Reality

On my 2nd run, of the day, today I was brought back to reality.

This week, and for the last little bit I was thinking I am a good runner. I am good at weight lifting.  I am a great athlete. I've been a competitor for a long time, and done quite a variety of sports. This mornings run was freezing cold, but I felt great. No watch, no GPS just me and my Vibrams (and clothes of coarse) out for a run. It was awesome. After class today I decided to go for another, I didn't get quite enough in this morning. I was craving a little more. 

So, after getting home I got ready for my run. While I was getting ready I was thinking about things I wish I had done in my life up to this point. One of my thoughts was that I wish I would have run Cross Country in College.  You know, I was feeling I was good enough to actually do it. My last couple of half marathons I had either gotten 2nd or 1st place, so yeah that means I am good right? 

Well, while on this run, it was short, but my knees hurt a little so I switched up my running style and felt better. As I was on the last mile and a half stretch back home I was feeling real good. I hit a light about a mile from home and behind me comes two U of U cross country runners (you could just tell). When the light turns green we go, and they just bound ahead. Yeah I expect them to be fast, but it made me realize how slow I am. 

I did catch up to them at the next light, which made me feel awkward. Here they were in a t-shirt and short shorts, and there I was in a black long sleeve shirt with gloves, and running tights I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb! 

Oh wow, my dreams were crushed in those few minutes between lights (just with in a mile). 

I realized that I am just an average person. Just someone who is obsessed with running. Being obsessed don't mean you are good, it just means you really like it. I thought that because I work at Salt Lake Running Co it actually made me a good runner, but unfortunately it doesn't. It just means that I live running. 

Just because I am a pacer for the Halloween Half this weekend doesn't mean I am a good runner, it just means I got lucky to know the person who was in charge.

Reality is that I am just average. I am not a fast runner, I can just go long distances. I am never going to be a College athlete. I will always just be someone that likes to work out and who will always be asked the question "Are you a runner?" Instead of them recognizing that I am a runner by looking at me, and the fact that I do work at Salt Lake Running Co. 

I will always wish that I could be good, or awesome at something., but until I one day actually achieve that I will be out on the road chasing it down. 

Fall Update

This school year has been crazy. It's such a fabulously exciting time or year as well as life in general. Nathan is applying for Graduate School for next fall, awaiting his GRE score, and is still working hard in the Trede Lab at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He is busy, but having a great time, and learning a lot through his work. He is doing so much valuable work not only for the things they are researching and discovering, but also for his own skills and talent in that area of research.

As for me, I am in school, half way through my second to last semester of my undergraduate degree. Oh, how I enjoy saying that. I am just so eager to get this chapter done with. I am taking 6 classes to help me to hurry and finish, they are all so interesting, exciting and I am learning a lot. One thing I really like about being at the end is that my classes tend to overlap, it's a great reminder of the things I am learning and allows me to really get it instilled in my brain. Along with my classes I am still working at Salt Lake Running Co, I don't say that negatively, I really do love my job there. I like that I can feel I am making a difference in some peoples lives, and just how much I am learning about running, proper nutrition, injury prevention, and good training. I do love what I do. I also recently got an internship at Orriant, a corporate wellness company. They go to other companies and offer them wellness programs for their employees, to decrease their cost of health insurance, well as work to improve health and moral in the companies. I am going to be working on their Coach Training program and helping to write and publish a Coaching Handbook/Workbook. I will also help write next years Newsletters on different health topics. It's really going to challenge me, and challenge my writing skills, but I am so excited for this opportunity. This is going to work me hard during this already busy time, but it's goint to be amazing!

This year has been surprising to say the least, but super exciting. I love it.

General Conference Part 2

    Since I had wrote about my excitement for conference this weekend I thought I would write about what was experienced. No, I am not going to write about every talk or even every talk that I really enjoyed because that would take me way too long, and I do need to get back to studying for my tests.

   I will start off by saying wow! What a fabulous weekend that was. Seriously, I was thinking about this, when I was younger conference weekend was so boring, and so long. It was fun to sleep all day and play games, but I never really understood much from the talks, unless the Primary General Pres. would speak to the primary kids and would get my attention. While in high school and junior high, I was starting to like it, but again those weekends were just so long. Now the weekend just goes by way too quickly. I was disapointed upon the conclusion of the conference. Man, I have to wait a whole 6 months for this again. It's going to take forever! Oh well, at least we have the Ensign as well as the opportunity to go back through to listen and read the talks from this session.

   I noticed most of the talks quoted or mentioned "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." This is such a simple, and easy to remember scripture, but honestly I needed that reminder from all who said it. The theme I noticed from Oct 2011 Conference was to Pray, Trust in the Lord, and Follow His will. "Thy will not mine be done". What an inspired conference this was. So many wonderful talks, and reminders that I do need to pray more fervently, and not only just pray, but I need to get up and do. I also need to show more gratitude in my prayers, and ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings always. Scripture study is essential, not just reading it, but studying, pondering and praying about the messages.

   I will say I am so grateful for our Prophet Pres. Monson. He is such a wonderful example. All of our General Authorities are such great examples to us. I know they were all inspired for the talks they gave. I did recieve some answers, some I have a long way to go on, but I do have that reminder of having Faith and Trust in the Lord and through Him anything is possible. I know this is the true church. I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My hope and prayer is that I can be a better example, that I can be more patient with myself and my life, and that I can better myself always.

I am now so excited for April. It's going to be great. Until then I will be working on bettering my patience and faith.

General Conference

I am so excited for this weekend! I absolutely love General Conference, not just because I don't have to get dressed up and go to church, but because it's the kind of jump start I need every six months when I start to get lost in life. Right now you'd think that being in the middle of classes for the semester and busy taking tests starting projects and so forth I'd have no reason to be "lost". Well, I am. I am really needing the rejuvenation I get from Conference. We are so so blessed to have a latter day prophet and apostles to give us instruction and guidance. I hope that we can all gain a lot this weekend, I know I am in much need of it.

P.S tip of the day, don't take pills on an empty stomach, ugh it kills.

Ultra Running

An ultramarathon (also called ultra distance) is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres (26.2188 mi).

There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time (with the winner covering the most distance in that time). The most common distances are 50 kilometres (31.069 mi), 100 kilometres (62.137 mi), 50 miles (80.467 km) and 100 miles (160.934 km), although many races have other distances. (Wikipedia, Ultramarathon, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon)


Now that you know what an ultra marathon is, I want to explain why I am sharing this. For several years now I have thought about doing an ultra marathon. When I was toying with the idea of exactly what it was, as well as the thought of doing it I had not yet done a 26.2 marathon, so I think I was officially crazy. But, now that I have done 3, 26.2 marathons to date as well as 5 half's I think I am totally ready to start to embark on this adventure to train for such an event. To clarify I would not jump into doing 100 milers just yet, give me time to build up my craziness. 


Besides just an ultra marathon, I would still like to do an IronMan. Yes, as I noted before I am crazy, but I just LOVE endurance sports. These two are the ultimate endurance sports!! There is the St. George IronMan in May, what an awesome month that would be to become a college graduate and an IronWoman!!! 


Now, that I've proposed my thoughts, just explained a little of what they are, and why. Here's my limitation. Since I am half machine half person it's not the training or the event itself will be hard, it will be the cost, and coming up with the funds for them. So, like any extravegant plan or trip I think I am going to start a change jar and when I find extra change I am going to put it toward my two events rather than buys protein bars with it (which I have been doing, since we are out currently). 


I am SO excited with this new endeavor, and the small plan I am devising to complete it. The next step is to formulate out my training plans so that I can be ready at any moment to compete, and to also help keep my sanity during these last two semesters of school. 


I am SO SO excited about this, whose with me?? :) 

Fall IS Here

Let me just tell you. This summer went SO fast! I really don't know where it went, but it's gone. Unfortunately...

Fall is now upon us and there is a lot going on to keep me busy, and try to stay out of trouble. I am in school this fall, as a continuation of Summer Semester (which I took 5 classes), I am taking 6 classes. And no NONE of them are work out classes believe it or not! They are all required classes for my major. Some are interesting, others eh, they have the potential to be. I am also working at Salt Lake Running Co, which has been such an awesome job. I get to meet so many different people, hear a lot of crazy stories, as well as help and encourage so many others. I really to feel like I can make some sort of difference. I may have said before, but it feels good putting all my running and triathlon knowledge to good use (it doesn't feel so useless anymore).

Nathan is still in his lab, getting paid a little bit, but he is in search of another job currently. Had an interview today, so there is hope yet. GRE is done, now it's time to research a list of schools to apply to, and it is going to be a long list this year. I am excited and nervous to go through this all over again. Nathan is also our wards EQ presidents, that is helping to keep him a little busy. And I am STILL in my same calling as Gospel Doctrine Instructor, although this last Sunday I taught and the lesson actually felt really good, and went real smoothly. We will see what happens with that.

I am looking for internships right now as well, wanting more experience within the field of Health Promotion and Education. I am going to an interview process thing on Sept 22, I am excited and nervous. I've got to go over my resume and spice it up to make me look more appealing.

Nothing else really going on. We are kinda, okay, really boring. We are still in the same cinder-block apartment, that's too small for us. It won't be changing for a while. It will have to do for now.

Until next time, I will be studying and running.

60 days of Insanity

Okay, it's been 60 days. Before you scroll down to the photos, bare with me as I explain my experience(s)

The Diet: Absolutely the most important thing. 40% of your diet is protein, 40% is carbs, and 20% is fats. No sweets! Sugars you can get from fruits. When I snacked, I snacked on nuts (which are fats and protein). I usually only ate fruit in the mornings to give me energy. I ate a lot of peanut butter, meat, eggs, beans, rice, protein shakes and bars (the bars had to have more protein then sugar). I drank water, a lot of water, water is need to absorb protein.

The Work Out: Insanity's goal is to make you lean and build cardio therefore I began every work out with a mile run and then did the work outs. I also played soccer (indoor and out) and softball once. The work outs were fine but the back up work out-ers were soo annoying!

Other Goals: I lost 23 pounds! 186 to 163.
My mile time went from 9:47 to 6:55
My waist went from 34-35 to 32
Clothes fit a lot better.

Anyway no cool video to showcase my metamorphosis, but if i did i would put on the song "highway to the danger zone"