I Did IT!!! Marathon Woman I am!

Lets just start with.....

I am the woman!!!!!!!!!!!! I DID it!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I really did scream that at the top of my lungs as I came in. So now that you know I finished it here is the long version for those who care... warning it is long. Special Shout out goes to Kristen Muierhead - without you this wouldn't have happened!

Now that we have that out of the way it was one heck of an experience!
3:50am Hit alarm, get dressed, get tag and chip secured, bathroom, grab banana
4:18am Load bussed, laugh at woman who wakes up early to shave legs before the race, eat banana, wake up slowly
4:50am Get to starting line, grab a garbage bag to use as a rain jacket becasue it is raining, go potty in the port of potty (not to bad yet... I got there early), stand around fire, take off extra clothes and get them into the U-haul truck- it is going to stop raining, right?
6:45am Race starts
7:00am See Mom and Randy Neilson pass me... have a great race... mom don't worry about me!
Now it changes from time to miles I don't know what time it is...
Mile 5... I feel great especially considering the furthest I've run this whole year is 7-8ish miles
Mile 7 I see the big hill.... I can do just don't push too hard... you have run this far walk the hill then keep running.
Mile 8 I'm still on the hill, lots of people are flying past me.
Mile 9 I really have to go to the bathroom but don't want to stop, it's probably just becasue I'm cold and completely wet ( running, walking, running, walking a lot!!! )
Mile 11 Stop to go potty ( gross!!!- I have wet hands and so has everyone else- imagine the toilet paper... I have no choice... maybe the bushes are a better idea)
Mile 13 This is a half marathon... I should just quite- I've never gone this far in my life... where is the next cop car? and if doesn't stop raining I will freeze, yes freeze probably to death.
Mile 15 I-pod shuffle dies...SAD!!! I will probably not make it and running is no longer an option without music.
Mile 17 Thank heavens for cliff bars... I love cliff for sponsoring the race! I have never seen more cups, GU wrappers and banana peels on the road.... EVER! this is not my first race just my first marathon ( later I realized the poor volenteers gave us all there garbage bags so they got to pick up by hand... normally they have people holding bags for you to dump in
Mile 18 Take of Garbabge Bag (its starting to chaff my arms) Meet lindsey... she let me stay with her untill mile 24-she wanted to run in... I did not :)
Mile 19 It stopps raining... don't worry the wind is still blowing just like the previous 18 miles. I love Icy Hot... shoulders please! ( I have this horrible habit of tightening my shoulders when I run
Mile 21 I've gotten this far I'm finishing even if I'm on all fours crossing that linel!!!
Mile 22 ran the whole mile
Mile 23 bless these Aid Station people for wating for me for so long It's not 5+ hours after the race started
Mile 25 are you sure we aren't there yet?
Mile 26 See Family .... still have .2 miles to go, they cheer! I start to run the last part
Finish Line: priceless... okay not very eventfull except for the lady who gives me the medal gives me a awequardly long hug... thanks- i think?!?

After a marathon... the real story:

What nobody ever talks about it how you can't move... sitting is a problem, moving is a problem. I was so tired I almost started to cry, you know when kids get real tired and are fighting it they cry then they sleep thats what I wanted to do. Naucious, Yea... so I didn't eat anything for the last few miles and I should have becasue I finished and wanted to throw up/ I did start blacking out. Eat... you'll feel better- not just a little better a LOT better! Please whatever you do don't touch me- I just ran/ walked 26.2 mile... that is really far!

Would I do it again: for the first 12 hours after I said no. Now I say yes! I want to beet my more than pathetic time that isn't gettting posted on this blog... at leased not yet ( still to proud) I am also still sick and the rain/wind/bitterly cold thing really does a number on your muscles- I think just getting rid of that alone would've made for a better time. Over all thrilled that I did it- If I can do it you can do it.

Sorry so long.... this is one of those life events that I will tell people about and becasue this is my journal... you got all of it!

girding up my loins....

So I've always wanted to do a marathon but have never really gotten skinny enough to really train so I've done my 10 k's and been a happy camper. But this summer I've done some pretty incredible things for a fat person.... hiked Mt. Timp, did a 50 mile bike ride and have worked out for several hours several times a week but that is no Marathon (26.2 miles)!!! There is an extra tag- so I'm just going to do it. There is no time to train when it is 4 days away so it should be real adventure. I'm actually really excited. I'll probably cross the line right after the 80-90 year old who are also in the not so skinny category but I figure when I finish I can say I did a Marathon... how many of you can say that? So here I come St. George, watch out!

I also had great interviews today with a really exciting interview scheduled tomorrow- pray HARD!!!! It's at 5 pm at Close to my Heart (it's a scrapbook company looking for a event manager- my dream job!) I also will be at the job fair at BYU all day tomorrow- the recruiters will love me:) One day I will have a job. Hopefully soon.

Kelli Schwartz West is the WOMAN! She ran so far today - further then she has run in a long time, maybe ever. She is such a trooper to go with me in the early morning in the dark. Did I mention she is probably the bestest friend anyone could ever have- she lets me go to job fairs and interviews while she is left all by herself to hoards of people who all love her, her wraps and smoothies... Love you woman!!!

TV conflict... life is hard!

Me and mom rode up the canyon this morning... to see pictures see her blog. Leaves are AMAZING!!! I want the huge zit on my face to go away and then to do take pics at the old train car at Vivian park. Still saving the world one smoothie at a time so yea, no job yet. Although good news is that I'm soon going to get unemployment so that will help. Thanks everyone for paying your taxes.... therefor me right now :) If you would like to pay less in taxes you could find me a job. I'm applying like crazy and not hearing back from very many and not getting any real offers.

P.S.

TV season has started!

There is one problem... what to do on Thurs nights? There is Grey's Anatomy, Survivor and The Office on all at the same time... torture. Thank heaven's for DVR's (Tivo) and them being available for viewing online the next day.

GO COUGARS!!!!

I got a very happy text this morning. Emily asked me if I needed a ticket and I said, heck yes! I got to sit with her on the front row right behind the players... HEAVEN!!! She just got engaged to one of the upcoming quarterbacks- Steven Covey (the grandson). So after we waited and I got to see many of the players up close and personal. Thrilled to have an "in" with the team now. Emily has so kindly agreed to set me up. Love, Love, Love you Em!!! Great day!

All is well.

Yesterday I went on a bike ride and loved being outside so much I found a project outside. It was beautiful... I wish the weather could be like that all year round. It was warm enough to be in short sleeves but not hot enough to be uncomfortable. The yard this year is so pretty I've loved being outside as much as I can since I moved home. While cutting down dead flowers and pulling weeds I listened to the scriptures on my I-pod. I was listening in 3 Nephi when I heard the following....

3 Nephi 13:25-34:

25 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the ^atwelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to ^bminister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, ^ctake no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than ^draiment?

26 Behold the ^afowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the ^alilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But ^aseek ye first the ^bkingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. ^aSufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

I took great comfort and had renewed faith as I heard these words ring truth to my soul. He is aware of us and will take care of us as we first seek the kingdom of God.

Did I mention how much I LOVE this thing... deep LOVE!!!! Thank you Apple!!!!


So, no... I do not have a job yet. I am heavily pursuing an events/marketing position or a pharmaceutical sales job. The Lord has a plan for me and something will come exactly at the right time. Until then I'm really enjoying being home. The boys are so funny and they all have such fun personalities. We aren't sleeping very much- late night movies, lots of friends over way late, midnight snacks, cookie making and x-box playing. I've loved family dinners and just being around a bunch of people who you know love you. Mom has been so kind and let me take her future sowing room.... soon mom, soon you can have it back :) To fill my time I'm working a few hours at a local Smoothie shop called Juice Press. So I keep telling people that I'm saving the world one smoothie at a time. It's been really fun since I get to work with a great friend (Kelli) from high school- she's even been working out with me- love her so big for that!!! It's great to finally have a workout partner.

parents....

lets see how long it takes before they look at my blog...... :) check out this site on pics. So fun and take 5 seconds. Way too much fun. Love ya parents!

Hiking Timp... I survived!

We left the parking lot at 12:45 am and we got back to the parking lot at 10:00am. No sleep and 18 miles later.... Tired, Hungry, and thrilled to look up and say... I've been there! So fun to have Kristin along... we love you!!!