Half Marathon Memories

I don't have my pictures right handy, I  will add them later, I just had to get out my experience before it fades into my not so good memory. 
The half marathon I have trained for the last 3 months finally arrived on Memorial Day and it was a perfect day. No rain, wind, it wasn't freezing or too hot.  Honestly couldn't have asked for better weather which was very rewarding after training 3 months in one of the wettest, coolest springs in a while, we ran many a run in snow, sleet, wind, rain, cold and only a couple in heat. 
When I say we, I mean my running girls.  Danielle and Linnell.   Both of these girls came to my exercise group in the winter when I started contemplating the training and they both decided to join me.  Neither had done it before but I convinced them it was doable.  We didn't always run everytime together, just as our schedules would allow, but I usually ran with one or the other every week. 
Having someone depending on you was a great motivating factor to getting all the runs in.  I noticed I ran better with someone with me, and didn't talk myself out of finishing the run when they were with me during training.  It was also great to get some consistent women time in, which is a very important factor in my well-being. 
One last thing I must tell you is how supportive Nate was for this training, he would get off work early, put off going out to the farm, take the kids with him out to the farm, and even stay at the house until 9 am ON A SATURDAY.(A very big deal) while I did my long runs.  I really appreciated it. 

So back to the race:
We all drove together to the race and got there at 6:15 ish, and the race started at 6:45 am. Not nearly enough time to get all the way ready, I didn't even get to warm up, but that wasn't as big a deal as it would've for a short fast run. My nerves were pretty well in check, everything felt ok.  I had trained with shin splints, but I wrapped them so much there was no chance for them to hurt.  I was just happy to be there. 

I was tying my shoes when the race started, my running partners were like:get up Charity the race has started!  So off we went and even though it felt like we were hardly moving I had a Garmin watch that tells you your pace and miles and fancy stuff, and we pretty much stayed under 10 min miles for the first 4 miles and then the low 10's for the next 3.  It was the fastest we had run ever and I was starting to get some hip pain, by mile 7 it had progressed to shooting pains down my leg from my hip socket.  I knew I needed to slow the pace down, not for my endurance or fatigue  but just for the pain in the hip.  My girls didn't want to leave me but I wanted them for sure to have the best race they could for themselves and sent them ahead. 

It was difficult to keep myself at a good pace and not hurt my hip, but the watch helped.  I kept singing zipidee doo dah in my head, and my old trusty classical piano recital piece that has stuck with me and I've used for many races.  I never hit the wall so to speak and felt good the whole time, the last couple miles got boring so I ran interval speeds to break it up, and it helped.  I did get to see Nate's parents who waved from their suburban on mile 12 and that picked things up for me.  Danielle called at mile 12.5 to see where I was and that helped too.

 I finished not quite as strong as I wished, but I couldn't get my legs to go along with my heart. It was great to see my husband and kids and Susan and Eldon and my running partners and their families.  It was so rewarding to finish a goal and strengthen friendships and feel so healthy.  I had lost 23 lbs in the process of training and changing my diet and it felt great.

I wanted to run this race to jumpstart a new lifestyle and it worked.  I have many other goals now that I wouldn't have imagined setting before this, it really is amazing how working hard to achieve a goal can help change your paradigm.

If you'd like to read this experience from my running partner Linnell's perspective, (who's humor and insight is quite refreshing) check out her entry on her blog: http://fowersfive.blogspot.com/2010/05/131-lessons-learned-today.html

A Trip to Idaho

This is how my trip starts, with a sunset in Ammon, Idaho.

Where my parents live, up in the hills, with beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and I got to enjoy both. 

I like to travel at night because the kids travel so much better. 

This trip is to bring my baby supplies up to my brother Josh and his wife Rachel who are expecting their first baby, a boy.  I won't be using them anytime soon, if at all anymore, and they are of better use with them, than in the shed.

In the morning Grandpa decides Snack J and Sissy Sue are old enough to flip Flap Jacks.

This photo is hilarious: It's the fascination on the boys' faces as Dad blows his nose.  Grandpa totally ate it up.  He then showed the boys how the hair that stopped growing on his head is now growing out of his ears.  Snack J actually tugged on some of it....EWWWW!

Yes I finally made it to the baby shower.  Sissy Sue came with me, and my sister Elisabeth watched the boys. She also ran 5 miles with me that morning, we ran up 21st street! It's quite an incline. 

So anyway,,,This is Rachel, my newest sister in law, who I went to Hawaii to see marry my brother last June.  It's been quite and eventful year! Check out my blogs of their wedding, it was the first time I had ever blogged.

Who are they looking at? Guess who just walked in....

Oh, look!  It's Josh, just arrived back from signing on with the Army! Rachel announces to the group their family's newest adventure and her grandma replys how proud they are of Josh providing for his family and serving the country.  Well said, Grandma!

Isn't this hand pieced quilt by Rachel's mom adorable!

Her mom was overcome with joy with the anticipation of the first grandchild.

I loved the decor: Nests with brown eggs all over the house.

It was well worth the trip, I'm glad I was able to make it. 

Sissy Sue and I stopped in Rexburg, my old stopping grounds to see the new temple.  So breathtaking.

It was getting dark, but Sissy Sue jumped out for a photo for me.

I planned on getting right back on the highway after driving past the temple but I "got lost", and ended up on the street the I used to pound day after day on the Ricks College Campus. 

This sign has changed however...:o) new name.) I had to get a picture of Sissy Sue here, I'm hoping to be able to use it as a before/after picture in 13 years...Nate would just DIE.

Baby C had a hard time falling asleep in his different bed in Idaho, I was only able to get him to settle down when I found the ball he kept asking for. He snuggled up to this ball like you would a teddy bear.  Cute boy.