Ragnar

Last weekend was Ragnar, and it was crazy amounts of fun.  I was really nervous about my first leg, but it turned out to be incredible.  I felt like I was running through the Swiss Alps.  There were snow capped mountains and wildflower meadows.  It was absolutley breath taking.  My second leg ended up being at 9:30-10:30 at night, and I loved running along the rolling hills of Morgan in the dark with my reflective gear and head lamp.  I made great time, and I think it was because I couldn't really see the hills and therefore couldn't mentally psych myself into thinking the run was hard. It was actually so peaceful and serene.  My last leg, the easiest one (or so the site said), was definitley my hardest.  I was physically exhausted and my legs were jell-o.  But, I did it!  Mike did amazing, everyone in our van kept saying how awesome he was and how inspiring he was and so on.  He just keeps such a great pace and makes it look so easy.  We got to know our neighbors really well and made some great memories, including camping out on a highschool gym floor with hundreds of other runners - trying our best to soak up what sleep we could.  I think I got maybe 3 hours.  It was definitley exhausting and we felt it after the race was over. We are already registered for next year, and we already have nearly a full team committed! 

 The pass off.  This was probably the most nerve wracking part for me!  The baton was actually an orange slap bracelet.  I thought it was pretty fun and quite a throw back to my elementary school days.

This was my 7.4 mile "very hard" leg.  Beautiful scenery, sucky dirt getting kicked up by all the vans as they drove by to support the runners.  This leg was also crazy because a van got stuck in the mud, causing a traffic jam.  I was about 1/4 mile away from the exchange as I ran past my team.  I was nervous that I would be waiting at the exchange since they were stuck in traffic, but Mike was smart and had already gotten out of the car and ran ahead so he could be there at the exchange for the pass off.  Quick thinking, babe!

Just a sample of the scenery, this is right after we came out of Avon Pass.  So pretty.

I loved this leg. All alone on the country roads on a clear night.  Plus I looked pretty awesome with my head lamp, tail lamp, and black mesh reflective vest.

Running across the finish line.  I thought it would be fun to carry Sam across.  Not as easy as I thought.  His little head was bobbing all over the place.  I ended up walking across.

My sister-in-law, Shannon, was kind enough to watch Sam for us while we did this.  She is awesome.  Then Mike's mom came to cheer us on at the finish line and brought the little booger with her.  I was so excited to see my little man.  I have never left him somewhere over night and I really missed him. 

This is just a really cute picture, not of Ragnar, but of Sam and his friend Bridger.  Both little boys are so cute.  The moment Sam saw the camera, his face lit up in a smile.  Little cheese ball.

Call me crazy

Mike does at least once a day - call me crazy, that is.  And I might just be, because this weekend I am running the Wasatch Back.  Have I trained?  Nope.  Am a scared spitless?  Maybe just a little bit.  A couple in our ward called us last week and said there was a chance that two of their team members for the Ragnar might back out, and would we be interested. Mike jumped all over the chance.  He's been wanting to do this really bad for a while now and his desire increased even more while we were in Boston and we cheered his aunt on as she did the race.  I willingly said "maybe".  It's 14.6 miles people.  Today we got the phone call that we were for sure needed and I said, maybe a little hesitantly this time, "ok".  So here we go!

I will be running three legs.  My first leg is labeled as very hard and it's a 7.6 mile run uphill on a gravel road with a net gain of 1100 feet in elevation.  Hello!  I will be running that around 11 a.m. on Friday.  Then my next leg will be a 4.2 mile run, labeled easy. That one will be around 10 at night, and my last one will be an easy 3 mile run around 11 a.m. on Saturday.  I'm scared to death of the killer 7.6 miles that I'll start out with and a little worried that my team will hate me after they see how slow I'm going.  But man alive, is it going to feel good when it's over!

I'm excited to get to know our friends from the ward better and to soak up all the energy.  I do love racing and any time it's something a little out of the ordinary, I love it even more.  Wish us luck!

If I had a camera...

I would post pictures.  Pictures of :

- Sam with his face covered in sand and a big cheesy grin on his face.  His hair all messed up with sunscreen and the atlantic ocean on the background.
- Our little family sitting on a dock at the old North Bridge in Concord, MA.  The first time Sam has ever smiled at the camera on demand.
-The grass slowly and surely making it's way through the soil in our front and back yard. It's reassuring to know the hydroseeding actually is working!
-The picturesque road by our house lined with cattle and horses in their pastures.
- Me mowing the lawn and dying me feet and shoes semi permanently green.  It took an hour and then some to hack down the two and half foot high weeds, but it was worth it.
- Sam pulling himself up on everything and giving me a big toothy grin, so proud of himself.

So many things I would capture if I had a camera.   Unfortunatley the airplane ate it.  Well, actually, we left it on the plane and the chances are slim that we will ever get it back or the pictures we captured while on our trip.  I maybe shed a tear or three or fifty - but life goes on right?