies made a rational choice under their circumstances. Without the benefit of satellite images from the nightly news to warn them, they didn’t expect the snow to fall so soon. But I have been amply warned. There is a “portent of stormy weather ahead,” and I cannot afford to burn through blankets of relationships, spiritual reserves, healthy living or other resources I will surely need, even when they feel heavy at times. Even when I am afraid, I cannot reach my goal any other way.

Nevertheless, as I bend under the weight of life’s demands, supplies dwindling, in a hurry to get through the steepening terrain of my days, something always seems to be slipping off the cart: scripture study, sleep, prayer, healthy food, attending the temple, service, connection with friends, exercise, family time, learning, visiting teaching, meditation. Ironically, time for such fundamentals dissipates in the press of my busy life — sometimes just when I need them the most.

It is true that sometimes I simply must lighten the load, and something has to give. I cannot carry everything with me when my energy is low and demands are high. The gospel helps me make such decisions thoughtfully, prayerfully. I can meditate on a single scripture or covenants while I shower or eat, pray while I drive and make that call another day.

But at times I simply need to make room for the blankets I’d like to slough off, even though they cost me precious energy. If I don’t invest in these things now, I will not have the shelter they provide when the storms rage. Even more, I will not have their spiritual nourishment to strengthen me for today’s pull.

Yep. I've thrown my "blanket" of scripture reading/study out of the handcart. I certainly didn't need this article to remind me that scriptures are as important to my spirit as food is for my body. Life has been busy these past 6 months and my scriptures have quietly sat, waiting for me. But I feel change in the air. School is soon to be back in full swing (in fact I went with Kiersten to register for junior high and boy did we have fun playing with her locker combination) and I'm anticipating a quiet moment or two in my day.

Keepin' up with technology

Ah my boys are funny. There was a day when they were happy to play "games" on the calculator.

This past week we had Amber and Aaron over to our home while they were visiting from Canada. Uncle Aaron introduced Erik and Nate to his Blackberry Playbook and they immediately fell in love with the games they could play.

The next day they informed they were going to pool their money and hopefully buy one in the next year for around $500.

This was a week ago and all last week Erik has been researching and gathering opinions on what they should buy. This is what he came up with:

A Wintec FileMate Light 7" Touchscreen Internet Entertainment Tablet with Enhanced Resistive Touch Technology, Built-In camera, GPS and Bluetooth supported, Expansion Interfaces up to 32 GB and Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS Ready

I've never heard of Wintec and I'm sure he settled on it because it is so much cheaper than he originally was going to spend to get a Playbook.

I personally don't want him to have one right now but realize that if this is a goal he really wants to work towards, I don't want to be a dream killer and we will just have to put rules on it if he does end up getting something.

That said, I really don't think it will happen. Reality will kill the dream and Erik and Nate will soon forget about it once school starts and they realize how long it will take to save up that kind of money.

It has been kind of fun to watch them this week and it has been a good learning experience for them to research and really decide what they want to get instead of buying impulsively. It's good to give kids choices with money. I would rather they make a $100 mistake now than a $10,000 mistake later when the responsibility is a little bigger.