And it all starts over again...

So today was the first day of year 4 at the good old BYU. I'm hoping one day I will be able to get out of this place, but for now I'm here for atleast 2 more years! I got into the PETE (Physical Education and Teaching Education) program at BYU, so for the next two years I get to wear t-shirts and basketball shorts. I'm so excited!! My mom wasn't to happy about that, since she wants me to look like a girl rather than a tomboy! :-) The classmates seem fine, being the first day most people are pretty quiet, but I'm expecting it to be a fun next two years. I mean seriously what can beat playing sports and teaching kids to play sports all day, definitely not much.

Pioneer Day in Salt Lake

Another one to be finished.

What were we thinking? (Bryce Canyon Half and Fairyland Loop)

So Camilla and I decided to run the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon like forever ago, but after our marathons we were pretty tired of running. However, we had already signed up for it so we had to run it. Actually what had happened was Camilla got mono and did something to her knee so she couldn't train like she wanted and I had just gotten back from a few weeks of being on vacation which never helps with the running thing. We drove down to Bryce Friday evening and looked for a place to pitch a tent. Little did we know that all the spots were filled, so we ended up spending the night sleeping in my car in a LDS church parking lot. It was exciting.

That morning we woke up extremely early to catch the buses and we ran our race. I didn't do as well as I'd hoped, but that's what you get for not training. Camilla did awesome for having had mono. We should have stopped right there and came home, but since we were in Bryce's National Park we had to hike. The hike that we picked was the freakin most crazy hike ever. I've never had a trail go up and down so much. It seriously felt like a rollercoaster. By the middle of the hike I felt like I was going to die. I couldn't even feel my legs, because they were literally like jello. Oh, the hike was like 7 miles, not just a little short one. Fairyland Loop however, was an awesome hike with some pretty amazing views. I would recommend it to all, unless you are running a half marathon in the morning, then I'd tell you to put it off for another week!!

Back home for the 4th

Sawtooth Relay 2008

It was a fabulous weekend. The relay was so much fun. Friday night we arrived at our camping site close to Ketchum, ID. The area was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for better weather. I got to meet the whole team. Camilla's family was running and then her sister in-law's family. They were amazing. They had everything prepared and organized so well. Saturday morning we all woke up at 2:30 to get ready and left by 3;30 to be at the starting line on time. Our starting time was at 4:15. It was so crazy, because it was so early. I swear I froze to death the first few hours before the sun came up. It was just so cold. I don't see how they could actually run in it. My first leg was leg 5, so I started about at 8:00. It was a decent run. I wish I could have done better, but with the altitude difference and the 2 hours of sleep that I had gotten that night, I think I did the best that I could. My leg was uphill for 6 miles and it was a tough little sucker. My last leg was a 5 mile run downhill during the middle of the day. It definitely was an easier run, but with the heat it was miserable. I was always looking for the team van for water! Finally after almost 11 hours of running we all crossed the finish line.

Seriously, it was so much fun. I almost lost my voice by the end of the day from cheering on all the team members as they ran their parts of the race. Hopefully next year I'll be able to convince a few family members to run one with me. You definitely feel as if you have accomplished something at the end.




The rest of the weekend was chill. We went to church at a little branch in Stanley, ID. There were probably 10 members total. The podium was placed in front of the wall of windows that overlooked the Sawtooth Mountain Range. It was an incredible view that made it a little dificult to pay attention to the speakers!

Tagged by Erin...

How To Play This Game of Tag: Post these rules on your blog. Answer these 15 questions about yourself on your blog.List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts.Tag 4 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here it is...

JOYS:

01. My nieces and nephews

02. Running

03. Icecream

FEARS:

01. Spiders

02. Scary Movies

03. Mice

GOALS:

01. Finish a triathlon

02. Backpack Europe

03. Take more pictures!!

oh one more....qualify for the Boston Marathon

CURRENT OBSESSIONS/COLLECTIONS:

01. Camping/Traveling

02. Training for my next race

03. Studying for spring finals (oh, how I dislike college!)

RANDOM SURPRISING FACTS:

01. I love chic flicks.

02. I hate onions.

03. My dream one day is to be a high school basketball coach!! :-)

I tag Vanessa, Loraine, Jenny, and Christine!

Escalante

I'm just making these to remind myself that I need to finish them up!

4:20

I did it! After 5 months of training I finally got the chance to try out a marathon. It was a great experience and actually not as bad as I thought it woud be. My roommate Tawni and I headed up to Ogden, Utah friday night. They had a big expo there with lots of cool booths of fun running stuff, plus we had to pick up our number and running chip! The race started at 7:00 am and buses left at 5:00 to head up the canyon. We tried to go to bed early, but it didn't really happen with all the nervousness and not knowing what to early expect that next morning. So finally the day arrived. The morning went smoothly. It was pretty cold up at the top of the mountain, but fortunately they had bonfires all around to keep us warm. I kept thinking to myself how stupid I was for wanting to do this. Tawni and I kept made fun of all the "real" runners and their conversations throughout the morning until the race started.

7:oo came and we took our places on the starting line. A gun shot went off and it started. The first 3 miles were kinda slower because there were a few thousand people there, all running on a country road. It was a little packed, so you had to weave in and out as you passed people. Finally though people spread out and it was a really enjoyable first 13 miles. It definitely wasn't easy, but it was a fun run through the canyon. There were tons of hills and after a while I got sick of them and just wanted some flat ground. Unfornately, that didn't come till mile 23! We made the first half with a time of 2:02, so we were running faster than our final goal of 4:30. I was feeling great. From mile 14 to mile 15 there wasan incredible hill. It was a killer and we just ended up speed walking up some of it, so we wouldn't have to kill ourselves. It was funny to listen to the other running as they complained about the placement of the hill during the marathon and just yell how it sucked! After that though it was all down hill. I was fabulous. My legs felt a little weak, but it was just nice to be going down hill finally after having ran hills for the first half. The day became pretty hot. We were running on roads without shade and the sun was just super hot. The sponsors did a great job and there was water/powerade at every mile marker for most of the race. I started chugging that stuff after a while. I was so hot and I was sweating so much. Oh, thats another thing! Everybody smelled...so bad! As they passed you or you passed them you would get a little whif and it never smelled good. I guess that is just what happens when you have ran over 3 hours. From mile 17-22 was pretty nice with some steep downclines. At 18, Tawni hit a wall, but just kept running. I was feeling great though. My legs felt weak, but I still wasn't out of breathe. Unfortunately a little after mile 22 I wanted to die. I was done and I could no longer could feel my legs. It became even hotter outside and I just wanted to walk to last few miles, but Tawni was there to keep me running. I seriously didn't feel like I was going to be able to make it. At mile 26 I got my water and started trying to pick it up a little bit. We ran into the city and there were people cheering. It totally just makes you run faster. There was a girl running a little bit in front of us as we got a few blocks from the finish line, so we speed up to pass her. We passed her and then we finally crossed the finish line at 4:20! It was pretty cool because they called out your name as you crossed it. They totally butchered my last name, but that's expected. Afterwards my muscles just tightened up. I had to strength and could barely even sit down because I was scared that I was going to fall on my face! I also has no desire to eat, because I felt like nothing would actually make it down. I ate a couple apple wedges and drank a ton of water and then just layed down! It felt good.


So now I get to say that I ran a marathon. Kinda crazy, because I'm definetely not a runner, but it was a great experience and I learned how at times you just have to keep moving even when you don't think that you can. It was awesome and now I can be a little more prepared for the St. George Marathon.

Heights

So last summer I totally fell from a cliff while repelling with my brothers. I landed against the rock pretty hard and ended up not being able to feel my right calf muscle for at least 4 months. It was pretty scary and because of it I've never wanted to do it again. My friend Camilla, however, loves rock climbing and convinced me to go with her. It was way fun. I learned how the whole rope system works and how you are not going to fall if it is all done right. Rock climbing has become my new hobby. It's just way good exercise and fun all at the same time. I just did some easy climbs for the first time and Camilla taught me a few climbing moves that make it easier. New hobbies are just great!

One down and many to go!

So this summer is going to be fabulous. I think I've registered in about 2 races a month! I just found out I got into the St. George Marathon this past week and am totally excited, since I'll be a little more aware of what is going on. Well we ran the Race for The Cure. It was way fun, nothing like a real race. There were thousands and thousands of people running,actually most were walking, to support the cause. It was a neat experience and I will definitely be doing it again next year!! I recommend it for everyone!

Race for the Cure Outfits

So Erin, Lara, and I are going to be running in the Race for the Cure this weekend. It's a 5k, so not to intense. We all bought running skirts so we can match and decided to take a photo shoot with them! Yes, we are sad. We already know.

Salt Lake City Half Marathon

We did it!! I ran my second half marathon, in preparation for the full one that I'm running in May. It was so much fun. Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but it was. There were thousands of runners and people on the sides of the road throughout the race. I ran with my roommates Erin, and Tawni. Morgan was going to but bailed out when she got runners knee! :( Camilla ran too, but she was hard core and did the full. My time was 1:52. I was really happy with it because my goal was 2:00. The adrenaline of the race just makes you run faster, plus I hate it when people pass me! The end of the race was at the Gateway and there were a ton of people there cheering you on till the finish line. It was amazing and can't wait till the Ogden Marathon now!

Jimmy Eat World and Paramore

Paramore and Jimmy Eat World came to UVSC, so me and Camilla decided to hit it up. We felt like the oldest people there. Going to things like that totally make you feel so old. We waited in line forever. There was a group of 15 year old girls in front of us in line, all with braces, talking about the popular boys in school. It was hularious and made me realize how stupid I probably was at that age too! :-) The concert was great. Afterwards I couldn't hear and am now going to be deaf when I get older.

High School Musical

So me and a few friends decided we were going to head up to the U and see a few groups play at a concert they were hosting. While we were there I noticed a girl that looked way familiar, but didn't know from where. Suddenly I realized that it was one of the cast members of High School Musical. Let me just say it made my day. It took me a while to actually go up and ask her if she was on the movie, because I felt like a dork, 23 and a huge fan of the movie! She was way cool though and let me take a picture with her.

New Haircut

So I decided to go a little crazy and get some bangs. It was probably the biggest decision that I've made in a long time! :-)

WICKED

So the climax to our trip was going to Wicked. I had already seen it in Chicago. It was amazing there, so I was totally excited to see it again. It was fun to get all dressed up and spend the night out in the big city of L.A. Personally, I thought the Chicago performance was better, but that is just the opinion of someone who knows nothing about acting.

California Girls

Well, one of my good friends Camilla just celebrated her 25th birthday, so to celebrate we headed to California for the weekend. It was beautiful. The weather was perfect, but I guess anything is better than Utah's. We had fun playing on the beach, riding bikes, and eating delicious fish tacos. I decided that one day I will live in Cali since it is the prefect place to live if you love the outdoors. Seriously they have it all. It was the first time that I had actually been to California and spent some time and I came back loving it.