Putting the Running Shoes Back on...

I would say I am a starter not a finisher. I will start many projects, goals, etc. and not finish. I hate that! I really want to be able to finish all the things I start. One of those things I have started many times, and not been able to finish is a MARATHON. I have signed up twice, and paid the $100 registration fee, all not to run. I would get to about 13 miles and get scared or busy or whatever other excuse and stop.

Last year was definitely the closest I've ever been to finishing. I joined a Salt Lake running club and it helped so much. The club was training to run in the St. George marathon in October. We would do all the Saturday long runs together and it helped so much! Sad enough, a month before the race and after completing a 22 mile run, I injured my knee. More exactly, my patella tendon. Who would of thought something so little in my body as a patella tendon would prevent me from running in the marathon. But, it certainly did. It hurt so bad to run 1 mile after I injured it and crushed all hope of finishing St. George. I think this was one of the biggest disappointments in my life. I have never come so close, so close, 4 miles from actually finishing my goal. Being that close and then not being able to finish, was so hard. All the time, all the early morning runs, all the soar muscles, all the energy, gone. I remember there were many times the month after it happened I would think about it and just cry, cry, cry. It was so hard.

Jen moved back to Utah right about the time this injury happened and we had always talked about running a marathon together. Jen said she wanted to run the Salt Lake Marathon in April. I thought it seemed a little soon, but maybe it could work. I was a little resistant, but agreed! We also got some of our other friends to join us! I'm very excited to be running this time around with such a fun group of girls. We have a blast and are into a month of training. I have never had so much fun running. We have a blog to document our training: http://www.willrunfordesignerjeans.blogspot.com/. We are running for a pair of great, expensive designer jeans (hence the name)! I still am a little hesitant every time I run, because I know there is always a chance I could have my knee re-injured and I don't want to go through all the pain again. But, I know I would always regret never trying again.

On Thursday, for one night only at select theaters there was a marathon movie, "The Spirit of the Marathon" that documented 5 runners from all around the nation and a guy from Kenya all training for the Chicago Marathon. It made me so freakin' excited, but also a little scared. It was good motivation to keep us going. I hope we will all be able to cross the finish line in three months!

Amazing Race Winners

The Amazing Race finale was last night. I love this show! I was happy with the winners, TK & Rachel. They were so relaxed and nice to each other the whole race, no freakouts or anything. It is my dream to do this race!! How amazing to race around the world traveling to places you probably would never ever go! What an adventure! On our cruise, one of the activities on the ship on a day at sea was an "Amazing Race." There was about 9 other teams that entered and it was a race around the ship with different clues & information you had to get at each location. I'm proud to say we did win, and actually I was so happy I wore the cheap little gold medal around the ship that day. But, definitely no where near racing around the world. Phil thinks it would not be good for our relationship since I have tendency to not remain calm in stressful situations (to put it lightly). My sister and I have talked about entering...maybe one day I will fill out the application and my chances will go up.

Running in the New Year

I love the start of a new year. I love the feeling of having a fresh start. A clean slate. I love looking back at the past year and then looking forward to the new year and setting goals.














However, I am not the biggest one for bringing in the new year. It usually passes without too much excitement. Hang out for a bit, watch the ball drop, have Martenelli's, then go to bed. So, when Jen mentioned to me a 5k that started at 11:30 p.m. and literally you ran into the New Year it sounded like a fresh idea on bringing it in. Could there really be such a run? Sure enough, at Sugarhouse Park for 30 years there has been this race. Now, I would only have to try and convince Phil to run in 5 degree weather? I thought that wasn't going to happen. Jen & I figured we could meet the husbands at the end with treats & hot chocolate. But, to our much surprise, they decided to run in it with us! John ended up beating us & Phil could have one the entire race. Maybe it had something to do with him going 1 lap when the race was 2.5 laps. Phil graciously waited for the top runners to come through and then he strolled on to the finish...haha! The whole point of the run was to make it in before midnight. Jen & I really wanted to make it before the new year hit & we thought we would be pretty close. Sure enough as we were on the last hill before the end, someone comes running down yelling, "20 seconds left"... Ahh, I didn't have much left, but we sprinted up to the finish line and made it before midnight!


The run was a lot of fun. It was freezing cold! The cold you can feel burning in your chest. But, it was the most memorable New Years I have ever had. Definitely one I will not forget.