Top of Utah Half Marathon 2011

I would officially call myself a "runner" now for 2 years.  I ran my first half marathon June 13, 2009 up at Bear Lake.  Peer pressures usually conjures up negative emotions and thoughts...but in this case, its what unlocked the runner inside.  Along with 6 other friends, I signed up for and trained for the Bear Lake Half Marathon.  The whole experience surprised me.  I had never enjoyed running...never aspired to be a runner...and definitely never thought I would PAY to run.  However, some of my closest friends all set a goal to run a half marathon...something none of them had ever done.  Since I would be running with a bunch of "non-runners" I figured I would give it a try.  I remember how each day was an accomplishment.  Up until that point I had never run more than 5 miles at any one time.  The first few weeks of training were painful, yet exhilarating.  I ran 2 miles, then 5 miles, and then I broke my record and ran 7 miles.  Each week as I added on miles my legs and hips would scream in protest, but I surprised myself that I could do it.  I could run 9 miles without stopping and it was something I was proud of.   Most training schedules I reviewed before the race suggested running only 12 miles before the race.  Since I was not too knowledgeable about the secrets of long distance running I followed that advice.  I went from running 1 mile to 12 miles in 6 weeks.  As I said, I didn't know much about running and should have trained a little longer...

The night before the race I stayed at a cabin with my friends about 40 minutes away from Bear Lake.  We all made sure to go to bed fairly early so we would not be tired the next morning.  The next morning is something I will never forget. :)  Everyone seemed to have the same fear of sleeping through the race...so from 5 am-5:45 am we had alarms going off every 5 minutes.  We had to be at the starting line at 7:00 am.  The Bear Lake Half Marathon was still fairly new, but still attracted quite a few runners.  The course has a nice even terrain around the lake...until the last 5 miles which had a slight incline into Garden City.  It was overcast that day and drizzled occasionally.  It was PERFECT running weather.  My goal for finishing was to average about 10 minute miles which would allow me to finish about 2 hours and 10 minutes.  I finished in 2 hours and 13 minutes.  I was thrilled.  I now could say I had run a half marathon...without stopping.

Well needless to say, ever since running has gotten into my blood.  I love the feeling of accomplishment.  I love the feeling of pushing my body to a challenging level.  I love the exhaustion, the hunger, the aches, pains, and soreness that accompany such an accomplishment.  Later that year, September of 2009, I watched a friend complete her first marathon.  It was inspiring.  Without seeing one, its hard to explain the feelings associated.  There were tears, huge smiles, and just an immense amount of pride...Pride in doing something you didn't think was possible.  It motivated me to train for a marathon for the following year.

In September of 2010 I ran my very first Marathon...26.2 miles.  I think about that now and am still amazed that I survived.  It was probably the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life.  It required SO MUCH dedication.  I had to force myself to run at least 5 times a week.  I would do shorter runs (which really weren't short, between 6-12 miles) during the week.  I would also do some cross training... I ran the Old Main Hill Stairs at USU campus at least once a week.  I would bike, swim, and do some weight lifting.  On weekends I would run my longer runs (depending on the week between 14-24 miles).  Once again as I was learning about running, most training schedules suggested running only 20 miles before the race.  However, that made me nervous.  20 miles is still 6 miles away from my destination...that's still another hour.  I wanted to make sure I could run a marathon before I actually RAN a marathon.  My longest run was 24 miles.  I ran out by Benson Utah, out by the highway towards Tremonton, out past all the fields with all their mosquitoes... Its impossible to convert a person to running based on the facts...its all about mental and feelings.  I run because of what it does for me mentally and emotionally.  I wish I could say physically, but in reality I only lost 3 pounds during my whole year of training. 

The Top of Utah Marathon was tough.  It was beautiful scenery and LOTS of support...but the course was HARD.  The first half was all down hill, which you would think would be great.  However, by mile 9 my knees were already starting to feel the first hints of pain.  You reached the bottom of the canyon and the highway at about mile 13.  I was still feeling great...had plenty of energy, but my body was starting to feel some agitation.  By mile 20 I was searching for the face of my mom for support to get me through the next 6 miles which ultimately was a little uphill.  I found her at mile 21 and broke down into tears.  I couldn't help it.  I was in so much pain at that point... however, seeing her face helped me reach the end.  The last 5 miles weaves through town, which was frustrating because you could see the finish line, but kept running past it. :(   However 4 hours and 52 minutes after initially starting, I finished my first Marathon, 26.2 miles.  I have had a lot of accomplishments in my life...serving a mission, learning a difficult language, graduating college with a Bachelors degree, buying a house....but nothing has quite compared to the accomplishment of running a Marathon.  As I was crossing the finish line I had an epiphany.  This must be what dying is like...which at the moment I felt like I could do.   Life is like running a marathon.  Some points are easy, others are difficult.  Sometimes you feel like you are running uphill-- its tough and strenuous, and forces you to really concentrate on the task at hand.  However, this is also when you build the most muscle and enhance your lung capacity the most.  Other times you are running downhill-- there is not much need to concentrate on your path or task at hand.  Its not difficult and you barely break a sweat.  These are the sweet moments that allow you to enjoy the scenery of life.  There are aid stations along the route. People there to assist you with "water", "nourishment (bananas, oranges), "band-aids", and "healing ointments".  There are people along the path cheering you on... friends, family, and even complete strangers.... With each mile you grow more and more exhausted.  Yet remarkably, as you approach the finish line and see the faces of all those supporters cheering you on, "You can make it!", "Good Job", "You are almost there!"... you somehow forget about the last 26 miles.  Somehow it feels like you have made it home and nobody cares about your time or the stumbling blocks you encountered along the way...they are just happy you made it.  It was a precious insight and although I do not plan on moving onto my next sphere of existence anytime soon, it made me a little excited for that experience in life.  I know there will be a whole crowd of people cheering each and every one of us on and congratulating us on a job well done.

This weekend, August 2011, I ran my 4th Half Marathon.  In total I have ran 1 marathon, 4 Half Marathons, 3 10Ks, and numerous 5Ks. I had the wonderful opportunity to share this particular run with my sisters, Angie & Missy.  I was able to share with them their experience of running their very first Half Marathon-- the Top of Utah Half.  I dedicate this post to them because I am so proud of them and their accomplishment.  Training as a single adult was difficult, so I am impressed with both of them for finding the time to train and still taking care of their families.  It was so fun to share this experience with them and not only this experience, but we have become a running trio, participating in several 5Ks, 10Ks, and now this Half.  I am sure they are sore today and in a little bit of pain, but pain in temporary and pride if forever.  They have something to be proud of...13.1 miles is not an easy feat.  They both did an amazing job!!!  I hope in the future we will continue sharing this hobby together.  Its been fun sharing this with them.  Love you both Angie and Missy!!  Now its time to get Natalie, Angelene, Brittany, and Mom on board. :)



A Girl With a Plan

I have always been the sort of person that needed to know "the plan".  "Knowing the plan" first meant that one must HAVE a plan.  ...and more importantly than having a plan, was to be in CONTROL of the plan.  Anyone I have lived with or dated can attest to this. 

This has affected all aspects of my life.  Whether we are talking about a road trip, a party, or my life...I have always liked the part of setting the course of the events and working hard to make it a success.  For this post, I want to focus my thoughts on planning my life.

Plan A: I will openly admit that my life today is nothing that I thought it would be at this stage in my life.  In Junior High and High School my plan for my life was to go to school at Utah State (namely because that's where my siblings and parents went), have some fun, date, get married by the age of 21-22, and start a family.  I believed this would be my life because it was my parent's life and my sisters lives.  I picked a major in High School only because the school counselors forced you to pick a major, although I had no intention of ever graduating with a Bachelors degree.  In this day and age I know, what a pathetic expectation of myself.  At age 20 I seemed to be on that path that I had "planned" for myself.  However, without much warning that "plan" was quickly extinguished which forced me to contemplate and create a "Plan B". 

Plan B was far superior to my original plan at that moment in my life.  I served a mission to Germany which drastically changed my outlook on life and my perspective of myself.  I became very aware of all my strengths and especially all my weaknesses.  I had realized that my original plan had not incorporated any instructions or dedicated any time to the self mastery of myself. 

Plan C: As I returned home, I developed my "plan C".  Plan C was a lot more sophisticated than either Plans A or B... It was actually a combination of the two.  I decided I was half way to graduation, so a Bachelors degree was added to "the plan".  Marriage was still a high priority, which required time and effort....I decided I better keep it on "the plan".  However, I also learned how important it was to improve myself and continue sharing the message of the gospel...both were added to the plan.  Plan C therefore started to look like this.... improve myself, graduate, get married, serve a mission with spouse.  Sometime during Plan C, I was called as a Relief Society President.  I figured I could incorporate this into "my plan" because it allowed me to do missionary work and meet lots of eligible dating material.  Once again I fell in love...was rejected...and had to re-adjust.

Plan D.  In May 2010 I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Human Resources. Plan C missed the memo that marriage was the priority so I was then forced to find not only a job, but a career.  Now, you can imagine what a challenge this was for me, to adapt and adjust after reading what I had planned for my life in Plan A.  However, moving back to Ferron and back in with the parents was never part of any plan, so evolution was necessary.  After 3 months of searching, I was hired at Rhodes Bake N' Serv in their Human Resource department in Salt Lake City.  During this stage I also started setting more challenging goals for myself-- part of the self-mastery program.  I started training for a marathon and ran my first one in September of 2010.

Plan E.  In the beginning scenes of the movie While You Were Sleeping, Lucy's dad is telling Lucy stories of her childhood and finishes his speech with, "Lucy, life doesn't always turn out the way you plan."  By this point in my life I am realizing this as well.  Salt Lake City was NEVER part of "the plan", but I figured if I had to be here, at least I would have the one thing I had always wanted since living in apartments...A House.  I spent 7 months searching for a house and found one in the Herriman area in January 2011.  I closed and moved in by March 2011.

Plan F.  Honestly folks...I am not sure what plan F looks like at this point.  My ward, though nice, is super young which does not encourage me to think that Plan F involves marriage or even dating at this point.  I recently had my roommate move out, which means I am not sure if Plan F will be a life of solitude or companionship.  I do have lots of opportunities for missionary work-- which has always been part of the plan since Plan B.  But Plan F is still in the making.... Masters degree??? Home improvements??? New challenging Self-Mastery goals???

The reason for the post is that today I am receiving a gentle reminder that I am not as in control of my life as I had "planned".  I know God can make more out of my life than I can make out of it on my own, but times such as these, where I am not in control of the plan, neither have a plan, neither know the plan are moments of tremendous faith for me.  I am not confident walking in the dark and I know that is why God has given me soooo many "plans" for me in my life.  They are gentle reminders of who is really is charge.  I am an instrument in His hands and He will put me where he wants me for His use.  I know these moments build character, build faith, build experience and I am grateful that He gives me just such opportunities. 

Dear Returning Missionary

I have had several thoughts and impressions over the past couple weeks on how to begin this blog.  The purpose of my blog is to hopefully inspire myself to become the person I want to be.  I figure if the "world" is reading my goals and aspirations than perhaps it will motivate me to make the changes within myself.

Today, after 4 years of being home off my mission, I finally put all my missionary letters into one binder.  As I re-read some of the letters I had written home I was filled with a sense of homesickness for Deutschland and its people.  I was also hit with a ping of guilt as I realized that I am more than what I have become. 

I found this pamphlet called, "Dear Returning Missionary".  Perhaps those of you who have served missions received similar instructions.  It was given to me by President Barber at my closing interview.  I share it here now because it summarized everything that I know I need to be doing.  It was a great reminder that if I want to feel the spirit of my mission, I need to be living the life of a missionary.

Dear Returning Missionary:
We express to you our sincerest appreciation for your fine missionary service.  Your mission experience can now be a solid foundation on which you may build a life of happiness, success, self-respect, service, and increasing spirituality if you will ALWAYS---
1. Draw close to the Savior through private, sincere, heartfelt prayer as you begin and close each day and at other appropriate moments.
2. "Feast upon the words of Christ" by consistently studying the scriptures every day and by following the counsel of the living prophets.
3. Be an example in your Church activity-- honoring the Sabbath Day, attending your meetings, observing the Word of Wisdom, paying your tithes and offerings, supporting your leaders, and otherwise keeping the commandments.
4. Serve cheerfully and gratefully in every calling you receive.
5.  Enjoy the sweet, sacred spirit that comes from frequent temple attendance.
6. Dress and groom yourself in a way that reflects your lifelong commitment to share the gospel with others.
7. Be thoughtful, loving, helpful, tolerant, and appreciative of your family as you seek to deepen those eternal relationships.
8.  Date and court in a way that lets you and your partners draw closer to the standards of a temple marriage.
9.  Carefully select practical and worthwhile goals and, in an organized way, work to reach them.
10. Apply yourself prayerfully and diligently to selecting and pursuing academic and vocational goals.
11.  Share the gospel and your testimony with those who are not members of the Church or who are less active.
12.  Keep a personal journal.
13.  Improve your community by thoughtful participation and service.
Remember that your entire life is a mission and that each new phase of it can be richly rewarding as you magnify your talents and take advantage of your opportunities.
We love and respect you and have confidence that you will heed the counsel of President Spencer W. Kimball: "Let's do these things because they are right, because they are satisfying, and because we are obedient to the counsels of the Lord".  May the Lord bless you.

These 13 things are quite difficult to do on a daily basis.  They require time, preparation, thoughtfulness, consistency, and so many other things.... The things in bold hit me the hardest... probably because they are items I am either guilty of or had never really considered.  As of last week I made it a goal to attend the temple on a weekly basis.  I live 10 minutes away and therefore have no excuses.  My plan is to attend every Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m. at the Oquirrah Mountain Temple.  Last Wednesday was my first visit and I will bare testimony that it IS the house of the Lord.  Loved how it started out my day.