st george marathon!

So in case you are wondering what I learned from this journey, Besides the fact I can run in extreme heat, even though I feel like I am dying a little. Its that this is a journey for all of us. Its a very personal journey. Sometimes we get caught up on being faster than a person, a time or some kind of a goal. Its about me and its about you. As long as you are doing your personal best, never selling yourself short thats what matters. Somedays are super great and some days are BAD. But they are our days and as long as we are strong and giving all we got, thats what really matters. I want to improve, I want to always do better and get stronger. But if I cant keep up with my awesome, super fit, endurance that never ends, personal trainer, running buddy Niki. Its ok she can go on her own way and I can go on mine. We will see each other at the finish line, I crossed 40 seconds after her I could not believe it,When our journey is over. Its ok because when each of you reach inside ourself you can do it TOO. I know you can. I know with out a doubt. Because I see your strength and I dont have those negative thoughts that your brain gives you to try and protect you. As soon as you tell yourself you can do it. Your body will naturally follow. I will see you out there on this journey we enjoy together. Sometimes right by each other sides and sometimes thinking of one another apart, greatful that we have each other.

Good morning SPIN!!

Yesterday I will admit I was dreading the thought of getting up at 430 to be in american fork for spin. But I went to bed early and woke up on my own, feeling fabulous. Got a super hard work out and was headed home ready for my day at 645. I have almost cleaned the whole house and done a bunch of laundry. If I could only bottle this energy. I could be so productive daily. But I will take it when I get it and hope that it can continue going strong today, 12 more hours to go!! I hit that slump, the one you get when your marathon is less than a month away. I was tired run down, than I got sick. Rough week, hopefully it is out of the way. Wish me luck on my 22 miler tomorrow, longest hardest run of training. Ready or not here I go.

What Now!

This is my new paper running pouch that cute little molly made me. I love it I dont think she knows how much I sweat so paper might not be the best material for me runnin.. But I love it.

So I was thinking alot after I noticed I had not wrote anything on my blog in an entire year. I cannot believe how quick a year goes. So this is me now a current photo, still just crazy me. Since that last post I noticed I was 17 pounds from my goal, right now I am only 5 pounds away from my goal, which excites me and concerns me. So in the time since I last posted I did not just lose 12 pounds, first I gained oh propably 10 pounds, lost 15, gained back 20 and than that brings me to the now. I have lost 25 over the last 3 months. I got braces which took off 8 pounds in 10 days, making it hard to eat, talk and smile. All of my favorite things. It was a fast way to drop some pounds not the most comfortable though. It did make me more aware of my snacking and eating habits. When you have to do a cleaning ritual everytime you eat anything, you are much more likely to not eat that little snack and brush for the eighth time that day. But the other stuff as I read thru those blog posts. I have the same struggles, that I have struggled with for a long time. I dont really know how to overcome them. I wish I was just naturally a really health conscious person, But I AM NOT. Luckily for me marathon training, runnin 40+ miles a week burns away those donuts, cookies cake and soda that I love. But when winter hits and running slows down. I will have to be ready to battle my battles. We all have struggles and I guess the most important thing is to do our best every day. Not to obsess over it or make life less enjoyable. Its that balance and one day I know I will figure it out. Until than I will just do my Best!!!

Where did I go!! My journey

This is where this part of the journey begins. First marathon. Las Vegas. I am just a few weeks  prego with Ella I dont know it yet though. Kami and I train hard and it pays off. We run a great strong marathon. Here is where I have my first run in with THE WALL. I discover its real and It slows me way down. Kami and I actually do it we complete our first marathon. As I run down the finall stretch it feals unreal, I am actually doing. I am so grateful to Kami for asking me to do this with her. I probably never would of thought to do it on my own. Its addicting real addicting, when is the next marathon?

Yes that me, Wow I look different crazy different. This is the Sedona feb. 2008.  A little over 5 months after I give birth to my beautiful baby girl. I came back to soon. I feel like I am ready , but I pushed hard. I dont know my actual time on this marathon, I dont want to know. It was hard running up and down to many hills, rocky road sore feet, Exhaustion it was hard way hard. This was a finisher marathon, I finished. One day I will go back and run this strong. I will want to know my time and I will be prepared for all that comes with this one. But I am not ready yet.

This is my first half marathon it came after 2nd marathon and befor e third. This is where I learn a most valuable lesson about fuel. I learn our body needs fuel. When you run out of gas your out. I learn when you drop your hammerhead gel that you need to run back a few steps pick it up. I learn to be prepared and not count on others to make sure I have my fuel. I learn a half can be hard. I started with the whole deal but this one challenged me for sure.

This is ogden marathon, This is a great marathon, it is amazing. It is here I learn how my life is exhausting at times, I learn sometimes I am not in charge. As I suffer from my  6th period in 2 months, no matter how much I prepare things come up and you make the best of it. It is here that I learn I can run it by myself. Halfway thru we seperate and I reach inside and do it. I battle back in forth in my head, sing a few of my favorite songs outloud and shed alot of tears. I run a great race shave about a half hour off of Vegas and I am stronger.

It is here that I have to take a picture in Texas of the lazy cows in the pasture behind me. Because I am a Rhino, I wake up and charge each day. My hysterectomy sets me back. I go from marathon shape, runnin 6-8 miles 5 days a week. To six week down. Mentally it kills me, I want to run, I want to feel strong, why me!!! I battle and even when the time comes the strength does not. Three miles kills it hard, its slow, But I remind myself I am a rhino and I keep on chargin. Through time and listening to my body, even when I did not want to I come back, Come back stronger than ever.

Add caption

I wish you could see this crazy pictures, This is me and Amy out running hills, 10 miles of crazy hills at 5 in the morning. I love it, I love running, its taught me alot. Some of the best friends you will ever have are your running buddies. Some times you feel closer to them than your spouse. Long runs teach you alot about each other. I am so luck to have Kami who got me started, who inspired me to run a marathon. She is strong and steady, reliable. I am grateful for Niki who helped me through Sedona. She is such a great example and endurance that never ends. My mom it was nothing intense like marathon training. But it was daily, it was fabulous, It was my mornings for a long time. It was running all but maybe two days a year, it taught me alot about dedication. My running buddy Amy she makes me laugh, she works so hard, hardly ever complains and has improved so much. 5 kids and she is out there almost every day running her little heart out. She teaches me how much hard work pays off. I look forward to my other running buddies to come, you know who you are you can do it, we look forward to you joining us. I am happy, it makes me happy I never have to multitask or get inturupted.  Marathons taught me how to dig deeper when you feel like you cant go on any further you probably can, you just have to believe in yourself. If its hard and you struggle to run 5 miles, run 10 a few times, that 5 feels like a breeze. Most of all it teaches me to believe in myself. Life is tough, really tough, take it a mile at a time.