Bloggin' from afar

I'm trying something new out, so this is technically a test. If it works you won't be able to shut me up. I've programmed my phone to be able to blog from. Cool huh?

Amazing!!!!

Race Day!!!

Wow! I didn't think this day would EVER come! But once it did, I had to keep calm and not get giddy like a school girl. I was excited in a non-competitive way. I got a phone call yesterday morning from Angela (sister) asking if her and Tom (brother) could come down and "cheer me on"? Of course!!!! How cool of them to even WANT to do that. Then I got to thinking...and then asked, "are you running it too!?" "We're coming to cheer you on." After a lot of dancing around the question and not coming right out and saying yes or no, I was convinced that they would run it too. AWESOME!

It wasn't until we went to pick up mine and my dad's running "packet" at the mall, that Tom then gave his name and got his packet as well. I KNEW IT! Sneaky aren't they? And then Ang disappeared to register. She decided she wanted to run it too... THAT MORNING. No she hadn't trained in any sort of way. The only running that she's done is from patient to patient at work. We'll get to her results later.

So those of you who follow me on facebook, THAT was my surprise.

We start out by having a BIG noodle and meaty dinner the night before. Stocking up on carbs and protein while consuming rediculous amounts of water. (Thanks to the "professional's" advice, Alisha, who did awesome on her 10K this morning as well. Looking forward to those pics!)

See? We did eat it.

every last bite!

...almost! (excuse me for a sec. while I go kiss that cheek!)

Which brings us to race day. After a very restless night. (Dylan was awake from 4 to 5:30am.) 6:30 came REALLY fast after that. We got everyone ready and headed out. Of course you join the mass of runners, and start stretching. Some even getting group shots.

Uhh Dad? group photo?

Ok, stretch... then pose.

Mixing business with pleasure. (If you want to call this pleasure)

There we go, much better group shot!

Thanks to grandma for keeping and eye (or more) on all these monkeys while we skidaddled on down the road.

GUNSHOT!

and the crowd slowly begins to move forward

we make our way to the starting line and then book it! (Ok, not really. You can't. Too many people crowded still.)

See you later! (I hope)

Ok...brief tangent here.

Tom is an excellent runner. Always has been since high school track. He decided a week ago that he was going to do this. Saturday was the first day of running for his "training" after a 3 year break. He, for some odd reason but VERY grateful he did, decided to stay by my side the entire race. I can't tell you what that meant to me. He could've easily breezed on up to the front of this pack and been done within seconds. (ok, not really but still...) Everytime I started to walk...he said, "keep going. Don't stop." After about 2 miles, I finally said, "Tom, just tell me to shut up and run." SO...He did! And I kept whining. You're awesome Tom. THANK YOU!

Ok, back to the race. Finishing in order of appearance.

Dad. with a time of 29:20

A look that I have found to be consistent through the rest of us.

And then we get happy.

Next in line and tired as heck...Angela with a time of 30:33

AND...she's happy again. Love this pic. Sorry it's so dark.

Tom is the only one that doesn't make that face...

Tom's time 34:59

Mine 34:56 (NOT 45 MINUTES! Thank you again, Tom!)

Okay, yes he does make that face. It just takes a min.

Checking results

Dad placed 3rd in his age division. HOW COOL IS THAT!? (I knew he would. ;o)

And we are Through. Finished. Complete. DONE. Over with.

Thoughts:

* Apparently, you DON'T need to train in any sort of way to run a 5k but still get a good time. Thanks anyways for listening to my whines, complaints, and "issues" during the past 3 weeks.

* This was the first time I actually accomplished something in my lifetime that I'm (personally) proud of myself for completing.

* I WILL run again. Even after running today.

* The best support you can ever get, are from those closest to you. Even if they're a couple thousand miles away.

*God bless the water people at mile marker 1 1/2!

* I think I (with Alisha's help) turned this family into that of a running team.

* As we were finishing, the marathoners were finishing as well. They are my heros today. To go through 3 hrs (avg.) of running. I'll cheer you on no matter what! PROMISE!

* I'm kind of sad to end this chapter (via blogging) in my life. But for those of you considering doing this somewhere else. DO IT! You'll NEVER regret it!

xox

audrey

Well wishes to Dad.

Since dad doesn't have his own blog to post how he's been doing with the running and feelings about the race. I'm going to open up this post for any of you who want to say "good luck" to him. He does read my blog and this would be fun for him to get personal messages from you all.

The floor is now yours.

Day 13 of training OR

...more approprietly less than 48 hours till race time.

I've done all I can do as far as "training" so because I kind of screwed up with days. (Should've ran today, but I ran yesterday) I'm going to go on a brisk walk and visit the ol' Chiropractor then just "chill" till they start the race saturday morning. I don't want to keep pushing myself because I don't need to be in so much pain come race day that I barely make it to the finish to watch my dad get his award for winning in his age group. ;o)

I ran 2 miles yesterday. The previous day of 3 was just crappy. No need for the repeat. The memory is burned into my mind.

Now you may be wondering why the chiropractor visit... One of my ankles feels out of place and so the other decided to join as well. AND because I want to make sure that everything is where it needs to be so that I can knock it all out again on "THE day". Kinda like building a tower with blocks JUST to see it come crashing down.

As like you, I'm sure, I am excited to see myself in such a pathetic state through digital imaging. And IF I can get my mom to put her camera down for two seconds and use my own to document this final stretch of a journey I so ignorantly started.

Thoughts:
* How do you "prepare" for rain? I'm going to get wet regardless, so I'll just wear what I've been wearing this whole time. Temp is suppose to be nice.
* Kind of nervous about running a "new route". With where I run now, I know where I've been and what I still have left to do. (but as Alisha so nicely informed me...they'll have signs up to tell me how far I've gone.)
* Let us all pray that Dad can get the time off to come run this race. HE needs to run it!!! Cause he's totally going to ROCK! Proud of you dad! Seriously!
* This is going to be fun! If people pass me...I will just hold my hand up in a friendly Hi. And then a nice thumbs up as they lap me again. (It's a loop kind of a route.)
* I WILL keep running after all is said and done, but maybe just not as frequently as I have been doing. And I think I want to run another 5k down the road. (there I go again, making decisions before I know what I'm talking about.)

I'll probably not post anything "running" related till after the race.
Wish me luck!

Let's get back to the pictures.

I'm taking a break from the "training" so we can see what my monkey's have been up to.

We went for a hike/walk around Silver lake in Big cottonwood canyon 2 sundays ago. It was nice when we left but yucky/cloudy when we got there. Good thing I had a bunch of jackets and sweaters that had been left in the car from who knows when.

It became obvious that the snow was STILL melting and buds on trees and bushes were just starting to come forth. As you can imagine...it made for an interesting 'walk'. A lot of the way, Jared and I were carrying the stroller with dylan in it, over large mounds of compacted snow. Our choice in flip flops wasn't the brightest.

Anywho....there was a lot of wildlife, perhaps just waking up from their long winter nap... and quite friendly as well. At least the chipmunks and squirrels were. BTW...they like rice crispy treats.

Anybody want to inforce THIS tresspassing violation?

Fat little sucker, isn't he? (we were just contributing to his one year food storage supply. You're welcome!)

I had a REALLY hard time peeling Dylan away from these silly ducks.

A face that will never get old to me!