Ogden Marathon 2015

It has been almost a month since I ran the Ogden Marathon and I think I might finally be recovered enough to tell the story.  Broadbents often get teased for making their stories way too long  So if you want the short version, here it is - it was cold, and wet, and miserable and I fell apart physically and mentally.  If you want the full details, read on....

Let's start with the best part of the race, everything before the race.  Friday afternoon Jesse and I headed up to Ogden and to the race expo.  It was fun to have a little mini girls trip even if the only shopping we did was just for race gear.

After the expo we headed to Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner.  Erika was sweet and had reserved us a booth so we could walk right in and eat.  We were feeling pretty loaded with carbs when she showed up with the most amazing cookie and ice cream, it was even better than it looks.  Once we finished Erika wished us luck and we were off to Wal Mart for a few last minute purchases.  

We arrived at the hotel and started the pre-race nesting.  The weather was set to be bad/unpredictable so that made it even tougher to decide what to pack.  After a lot of organizing and fretting, I finally decided there was nothing more that could be done.  We were chatting with Sean about the preparations and had to send him a shot of the race shirt.  It was extra fancy because it was the ten year anniversary of the race. Nothing like a little hotel selfie.

Jessica is one of the few people I know that is even grumpier than me in the morning - lucky no one else was with us.  We got up and dressed and took a picture to send to everyone so they would know what to look for at the finish.  Honestly I was hoping we would be tank tops by the time we got to that point.  Ha!  Talk about wishful thinking.

We made it to the top and thanks to our $2 Wal Mart blankets, we were warm and comfortable.  Little did we know that it was actually the best weather we would have for the entire day.  Going into the race, both Jess and I were pretty apprehensive.  Because of school and finals she had not got in a lot of her long runs and was pretty under trained. I technically did all of my runs, but a lot of them were pretty sad.  I have had a really hard time in the past year being able to get any type of speed back so my runs feel like they take forever.  I also feel like I have lost a lot of my drive/mojo.  It took a lot of convincing most days to get out the door.  None of this gave me a lot of confidence leading up to the race, but I want to get back to "me" so I just keep running.  Oh and one more minor detail, I pulled my hamstring about two weeks before the race - tripped while running down the trail.  I went to the physical therapist almost daily and got it a little under control, but it was still tight and painful and I couldn't imagine that running a marathon would make it much better.    

The gun went off, we told each other good luck, and we were off.  The first mile or two were great.  It is always exciting to get started and I was ready to just get moving.  Unfortunately, I only made it a few miles before things started to go downhill - and not in a good way.  When the rain started at about mile two, it was a slight sprinkle and didn't seem too bad.  I was concerned though about my legs - they felt super tired and I could tell this wasn't going to be a great running day.  Within a few miles it started to pour, the temperature dropped and the wind picked up.  I put my hood up, my head down, and just settled in to try to survive the rest of the run.  It was really quite miserable and I kept trying to remind myself that I was lucky to have the  chance to run, no matter the conditions.  For most of the miles I wasn't too convinced.  

After most races I have a pretty clear memory of the mile markers, the experiences, the music I heard, etc.  Honestly, this entire race is kind of a blur.  I just know it was hard and took everything I had to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  The only song I remember that came on was "Madness" because it seemed so appropriate.  I do remember a spot at about the 20 mile mark where the wind was blowing the rain in my face and I got so discouraged that I actually stopped and allowed myself a little cry.  There were no tears to wipe because I was already wet, so after a minute of feeling sorry for myself, I decided I better get moving again.  Somehow having a cry helped a little.  

By far the best memory of the race was at about mile 22.  Tim had told me he would try to be close to where the race moves onto the running path.  As I got closer, I thought it was unlikely he would be there since he had the babies and the rain was so bad.  I kept trying to mentally prepared myself for him not to be there because I wasn't sure I could handle the disappointment.  But I should have known that he would make it.  When I came around a corner and saw Tim running to me, I decided that everything would be ok and I would probably make it.  It was so sweet to see my babies and be reminded of all the support that I have.  It really was the best.  

With about a mile left Tim found me again and then my dad joined the party.  We were quite the procession down the stretch but I wouldn't have had it any other way.  

Jessica finished before me and clearly was excited to make it to the finish.  I really was so proud of us for finishing such a tough race.  My time was awful, 5:30, my worst time ever, but I feel like one of my proudest finishes.  

After any race I really appreciate anyone who comes to support me, but showing up to this race took serious dedication  I couldn't believe my family and Tim's parents that suffered through the rain to watch me finish.  I'm pretty sure they should have been the ones to receive a medal.

So, a month later I have finally dried out and warmed up.  I took a few weeks off of running - more than normal but I definitely needed it.  I am still struggling with my hamstring but I will keep stretching and doing my PT exercises and hopefully get it back to normal.  Just six months till St. George Marathon.

Ride Little Red 2015

Last Saturday I got to spend the day riding my bike through Cache Valley with a few thousand friends.  I first rode Little Red Riding Hood in 2009 with Kristina, Susan and Aislinn, it was our version of a bachelorette party. I was hooked and in between weddings and babies, I have been back to ride a few more times.  I had been super excited about the ride, but really had very little time on my bike because we have had so much rain.  I knew that I could definitely make it through the ride, but was a little nervous of how I might feel after.  This year was fun because we had a bigger group.  my mom planned to ride the 50 route, and the rest of us, Jami, Gina, Adrianne, Kami, and Jordan, planned to ride the full 100 route.

The ride has a complete party atmosphere, starting with the night before.  We showed up early to the park to shop and watch the entertainment.  This year we decided to eat dinner at the event, a chuckwagon dinner to go along with the theme.  It was no bueno, the one flaw in the event.  Next year we will make the trek back to town for something a little more race appropriate.  Otherwise, the night was really fun, plenty of music and great people watching.

We spent the night in a cabin that overlooked the valley, then headed out early to get our bikes ready and everything organized.  Before a running race I am always super nervous and antsy.  Biking tours have such a different vibe, it was fun to be with everyone and I was just excited to get going.

We started off smoothly - no one fell which is always the biggest worry when you start with a large group.  The only real complication in the day came a few miles into the ride when one of my bike chaps (yes, I did stick chaps on my bike to go with the theme) came unstuck and got caught in my spokes. Unfortunately it caught the magnet receiver to my computer  and it ended up in pieces on the road, leaving me without a way to see my speed, mileage, etc.  I was a little worried that it might be a bad omen, but really the ride could not have been better.  We rode as a group and really worked well together, everyone took turns pulling from the front.  The real money spot though was riding behind Gina since she was riding with her sweet speaker.  Every time Pandora kicked in it was like a little magic boost.   That and the aid stations/lunch.  We all decided that we probably consumed more calories than we burned with all the food they had available.

It was a little bonus to see my cousin Suzi at lunch.

The miles really flew by and there were only a few times where it felt really tough - killer hill at mile 88, I'm looking at you.  We avoided the rain and all made it back injury free and smiling.  We met up with my mom who did much better than expected and had a great time on her ride.  Really, the day was practically perfect.  Giddy up and ride on!

May, 2015

May passed in a rainstorm.  Seriously!  It was  weird spring because of the weather, but there was still plenty to enjoy.

Tim continue his love affair with his jeep, 

We love living so close to the lake

We spent about a week getting the kids excited to go to Lagoon.  Ada had a clogging competition and we were excited to let the babies experience the rides.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't quite cooperate.  I ended up going to watch some of the competition while Tim took the kids to be entertained with Erika and Clark.  On the way home we stopped at Cabellas - almost as entertaining as Lagoons.

The rain did dry out occasionally

So we could spend some time outside.

We were blessed to take a tour of the Payson Temple.  It has been so fun to see the temple being built in an area that is home to me.  I was worried about taking the kids but they actually did great, Luke especially loved going inside of the temple.  It was really a fantastic experience to be there with so many members of my family.  

My favorite shot!

He was so excited to see Jesus.

Two toddlers in a hotel room is a little wild,

But snuggling on daddy's lap is always the best.

After having such a great experience at the Payson Temple, we decided to stop at Temple Square. Luke was super impressed by how big this temple was.  I have been to Temple Square so many times, but experiencing it with my babies made it the best visit ever.  

Some of my very favorite people on Memorial Day

The babies have discovered the thrill of counting their money.

Taylor is such a good sport to let Ruby "help" with his homework.

A little impromptu photo shoot in Jami's backyard

Brycen and Tim spent the afternoon at Mueller Park in Bountiful.  

Tim must have caught the hiking bug because the next day

He and Taylor hiked to the Hot Pots