Catch-up: Mud Run

A friend of ours invited Jimmy or I to join their team for a Mud Run located in Woods Cross---close+free=YES! I just ran the River Rail Relay, so it was Jimmy's turn. Jimmy joined the Graphic Auto groups team, and that meant the kids got to run it too. Ashley was the only brave one to do it, because she had one of her best friends to do it with her! Sweet!

Yes, I decorated Jimmy's shirt for him-He did not write that on there! Silly me! The run was about 2 miles in a dirt field, then the last mile or so was the mud obstacle course.

 Hay bale

 Ashley started while Jimmy was in the field. Here she is finishing with her friend Adrena.

 Then Jimmy finished.

 The team together. This mud run benefits the Utah chapter of the JDRF. Thanks Mike for inviting us!

 They both had a good time. It was tough, as both of them would report. It was scary for Ashley to try something new, and unfamiliar without mom or dad there, but she fell in LOVE with it and was SO happy to do this run! She wants to do another one!

Catch-up: End of School year

Charlie graduated preschool this year. He will start kindergarten in the fall! Here he is with his buddy Sam.

 The girls came home from school with a treat from the crossing guard lady, and a bookbag full of papers, report cards, projects, pencil boxes, and fun memories. Sarah is READY for 2nd grade, and Ashley will conquer 4th grade.

Catch-up: River Rail Relay

In May, I put together a 4 person team to complete the River Rail Relay. It was the first year of this race, starting at Gardner Village in West Jordan. Running along the Jordan River Trail System to the Legacy Parkway Trail System to the Rio Grande Trail System. We covered the 50 miles, with each of us running 2 times, with distances between 6-7 miles. It was a nice day relay race! Pretty organized, course could have been marked better a few places, but overall a good experience.

Here is my team: Never Hurry, Never Worry.

 My cousin Deborah, and friends Bart & Amy.

 

It got hot as the day went on, and kept an eye out for our teammates. I felt really confortable with the route, mostly familiar to everyone on the team.

I loved running along the Jordan River trail. It was pretty and full of other runners & walkers going the other direction, plus it was still cool in the morning. New scenery, and my mile pace was fast! My second run was in the HOT afternoon on the Legacy Parkway trail, a familiar scene. It got smelly as I passed the city dump to the west of us. The nice breeze blew the smell over.....yum! I also thought I passed President Ucthdorf riding a bike on the trail with his wife. Funny! I can't confirm with anyone else it was him, but I believe it was!!

 We were one of the last teams to finish, but not THE LAST. Running is competing against yourself anyways and we wanted to just have fun with this day relay race! I was happy the race staff was not anxious for us to finish & get us off the course.

Here is our time, medals, and team! Good job friends!

Catch-up: Free 5K

I don't want to forget these good memories. A while ago.....(april)....we ran a 5K. Salt Lake Running Company put on a free 5K for their customers. I got us registered us, and we woke up one Saturday morning do do the race. Jimmy ran with Ashley, I ran with Sarah, and my mom walked it and pushed Sophie.

Before:

 After:

 

 We had a few friends also do the race with us, so it was a fun experience. The girls did amazing! They almost ran the entire time, completing the race in under 36 minutes.

 Good Job!

Ragnar Concluded

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...Run Again completed the 2012 Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay in 35 hours and 39 minutes. Overall we were 893/1092 teams. Fastest team complete the 194 miles in 19 hours, while the slowest team was 40 hours.

Lori was anxious to meet up with her husband, who was also running the relay race with his corporate team. Once she saw him, she was READY to go! I don't blame her-she was the only non-family member in Van 1. Here we are saying our good-byes.....

 Thanks Lori!

 We rested and waited for Van 2 to finish the race.

 Here is my cousin Charlotte with her dad, Quinn. Quinn was our runner to conquer the Ragnar Hill, which is the hardest part of the whole race.  Quinn was the 52nd fastest runner our of 1092 teams to run the 4 miles beginning at 7228 feet and finished at 8881 feet in elevation. Yes-AWESOME!  

Here is our team all done!!

 Runner 12, Becky with the yucky slap bracelet baton! Yes, all 12 of us wore that and added our own sweat to it.

 We did it-Ragnar 2012.

Park 3 next year-YUP! Will Jimmy do it-he says so! Can't Wait!

More of Ragnar

After Jay finished his first run we headed up to Snowbasin Ski Resort. This is where we were going to meet Van 2 after their run around the Ogden Valley. We were ready to rest & get some food. I was tired & not in the mood to take any pictures. I think I carried my camera around between the parking lot & bathrooms, and finally took a picture when I found my cousin Jessica & her friend Melissa. They were on the Ragnar team last year. It was fun to see them & a few other people at this major exchange.

 Here is Jimmy ready to start his second run-downhill for 8 miles.

 Becky handing off to Jimmy.

 We could not stop & check on Jimmy-he had an unsupported run. I got this one pix of him and then waited for him at the bottom of the hill. We drive part of this run when we go camping at Pineview. I am sure he will look at that road a lot differently now!

 Here is our second volunteer-Carl! Thanks Carl! He worked at a water station on Jimmy's run & we were lucky enough to pass by when he started his 3-4 hour shift! Carl had fun! Volunteering is good!

 Charlotte is waiting for Jimmy. Its night time running hours! SAFETY VESTS!

Jimmy finished, and we all ran a second time in Van 1. Charlotte got to run with the sunset, and I started a fun night run. I was thrilled with my 5 mile run pace, gradual uphill but much cooler weather thru the quiet town of Morgan. Wearing safety vests does not do well in pictures. SO----NO pictures. Jay had a tough run, 8 miles, gradual uphill with major blisters on his feet. We checked on him a few times during his run, and he had to be mentally tough to complete it. I was very thrilled at this point-Ragnar had made some major changes at some exchanges, and the exchange at East Canyon was amazing! It was organized and worked SO better than last year. We didn't lose a person, we made it to the exchange before Jay, we found our teammates. It was great! Good job Ragnar! Jay needed to check his blisters, so he went to the medic tent, then we finally made it to the Van and searched for SLEEP!! It was past 1am Saturday morning.

Sleep-LESSON LEARNED HERE! I sat in the back, and Jay was shot-gun. We ended up taking an unplanned exit, and found too many cars at a high school, and we refused to try & sleep there, so we were going to head to another place-Oakey or South Summit High School. We chose to follow driving instructions (which was the LONG LONG way to Oakley......) But we avoided traffic but spent WAY too much time driving, not enough time sleeping, and TOO many passengers in the car were awake (to help keep the driver awake). GrRrR. LeSsOn LeArNed! GO straight to Oakley or South Summit High School next year! 

We slept outside in Oakley, and we were exhausted. It was dark & cold, but we wanted sleep. Rolled out our sleeping bags in a group and slept.....I only got a few hours of sleep. Woke to the pleasant sound of a car alarm going off in the parking lot. Thanks Idiot! Well, its 6am and I can't go back to sleep. Jimmy slept in the back seat of the suburban, so I worried about him, worried about if Van 2 is close or what......oh, and my toes were cold. Finally got up and moving, potty, food, & got Jimmy ready for his last run.

Here we go-Saturday morning ready to begin our last run in this CRAZY journey!

 Go Jimmy! This was a hard run for him. Blisters too, and just plain tired! But he did it. I was proud of him. At this point, its a mental & physical battle, and we really question what we are even doing! Crazy! We PAY money to do this....this isn't CHEAP! Charlotte goes, then its my turn. I had a beast of a run. I talked to Sarah on the phone, got a little emotional-can I blame fatigue? She said to me-'tell daddy to not give up' Good girl! Then I did my 7 mile UPHILL HARD run up the backside of Jordanelle Reservoir. It was getting hot, and I knew it was going to be hard. I was on the side of the road running. I took my time, walked a little more than I wanted. I did pass some people, but was passed by just as many people. There were some tough hills. You know its a steep climb when the cars get a passing lane for slow traffic making the climb  or when there are yellow 7% grade downhill signs for traffic the other direction. I even ran in my sports bra. I don't normally do this, but I was mentally weak, and thought this kept me cooler. I did NOT look good.....sorry for my teammates and other people that saw me...yes, I will always wear a shirt running! Yikes! But I did it. Happy to be done, but it was hard! I might have to run that leg again & do it better.  

 Two symbols of the Ragnar experience. Road signs for the runners, and rows of porta pottys! It was exciting when we got to the porta pottys after they had been cleaned out-pretty fresh pottys! Nice....What-we were tired if we got excited about that! 

 Lori completed her last run. Hot and tough for her. I gave her gum on her non-supported run, cause she needed something to distract her-so sure. I broke a rule but had my safety orange flag!! 

 Our van is almost done.....yipee!

 Go Jay!

 Ahh-we made it to Park City after Jay finished his run!

+1 more Ragnar post